acushla
03-26-2005, 06:57 AM
I am beginning this thread with the idea (and hope) that over time QUINTESSENTIAL will have a fairly comprehensive library of reviews of recorded music submitted by it’s members. I think there are merits when one is able to go amongst one's peers and read what somebody else in this forum has to say about his/her experience and thoughts about any particular album.
My choice to begin is a little bit different from what I believe the majority of you listen to,,,but I offer it not only because of the music but because this particular review deals with the SACD version.
Remember in the AUDIOPHILE section a little while back when I acknowledged that somewhere up ahead of me would be an SACD disc that I would find lacking? Well, this disc is a new offering from Renee Fleming, a Soprano whom many consider has no peers. The disc is simply called ‘Handel’ , a collection of songs written by the classical composer George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759). The greatest and most imperishable work by Handel is The Messiah.
The collection of 16 arias on this disc cover over 4 decades of Handel's life as a composer. Renee Fleming is accompanied by a very small orchestra comprising of players using period instruments.
Included is a somewhat sparse booklet with very little information save the lyrics. Ms. Fleming does share a few observations about her experience singing and recording this music. These are a few of the things she says:
The challenge I set for myself was to expose the heart of the music, simply and without artifice. Singing Handel is balm for the voice and yet it expresses every possible nuance of the human condition. This combination of purity and emotion speaks directly to our modern sensibilities and to our desire for a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily living.
This really does accurately portray the music contained on this disc and the combination of the greatest Soprano of our time with an Orchestra and Conductor who have been specifically chosen to compliment her…the result is a world class recording.
Now comes the reason I really wanted to talk about this SACD Disc. Years ago I had an opportunity to see another Soprano singer who received (and receives) equally lavish praise…although the songs and roles she chooses are from a different area of Opera. My guest and I were in the front row of the balcony and all during the first half of the performance my eyes kept wandering to the two empty seats that were front row centre. At one point I leaned over and told my guest that as soon as intermission began we were going to make a beeline for those seats.
Well, by the time we had navigated the crowds and made our way down onto the main floor and to the front row it was evident (unless the real ticket holders had shown up) that another couple had had the exact same idea as we had. My friend simply said something about being too late and started to turn. I whispered to her…’Follow my lead’. Now the couple who had taken up residence in these prime seats were obviously very wealthy. The woman was dressed to the nines which included a very expensive fur coat and her older, balding husband was in a very expensive Italian silk suit. As I approached the seats I held my ticket in front of my face, then looked at the seat numbers about four seats down from them…moved to-wards them…look at my ticket…looked puzzled…and that’s all it took. The woman immediately jumped out of the seat, turned very red in the face…and profusely apologized for being in my seat. I smiled and thanked her and assured her that no harm had been done. So now I’m sitting front row centre and ready to enjoy a fine Soprano singing not more than 15 ft. away from me.
Which perfectly describes the quality and deliverance of this recording. You are sitting front row centre. I now understand to a greater degree the subtleties that are at the heart of a well mixed SACD. The surround aspect, done properly, does nothing more than define an acoustical space…just enough that you have a sense of being ‘in’ rather than being outside, separate from the music. It's odd...but you really don't 'hear' it the way we are accustomed to 'hearing'. I might now go so far as to say that if you are consciously aware of the rear speakers then the mix hasn't been done right...unless of course your system has not been set up correctly. The centre channel is exactly where the voice should be…provided you are sitting front row centre.
So...remember in the AUDIOPHILE section a little while back when I acknowledged that somewhere up ahead of me would be an SACD disc that I would find lacking? OK...well...this isn't it.
…the best SACD's’ provide a very subtle shift of the acoustic presentation of the material to allow you the feel of being ‘in’ or present at…the music…and at the same time provides you with the best seat in the house. Who’s to argue with that? (I bet there is SOMEBODY who will!!!)
Bring it on!
My choice to begin is a little bit different from what I believe the majority of you listen to,,,but I offer it not only because of the music but because this particular review deals with the SACD version.
Remember in the AUDIOPHILE section a little while back when I acknowledged that somewhere up ahead of me would be an SACD disc that I would find lacking? Well, this disc is a new offering from Renee Fleming, a Soprano whom many consider has no peers. The disc is simply called ‘Handel’ , a collection of songs written by the classical composer George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759). The greatest and most imperishable work by Handel is The Messiah.
The collection of 16 arias on this disc cover over 4 decades of Handel's life as a composer. Renee Fleming is accompanied by a very small orchestra comprising of players using period instruments.
Included is a somewhat sparse booklet with very little information save the lyrics. Ms. Fleming does share a few observations about her experience singing and recording this music. These are a few of the things she says:
The challenge I set for myself was to expose the heart of the music, simply and without artifice. Singing Handel is balm for the voice and yet it expresses every possible nuance of the human condition. This combination of purity and emotion speaks directly to our modern sensibilities and to our desire for a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily living.
This really does accurately portray the music contained on this disc and the combination of the greatest Soprano of our time with an Orchestra and Conductor who have been specifically chosen to compliment her…the result is a world class recording.
Now comes the reason I really wanted to talk about this SACD Disc. Years ago I had an opportunity to see another Soprano singer who received (and receives) equally lavish praise…although the songs and roles she chooses are from a different area of Opera. My guest and I were in the front row of the balcony and all during the first half of the performance my eyes kept wandering to the two empty seats that were front row centre. At one point I leaned over and told my guest that as soon as intermission began we were going to make a beeline for those seats.
Well, by the time we had navigated the crowds and made our way down onto the main floor and to the front row it was evident (unless the real ticket holders had shown up) that another couple had had the exact same idea as we had. My friend simply said something about being too late and started to turn. I whispered to her…’Follow my lead’. Now the couple who had taken up residence in these prime seats were obviously very wealthy. The woman was dressed to the nines which included a very expensive fur coat and her older, balding husband was in a very expensive Italian silk suit. As I approached the seats I held my ticket in front of my face, then looked at the seat numbers about four seats down from them…moved to-wards them…look at my ticket…looked puzzled…and that’s all it took. The woman immediately jumped out of the seat, turned very red in the face…and profusely apologized for being in my seat. I smiled and thanked her and assured her that no harm had been done. So now I’m sitting front row centre and ready to enjoy a fine Soprano singing not more than 15 ft. away from me.
Which perfectly describes the quality and deliverance of this recording. You are sitting front row centre. I now understand to a greater degree the subtleties that are at the heart of a well mixed SACD. The surround aspect, done properly, does nothing more than define an acoustical space…just enough that you have a sense of being ‘in’ rather than being outside, separate from the music. It's odd...but you really don't 'hear' it the way we are accustomed to 'hearing'. I might now go so far as to say that if you are consciously aware of the rear speakers then the mix hasn't been done right...unless of course your system has not been set up correctly. The centre channel is exactly where the voice should be…provided you are sitting front row centre.
So...remember in the AUDIOPHILE section a little while back when I acknowledged that somewhere up ahead of me would be an SACD disc that I would find lacking? OK...well...this isn't it.
…the best SACD's’ provide a very subtle shift of the acoustic presentation of the material to allow you the feel of being ‘in’ or present at…the music…and at the same time provides you with the best seat in the house. Who’s to argue with that? (I bet there is SOMEBODY who will!!!)
Bring it on!