Discs we’ve discovered (or rediscovered) and added to the review roster
By Roy Gregory
Amongst the everyday tools that we reach for in reviewing, discs – be they records, CDs or SACDs – are indispensable. Unlike downloads or file replay, they represent a closed source that’s reliable, repeatable and familiar. Which is why you’ll see the same titles cropping up, over and again. Of course, that offers a degree of comparison across reviews, just as those titles offer a point of comparison between products and systems. But the cast list is far from constant. It might not change swiftly, but change it does, with new titles emerging to occupy the ‘reach for’ slots when it comes to set-up and assessment. With that in mind, here’s a short list of recent additions to the regular replay collection.
Some have noted in the past, an apparent preference for digital source material. That’s not a reflection of sonic taste. Instead, it reflects a desire to offer musical benchmarks that are actually accessible and available to readers. Whilst the vast majority of my own collection and listening for pleasure involves older vinyl pressings, there’s little point in glorying in things past that are largely unobtainable these days, while age and pressing variation makes for an unreliable reference point. In contrast, recent/current recordings are generally available and also offer the opportunity to hear the best modern performers in action. In this respect, all but one of the discs listed here qualify. None of us are lucky enough to enjoy access to all of these artists, but some, certainly, are there to be enjoyed. And if you can’t catch them live? It helps that the recordings are more than simple sonic show-cases, with musical qualities and integrity that bear repeated listening.
Bedřich Smetana – Má Vlast
Semyon Bychkov cond.
Czech Philharmonic orchestra
Pentatone PTC 5187 203 (CD)
Your first recording of what becomes a favourite piece always holds a special place in your musical heart, but even allowing for that, Rafael Kubelik’s 1971 DGG recording of Smetana’s Má Vlast has had one hell of a run, a constant presence in my classical affections from the original LP release, through CD, UHQ-MQA CD and latterly, the DGG Original Source re-issue on vinyl. It has never disappointed and its position has never been threatened – until now…
Pentatone’s recording with Semyon Bychkov and the Czech Philharmonic has more than stepped up to the mark – and it’s not stepping back. Bychkov’s notably slower tempi allow the movements more time and space to develop and build, while the Czech Philharmonic display a real (and unsurprising) feel for the music, revelling in its emotional range and depth. But what makes it an indispensible review tool is the combination of natural perspective, broad tonality and towering dynamics. This is a true test of any system’s ability to scale dynamics and project shifts in musical density. Despite the sheer power on tap and Bychkov’s measured pacing, there should be nothing leaden in the performance, no dragging in the pace. Orchestral scale, subtle nuance and challenging ensemble arrangements – they’re all here, along with musical and emotional intensity. You think you are getting full-range performance? This will tell you in no uncertain fashion.
