New releases

[Bryn]

Agree on the "mastering" point! "Transfer" would have been better.

Point I was trying to make, rather inelegantly, was that there have in the past been accusations that some of the actual transfers used by Qobuz have suffered by being of poorer quality. Not sure why that should have been the case, or even whether that is the case here. It may be down to localised streaming issues at the time I listened. Certainly, when streaming one's perception of sound quality is influenced by factors such as the time of day, use of other electrical equipment, devices accessing the internet; volume etc.

My understanding, from past correspondence with QOBUZ regarding error-ridden downloads, is that they, and other download vendors, are supplied with the audio files for download by the record companies who own the copyright on them.

[silvestrione]

The Qobuz offering is quite sufficient and, of course, it gives you in the vast majority of cases a pdf of the booklet, which marks Qobuz out from the opposition.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'the opposition' here, but it seems only fair to point out that Presto Classical include a pdf booklet as well.

[Cockney Sparrow]

This raises a doubt in my mind. I took Sir Velo's remark to relate to the Qobuz streaming service - he says he won't be buying the download (the physical CD is yet to be released IIRC).
I'm currently with Google Play, however, if Qobuz often provides a PDF, even when streaming (spotify style) that is a definite attraction. Spotify, Google (maybe Tidal etc) don't really relate to Classical Music - to them music is "Tracks" and we don't need to read the booklets and other media. But for classical music, I definitely do want to look at that material.
I might well switch over to Qobuz. Can I ask - for recordings in DGG/Decca/Philips etc from before the era of downloads etc there is rarely a PDF available on Naxos Music Library - does the same apply to Qobuz? . I guess the way to find out is to take a trial subscription to Qobuz and find out.....

[Bryn]

Whether QOBUZ provided a booklet pdf is very much 'hit or miss' in my experience. I regard it more as a 'bonus' if made available. I would certainly not think it is the majority of what they have to offer which come with such pdf files, though.

[jayne lee wilson]

This raises a doubt in my mind. I took Sir Velo's remark to relate to the Qobuz streaming service - he says he won't be buying the download (the physical CD is yet to be released IIRC).
I'm currently with Google Play, however, if Qobuz often provides a PDF, even when streaming (spotify style) that is a definite attraction. Spotify, Google (maybe Tidal etc) don't really relate to Classical Music - to them music is "Tracks" and we don't need to read the booklets and other media. But for classical music, I definitely do want to look at that material.
I might well switch over to Qobuz. Can I ask - for recordings in DGG/Decca/Philips etc from before the era of downloads etc there is rarely a PDF available on Naxos Music Library - does the same apply to Qobuz? . I guess the way to find out is to take a trial subscription to Qobuz and find out.....

If you try a search from this page -

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/shop

....you can usually see if the booklet is there as its flagged up in blue. Try "Karajan dg" etc.....comme ça....

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/search?q=karajan+dg&i=boutique

Almost all New Releases do include the booklet now, instantly accessible.

Of course the biggest attraction with Qobuz is that it is CD and hi-res quality for a good price (£15 monthly), and seems to work well with various media players, OSX etc. In my case Audirvana+ on MacAir/MacPro which is very stable and reliable. Good uncluttered user interface & good sound too, with some helpful flexibility.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Thanks Jayne. Interesting looking at the Karajan search result. I had searched Sinopoli Bruckner there (having listened to his 5th on Google Play I was very impressed) and there are no booklets on Qobuz.

On Presto, for the download, booklets for all of Sinopoli's Bruckner recordings are included, apart from the 8th. Presto, it seems, goes further than any other I've seen to provide the booklet; but it does involve buying the download.

[Goon525]

I have complained to Qobuz because several new classical releases have failed to stream with their booklets, including stuff from Decca, DG etc. I had a very polite reply saying they're dependent on what's provided to them by the record companies, who seem to be becoming slapdash about it. I emphasised to them that the booklets were a major Qobuz Unique Selling Point, and that they really should pursue when missing. Sometimes, they're quite wonderful when they are available, eg the Paul McCreesh King Arthur, now (slightly surprisingly), BBC Music Mag RoTY.

[jayne lee wilson]

Plenty to chew on this Friday in Qobuz, with the Bruckner E Minor Mass coupled with the Stravinsky Mass, a WDR Arditti/ORFVRSO Feldman disc with Coptic Light & String Quartet and Orchestra, more Nielsen (1&2) from Dausgaard in Seattle, Mahler 7 from Minneapolis/Vanska......a complete Beethoven Symphony Cycle from the Malmö SO/Robert Trevino...

All with booklets apart from the Feldman.

Just playing the Bruckner/Stravinsky tonight, sounds lovely on first hearing....

[Bryn]

Plenty to chew on this Friday in Qobuz, with the Bruckner E Minor Mass coupled with the Stravinsky Mass, a WDR Arditti/ORFVRSO Feldman disc with Coptic Light & String Quartet and Orchestra, more Nielsen (1&2) from Dausgaard in Seattle, Mahler 7 from Minneapolis/Vanska......a complete Beethoven Symphony Cycle from the Malmö SO/Robert Trevino...

All with booklets apart from the Feldman. . . .

Though the description from Capriccio is keyboard shortcut copyable, for what it's worth.

[Goon525]

Just to hark back to the Hough Beethoven PCs, a review has finally appeared in the new BBC MM. Reasonably enthusiastic, Bayan Northcott gives it 4 stars for both performance and recording. He does mention how forward the recording of the piano is. So neither of our major magazines has gone overboard - and nor have I. It’s a good set, but probably not a BaL front-runner.

[pastoralguy]

Just to hark back to the Hough Beethoven PCs, a review has finally appeared in the new BBC MM. Reasonably enthusiastic, Bayan Northcott gives it 4 stars for both performance and recording. He does mention how forward the recording of the piano is. So neither of our major magazines has gone overboard - and nor have I. It’s a good set, but probably not a BaL front-runner.

I've listened a LOT to this set recently and have loved it.

[jayne lee wilson]

I've listened a LOT to this set recently and have loved it.

You have a fine system pg..... how goes the piano/orchestra/soundstage chez vous...?

[pastoralguy]

You have a fine system pg..... how goes the piano/orchestra/soundstage chez vous...?

It sounds fine to me, Jayne. I did compare it to the recent Lisiecki/ASMF Deutsche Grammophon set and found Hough and co to be a slightly more convincing recording. The Lisiecki set is live of course so there are brief moments where ensemble isn't quite as tight as with the Hyperion set. But that's to pick nits. Either set is terrific and one gets carried away with the music making.

I've always liked Hough's playing and I respect him as much as a man as well as being a fine musician.

[Barbirollians]

Impressed by Benedetti's Elgar VC - certainly much more to my taste than either Ehnes or Little's recordings amongst the more recent.

[gurnemanz]

Impressed by Benedetti's Elgar VC - certainly much more to my taste than either Ehnes or Little's recordings amongst the more recent.

I shall certainly listen at some point. We saw her first live performance at The Forum, Bath, with the Bath Philharmonic in 2017. It was an exciting occasion especially since, surprisingly, it was also my first live performance of the work.