Found 195 product(s) in the

Classical Music

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Product Reviews

Itzhak Perlman - Bach: Sonatas & Partitas For Solo Violin

Product No: AWCL 514809
Available: InStock
Category: Vinyl Record
Label: Warner Classics

Fairly Quiet Pressing

4 Stars
Posted Thursday, October 7, 2021 by Brian VanPelt The pressing is at issue here. I ordered 2 of this album, and all 6 disks had visible surface issues. 2 of the disks have medium scratches, but all 6 disks have faint scratches throughout the entire sides of all 6 disks. My guess is these are the marks that happen when a record is produced conveyor-belt style, but I do not know the record business. These micro scratches are almost never audible, but there are more light clicks than should happen on a record that absolutely needs to be dead quiet. After all, this this music has only 1 violin as the only sound.

Another issue is something that might not bother those with headphones. On my stereo, I cannot locate, in space, where the sound of the violin is coming from - it is nebulous.

Overall, I'd say that the music is great, the recording is great - Perlman must have been in a cavernous room when he recorded this. The vinyl looks nasty up close, but is generally quiet.

Eiji Oue - Stravinsky: The Rite Of Spring

Product No: AREF 1515
Available: InStock
Category: 45 RPM Vinyl Record
Label: Reference Recordings

such promise, until the needle hits the groove

1 Stars
Posted Thursday, August 19, 2021 by scott baxter I had such hopes, but this is a very noisy record. Far too many pops and audible grit throughout both disks. I always wash a brand new record, and re-washing made no difference. The record was put through a degritter cleaner and it made no difference. I bought a second lp set and it sounded just the same. This is wasted money. I have a near 40 year old Antal Dorati/London Symphony recording by London Digital and it is so much more quiet.

Apart from the abysmal surface, this 'read' of the score is rather more relaxed than I think it should be, but we're now talking about matters of taste. Overall, it's too languid, lacking attack on certain passages that should literally shock the listener. Both the Bernstein and Dorati led recordings do a better job in this respect.

Overall I'd say this is a very problematic recording that had superb potential, but that is squandered by the rash of artifacts scattered across the surface of both disks.

Michael Stern - Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 'Organ'

Product No: CREF 136 SA
Available: InStock
Category: Hybrid Multichannel SACD
Label: Reference Recordings

SACD Stereo Mix - Ho Hum

3 Stars
Posted Wednesday, August 11, 2021 by Anonymous I listened to the CD layer and then the SACD stereo mix layer. Honestly not that much of a difference. If this was the first SACD I was exposed to honestly I'd be a tad disappointed. It does sound good, but not really altogether different than redbook.

Eugene Fodor & Alexander Peskanov - Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture

Product No: CTEL 60541 SA
Available: InStock
Category: Hybrid Multichannel SACD
Label: Telarc

4 Stars
Posted Wednesday, July 7, 2021 by Anonymous

Jacqueline Du Pre - 5 Legendary Recordings

Product No: AWCL 565178
Available: InStock
Category: Vinyl Box Sets
Label: Warner Classics

All Digital Remasters

3 Stars
Posted Saturday, May 22, 2021 by Joseph Somsel There was no warning that all five of these discs are digital remasters - none are directly from the master tapes. One of the discs is not even of the original issue but of a rehearsal. Nice enough packaging though and the performances are exceptional and justly renowned.

That said they are clear and detailed but lack the analogue warmth and body I hoped for and expected.

For sound quality, I might have been better off buying the Testament reissue of the Elgar or even a clean, used "dog in postage stamp" LP.

Overall, a disappointing purchase.

Sir Adrian Boult - Holst: The Planets

Product No: AWCL 525374
Available: InStock
Category: Vinyl Record
Label: Warner Classics

Decent pressing, prefer the Ozawa/BSO version

4 Stars
Posted Saturday, April 24, 2021 by ETKirsch This is a solid enough vinyl pressing. Some background cackling that's occasionally audible, but overall not bad. Imaging and sound stage are decent.

Personally, I prefer the Ozawa/BSO performance on Philips, but Boult is pretty synonymous with 20th Century English music, so I'm probably in the minority on that one.

Claudio Abbado - Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 20 & 21/ Friedrich Gulda, pianist

Product No: ADGR 2530548
Available: InStock
Category: 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Label: Speakers Corner (Deutsche Grammophon)

Fantastic Pressing

5 Stars
Posted Friday, April 23, 2021 by ETKirsch I put this release on immediately after listening to another DG record and was really struck by the superiority of this release. Which got me wondering "why is this DG release so much better than the other DG release?" The answer: this is a third party reissue of a DG recording by Speakers Corner and boy, do they nail it.

Terrific imaging and sound stage, very little background noise, a great example of how beautiful vinyl can sound when properly manufactured. Also love Gulda's performance. Highly recommended.

Herbert von Karajan - Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie

Product No: CDGR 90240 SA
Available: InStock
Category: Hybrid Stereo SACD
Label: Esoteric (Deutsche Grammophon)

Eine Alpensinfone/Karajan come full circle!

5 Stars
Posted Monday, March 22, 2021 by Ronald H. This was the first Classical cd that I bought in late 1982, when the cd format was first introduced. Historically, Eine Alpensinfone/Karajan was the first classical title to be mastered to cd along with Abba's The Visitors, at Polygram's Hanover W Germany cd plant. There has only been one other major remaster of this title. Esoteric, in cooperation with Universal Music, which owns this title, have remastered the recording using there own proprietary equipment. When it comes to music reproduction, I'm a minimalist. I have listened to this hybrid sacd on a Sony D-303 flagship portable cd player from 1991, mated with Sony MDR-E484B flagship earphones from 1990. My takeaway is, this version is the pinnacle of warmth and definition that was missing from previous editions. So, imagine how nice it will sound with sacd equipment. As a bonus, in addition to the title composition, Strauss's Metamorphosen, is included. Highly recommended!

Pablo Casals - Bach: The Cello Suites

Product No: AWCL 573806
Available: InStock
Category: 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Label: Warner Classics

The real thing!

5 Stars
Posted Monday, March 8, 2021 by Anonymous Pablo Casals was an amazing musician and it shows in this historic recording! Pressings are dead quiet and the sound is amazing for such an early recording. Highly recommended.

Vikingur Olafsson - Bach: Piano Works & Reworks

Product No: ADGR 89301
Available: InStock
Category: Vinyl Record
Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Fine vinyl and nice interpretations

5 Stars
Posted Sunday, March 7, 2021 by O.D. Jones I have had some trepidation in ordering a recent DG record due to the Carlos Kleiber Beethoven 5th reissue being dirty and noisy right out of the sleeve. I can report that both records here are heavy and flat and, even before a wet vacuum cleaning, are quiet and perfectly fine. I have no idea who pressed the Kleiber reissue, but this current crop of DG vinyl is good quality. The sonics of this recording are open and atmospheric, and the performances worth delving into. One interesting note is the fact this pianist included performances of two pieces, the Busoni transcriptions, that the tragically short-lived Dinu Lipatti recorded in supernatural and sublime fashion in the early fifties. The Lipatti records are worth searching out as I don't think they've ever been out of print since they were first released, along with an astonishing Ravel piece recorded in I believe 1936 on shellac. This Vikingur Olafsson record is highly recommended and I would like to hear his Glass LP next.

Leonard Bernstein - Ode an die Freiheit/Ode to freedom - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125

Product No: ADGR 4837443
Available: InStock
Category: 180 Gram Vinyl Record
Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Very poor audio quality

2 Stars
Posted Monday, January 11, 2021 by Mark The performance is wonderful, however, this digital pressing does not even rank on the James A. Mitchell audio stereo fidelity scale. The quality is muddy and muffled. I was sorely disappointed

Claudio Abbado - Mahler: Symphony No. 1

Product No: ADGR 4837266
Available: InStock
Category: Vinyl Record
Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Very Good play no good vinyl

1 Stars
Posted Monday, November 23, 2020 by Gundalp It have many tuk tuk noise.

I'm disappointed vinyl quality.

Not recommend it.

Ruth Palmer - Bach: Sonata & Partita

Product No: ABMS 1816
Available: InStock
Category: D2D Vinyl Record
Label: Berliner Meister Schallplatten

Fantastic recording.

5 Stars
Posted Friday, November 20, 2020 by Mike R. Thank you so much. Continue the cycle please.

Nathan Milstein - Masterpieces For Violin And Orchestra/ Susskind

Product No: AAPC 8528
Available: BackOrdered
Category: 200 Gram Vinyl Record
Label: Analogue Productions

Stunning!

5 Stars
Posted Thursday, September 17, 2020 by Mark This is one of the lesser-known jewels in the AP crown of fine classical reissues. Milstein is standing right in front of you. There were many superb Capitol classical issues, both musically and sonically, but I have never found a decent original pressing. So it's wonderful to have this exemplary reissue. More please......!!!!

Stokowski And Wagner, Symphony Of The Air Chorus - The Sound Of Stokowski And Wagner

Product No: AAPC 2555
Available: InStock
Category: 200 Gram Vinyl Record
Label: Analogue Productions (RCA Living Stereo)

Stokowski Magic!

5 Stars
Posted Thursday, September 17, 2020 by Mark One of the lesser-known Living Stereos, but in this stellar reissue the Stokowski magic comes to life. This is a stunning recording, beautifully enhanced in this immaculate reissue. When the chorus steals in during the Tannhauser Venusberg music it is breathtaking. Buy it!

Jean Martinon - Borodin: Symphony No. 2/Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnole

Product No: AAPC 2298
Available: InStock
Category: 200 Gram Vinyl Record
Label: Analogue Productions (RCA/DECCA Living Stereo)

Excellent Borodin and Korsakoff.

5 Stars
Posted Tuesday, July 28, 2020 by Anthony Interpretations are excellent with Jean Martinon leading LSO. I especially loved Rimsky Korsakoff's Capriccio Espagnole. The recording is excellent and very quiet. Definitely worth purchasing.

Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile - Not Our First Goat Rodeo

Product No: AMWS 38551
Available: InStock
Category: Vinyl Record
Label: Masterworks

5 Stars
Posted Wednesday, July 1, 2020 by Anonymous First thing this is not a classical recording, its experimental, avant garde folk music. Not particularly my cup of tea. Its a mediocre pressing that seems to have been done in someone's garage. The jacket is a particularly cheap excuse. Its unfortunate since the musicians are of extraordinary caliber. If you want a wonderful classical music recording which also happens to be an excellent LP by Yo-Yo and Chris buy the Bach Trios album. If you are interested in this musical genre buy the digital version, the LP quite frankly sucks.

Dallas Wind Symphony - Horns For The Holidays

Product No: CREF 126
Available: LimitedStock
Category: HDCD CD
Label: Reference Recordings

Misfire

1 Stars
Posted Monday, June 8, 2020 by Anonymous Went off the rails here, hate to say about one of my favorite labels. I learned to play all 3 to 4 parts with chords on piano when young for these pieces; knowing the notes well. Jarring notes of really screwy tunings made this one unlistenable and I tried playing on separate days 2 weeks apart in case it was just a bad day, no luck.

David Abel/ Julie Steinberg - Debussy/Brahms/Bartok: Sonatas For Violin And Piano

Product No: AAPC 8722
Available: InStock
Category: 200 Gram Vinyl Record
Label: Analogue Productions (Wilson Audiophile)

Great performance

5 Stars
Posted Thursday, May 14, 2020 by Mike I give this 5 stars for performance, timbre and enormous dynamics. I wish it had a little less background noise (even if it is an analogue recording) or is this surface noise, hence only 4 stars on hardware. My copy has a lot of statics also. But performance actually makes you ignore these side effects.

Zubin Mehta & the Los Angeles Philharmonic - Holst: The Planets

Product No: CAPC 6529 SA
Available: InStock
Category: Hybrid Stereo SACD
Label: Analogue Productions (Decca)

Incredible!

5 Stars
Posted Wednesday, May 13, 2020 by Anonymous This is a fantastic listening experience. If you are a fan of Holst: The Planets and have an SACD player, buy this now! The extreme audio dynamics of this piece (ex: brass stinging notes loudly) exploits DSD/SACD capability of fully resolving the audio better than most classical music. This is a great disc to demonstrate the comparison of vinyl, reel to reel, and CD vs DSD/SACD. Vinyl, reel to reel, and CD are dead! Long live the new king, DSD/SACD!