What is your best recorded standard CD?

[Leeps]

Funny. When I looked at just the heading of the OP's first post, Nitin Sawney's amazing album, "Philtre" immediately came to mind. Then I opened the thread and noticed the OP's opening suggestion was by the same artist!

These also are stunningly produced...

Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11

David Sylvian - Secrets of the Beehive (re-mastered)

I am Sam - Music from and inspired by the motion picture (modern interpretations of Beatles numbers)

The Unthanks - Last

Radiohead - Amnesiac

Corinne Bailey Rae's eponymous first release

Supertramp - Crime of the Century (re-mastered)

Decca's DDD recording of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.1 / Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini; by Vladimir Ashkenazy

Beck - Sea Change

 

[BigH]

Michael Hedges - Aerial Boundaries

Ray Montford - Many Roads.

 

[Covenanter]

This is brand new and I've only heard it on headphones so far but it is clear to me that this is a brilliant recording of some superb performances:

"Sogno Barocco" Anne Sophie von Otter - Naive V5286 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sogno-Barocco-Baroque-Dream-Sofie/dp/B0089N47KE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1373498233&sr=1-1&keywords=von+otter

Surely one of the greatest voices of our time, von Otter is supported here by the lovely Sandrine Piau. I suspect that the repertoire won't be appreciated by the majority on this forum but I also suspect that this recording will challenge many highly regarded equipment setups.

If you like great singing try this. It is going immediately onto my list of "auditioning" CDs.

Chris

This looks excellent. I have some of her Mahler and Sibelius stuff. And I picked up your earlier recommendations of Bach, Bellini and Dowland -- all tremendous. Particularly enjoying the Bach Motets.

:cheer:

Matt

I'm really pleased you have enjoyed the recommendations. I am just listening to the von Otter on speakers and it is tremendous. I am sure you will love it.

Chris

 

[Covenanter]

Decca's DDD recording of Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.1 / Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini; by Vladimir Ashkenazy

I think this is the Concertgebouw/Haitink version and if so then it is indeed very fine. The older analogue version with Previn and the LSO (Piano Concerto No 2 / Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini) is also excellent. For a more modern version try Stephen Hough/Dallas SO/Litton on Hyperion (all 4 concertos + the Rhapsody). Although live recordings they are spectacular and Hough's playing is a revelation.

Chris

 

[chunky70]

Ozric Tentacles - Strangeitude.

Patricia Barber - Companion.

Marillion - Marbles.

Porcupine Tree - In Absentia.

Roxy Music - Avalon.

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours.

Eagles - Hotel California

Supertramp - Crime of the Century.

Suzanne Vega - Solitude Standing.

Arne Domnerus - Jazz at the Pawnshop

 

[Machinemessiah]

90125 by Yes is brilliantly done, sounds great on vinyl too. Fragile and The Yes Album (quite often used by reviewers in magazines as a test disc) and Hell Freezes Over by The Eagles ain't bad too.

 

[BigH]

This is brand new and I've only heard it on headphones so far but it is clear to me that this is a brilliant recording of some superb performances:

"Sogno Barocco" Anne Sophie von Otter - Naive V5286 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sogno-Barocco-Baroque-Dream-Sofie/dp/B0089N47KE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1373498233&sr=1-1&keywords=von+otter

Surely one of the greatest voices of our time, von Otter is supported here by the lovely Sandrine Piau. I suspect that the repertoire won't be appreciated by the majority on this forum but I also suspect that this recording will challenge many highly regarded equipment setups.

If you like great singing try this. It is going immediately onto my list of "auditioning" CDs.

Chris

I tried this but the third track does not sound very well recorded re the vocals and I don't like the instrumental backing.

I prefer her Berlioz: Les Nuits d'été; Mélodies; Berlin Phil. James Levine.

 

[themovierooms]

Lloyd Miller & The Heliocentrics - OST album is very very well recorded.

 

[BigH]

If you want modern jazz then try Hadouk Trio - Utopies.

 

[Covenanter]

This is brand new and I've only heard it on headphones so far but it is clear to me that this is a brilliant recording of some superb performances:

"Sogno Barocco" Anne Sophie von Otter - Naive V5286 - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sogno-Barocco-Baroque-Dream-Sofie/dp/B0089N47KE/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1373498233&sr=1-1&keywords=von+otter

Surely one of the greatest voices of our time, von Otter is supported here by the lovely Sandrine Piau. I suspect that the repertoire won't be appreciated by the majority on this forum but I also suspect that this recording will challenge many highly regarded equipment setups.

If you like great singing try this. It is going immediately onto my list of "auditioning" CDs.

Chris

I tried this but the third track does not sound very well recorded re the vocals and I don't like the instrumental backing.

I prefer her Berlioz: Les Nuits d'été; Mélodies; Berlin Phil. James Levine.

Well different strokes for different folks I guess.

Interesting that you should dislike track 3 "pur ti miro" of which the Independent review said "Pur Ti Miro, a beautiful duet of interlacing lines by Von Otter and Sandrine Piau, which may have been written by Cavalli as part of Monteverdi's workshop. It's simply gorgeous, and modern-sounding." It's one of my favourite tracks. I also love the instrumental backing. But as I said we all have different tastes and opinions.

Chris

 

[BigH]

Well different strokes for different folks I guess.

Interesting that you should dislike track 3 "pur ti miro" of which the Independent review said "Pur Ti Miro, a beautiful duet of interlacing lines by Von Otter and Sandrine Piau, which may have been written by Cavalli as part of Monteverdi's workshop. It's simply gorgeous, and modern-sounding." It's one of my favourite tracks. I also love the instrumental backing. But as I said we all have different tastes and opinions.

Chris

Well maybe its the Spotify version but there seems to be a lot of sibilance on track 3, others sound OK. Yes I don't like ancient instruments, rather have piano than harpsichord.

 

[Covenanter]

Well different strokes for different folks I guess.

Interesting that you should dislike track 3 "pur ti miro" of which the Independent review said "Pur Ti Miro, a beautiful duet of interlacing lines by Von Otter and Sandrine Piau, which may have been written by Cavalli as part of Monteverdi's workshop. It's simply gorgeous, and modern-sounding." It's one of my favourite tracks. I also love the instrumental backing. But as I said we all have different tastes and opinions.

Chris

Well maybe its the Spotify version but there seems to be a lot of sibilance on track 3, others sound OK. Yes I don't like ancient instruments, rather have piano than harpsichord.

Certainly no sibilance on the CD as heard on my system. So maybe it is Spotify. I am a fan of period performance, I like the sparseness as well as liking to hear it as the composer would have heard it. I know many people like ot hear modern instruments though.

As you like von Otter may I also recommend her in "Schubert Leider" with Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe?

Chris

 

[radiorog]

They opened unexpectedly?

haha....yes, better than not opening at all....

 

[MUSICRAFT]

As I have only just set up a great sounding Hi-Fi, I am keen to know what well recorded CDs to purchase. So far my favorite is Nitin Sawhney - Beyond Skin

Hi davelee

Beyond Skin and the track Nadia is one of my favourites. Other albums include The Silver Tree (Lisa Gerrard), Modern Cool (Patricia Barber) and the track Aye Dil E Nadan (superbly sung by Lata Mangeshkar).

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Some good choices. Although as an album I prefer Cafe Blue to Modern Cool but think that would be a good demo disc.

Hi BigH

Thanks and fair enough.

I would also like to add Terminator Salvation soundtrack and Destiny Chakra (Swati Natekar).

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

 

[Rethep]

Sara K - Hell or highwater

Not bad but I prefer Hobo, I find Stockfisch recordings too closely miked.

"Hobo" is very good too! But also "Play on words".

 

[Rethep]

Does anyone know the cd "Love songs" by Arleen Auger ? I experience distortion on the voice in several of the songs. I have an iTunes download, but almost all of the downloads are very good. Is it on the original cd too (nowadays hard to check because there is almost no recordstore left) ? The music is marvellous classical songs!

 

[cse]

Certainly no sibilance on the CD as heard on my system. So maybe it is Spotify. I am a fan of period performance, I like the sparseness as well as liking to hear it as the composer would have heard it. I know many people like ot hear modern instruments though.

As you like von Otter may I also recommend her in "Schubert Leider" with Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe?

Chris

[/quote]

I think you're waisting your time recommending classical releases here, as most of the members are clearly not afficionados and don't really have a particulary wide experience of recordings/reportoire. Perhaps better to enter the Gramophone Forum for that kind of debate. Many new classical releases and some from the past are beautifully recorded, although not many in SACD format I find. However, for Ann Sophie Von Otter, her recording with Bengt Forsberg of Grieg Songs is a fantastic disc. As to period instruments, I love the Anima Eterna set of Beethoven Symphonies - very clear, upfront and detailed recordings.

 

[matthewpiano]

A few recommendations from me:

Songs My Mother Taught Me (Magdalena Kozena/Malcolm Martineau) DG

Casals Encores (Alban Gerhardt/Cecile Licad) Hyperion - Cello and piano, beautifully played and recorded.

Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Volume 2: Op.7; Op.49 No.1; Op.49 No.2; Op.53 'Waldstein' (Martin Roscoe) Deux-Elles - Some of the best recorded piano sound I've ever heard and formidable interpretations of this great music.

Mahler - Complete Symphonies (Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt/Eliahu Inbal) - A budget priced survey on Brilliant Classics but tremendous clarity of sound and some really beautiful orchestral playing.

Verdi - Requiem (Harteros/Ganassi/Villazon/Pape/Sant Cecilia/Pappano) EMI - Incredible dynamic range and real evidence of how innately Pappano understands this music.

Bella Hardy - Songs Lost & Stolen

Heidi Talbot - The Last Star

Heidi Talbot - Angels Without Wings

Megson - The Longshot

The above are four of the finest acoustic folk releases from the last couple of years, with the benefit of beautiful recordings. On a good system you should be able to hear all the character in the vocals and get a realistic reproduction of the various acoustic instruments used. Wonderful stuff.

Joshua Redman - Walking Shadows

A great jazz album and on a good system the saxophone sounds like it is in the room.

 

[matt49]

I think you're waisting your time recommending classical releases here, as most of the members are clearly not afficionados and don't really have a particulary wide experience of recordings/reportoire. Perhaps better to enter the Gramophone Forum for that kind of debate. Many new classical releases and some from the past are beautifully recorded, although not many in SACD format I find. However, for Ann Sophie Von Otter, her recording with Bengt Forsberg of Grieg Songs is a fantastic disc. As to period instruments, I love the Anima Eterna set of Beethoven Symphonies - very clear, upfront and detailed recordings.

Yes, but some of us clearly do have a strong interest in classical music, and I for one have benefited from Chris's suggestions.

And with all due respect it seems a little odd to say he's wasting his time, and then to make some classical recommendations yourself!

 

[Macspur]

A few recommendations from me:

Songs My Mother Taught Me (Magdalena Kozena/Malcolm Martineau) DG

Casals Encores (Alban Gerhardt/Cecile Licad) Hyperion - Cello and piano, beautifully played and recorded.

Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Volume 2: Op.7; Op.49 No.1; Op.49 No.2; Op.53 'Waldstein' (Martin Roscoe) Deux-Elles - Some of the best recorded piano sound I've ever heard and formidable interpretations of this great music.

Mahler - Complete Symphonies (Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt/Eliahu Inbal) - A budget priced survey on Brilliant Classics but tremendous clarity of sound and some really beautiful orchestral playing.

Verdi - Requiem (Harteros/Ganassi/Villazon/Pape/Sant Cecilia/Pappano) EMI - Incredible dynamic range and real evidence of how innately Pappano understands this music.

Bella Hardy - Songs Lost & Stolen

Heidi Talbot - The Last Star

Heidi Talbot - Angels Without Wings

Megson - The Longshot

The above are four of the finest acoustic folk releases from the last couple of years, with the benefit of beautiful recordings. On a good system you should be able to hear all the character in the vocals and get a realistic reproduction of the various acoustic instruments used. Wonderful stuff.

Joshua Redman - Walking Shadows

A great jazz album and on a good system the saxophone sounds like it is in the room.

Thanks for the folk recommendations... have got Bella Hardy and Heidi Talbot's Distant Future and Smoke of Home by Megson.

If I may bring your attention to Traces by Karine Polwart, a superbly well recorded album.. beautiful, poignant and evocative.

Mac

 

[BigH]

A few recommendations from me:

Songs My Mother Taught Me (Magdalena Kozena/Malcolm Martineau) DG

Casals Encores (Alban Gerhardt/Cecile Licad) Hyperion - Cello and piano, beautifully played and recorded.

Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Volume 2: Op.7; Op.49 No.1; Op.49 No.2; Op.53 'Waldstein' (Martin Roscoe) Deux-Elles - Some of the best recorded piano sound I've ever heard and formidable interpretations of this great music.

Mahler - Complete Symphonies (Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt/Eliahu Inbal) - A budget priced survey on Brilliant Classics but tremendous clarity of sound and some really beautiful orchestral playing.

Verdi - Requiem (Harteros/Ganassi/Villazon/Pape/Sant Cecilia/Pappano) EMI - Incredible dynamic range and real evidence of how innately Pappano understands this music.

Bella Hardy - Songs Lost & Stolen

Heidi Talbot - The Last Star

Heidi Talbot - Angels Without Wings

Megson - The Longshot

The above are four of the finest acoustic folk releases from the last couple of years, with the benefit of beautiful recordings. On a good system you should be able to hear all the character in the vocals and get a realistic reproduction of the various acoustic instruments used. Wonderful stuff.

Joshua Redman - Walking Shadows

A great jazz album and on a good system the saxophone sounds like it is in the room.

Thanks for those, nearly rec. the Joshua Redman one myself.

A couple of folk albums you may like are: Yvonne Lyon - Ashes and Gold and Lauren MacColl - Strewn with Ribbons.

 

[DocG]

I think you're waisting your time recommending classical releases here, as most of the members are clearly not afficionados and don't really have a particulary wide experience of recordings/reportoire. Perhaps better to enter the Gramophone Forum for that kind of debate. Many new classical releases and some from the past are beautifully recorded, although not many in SACD format I find. However, for Ann Sophie Von Otter, her recording with Bengt Forsberg of Grieg Songs is a fantastic disc. As to period instruments, I love the Anima Eterna set of Beethoven Symphonies - very clear, upfront and detailed recordings.

Yes, but some of us clearly do have a strong interest in classical music, and I for one have benefited from Chris's suggestions.

And it is just as nice for non-classical music lovers (like myself) who want to dip a toe into classical and don't know where to start. I recently bought the Dowland 4-CD box Chris recommended. It now regularly brightens up our Sunday mornings. My 7-year-old son enjoys it too!

 

[Macspur]

A few recommendations from me:

Songs My Mother Taught Me (Magdalena Kozena/Malcolm Martineau) DG

Casals Encores (Alban Gerhardt/Cecile Licad) Hyperion - Cello and piano, beautifully played and recorded.

Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Volume 2: Op.7; Op.49 No.1; Op.49 No.2; Op.53 'Waldstein' (Martin Roscoe) Deux-Elles - Some of the best recorded piano sound I've ever heard and formidable interpretations of this great music.

Mahler - Complete Symphonies (Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt/Eliahu Inbal) - A budget priced survey on Brilliant Classics but tremendous clarity of sound and some really beautiful orchestral playing.

Verdi - Requiem (Harteros/Ganassi/Villazon/Pape/Sant Cecilia/Pappano) EMI - Incredible dynamic range and real evidence of how innately Pappano understands this music.

Bella Hardy - Songs Lost & Stolen

Heidi Talbot - The Last Star

Heidi Talbot - Angels Without Wings

Megson - The Longshot

The above are four of the finest acoustic folk releases from the last couple of years, with the benefit of beautiful recordings. On a good system you should be able to hear all the character in the vocals and get a realistic reproduction of the various acoustic instruments used. Wonderful stuff.

Joshua Redman - Walking Shadows

A great jazz album and on a good system the saxophone sounds like it is in the room.

Thanks for those, nearly rec. the Joshua Redman one myself.

A couple of folk albums you may like are: Yvonne Lyon - Ashes and Gold and Lauren MacColl - Strewn with Ribbons.

Got Ashes and Gold Big H, have you heard Fearless? very nice too.

Mac

 

[BigH]

Got Ashes and Gold Big H, have you heard Fearless? very nice too.

Mac

No not heard it yet, only just discovered her when looking at some of Matt's suggestions. Good to have some non pop/rock music to try. The Von Otter Grieg was more to my taste than her Sogno Barocco.

 

[Covenanter]

Certainly no sibilance on the CD as heard on my system. So maybe it is Spotify. I am a fan of period performance, I like the sparseness as well as liking to hear it as the composer would have heard it. I know many people like ot hear modern instruments though.

As you like von Otter may I also recommend her in "Schubert Leider" with Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe?

Chris

I think you're waisting your time recommending classical releases here, as most of the members are clearly not afficionados and don't really have a particulary wide experience of recordings/reportoire. Perhaps better to enter the Gramophone Forum for that kind of debate. Many new classical releases and some from the past are beautifully recorded, although not many in SACD format I find. However, for Ann Sophie Von Otter, her recording with Bengt Forsberg of Grieg Songs is a fantastic disc. As to period instruments, I love the Anima Eterna set of Beethoven Symphonies - very clear, upfront and detailed recordings.

[/quote]

I am aware that classical is a minority interest here but there are those who like it and it seems to me to be valid to recommend classical recordings on this type of thread. I do contribute to the Gramophone forum too.

Chris

PS The Grieg is as you say "fantastic" and has been one of my auditionign CDs for many years now.