KR...
Curator of the Headphone Lust Museum
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Hello, I just pick up this CD for $6.99 brand new! What a find! It's great, classical fans should check it out, here's some info from the website.
EIJI OUE / MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
RR-96HDCD -- $16.98
RESPIGHI
Grammy® Nominated: Best Engineered Album, Classical
Keith O. Johnson, Engineer
"Dazzling orchestral colors," is one one way to describe the music of Ottorino Respighi. "Belkis, Queen of Sheba" was conceived as an evening-long ballet with singing whose lavishness has kept it from view since its La Scala premiere. This is only the second recording of a suite prepared by the composer Ð for the first time with the tenor solo (sung by Chad Shelton), and with the movements in the correct order. The music's oriental perfumes and barbaric splendor guarantee the enthusiasm of anyone who hears it. "Dance of the Gnomes" is a little-known but characteristically dramatic and colorful (some might say "lurid") tone poem. "Prof." Johnson's stunning HDCD¨ sonics make RespighiÕs greatest hit "The Pines of Rome" (with extra brasses and organ!) a dazzling conclusion to this unusual, inventive program.
REFERENCE RECORDINGS RECEIVES
TENTH GRAMMY¨ NOMINATION!
"Prof." KEITH O. JOHNSON, Technical Director of Reference Recordings, has been honored with a GRAMMY¨ Award nomination for Best Engineered Recording, Classical (category 87) for the following release:
RESPIGHI
EIJI OUE
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
RR-95 HDCD
BEST-ENGINEERED ALBUM
RESPIGHI was engineered by Keith O. Johnson using HDCD¨ (High Definition Compatible Digital) technology, which he co-invented. It was produced by J. Tamblyn Henderson, Jr., 1998 Grammy nominee for Best Classical Producer. Recording sessions were in Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, September 28-29, 1999; the release date was March 14, 2000.
This is "Prof." Johnson's fifth nomination for a GRAMMY engineering award. Previously nominated titles were MALCOLM ARNOLD OVERTURES (with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer); BOLERO, and STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring, The Song of the Nightingale, The Firebird Suite (Eiji Oue, Minnesota Orchestra); and BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 (Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Minnesota Orchestra).
The 44rd annual GRAMMY Awards will be presented at the CBS-televised ceremony from the Staples Center in Los Angeles the evening of February 21, 2002.
KEITH O. JOHNSON
"Prof." Keith Johnson has spent over 30 years developing a reputation for innovative thinking, technical achievement and musicianship which has elevated him to a position in the audio industry occupied by only a handful of visionaries. His intensive investigation of electronic behavior and acoustic perception have led most recently to his development (with digital engineer Michael Pflaumer) of the revolutionary HDCD¨ digital encoding process, produced and marketed by Pacific Microsonics (recently acquired by Microsoft). HDCD is widely considered to be the most accurate recording process ever invented.
For more than 18 years, Keith O. Johnson, known to many as "The Professor," has served as Technical Director, Recording Engineer and partner in Reference Recordings, the San Francisco-based independent label. His 90-plus recordings for the label have long been considered the standard for high fidelity, and include two GRAMMY¨ award-winners. "Prof." Johnson works exclusively with his own hand-built or -modified equipment.
REVIEW QUOTES
"Respighi has not sounded like this on discs since -- well, let's say since never before. . . Of the seven Oue/Minnesota CDs I know, this is easily the grandest, musically as well as sonically." -- Roger Dettmer, Classical CD Reviews
"This is exceptional work, even by Reference Recordings' own high standards. To the expected dynamic range, low-frequency definition, and clear imaging -- all by now hallmarks of digital processing -- this disc adds a gratifying sense of breathing space around the instrumental sound, such as was previously only heard on specially mastered LPs. The crescendos don't merely get louder -- the textures fill out and blossom. The climaxes surge without taking on a glossy veneer. The brass reproduction, minus the hard edge that frequently passes for "impact," is particularly open and airy, but the soft music is equally, tangibly vivid." -- Steve Vasta, CDNOW
RESPIGHI
EIJI OUE
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
RR-95
Belkis, Queen of Sheba–Suite
Solomon’s Dream;
The Dance of Belkis at Dawn;
War Dance;
Orgiastic Dance (Chad Shelton, tenor)
Dance of the Gnomes
The Pines of Rome
The Pines of the Villa Borghese;
The Pines Near a Catacomb;
The Pines of the Janiculum;
The Pines of the Appian Way.
REVIEWS:
Grammy Nominated: Best Engineered Album, Classical
Keith O. Johnson, Engineer
"This CD is a bonanza for fans of Respighi, of orchestral spectaculars, and of great demo music . . .The Reference team of Tam Henderson and Keith Johnson continues to set the bar for orchestral recording. . . It offers a challenge for your system and nourishment for your imagination. Unless you're one of those unfortunates who don't enjoy large-scale orchestral music, this is a must-have." – Wayne Donnelly, LISTENER
"Respighi has not sounded like this on discs since -- well, let's say since never before. . . Of the seven Oue/Minnesota CDs I know, this is easily the grandest, musically as well as sonically." -- Roger Dettmer, ClassicalCDReviews
"This is exceptional work, even by Reference Recordings' own high standards. To the expected dynamic range, low-frequency definition, and clear imaging -- all by now hallmarks of digital processing -- this disc adds a gratifying sense of breathing space around the instrumental sound, such as was previously only heard on specially mastered LPs. The crescendos don't merely get louder -- the textures fill out and blossom. The climaxes surge without taking on a glossy veneer. The brass reproduction, minus the hard edge that frequently passes for "impact," is particularly open and airy, but the soft music is equally, tangibly vivid." -- Steve Vasta, CDNOW
"Stunning accounts of BELKIS and PINES OF ROME." -- Haller, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE
"Colorful, thrilling performances of BELKIS, as Respighi would have preferred, and of the quirky gnomes piece, delivered in superb sound, makes this a compulsory purchase for every Respighi devotee." -- Ian Lace, FANFARE (Also, chosen for his WISH LIST -- one of the five best releases of 2001.)
"This is an absolutely splendid PINES OF ROME, in top-of-the-line sound. And for heaven's sake, let it all hang out! Turn the volume way up, open your doors and windows, and give your neighbors a treat." -- King Durkee, Copley News Service
EIJI OUE / MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
RR-96HDCD -- $16.98
RESPIGHI
Grammy® Nominated: Best Engineered Album, Classical
Keith O. Johnson, Engineer
"Dazzling orchestral colors," is one one way to describe the music of Ottorino Respighi. "Belkis, Queen of Sheba" was conceived as an evening-long ballet with singing whose lavishness has kept it from view since its La Scala premiere. This is only the second recording of a suite prepared by the composer Ð for the first time with the tenor solo (sung by Chad Shelton), and with the movements in the correct order. The music's oriental perfumes and barbaric splendor guarantee the enthusiasm of anyone who hears it. "Dance of the Gnomes" is a little-known but characteristically dramatic and colorful (some might say "lurid") tone poem. "Prof." Johnson's stunning HDCD¨ sonics make RespighiÕs greatest hit "The Pines of Rome" (with extra brasses and organ!) a dazzling conclusion to this unusual, inventive program.
REFERENCE RECORDINGS RECEIVES
TENTH GRAMMY¨ NOMINATION!
"Prof." KEITH O. JOHNSON, Technical Director of Reference Recordings, has been honored with a GRAMMY¨ Award nomination for Best Engineered Recording, Classical (category 87) for the following release:
RESPIGHI
EIJI OUE
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
RR-95 HDCD
BEST-ENGINEERED ALBUM
RESPIGHI was engineered by Keith O. Johnson using HDCD¨ (High Definition Compatible Digital) technology, which he co-invented. It was produced by J. Tamblyn Henderson, Jr., 1998 Grammy nominee for Best Classical Producer. Recording sessions were in Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, September 28-29, 1999; the release date was March 14, 2000.
This is "Prof." Johnson's fifth nomination for a GRAMMY engineering award. Previously nominated titles were MALCOLM ARNOLD OVERTURES (with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the composer); BOLERO, and STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring, The Song of the Nightingale, The Firebird Suite (Eiji Oue, Minnesota Orchestra); and BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 9 (Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Minnesota Orchestra).
The 44rd annual GRAMMY Awards will be presented at the CBS-televised ceremony from the Staples Center in Los Angeles the evening of February 21, 2002.
KEITH O. JOHNSON
"Prof." Keith Johnson has spent over 30 years developing a reputation for innovative thinking, technical achievement and musicianship which has elevated him to a position in the audio industry occupied by only a handful of visionaries. His intensive investigation of electronic behavior and acoustic perception have led most recently to his development (with digital engineer Michael Pflaumer) of the revolutionary HDCD¨ digital encoding process, produced and marketed by Pacific Microsonics (recently acquired by Microsoft). HDCD is widely considered to be the most accurate recording process ever invented.
For more than 18 years, Keith O. Johnson, known to many as "The Professor," has served as Technical Director, Recording Engineer and partner in Reference Recordings, the San Francisco-based independent label. His 90-plus recordings for the label have long been considered the standard for high fidelity, and include two GRAMMY¨ award-winners. "Prof." Johnson works exclusively with his own hand-built or -modified equipment.
REVIEW QUOTES
"Respighi has not sounded like this on discs since -- well, let's say since never before. . . Of the seven Oue/Minnesota CDs I know, this is easily the grandest, musically as well as sonically." -- Roger Dettmer, Classical CD Reviews
"This is exceptional work, even by Reference Recordings' own high standards. To the expected dynamic range, low-frequency definition, and clear imaging -- all by now hallmarks of digital processing -- this disc adds a gratifying sense of breathing space around the instrumental sound, such as was previously only heard on specially mastered LPs. The crescendos don't merely get louder -- the textures fill out and blossom. The climaxes surge without taking on a glossy veneer. The brass reproduction, minus the hard edge that frequently passes for "impact," is particularly open and airy, but the soft music is equally, tangibly vivid." -- Steve Vasta, CDNOW
RESPIGHI
EIJI OUE
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
RR-95
Belkis, Queen of Sheba–Suite
Solomon’s Dream;
The Dance of Belkis at Dawn;
War Dance;
Orgiastic Dance (Chad Shelton, tenor)
Dance of the Gnomes
The Pines of Rome
The Pines of the Villa Borghese;
The Pines Near a Catacomb;
The Pines of the Janiculum;
The Pines of the Appian Way.
REVIEWS:
Grammy Nominated: Best Engineered Album, Classical
Keith O. Johnson, Engineer
"This CD is a bonanza for fans of Respighi, of orchestral spectaculars, and of great demo music . . .The Reference team of Tam Henderson and Keith Johnson continues to set the bar for orchestral recording. . . It offers a challenge for your system and nourishment for your imagination. Unless you're one of those unfortunates who don't enjoy large-scale orchestral music, this is a must-have." – Wayne Donnelly, LISTENER
"Respighi has not sounded like this on discs since -- well, let's say since never before. . . Of the seven Oue/Minnesota CDs I know, this is easily the grandest, musically as well as sonically." -- Roger Dettmer, ClassicalCDReviews
"This is exceptional work, even by Reference Recordings' own high standards. To the expected dynamic range, low-frequency definition, and clear imaging -- all by now hallmarks of digital processing -- this disc adds a gratifying sense of breathing space around the instrumental sound, such as was previously only heard on specially mastered LPs. The crescendos don't merely get louder -- the textures fill out and blossom. The climaxes surge without taking on a glossy veneer. The brass reproduction, minus the hard edge that frequently passes for "impact," is particularly open and airy, but the soft music is equally, tangibly vivid." -- Steve Vasta, CDNOW
"Stunning accounts of BELKIS and PINES OF ROME." -- Haller, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE
"Colorful, thrilling performances of BELKIS, as Respighi would have preferred, and of the quirky gnomes piece, delivered in superb sound, makes this a compulsory purchase for every Respighi devotee." -- Ian Lace, FANFARE (Also, chosen for his WISH LIST -- one of the five best releases of 2001.)
"This is an absolutely splendid PINES OF ROME, in top-of-the-line sound. And for heaven's sake, let it all hang out! Turn the volume way up, open your doors and windows, and give your neighbors a treat." -- King Durkee, Copley News Service
