As multichannel recordings increase in popularity, Igor Stravinsky's 1913 masterpiece Le Sacre du printemps has become a kind of sonic showcase for what skilled orchestras and audiophile labels can do together. Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony offer one of the finest versions of Le Sacre on this hybrid SACD, and PentaTone's deep and resonant sound is a perfect complement to the visceral performance. The wide dynamic range, crisp execution, and vibrant instrumental colors make it a fascinating display, ...
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As multichannel recordings increase in popularity, Igor Stravinsky's 1913 masterpiece Le Sacre du printemps has become a kind of sonic showcase for what skilled orchestras and audiophile labels can do together. Andrés Orozco-Estrada and the Frankfurt Radio Symphony offer one of the finest versions of Le Sacre on this hybrid SACD, and PentaTone's deep and resonant sound is a perfect complement to the visceral performance. The wide dynamic range, crisp execution, and vibrant instrumental colors make it a fascinating display, and the focused reproduction sorts through Stravinsky's layered textures and dense dissonances, so everything is fully audible. But most listeners will appreciate the extreme power of the bass instruments and low percussion in the dances of Part I and the shattering impact of the full orchestra in the closing pages of the Danse sacrale, which is nearly overwhelming at high volume. To complete the program, the 1919 suite from Stravinsky's L'Oiseau de Feu is included, and though the...
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