Following his critically acclaimed interpretation of Bruckner’s 7th Symphony, Iván Fischer leads the Budapest Festival Orchestra to the summit of 19th century symphonic music, with this new recording of the monumental, enigmatic, unfinished and deeply religious 9th Symphony of Anton Bruckner. The album is exclusively available in Stereo and 5 Channel DSD 128, DSD 256 and DXD plus Stereo DSD 512 at NativeDSD. 

The three completed movements are pervaded with angst and awareness of death. As in Mozart’s unfinished Requiem, the first movement is dominated by a dark D minor. The pounding rhythms of the scherzo seem to anticipate Stravinsky and Bartók, while the large leaps and piercing dissonances point towards the Second Viennese School of Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg and Anton Webern. The Adagio is Bruckner’s heartrending farewell to the world and to life. Although Bruckner died before he could write the huge fourth movement he had in mind, there is something satisfying and comforting in concluding with the Adagio.

Budapest Festival Orchestra
Ivan Fischer, Conductor

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With over 35 million views, Anna Fedorova’s live performance of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto is the most viewed classical concerto video on YouTube. We are proud to release the long-awaited studio recording of this beloved concerto, together with Rachmaninoff’s 4th Piano Concerto.

Anna Fedorova tells us “Rachmaninoff wrote his 4th Piano Concerto nine years after emigrating, afterwards it was twice revised by the composer. It represents the change of the era, a farewell to the past and a dive into a quite terrifying future. The 2nd Concerto, however, represents rebirth and resurrection of the spirit, hope and light. Something we all need so much nowadays. I am very grateful to the Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen, conductor Modestas Pitrenas and recording engineer Jared Sacks for the most inspiring days spent together in St. Gallen recording this album!”

This album is available exclusively in Stereo and 5 Channel Surround Sound DSD 256, DSD 128 and DSD 64 plus Stereo DSD 512 at NativeDSD. It is a DSD Exclusive, Not Available on SACD release.

It is the follow-up to Anna’s 2020 release of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the same orchestra and conductor. Anna will complete her Rachmaninoff cycle with the release of the 3rd Piano Concerto in the Spring of 2023.

Anna Fedorova, Piano
Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen Orchestra
Modestas Pitrenas, Conductor

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24 Sonatas for Bass Lute, Volume 1 is a World Premiere Recording featuring Sonatas composed by Antonino Reggio. The music is performed by Der Saitenwald, an Early Music Ensemble featuring Konstantin Shenikov on the Lute and Kit Samara on the Baroque Harp. This album is available exclusively in Stereo DSD 512, DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64 and DXD. It is not available on SACD.

This album is Volume 1 in a series which includes Sonatas number: I, II, III, IV, V, VI,VIII,IX,XVII,XVIII,XXI and XXIV. The second volume with the other 12 Sonatas will be available in a few months. Antonino Reggio is a great composer to rediscover and these first world recordings present a rare instrumental combination of lute and baroque harp.

Featured in blog post Notes on Recent Finds, No. 9 – Endless Bounty from NativeDSD by music reviewer Rushton Paul.

Der Saitenwald
Konstantin Shenikov – Lute
Kit Samara – Baroque Harp

The post Reggio: 24 Sonatas for Bass Lute, Vol. 1 (World Premiere Recording) appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

The Complete Beethoven Sonatas by pianist Peter Takacs features 11 DSD albums that include not only Beethoven’s well-known 32 sonatas, but all of the early piano sonatas that remained unnumbered as well as the only sonata that Beethoven wrote for four hands.

The albums were recorded in 5 Channel Surround Sound DSD 64 by the Soundmirror Team at the Concert Hall of the Music and Mass Communication Department of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee in December 2001 through early September 2004. Peter Takacs played the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand Piano at the Concert Hall.

Embarking on a life-long project, pianist Peter Takacs presents all of the composer’s sonatas for the first time in one package. When asked why he initiated this ambitious project, Takacs commented, “I have lived with these magnificent works, as performer and teacher for many years. I find in them a record of a great composer’s development from his youth as a brilliant virtuoso to the peaks of musical maturity. One recurrent aspect of these sonatas is their strikingly modern relevance as universal statements about the human condition – about struggle and suffering, healing and transcendence. In them one gleans a mind intent on surprising and delighting the listener, pushing the envelope of accepted rules, and being inspired by nature both in its pastoral serenity and its turbulence (reflecting inner turmoil as well).”

About Peter Takács

Hailed as “a marvelous pianist” by The New York Times, Peter Takács has established himself as a distinguished performer, teacher, and lecturer. Winner of the William Kapell International Competition, he has appeared in recite, chamber music, and with orchestras in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has given master classes throughout the world and has been an adjudicator in many prestigious international competitions.

In 2015-16, he inaugurated a new recital series entitles “Key Pianists,” performing three all-Beethoven programs at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. His recording of the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas was released on the Cambria label in July 2011 to critical acclaim.

Recorded in 5 Channel Surround Sound DSD 64 by Soundmirror, the albums are now Available in Stereo and 5 Channel Surround Sound DSD 256. DSD 128 and DSD 64 plus Stereo DSD 512, exclusively at Native DSD.

A Note From the Artist

For many reasons, I feel strongly that the musical text should not act as a final destination, but rather constitute a point of departure for the interpreter. First, there is no such things as “the text,” since what we see on the printed page of even fully dependable editions is a composite of many, often contradictory, source materials and editorial decisions. Second, musical traditions have changed over the centuries, and we have to reconstruct the original intentions of composers by immersing ourselves in historical and artistic contexts, which may entail implications not found on the printed page. Third, we have to search for narrative truth by empathetically divining what my great teacher Leon Fleisher calls “the wisdom of the material,” the unspoken essence that lies beyond the notes.

This music is centuries old, and while some of its meanings may have changed over time, I fervently believe it carries the same evocative power today as it did at its conception. In that spirit, at every point, I have tried to create a sense of naturalness and inevitability in my interpretive choices, in an attempt to fulfil Beethoven’s words: “Von Herzen Möge es wieder zu Herzen gene!” (From the heart, may it return to the heart!).

Peter Takács  – Piano

The post The Complete Beethoven Sonatas – All 11 Volumes [DSD Bundle] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

The Dresdener Philharmonie, Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden and conductor Daniel Oren present Verdi’s masterpiece La Traviata, together with a stellar cast including René Barbera as Alfredo, Lester Lynch as Germont, and world star soprano Lisette Oropesa as Violetta. This is a Double Album in Stereo and 5 Channel Surround Sound DSD from Pentatone.

Verdi’s opera from 1853 was revolutionary in the sense that it presented a subject of its own time, rather than the usual historically remote stories. Interestingly enough, this tragic story of a woman sacrificing her love to save the honor of her beloved’s family still feels as fresh and topical as ever before, explaining its unrelenting popularity. La Travatia is an endless outpour of memorable melodies with a gripping dramatic pace, as well as a tale that is both heartrending and provocative.

The main soprano role gradually shifts from coloratura virtuosity to a more lyrical, dramatic idiom when the tragedy progresses, and this performance shows Oropesa’s fluency in both styles. After having sung the title role in the greatest opera houses worldwide, this recording captures her unparalleled interpretation for generations to come.

Soloists
Lisette Oropesa, Soprano
René Barbera, Tenor
Lester Lynch, Baritone
Ilseyar Khayrullova, Mezzo-Soprano
Menna Cazel, Soprano
Francesco Pittari, Tenor
Allen Boxer, Baritone
Biagio Pizzuti, Baritone
Alexander Köpeczy, Bass

Choir Soloists
Tobias Schrader, Tenor
Reinhold Schreyer-Morlock, Bass
Alexander Födisch, Bass

Dresdener Philharmonie
Wolfgang Hentrich, Concertmaster

Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden
Andre Kellinghaus, Chrous Master

Daniel Oren, Conductor

The post Verdi: La Traviata [Double Album] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

When Night Falls is an ode to the night in all its forms; from dusk until dawn. Through this selection of Jazz standards, the trio captures the course of an evening – while limiting their music in terms of instrumentation, repertoire and recording technique, to evoke the narrow world of the night.

Playing with Ed Verhoeff on guitar and Eric van der Westen on bass, Angelo Verploegen reunited a trio with more than twenty years of shared history behind them. The trio initially appeared together at NativeDSD on the album The Sweetest Sound, one of the 2018 DSD Albums of the Year!

The intimacy of this small ensemble suits the evening. Through subtle playing that reflects a wealth of experience and attention, we witness a twilight conversation between three old friends. Talking deep into the night.

Trumpeter and Flugelhorn player Angelo Verploegen first performed with guitarist Ed Verhoeff and bassist Eric van der Westen in 2001, after all three had had long musical careers in larger lineups and projects. This trio brought them back to the core – “like in a good dish, sometimes no additional ingredients are needed” says Verploegen. 

During the pandemic – twenty years after their first performance – they found the perfect moment to renew their collaboration once more. The chamber jazz trio decided to paint a small portrait of the night on a new album with Just Listen Records. On the 22nd and 23rd of May 2021, they recorded ‘When Night Falls’ at Studio150 Bethlehemkerk, a former Lutheran Church in Amsterdam.

The post When Night Falls appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

Signs Of The Coast is a Great Jazz Fusion album that features over an hour of music performed by guitarist Eugenijus Jonavičius and his Jazz quartet.

The album was recorded to Analog Tape at Studijofonas Recording Studio in Lithuania.  It was transferred to Stereo DSD 128 by Analog Father using the Korg MR-2000S DSD recorder and Analog to Digital Converter for release at NativeDSD Music as part of the first trio of DSD albums from the label.

Signs Of The Coast is the result of several years of creation. Songs on the album were written at the Vydūnas Center of Kintai, where workshops for artists and musicians are organized.  Eugenijus is a frequent guest in recording studios, participates in artists creative camps and organizes guitar master classes. Actively participates in Lithuanian and foreign jazz festivals.

Eugenijus Jonavičius – Guitars, Leader, Composer, Arranger
Arnoldas Jankūnas – Keybords
Paulius Stonkus – Bass
Dainius Kažukauskas – Drums

The post Signs Of The Coast appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

We are very excited to release a new album from one of Native DSD Music’s most popular bands: Carmen Gomes Inc. from Sound Liaison. In just days after its release, Ray! became our #1 DSD Best Seller.

“Music is about the only thing left that people don’t fight over” as Ray Charles used to say. To Carmen Gomes, this album represents a ray of light during the darkness, and she hopes it can be that for you as well.

“Sometimes my dreams are so deep that I dream that I’m dreaming”.
Ray Charles

“We started working on Ray! in the unencumbered period before the adversity of Covid 19 came upon us. In the darkest period of lockdowns, we left it alone, and recorded ‘Up Jumped the Devil’ which somehow was more in sync with the life we were living in that period. When the restrictions were lifted, it felt just like Ray’s song ‘The Sun is Gonna Shine Again’; everything seemed possible.  

We recorded the last part of the album this summer. And a long and beautiful summer it was, a summer which made one feel grateful for all that seemed so self-evident before.

Mixing and mastering was finished just before the sky clouded over and another wave came upon us. But I still have faith. Together we are strong, and we have music to get us through this. Because “Music is about the only thing left that people don’t fight over” as Ray Charles used to say.

To me this album represents a ray of light during the darkness, and I hope it can be that for you as well.”

– Carmen Gomes

Blog article about this recording

Behind the Scenes of Carmen Gomes Inc.s’ New Album: Ray!

Carmen Gomes Inc.
Carmen Gomes – Vocals
Folker Tettero – Guitar
Peter Bjørnild – Double Bass
Bert Kamsteeg – Drums

The Arch Manifesto

Each recording starts and ends with the main artist alone in the hall, the only interplay being the acoustics of the hall and his mind. No audience is present except the ghosts from the past. The music must create an Arch, going from the single-instrument performance to the more complex band performance and back to the last solo performance. The same principle goes for the engineering; each recording starts out with only one Josephson C700S 3-channel stereo microphone. As the music gains in complexity more microphones may be deployed, the only limit being the imagination and technical skills of the recording engineer. The producer and engineer must aim to make the album have a unifying sound, despite the different recording techniques employed.

The post Ray! appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

The New Poetry of the Fallen Testament by The Lawn Dogs is an album featuring Rock and Electronic Music. It was recorded Live to Stereo DSD 256 at SuperSize Recording in Hungary on September 15, 2021 using the Hapi Analog to Digital Converter from Merging Technologies. This is a Pure DSD release exclusively available at NativeDSD in its recorded Stereo DSD 256 bit rate as well as in Stereo DSD 512, Stereo DSD 128 and Stereo DSD 64.

The Lawn Dogs would like to thank everybody who supported and had faith in them. They also offer special thanks to Bölcső Bar & Food for letting them take album photos, and for the great beer too!

The Lawn Dogs tell us “We want to break out of the caul. It seems almost impossible. We are surrounded by rules, restrictions, visible and invisible obstacles. We’re looking around. Our fellow human beings have built into machinery and even become so, now they are the machinery. We prayed to a good God. The answer is trying the official church channels. Net is censored and the real sages are dead. You can still find two traces here and there that time has not yet won to erase, but nothing can be proven anymore. The invisible execution squad is doing a good and thorough job.

And then the music sounds. You hear it from inside. From the depths of your soul, from your heart. And you, just feeling an irrational urge, take the instrument in your hand and play. You play off what was lurking there for a long time, and you hear this determined silence that had been roaring!

At this moment, the question arises automatically. What is this, where does this feeling and inner compulsion come from? When and why was it created, what motivates and inspires it? Does it exist in an independent universe, and when do we cross a border once it’s there inside of us? Is it germinating, rooting, well, is it making its way? Or a tiny but indispensable part of the existence and law of the world?”

The Lawn Dogs
Vincent Szabo – Guitar
Zoltán Cséry – Piano and Keyboards
Kristof Szabó – Bass Guitar
Szabolcs Varga – Drums

The post The New Poetry Of The Fallen Testament [Pure DSD] appeared first on NativeDSD Music.

A Wind Invisible Sweeps Us Through The World is the third album by The Rembrandt Trio on Just Listen. The Rembrandt Trio features Rembrandt Frerichs (Pianist and Composer), Tony Overwater (Bass) and Vinsent Planjer (Drums and Percussion). This is the trio’s third album at NativeDSD following their earlier releases Same Self, Same Silence and The Contemporary Fortepiano (linked below). (The booklet for this album states that it was recorded in DSD 256. It was recorded in DXD.) It is Exclusively Available at NativeDSD in Stereo and 5 Channel DSD 256, DSD 128, DSD 64 and DXD plus Stereo DSD 512.

A Wind Invisible Sweeps Us Through The World

The album title, taken from a poem by the 13th century Persian poet Rumi, tries to capture the universality of music and conveys how curiosity drives the trio to travel and incorporate motifs, themes, and experiences from all over the world into their work. The wind, air blowing through the pipes of the organ, the invisible waves of sound that shape a song – the driving force that inspires traveling, broadening horizons.

Transcending boundaries by way of a shared musical imagination

The three members of the Rembrandt Trio, after fifteen years of touring the world together, found themselves grounded in The Netherlands when the world came to a standstill in 2020. Known for their curiosity-driven approach to music, incorporating many different musical cultures into their work and collaborating with grandmasters from different countries and continents (most notably with Persian grandmasters Hossein Alizadeh and Kayhan Kalhor) – the trio was now forced to stay put, stop performing, travelling, and collaborating.

Recorded at Orgelpark, Amsterdam

This time of reflection made The Rembrandt Trio realize how all their journeys of the past fifteen years had shaped a shared musical vocabulary that all three could draw from – and a musical trust that they had come to cherish deeply. They decided to record an album of songs that brought into play these collective memories, a shared imagination in which they still traveled the world. In February 2021, they secluded themselves in a former church in Amsterdam, called Orgelpark, filled with antique organs, and recorded with Just Listen Records. On “A Wind Invisible Sweeps Us Through The World” they take the melody as their guide and drawing on their communal experience on stages across the globe, they play compositions that feel timeless, have a universal quality about them, and connect across cultures. Songs to transcend boundaries – those of eras and places – as a much-needed release in times of suspension.

Just Listen Records and the Rembrandt Trio would like to express their gratitude to Maene Pianos for the use of one of their wonderful instruments, and Orgel­park Amsterdam for letting us record in their space ­the acoustics reflecting back a history of sound.

Universal Songs

While touring venues all over the world, the trio discovered that some compositions shared a special kind of magic that translated wherever they were played. Often, the pieces were based on themes from different times and cultures – a Bach motif, a Chinese folk song, a whiff of Armenian folklore. Beautiful, strong melodies that touched audiences no matter their background or culture. Like fairy tales told all over the world might have different characters but share the same plot: What it is to be human. The trio decided they wanted to create this kind of ‘universal’ music, keeping it concise and powerful – with melodies that have a universal quality, touching listeners everywhere. For this album, they chose strong, timeless melodies to try and transpose into song what we all share – our being human.

“When you have shared the stage for as long as we have, you become part of each other’s development, both as musicians and as people.”

Rembrandt Trio
Rembrandt Frerichs – Pianist and Composer
Tony Overwater – Bass
Vinsent Planjer – Drums and Percussion

The post A Wind Invisible Sweeps Us Through The World appeared first on NativeDSD Music.