The new Hyperion 24/44.1 release of Don Quixote is a miracle of natural expressive beauty and fidelity to score and sound. It features Markus Stenz with the Koln-Gurzenich Orchestra, Lawrence Power and Alban Gerhardt.
Yes, we have Tortelier/Kempe, Janigro/Reiner, Rostropovich/Karajan (and their violists...) but here, there is a marvellous intimacy and insight into the relationship between the Don and Sancho Panza, it's much closer to a double-concerto than usual, with an orchestral support of breathtaking beauty, agility and sweep. At first you may find the acoustic a touch dry, but it opens up splendidly in all the big moments, the gorgeously soft, slightly muted colours of the gentler episodes are followed with splendidly glittering, visually evocative climaxes. (It's very tangible sound - there is Lawrence Power's viola floating before you!)
Simeone in the IRR and Andrew Clements in the Guardian ("well-nigh perfect"!) found the coupled Till Eulenspiegel good, but less special. So download The Don and leave it out. Even if you must buy the disc though, you can't miss this whatever your previous favourites, it's one of those special recordings that 2013 will be remembered by. Never done a 24-bit download? Here's a great place to start. It offers qualities (dynamic subtlety, timbral richness, a natural transparency and a fluidity) that CD never quite matches (and I remain a great fan and frequent listener to ye olde redbook..).
Yes, we have Tortelier/Kempe, Janigro/Reiner, Rostropovich/Karajan (and their violists...) but here, there is a marvellous intimacy and insight into the relationship between the Don and Sancho Panza, it's much closer to a double-concerto than usual, with an orchestral support of breathtaking beauty, agility and sweep. At first you may find the acoustic a touch dry, but it opens up splendidly in all the big moments, the gorgeously soft, slightly muted colours of the gentler episodes are followed with splendidly glittering, visually evocative climaxes. (It's very tangible sound - there is Lawrence Power's viola floating before you!)
Simeone in the IRR and Andrew Clements in the Guardian ("well-nigh perfect"!) found the coupled Till Eulenspiegel good, but less special. So download The Don and leave it out. Even if you must buy the disc though, you can't miss this whatever your previous favourites, it's one of those special recordings that 2013 will be remembered by. Never done a 24-bit download? Here's a great place to start. It offers qualities (dynamic subtlety, timbral richness, a natural transparency and a fluidity) that CD never quite matches (and I remain a great fan and frequent listener to ye olde redbook..).
Comment