Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy - Elgar: Symphony No. 1 (2009) [Japan] SACD ISO + DSD64 + Hi-Res FLAC

Vladimir Ashkenazy, who was appointed principal conductor of the Sydney Symphony in 2009, puts his orchestra through its paces in this vibrant Exton album. The first volume of Edward Elgar's series features the Symphony No. 1, one of the composer's two completed symphonies, which enjoyed enormous success after its premiere and has been beloved ever since.

Popular from its premiere in 1908, Edward Elgar's Symphony No. 1 in A flat major, Op. 55, has been regarded by many as the first major British symphony; furthermore, it has remained one of his most frequently performed works for over a century. Filled with his characteristically noble themes and bristling with many exciting and stirring passages, Elgar's First is also a curiously enigmatic work, tinged with melancholy in its wayward digressions through minor keys, and veiled with impressionistic colors in its sophisticated orchestration. Listeners who know Elgar from his extroverted Pomp and Circumstance marches will find his music here is much more varied in its moods and somewhat introspective, because of its nostalgic feeling and poignant expressions. Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Sydney Symphony present the work in a splendid audiophile package that offers high-quality DSD sound in the hybrid SACD format, and the orchestra has remarkably vivid timbres and realistic presence. Ashkenazy elicits extraordinary sonorities, paying close attention to nuances of timbre and attack, so the finest details of the music are absolutely clear and every note can be heard. The dynamic range of this recording is wide, so it will sound best on SACD players, though it is quite stunning on standard equipment.

Tracklist:

01. Symphony No.1 in A flat major Op.55: 1st movement > Andante. Nobilmente e semplice - Allegro
02. Symphony No.1 in A flat major Op.55: 2nd movement > Allegro molto
03. Symphony No.1 in A flat major Op.55: 3rd movement > Adagio - Molto espressivo e sostenuto
04. Symphony No.1 in A flat major Op.55: 4th movement > Lento - Allegro - Grandioso

Personnel
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Vladimir Ashkenazy - Conductor

Produced by Tomoyoshi Ezaki. Engineered by Jason Blackwell, Tony David Cray, Tod Deeley.
Balance Engineer: Takeshi Muramatsu. Directed & Edited by Masato Takemura.
Recorded on October 31 & November 3, 2008 at The Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House.
Mixed & Mastered at EXTON Studio, Yokohama, Japan.
Exton Japan # EXCL-00027


Thanks to KolyaFokhin!
Uncompressed SACD ISO size > 2,09 GB
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