What download have you bought?

[sidneyfox]

Mieczyslaw Weinberg - String Quartets 11. 12. 13
Silesian Quartet.
Hi-Resolution.
Space saving - no more CDs

[HighlandDougie]

Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos Nos 3 - 5

Alexandre Kantorow/Tapiola Sinfonietta/Jean-Jacques Kantorow (24/96 from e-classical)

S-S's PCs seem to be having something of a revival - certainly the 5th, as this is the third recording I've bought in the last 2/3 years (Louis Schwizgebel; Bertrand Chamayou; now Kantorows, père et fils). Another very talented young pianist (22 years old)! Where do they all come from - not that I'm complaining when they can play as well as AK does on this recording.

[Braunschlag]

An English Coronation
Paul McCreesh and lots of people!
Signum via Hyperion
Standard 16 bit FLAC

A tremendous spectacle of a thing. Pure indulgence really but worth every penny. A superb sound from the assembled youthful mass choir Gabrieli Roar.
Once in a while one might need some vim and vigour and it’s certainly here in spadefuls.
Apparently includes HIPP elements but I couldn’t really care less about that sort of thing, it’s the sheer scale of it all that stands out, exceptional recording and bog standard flac does it fine for me.

[sidneyfox]

An English Coronation
Paul McCreesh and lots of people!
Signum via Hyperion
Standard 16 bit FLAC

A tremendous spectacle of a thing. Pure indulgence really but worth every penny. A superb sound from the assembled youthful mass choir Gabrieli Roar.
Once in a while one might need some vim and vigour and it’s certainly here in spadefuls.
Apparently includes HIPP elements but I couldn’t really care less about that sort of thing, it’s the sheer scale of it all that stands out, exceptional recording and bog standard flac does it fine for me.

I can rarely tell the difference, even with lo-res.


Mahler, Titan - Roth et al
Gong - The Universe Also Collapses
Weinberg, Symphonies 2 & 21 - CBSO, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla et al

(all Hi-Res)

[Pianoman]

An English Coronation
Paul McCreesh and lots of people!
Signum via Hyperion
Standard 16 bit FLAC

A tremendous spectacle of a thing. Pure indulgence really but worth every penny. A superb sound from the assembled youthful mass choir Gabrieli Roar.
Once in a while one might need some vim and vigour and it’s certainly here in spadefuls.
Apparently includes HIPP elements but I couldn’t really care less about that sort of thing, it’s the sheer scale of it all that stands out, exceptional recording and bog standard flac does it fine for me.

Aye, just been sampling this on YouTube and agreed, a helluva sound and good choice of pieces.

[mathias broucek]

Petrenko and BPO doing Tchaik 6

Mixed reviews (mostly positive but 3/5* in the Guardian) but the 24 bit is sensibly priced at eclassical so I thought I’d have a punt

Only problem is how much unheard Tchaikovsky I have already with Fricsay, Muti, Chailly, Pletnev and Celibidache...

[Joseph K]

Just purchased the complete Haydn string quartets by the Festetics Quartet from Presto Classical, FLAC CD quality.

[Dave2002]

Just purchased the complete Haydn string quartets by the Festetics Quartet from Presto Classical, FLAC CD quality.

Looks good - I might follow your example, though I've already got one or two other Haydn sets.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8047758--haydn-string-quartets

I just noticed Leslie Howard's Liszt box set on that site too. I had a work colleague who raved about that - though I'm not sure that I really want almost 100CDs (or equivalent) of such piano music. It' still quite expensive, though still available in CD incarnation.

[Joseph K]

Looks good - I might follow your example, though I've already got one or two other Haydn sets.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8047758--haydn-string-quartets

I just noticed Leslie Howard's Liszt box set on that site too. I had a work colleague who raved about that - though I'm not sure that I really want almost 100CDs (or equivalent) of such piano music. It' still quite expensive, though still available in CD incarnation.

I used to have a box of complete Haydn SQ (Angeles Quartet) but it was stolen so I consider this a replacement...

Forumista Jonathan might be the person to ask about the Liszt box.

[Bryn]

Just purchased the complete Haydn string quartets by the Festetics Quartet from Presto Classical, FLAC CD quality.

£2,76 cheaper from QOBUZ. Like the Presto Classical offering, replete with booklet pdf. Had I not already collected the CDs, over the years, I would have jumped at it. Bear in mind that you do not have to be a subscriber in order to purchase downloads from QOBUZ.

[Joseph K]

£2,76 cheaper from QOBUZ. Like the Presto Classical offering, replete with booklet pdf. Had I not already collected the CDs, over the years, I would have jumped at it. Bear in mind that you do not have to be a subscriber in order to purchase downloads from QOBUZ.

I'll bear that in mind next time I think about downloading something.

[Dave2002]

Have you sampled or listened to any of the Festetics yet? I thought the samples from the Presto site sounded just a tad lacking in ambience, but that might not matter - sounds as though the performances are considered very good. I do have the Aeolian quartet on CDs, and I think at least one other download set - IIRC which I may not!

[Joseph K]

Have you sampled or listened to any of the Festetics yet? I thought the samples from the Presto site sounded just a tad lacking in ambience, but that might not matter - sounds as though the performances are considered very good. I do have the Aeolian quartet on CDs, and I think at least one other download set - IIRC which I may not!

Yes, I listened to the Lark earlier. I don't have much in mind to compare it to (only the Chiaroscuros doing op.20 nos 1-3) suffice to say it sounds very good.

[Dave2002]

Yes, I listened to the Lark earlier. I don't have much in mind to compare it to (only the Chiaroscuros doing op.20 nos 1-3) suffice to say it sounds very good.

The Chiaroscuros should be good too, presumably. Will be interested in knowing more when you've listened to more of the new set.

[jayne lee wilson]

Just purchased the complete Haydn string quartets by the Festetics Quartet from Presto Classical, FLAC CD quality.

Wonderful performances, glorious sounding ensemble..... as you've seen, my aubade/nocturne on the bedside Tivoli for a few weeks (now on op.71/74...) ....

The Chiaroscuros are stunning in all their Haydn sets so far (op.20/76)...characterised by a greater expressive freedom and fantasy, sometimes a little more rhythmic bite in op.76, than the Londoners (lived with these for several weeks - also excellent in their more studied, philosophical way; especially fine slow movements).

The BIS SACD/24/96 stream of 76/1-3 has state-of-the-art sound, somewhat closer-set than the attractively spacious Hyperion/London..... 4-6 out on physical media 5 March...