A Review of Anna Fedorova’s Rachmaninoff Piano Concertos 2 & 4

It’s All About Passion & Poetry In her first instalment of a projected survey of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concertos, Anna Federova hugely surprised me, and surely many others, with a reading of the first piano concerto that surpassed quite a few existing recordings by pianists of note. This follow-on release notably including the ever-so-popular Second Concerto […]

Not Just Another ‘Ravel Highlights’

This new release, presented as a ‘concept-album’ around Maurice Ravel, is not just another Ravel Highlights. It is an emotionally led, deliberate choice. It has numerous points of interest not found elsewhere. Firstly, the use of gut strings and special bows, as was customary in Ravel’s time; Secondly, the chosen pianos, one of which ‘prepared’, […]

A brilliant example of music and sound serving the ‘niche’ crowd

It is no secret that High-Resolution Super Audio is under pressure. Over the years, some labels have given up altogether. Streaming has become the norm, so it seems. We, the ‘niche’ crowd, are indebted to all those still operating at the sharp end of quality, and to Native DSD for passing on the best sound […]

Exploring the Shadow of the Great Masters

Two Spanish musicians, whom I did not know before, embarked last year on a mission to bring works of great beauty, for too long hidden in the shadow of great masters, back into the general public’s interest. A laudable initiative; joining like-minded musicians adamant about neglected composers taking their rightful place in today’s musical landscape. […]

Praise for Reference Recordings’ Latest Beethoven Symphony

With this latest release, Reference Recordings continue to push standards beyond existing boundaries. I think that no collector is without at least several complete sets of Beethoven symphonies, covering old and new, small and big in all their facets. And I’d imagine that none carries away the 100 percent perfect prize. This latest release of […]

Relax | The Best DSD Albums to Evoke Peace and Calm

It seems that these days many of us are feeling the need to relax, to wind down, and to take a step back – myself included. So I thought I might list a few NativeDSD sets that I personally find interesting and involving, but ultimately relaxing.   I’m just scratching the surface with these, and […]

Spain’s Erudite Piano Trio

Some might feel that under the present circumstances one should stay away from anything Russian. I think that we ought to realize that not all Russians support the ruler and his ideas. Several artists have – and some even openly – criticized the Russian invasion in Ukraine whilst quitting their jobs in protest. Seen in […]

Russia and Russians are not always the same

In these dire times, Russia and Russians mustn’t be judged by the same token. It crossed my mind when I heard Dmitry Ferschtman playing the cello, accompanied by Mila Baslawskaja at the piano, in a series of romantic compositions by Glinka, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff. Nothing in this Cobra release can be compared to what is […]