User Details - krisjan

library | recommendations

Name:
   Mark
Details:
   I listen to 98% classical music, mainly orchestral and chamber music from classical period through today (no atonal). I want acoustic instruments to sound natural and alive through my stereo system.
Location:
   Chicago suburbs
HiFi:
   Marantz SA-11S2 CD/SACD player
Cary SLP-05 preamp
Vincent Audio SP-T800 hybrid monoblock amplifiers
Monster HTS5100 power conditioner
Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers
Insignia AVR for rear channels only to Insignia 6.5 rear speakers
Cardas Cross balanced interconnect cables
Cardas Golden Cross biwire speaker cables
Harmonic Technology and Granite power cords
Email:
  
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Posts:
   337
 
 
Reviews
Found: 79 show all
Haydn: String Quartets Op. 33 Nos. 1, 6 & 4, Op. 42 - Parkanyi Quartet        (4 of 6 found this review helpful)
  March 16, 2010

The Parkanyi Quartet (formerly Orlando Quartet) plays Haydn's quartets very well. It's too bad they are let down by an odd and over-resonant recording. The odd part of the recording is that the ensemble is close up; so much so that you can hear the breathing/sniffing of at least one of the members ... more
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 11 - Wigglesworth      (9 of 10 found this review helpful)
  March 16, 2010

Wow! This is an amazing recording. Wigglesworth is true to his approach in previously released symphonies in this series - he is deliberate and dramatic, milking every ounce of angst from the score. For me, this approach did not work at all in the mighty 8th which was simply too slow. The 11th ... more
Alnæs: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 - Mikkelsen      (4 of 4 found this review helpful)
  March 15, 2010

Norwegian composer Eyvind Alanes's first symphony sounds a lot like Glazunov in his prime. It is full of drama and melody. Other composers that come to mind while listening are Borodin and early Tchaikovsky - not a bad set of reference points for a virtually unknown composer. I think it is a better ... more
Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 - Dausgaard      (5 of 5 found this review helpful)
  March 15, 2010

If you are accustommed to the typical string-laden performances by modern orchestras with 80+ players, these performances will be an ear-opener. Here, around 38 players deliver uptempo renditions of Schumann's symphonies with an almost unbelievable precision on modern instruments at modern pitch. ... more
Widor: Organ Symphony - Christian Schmitt, Stefan Solyom      (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
  March 13, 2010

Recordings of organ with orchestra must be a big challenge to record successfully. The CPO engineers have done a good job on this one. The organ beautifully integrates with the orchestra throughout the program. Unlike one of the previous reviewers, I do not think this SACD suffers from "no bass" - ... more
 
 
Latest Posts
Discussion: Mahler: Symphony No. 4 - Gergiev
Today 08:58 am
Why don't you write a review for this site? As one with lot's of Mahler 4's, your expanded comments would be most welcome. ... more
BIS thread
Today 08:04 am
I think the total timing of this release (82:26) may be a world record for the RBCD layer. I have a number of releases in my extensive collection that bump up against the 80 minute mark and a hanful that exceed 80 minutes (most of which, BTW, are BIS releases). My previous timing winner was the recent Mahler 9 from BIS (82:22). This new Brahms now ... more
Discussion: Dohnányi: Chamber Music III - Kocian Quartet
Today 07:19 am
Yet another interesting release from Praga. Of the three string quartets, I know numbers 2 and 3 from prior RBCD's. Ruralia Hungarica (listed here as Op.32d) was originally a piano score (Op.32a) and was also orchestrated as Op.32b. However, Wiki doesn't show Op.32d which, apparently, is an arrangement for cello and piano (?) on this SACD. Looking ... more
Discussion: Kalabis: String Quartets - Kocian Quartet, Zemlinsky Quartet
Today 07:10 am
Does anyone know the music of Vikto Kalabis? I do not. The link to Wiki gives a some background. From what I read, it looks like his idiom is chromatic but not atonal. I'll be interested in reading some reviews of the string quartets - might be a purchase for me. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Kalabis ... more
BIS thread
Yesterday 10:16 am
This just showed up in new SACD releases on arkivmusic.com (alas, it is already listed there as "backordered"): BIS 1606 SACD: Brahms Cello Sonatas (includes the transcription of Op.78 for cello) performed by Torleif Thedeen, cello and Roland Pontinen, piano. This is the first I've seen this release mentioned. I have long been a fan of Thedeen's ... more