[Desertpilot]

My purpose creating this thread is to offer classical recordings that will take full advantage of your audio system. 

LIST OF ALBUMS ARE BELOW IN THIS MESSAGE

Each album should be well performed, well recorded and mastered.  Sonics, whether two channel or multichannel must be superb.  We are fortunate that classical music labels continue to publish high resolution recordings.  I will try to offer the best I can find for your consideration and enjoyment.  I do not know music theory.  I will rely on critical reviews regarding the performance.  Many classical recordings have different interpretations by the conductor.  Some you may like and some you may not.  The quality of the recording, however, must be first rate.  I'll also include "tech specs" like format, sample rate, etc..


Here are links to the actual reviews:

Bruckner: Symphony #9: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1867401#msg1867401

Steinbacher: Fantasies, Rhapsodies and Daydreams:[/b] https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1867449#msg1867449

Berlioz: 'Grande Messe des morts': (Gardner, conductor) https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1867645#msg1867645

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 2 & 3: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1868048#msg1868048

Beethoven: Concerto in C Major: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1868118#msg1868118

Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1868205#msg1868205

Wölfl: Eclipse Vol. 1, Mattias Spee, Piano: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1868475#msg1868475

Pärt: Stabat Mater: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1868772#msg1868772

Korngold: Symphony in F# Major: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1869101#new

Kleiberg: Concertos: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1869287#msg1869287

Honegger: Jeanne d'Arc au bûcher: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1870162#msg1870162

Whitlock: Organ Sonata: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1870848#msg1870848

Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky, Lieutenant Kijé Suite:  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1871380#msg1871380

Berlioz: 'Grande Messe des morts' (Pappano, conductor):  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1877219#msg1877219

Mahler: Symphony No. 3:  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1878350#msg1878350

Brahms: Symphony #4, MacMillan: Larghetto for Orchestra.  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1878827#new

Reference Music by PSAudio  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1883801#new

Mozart:  Serenade No. 10 'Gran Partita', Beethoven: Variations on Mozart's 'Là ci darem la mano' from Don Giovanni https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1885541#new

Elgar: Cello Concerto, Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme, Nocturne, Andante cantabile, Pezzo capriccioso https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1885913#new

Madetoja: Kullervo, Op. 15, Klami: Kalevala Suite, Op. 23, Sibelius: Lemminkäinen in Tuonela, Op. 22 No. 2 (1897 version - world premiere recording), Pylkkänen: Kullervo Goes to War.  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1887983#new

Æon Trio: Elegy:  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1888887#new

Schubert: String Quintet D.956, Quartettsatz D.703:  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1888901#new

Schubert: String Quintet:  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1888909#new

Rota: Nonetto, Martinu: Nonet No. 2, Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 : https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1890976#msg1890976

Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 2 in E minor Op. 27, Vocalise No. 14 Op. 34: https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1892957#msg1892957

Ravel: La Valse, Ma Mère l'Oye, Alborada del gracioso, Pavane pour une infante défunte, Vales nobles et sentimentales, Boléro:  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1897202#msg1897202

The Boulanger Legacy, Lili Boulanger: Nocturne, Cortège, D'un matin de printemps, Nadia Boulanger: Modéré (from 3 Pièces), Bacewicz: Violin Sonata No. 3, Bernstein: Violin Sonata, Piazzolla: Le grand tango
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1909285#msg1909285

Beethoven, Piano Concertos:  Gabriel Fauré, Piano Music:  Hannes Minnar, NOX  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1911479#new

Saint-Saëns, Vol. 1 Symphonies 1 & 2, Symphony in A major, Vol. 2 Symphony No. 3*, Symphony 'Urbs Roma', https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1911992#new

Schubert: Winterreise, https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1916050#new

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13, Op. 113 ‘Babi Yar’, https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1916699#new

Joachim Eijlander:  Dark Fire, https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1918234#new

Sibelius: The Symphonies, https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1920988#new

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1, Gubaidulina: In tempus praesens, https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1922148#msg1922148

Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues, Bach: Goldberg Variations, Hannes Minnaar, Piano.  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1926986#new

Schumann:  The Schumann Collection, Vol. 2, Nicolas van Poucke, Piano.   https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1967247#msg1967247

Tchaikovsky:  Symphony No. 5, Schulhoff: Five Pieces for String Quartet (arr. Honeck/Ille).  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1967551#new

Chiaroscuro Quartet: Haydn, String Quartets Op. 33 1-3.  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1967602#new

Mahler: Symphony No. 8.  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1969809#msg1969809

Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite, Karelia Suite, Rakastava https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1976148#new

Meyerbeer  Le Prophète  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1994683#new

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E major, Bates: Resurrexit,  https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1995232#new

Mendelssohn: Elijah https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=177443.msg1995409#new


Marcus

[Desertpilot]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck (conductor)

Evaluate your system for horns and full orchestra.

5 Stars, David Hurwitz at Classics Today, "This is an amazing performance, captured in terrific sound.  ...There’s an organic unity here that’s very special, and wholly unique."

5 Stars, Adrian Quanjer at HRAudio.Net, "...the performance has to be heard, rather than read about, to be struck by its immensely gripping power, turning many other recordings into bleak collections of noise."

2020 GRAMMY® Nominee for Best Orchestral Performance, Best Engineered Album, Classical, and Producer of the Year, Classical
2020 International Classical Music Awards Symphonic Music Nominee

Tech Specs:
Available as CD, SACD, Download.
Original Recording Format: DSD 256
Booklet and sample tracks are available at Native DSD
Reference Recordings  (FR-733)
Producer:  Dirk Sobotka, Recording Engineer, Mark Donahue Mastering Engineer (Soundmirror Boston)
Venue: Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, PA,
Recording Date: Recorded Live on February 23-25, 2018
Release Date: August 23, 2019

Native DSD Download:  https://www.nativedsd.com/catalogue/albums/fr733-bruckner-symphony-no-9/
Presto Classical, 2 channel only, https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8659741--bruckner-symphony-no-9

On Qobuz:  Search for...
Manfred Honeck, select SEE ALL RELEASES, look for Bruckner Symphony #9, 24/192 stereo

Everything about this recording will challenge your audio system to the max, from quiet passages to blazing horns.  This is the unfinished 3 movement version as the composer passed while composing the 4th movement.  The symphony was written to express musically Bruckner's vision of passing in to the afterlife.  The power of this performance is amazing and I was emotionally connected to it throughout.

Marcus

[Desertpilot]

Fantasies, Rhapsodies and Daydreams

Arabella Steinbacher (violin)
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
Lawrence Foster (conductor)

Evaluate your system for Violin (especially track 3, "The Lark Ascending").

If I want to play a violin piece for guests (and myself) I turn to this album and especially track #3, "The Lark Ascending", composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams.  The lyrical beauty of Steinbacher's playing and the depth provided by the orchestra will create an emotional connection in any listener.  Pentatone writes, "...the album also features the work which has topped Classic FM’s listeners’ “Hall of Fame” for the last three years running: the much-loved and achingly lyrical The Lark Ascending..."

MusicWeb International:  Assured and focused, Steinbacher provides brilliant virtuoso playing...
Gramophone:  Were someone to ask me to suggest a disc to introduce them to the violin, I might well steer them in the direction of this one.
John Broggio, HR Audio.Net:  What is unusual is that only 3 accounts of this glorious evocation of nature (The Lark Ascending) exist in native hi-resolution recordings!  ...this account of a mainstay of C20 English composition is very much welcome.

Tech Specs:
Available as CD, SACD and download.
Original Recording Format: DSD 64
Sample tracks and booklet at Native DSD.  Full tracks available to sample at Pentatone.
Label:  PentaTone Classics  (PTC 5186536)
Producer: Job Maarse, Recording Engineer: Erdo Groot
Venue: Salle Yakov Kreizberg of the Auditorium Rainier III, Monte-Carlo
Recording Date:  October, 2014
Release Date:  September 2, 2016

Native DSD Download: https://www.nativedsd.com/catalogue/campaigns/pentatone-highlights/ptc5186536-fantasies-rhapsodies-daydreams/
Pentatone Download:  http://www.pentatonemusic.com/fantasies-rhapsodies-and-daydreams-steinbacher-foster-opmc

On Qobuz:  Search for...
Arabella Steinbacher, select SEE ALL RELEASES, Fantasies, Rhapsodies & Daydreams comes up in 24/96 stereo

I offer this album as "demo worthy" because "The Lark Ascending" is a wonderful piece that classical and non-classical enthusiasts can repeatedly enjoy.  The violin is a difficult instrument to reproduce without sounding screechy or harsh.  Here you will have a recording that is delightful and engaging.  Your audio system will love it and so will you.

Marcus

[Early B.]

Might be helpful for the reader to add purchase links.

[Desertpilot]

Might be helpful for the reader to add purchase links.

I can do that.  Thanks for the feedback.

Marcus

[Desertpilot]

Berlioz: 'Grande Messe des morts', Requiem, Op. 5.

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
Eikanger-Bjorsvik Musikklag (Brass Orchestra)
Choir of Collegium Musicum
Edvard Grieg Kor
Bergen Philharmonic Choir
Edward Gardner, Conductor

Evaluate your system for Choir.

This is my choice for a "demo worthy" choral recording.  The reason I selected this piece is its power with multiple choral groups.  Additionally, the orchestra and brass sections give the music a driving force right through to the end.  There are several notable recordings of this work.  All of them have their proponents and detractors.  Alternative recordings include Sir Colin Davis, with the London Symphony Orchestra, both in 1969 and 2012 (shortly before his passing) and Roger Norrington, with the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, in 2006.

Watch the entire performance on Vimeo (free):  https://vimeo.com/185669749

5 Stars, David Cairns, The Sunday Times, “… Gardner’s well-drilled, expressive forces have the ever-imposing music’s measure. Todenes gives a beautiful account of the Sanctus… “
5 Stars, Mark Sealey, MusicWeb-International.com, “…If you don’t know this very compelling work, this is an excellent place to start. If you follow Edward Gardner’s intriguing career, you’ll want this as a testament to the best he is so far capable of. If large scale choral repertoire thrills you as much for its exactness, clarity and dedication as for its scale, then prepare to be thrilled; and to be left entirely satisfied on repeated listenings.”

Tech Specs:
Available as CD, SACD, Download
Original Recording Format:  24/96 kHz.
Sample tracks available at Chandos.Net
Chandos (CHAN 5219)
Producer: Brian Pidgeon, Engineer: Ralph Couzens, Engineer assistant: Gunnar Herleif Nilsen, Engineer assistant: Stephen Rinker
Venue: Grieghallen, Bergen, Norway
Recording Date: May 2018
Release Date: October 2018

Download at Chandos https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CHAN%205219

On Qobuz:  Search for...
Berlioz: 'Grande Messe des morts', Requiem, The Gardner version comes up in 24/96 stereo

I've listened to this album many times.  I also own both the Sir Colin Davis version and Roger Norrington version.  All of them are great, but I keep returning to the Gardner version as my favorite.  On this recording, play track number 2, "Dies Irae".  The male voices are spectacular and about 4 minutes in, the plucking of deep bass strings propel the music forward with depth and power.  Sonics are terrific with location of the choirs correctly placed in your listening space.  Another several minutes in to the track the brass sections (scattered around the hall, as Berlioz wanted) blaze into the scene.  All in all, this is a splendid performance that will give your system a choral performance not to be missed.

Marcus

[richidoo]

I think choral music should not be on any list of demonstration music. Very few audiophiles will tolerate it even for very short period.
A guy played Tallis Scholars Allegri: Miserere at CAF, and it quickly cleared out the room of a dozen people despite the host serving free beer!

IMO, a demo song should be short and dramatic to demonstrate the technical points without becoming an artistic lecture to those who don't care about that kind of music. It should be "gentle and kind" classical music that is popular and well accepted by most classical fans, not edgy dissonant hard core music that very few can fully appreciate.

Any kind of Bach usually clears the room quickly, with the cantatas having the strongest dispersal force. Drop the needle somewhere in the middle of St Matthews Passion and the people will vanish like a UFO.

This symphonic piece was a popular demo track among audiophiles 15 years ago. I remember a guy came over my house to hear my system for the first time. I had been to his house, he had lowther single driver DIY speakers, 10W tube amps, all DIY, all very fragile looking. He listened to blues and classic rock pretty quietly. I played this track for him on my big 4 way speakers at normal symphony level. He shouted out loud and jumped back in his seat at the bass drum accent at the beginning. He was impressed but a little shaken, like he had never heard a stereo do that before. I never saw him again, he stopped posting on AC and moved away shortly after that. I am always haunted by the idea that I demoed him right out of the hobby. 

At an audio meet at my house back in the glory days the crowd of 30something DINK audiophiles was rowdy and talking loudly over the music. So I played Beethoven Opus 135, 3rd movement Lento, by Prazak Quartet, thinking it would have its usual effect of gently moving the chatter to another room so the serious listeners can focus. But it had the opposite effect. Everyone suddenly went silent, looked at the stereo and listened intently for the whole movement. You never know what reaction you'll get to a demo track.

[Norman Tracy]

Desertpilot - Thanks a 1,000,000 for this thread and the detailed notes on the suggestions. I am of the generation of audiophiles who studied the writings of Harry Pearson and J. Gordon Holt both of whom stated classical music, especially large scale romantic age works, are the ultimate test of a HiFi. Given the dynamics, bandwidth, and infinite tonal colors possible I still agree with HP & JGH.

richidoo - Enjoyed your stories of demos. Regarding "choral music should not be on any list of demonstration music. Very few audiophiles will tolerate it even for very short period". Well, granted, however lets not limit this discussion thread. I will posit that 'Demonstration Worthy' has at least three levels with the listeners' tolerance level changing accordingly:

• Just me listening solo, lets take this system out and see what she will really do. Anything goes including choral music.
• Listening with friends who are into music and HiFi. Anything goes including classical and choral but the one offering the esoteric selection up perhaps owes us a introduction.
• Listening to demo in public, for example at a trade show like my beloved LSAF. In that setting I would rarely, if ever, do not only choral but any classical. At shows the attention span is shortened by the excitement of the event and there is just not the ability to get listeners to settle into a 10-15 minute movement and wait for that moment when the composer and conductor let it all break loose. There are exceptions, I will post a link below describing when classical music as demo get a bit out of hand.

Reference Recordings’ “Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring, etc.” featuring Eiji Oue conducting the Minnesota Orchestra features 40+ dB dynamic range. https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/352063-exploring-purifi-woofer-speaker-builds-29.html#post6244079

[Desertpilot]

Desertpilot - Thanks a 1,000,000 for this thread and the detailed notes on the suggestions.

You are most welcome.  Thanks for your feedback.  It helps keep me motivated.

Marcus

[Desertpilot]

I think choral music should not be on any list of demonstration music. Very few audiophiles will tolerate it even for very short period.

At first, I thought you were joking.  Let me reiterate, my primary purpose in creating this thread is to offer high quality music selections to AC members for their personal use.  We purchase high quality gear.  Many of us spend a lot of money on our gear.  We should have high quality content to play on it.  Again, well performed, well recorded and well mastered to the highest quality possible.  I want members to "demonstrate" the capabilities of their systems to themselves!  If they wish to play this music to family and friends, that is their choice.

Next up is piano music.  Absolutely, a very difficult instrument to reproduce on our systems.

Marcus

[Desertpilot]

I thought everyone here might be interested in these two articles by Rushton Paul at Positive Feedback.  The first is a discussion about Channel Classics records and their chief recording/mastering engineer, Jared Sachs.

https://positive-feedback.com/audio-discourse/jared-sacks-and-channel-classics-transparent-recordings-with-transcendent-artists/

He followed up this article with an interview with Jared.

https://positive-feedback.com/interviews/jared-sacks-channel-classics/

Why am I pointing this out?  Recording and mastering quality is extremely important.  I was fascinated with the conversation.  I particularly enjoyed hearing that conductor Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra do not record "live" performances.  Jared likes this because he can set up microphones wherever needed.  Also, they record a full movement at one time.  Then, they all crowd in to the control room and take a listen.  This may go on several times until they all think they got it "right".  I own plenty of Channel Classics recordings and can attest to the care and quality of each one.

I hope you find it as insightful as I did.

Marcus

[doggie]

Fantasies, Rhapsodies and Daydreams

Arabella Steinbacher (violin)
Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo
Lawrence Foster (conductor)

Thanks!

This is also available from Qobuz at 24/96.

As is:

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Manfred Honeck (conductor)
at 24/192

[Desertpilot]

Thanks!

This is also available from Qobuz at 24/96.

As is:

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Manfred Honeck (conductor)
at 24/192

Great news!  Super appreciate your post.  Oh, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, especially with your new X5s!

Marcus

[FullRangeMan]

Thanks Marcus this is a wonderful thread.
The Arabella/Fantasies looks great to a light listening for pleasure what in the end is the reason music exists.

[Desertpilot]

Thanks Marcus this is a wonderful thread.
The Arabella/Fantasies looks great to a light listening for pleasure what in the end is the reason music exists.

You are most welcome!  Your feedback is keeping me motivated.

Marcus

[rotarius]

Honeck's Bruckner 9th is a good one.  It is really hard to come up with reference quality performance and sound combined but this one gets close. 
You might consider Gunter Wand's Bruckner 4th with the Berliners, their performance is glorious and the sound quality is great.

[rotarius]

I think this album meets your criteria 

[Desertpilot]

I think this album meets your criteria

I will check it out.  Thank you for the suggestion!

Marcus

[dB Cooper]

[Tyson]

Speaking of Choral works, this is the best I've ever heard the Mahler 8th sound.  And best of all - streaming on Qobuz: