REVIEWS

BACH AND RAMEAU FOR HARPSICHORD
Albert Fuller
RR-2105 - NOTE: This NOT HDCD
"His playing overflows with charm and subtlety. The effect is wonderfully enchanting. An excellent purchase for someone wishing to explore the harpsichord works of Rameau and Bach for the first time." --Michael Cookson, musicweb.uk.net

CHADWICK
José Serebrier
Czech State Philharmonic, Brno
RR-2104 HDCD

"This is a definitive set of Chadwick’s best-loved orchestral showpieces. The sound on the reissue – like that of the originals – is ravishing, especially that of massed violins. Dynamics are first-rate. If you love American classical music or need a new sonic spectacular to test our system’s dynamics, this double dose of orchestral Chadwick just might be what you’ve been looking for." – Jim Saxon, soundstage.com

"The performances under the experienced Jose Serebrier are first-rate, and the recording conveys both detail and a sense of space." --Anthony Burton, BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

"Reference Recordings have shown real fidelity to the creativity of Jose Serebrier. Not only that they have encouraged him in some tangy and imaginative repertoire but now some of there earliest projects are being reissued as twofers. [Chadwick] is warmly recommended for fine rare repertoire and typically sprung, lively sound with power and subtlety aplenty." --Rob Barnett, Classical Music on the Web

JANÁCEK
José Serebrier
Czech State Philharmonic, Brno
RR-2103 HDCD

"Let's cut to the chase -- this is a marvellous collection of Janacek's major orchestral works, made even more appealing in this generous repackaging. Jose Serebrier is not a conductor one normally associates with Janacek, but these superbly characterised performances should help change that. The Czech State Philharmoinc, Brno play as to the manner born, their pleasingly pungent tone quality ideally suited to this music. . . The climaxes are awesomely expansive. Strongly recommended." --Andrew Farach-Colton, GRAMOPHONE

"Serebrier's synthesis (of THE MAKROPULOS CASE) positively seethes with interest for the ear." --Rob Barnett, Classical Music on the Web

"The unique power of Janacek's scoring comes through wonderfully well. This is an important addition to the Janacek discography." --Bauman, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE

"Brno's Stadion Hall provides the ideal venue for this magnificently recorded disc. Yet again, RR's Keith Johnson stakes his claim as one of the best engineers in the business, providing sound quality so natural, so right, so effortless that it is easy to forget we are listening to a recording." --Terry Williams, CLASSIC CD

"Its sonic quality is most impressive in stereo spread, depth, presence, and resolution of detail, with rock-solid image stability, in a spacious ambiance -- a demonstration-quality recording if there ever was one." --McKelvey, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE

"The performance of the Sinfonietta and Taras Bulba are both first rate and the Lachian Dances remain the best available. Even more interesting, though, is the second disc, wich contains Serebrier's own excellent assembled and marvelously conducted suite from Janacek's "sci-fi" opera The Makropulos Case. Sonically these discs remain state-of-the-art, so if you missed either of these discs the first time around, now's your chance to catch up on some splendid Janacek at a very reasonable price." --David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

"Those who have cherished benchmark Janacek recordings by the likes of Rudolf Firkusny and Sir Charles Mackerras would do themselves a favor by searching out this economical collection. The inevitable repeat listenings to The Makropulous Case synthesis and the sublime Cunning Little Vixen suite alone will make the modest cost worthwhile." --Bradley Bambarger, Andante.com

CHICAGO PRO MUSICA:
THE MEDINAH SESSIONS
RR-2102 HDCD

"Repackaged audiophile recordings, analogue to HDCD, at one-third the earlier CD price! These performances are so sure-footed they really let us hear the internal workings of the music, every syncopation and jazzy inflection spot-on. With their superb stereo separation the recordings earn a strong recommendation. --CB, HiFiNews (U.K.)

"An eclectic mix of original works and arrangements, all brilliantly performed and recorded with clarity and natural warmth. These are highly enjoyable discs and warmly recommended." -- Adrian Smith, Classica Music On The Web

"One will rarely hear these lightish works put across with the kind of technical polish and full-metal virtuosity they receive here. The sterling musicianship of Chicago Pro Musica is beyond reproach; the set is made even more attractifve by its two-for-one price." --Lawrence A. Johnson, GRAMOPHONE

BAROQUE FAVORITES
RR-2101 HDCD

"There are many Baroque samplers out there, but none so beautifully recorded as this. Originally released in the 1980s to the great delight of American audiophiles, these two discs have now been remastered using HDCD technology. The interpretations are stylish and the recording is simply glorious: detailed, airy and warm." --Andrew Farach-Colton, BARNES & NOBLE

"The ten players of Tafelmusik produce a beautiful sonority, somewhat lush-sounding to ears attuned to current period performance. At the very least, this CD delivers a classy easy-listening experience. The Helicon Ensemble's playing is both impeccable and exciting, and Fuller's imaginative continuo is a plus. Here, too, the recording is gorgeous, illuminating to great effect the left-right lead violins featured throughout." --Wayne Donnelly, LISTENER

"A Mercedes-limo bargain given the musical contents, impeccable presentaion, and sheer luxury of Ref/Rec’s HDCD sound. Go buy, if you haven’t the originals –or even if you have." –Roger Dettmer, classicalcdreview.com

SKROWACZEWSKI
RR-103 HDCD

"The slight Paganini snippet is developed and redeveloped, transmuting it into the musical equivalent of precious metal. The Concerto Nicolo should become a major addition to the piano left hand repertory. . . Warmly recommended." --Ronald Legum, Audiophile Audition - www.audaud.com

The eminent Polish conductor and composer ...is one of the great hidden secrets of the music world...Like Bartok and Shostakovich, Skrowaczewski approaches music as a sensual pleasure for the ear. For its serious musical value, among the dozens of Referrence Recordings available in excellent sound, this CD really deserves to be THE demonstration disc." –Benjamin Ivry, The Audiophile Voic

TAVENER: IKON OF EROS
RR-102 HDCD

"A recording like this is no mere entertainment... The music is immediately seductive, but it nevertheless requires several auditions in order to unlock all of its beauty... This is a powerful work, from which emanates the scent of immateriality." -- Reine Lessard, Ultra High Fidelity

"Gorgeous, mystical music with the power to entrance. Sir John Taverner, a follower of the Greek Orthodox faith, writes simple, repetitive compositions that embody the spiritual essence of prayer. . . Slowing down – sitting or lying in silence by candlelight would be ideal – is essential to experience Tavener's reverential universe. This is a universe that is always with us, Tavener's music suggests, if we are only willing to align ourselves and tune in. . . Captured in demonstration quality 24–bit HDCD sound by Prof. Keith Johnson, this world premiere recording is an extraordinary achievement."
– Jason Serinus, Bay Area Reporter 11/27/0

"The recording, a world premiere of this piece, is beyond reproach. Individual instruments are distinct and float in space. By his own words, Tavener recommends that the piece be played in a resonant acoustic. He could have not asked for a better place. The voices echo slightly off of the walls and ceiling creating an even more metaphysical feeling. I don't think I've heard a better piece to test your soundstage. There is little else I can provide. Tavener says Ikon of Eros is "humbly offered to those who have ears to hear." I suggest you take him up on it."
–Bill Brooks, 12/03, Soundstage.com
Complete Review

ORGAN SENSATION FELIX HELL
RR-101 HDCD

"...It is extremely difficult t make a good recording of an organ . . .If you would like to hear just what CAN be done with the most modern recording techniques, I would suggest that you invest in this CD. . .This recording gets it ALL right." –Douglas A. Campbell, PIPEORG

"Felix Hell is a real phenomenon, a young man who's been packing 'em in at organ recitals for years, although at the time this recording was made in June of 2002, he wasn't old enough to vote . . .Most impressive are the two Liszt works. Hell makes the most of the power and color of the lage Shoenstein instrument, but is also fully attuned to all the contrapuntal and architectural complexities of the pieces. . .The organ sound is rich and dense, maintaining its focus when loud, and the recorded perspective is ideal – close enough for detail and timbral nuance but not so close that the organ doesn't have room to breathe. Low bass is almost scary. If you have a subwoofer in a small-to-medium sized room, prepare to have your eardrums pressurized." –Andrew Quint, THE ABSOLUTE SOUND

The newest CD from Felix Hell is a sonic blockbuster that may become a contender for status as one of the best organ recordings ever. . . For those who have been reading about Felix nut have not heard him in concert, especially on a large instrument, THIS is the CD to purchase. . . Turn down the lights, crank up the volume and revel in it!" –Rich Blacklock, PIPORG-L

Complete Review

REVERIES
EIJI OUE / MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
RR-99 HDCD

"It succeeds in plunging us into a dreamlike state that chases away daily pressures... I emerged from listening refreshed and serene." Reine Lessard, Ultra High Fidelity

JOHN BALKA plays the great organ at
ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL, San Francisco
RR-98 HDCD

"This release, with its slightly atypical cross section of organ repertorie, is both a celebration of the fine 1970 Ruffatti instrument that graces St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco, and the digital skill and musical acumen of organist John Balka. The sound is up to RR’s best. Needless to say, highly recommended!" –William Zagorsi, FANFARE

DANIELPOUR: AN AMERICAN REQUIEM
RR-97 HDCD

"A deeply-felt, well-crafted and often moving piece that undoubtedly deserves wider recognition and that is well worth more than the occasional hearing." --Hubert Culot, Classical Music on the Web

"This new composition is a musical masterpiece, a powerful and moving work." –Peter Moncrieff, International Audio Review
Complete review: http://www.iar-80.com/page37.html (scroll down)

"The recording is typical Professor Johnson: detailed, rich, immediate. The soundstage incredibly deep and wide." – Bill Brooks. Soundstage!
Complete review: http://www.soundstage.com/music/reviews/rev414.htm

"All [the participants] are touching and intensely involved in projecting the pain and healing inherent in such a work . . . Danielpour [is] tender and tasteful, and you can't knock that as a way to memorialize the sufferings of last year." –Stephanie von Buchau, San Francisco Examiner

"The spooky, otherworldly opening movement will apeal to a wide spectrum of listeners, and once he gets our interest, Danielpour never lets go. The HDCD recording is a gem, which sounds stunning when played at lifelike volume. An American Requiem is the first accessible, musically commendable new setting of these timeless words that I have heard in years. All concerned should be proud of this recording." - - JOHN HIGGINS, A/Vguide.com

"Danielpour certainly does know how to burn a barn, and he draws a huge sound from the orchestra with some downright brilliant scoring. The recording has great energy, with an appropriate and effective 'cast of thousands' sound." --Daniel Felsenfeld, ClassicsToday.com

RACHMANINOFF
RR-96 HDCD

"The recording is once again absolutely stunning, brilliant and plushy at the same time, unequaled by another label in this piece." –Peter Aczel, THE AUDIO CRITIC

"Overall,the sound is the best I’ve ever heard from Reference Recordings. That also means that overall there’s none better that you can currrently purchase. You don't need any more details, just trust me and run out and buy it." – Karl Lozier, www.enjoythemusic.com

Selected by SoundStage!.com as one of the "Best Recordings of 2001"

"Picked by THREE reviewers of The Absolute Sound magazine for a GOLDEN EAR AWARD (best releases of 2001):

"This may be some of the best sound Keith Johnson has ever gotten out of Symphony Hall in Minneapolis, and certainly Oue's most convincing work with the Minnesota players, who sound for all the world more like the Philadelphia than that orchestra does these days . . . how Johnson got that huge climax at the end of the Dances cleanly onto tape transcends engineering and goes into the realm of magic." -- Harry Pearson, TAS

"No one can approach Reference Recordings' unparalleled sound in this music. The sweet liquid presence of the high end, especially the critical massed strings, approaches perfection when it blends with RR's characteristic ambient soundstage, fine inner detail and bass impact." -- Arthur B. Lintgen, TAS

"Even by the exalted standards one has come to expect from Reference Recordings, this is something extraordinary. . . This is the kind of recording that gives one renewed faith in the possibility of reproducing the power and beauty of an orchestra in a home environment, the kind of thing that makes audio worthwhile. Not to be missed." -- Robert E. Greene, TAS

"I must admit to a thrill when RR packages arrive at the office. . . Once again, Keith Johnson has raised the bar of excellence in the recording of a symphony orchestra. . . It's a fabulous recording and a super performance of the SYMPHONIC DANCES, and a testament to the brilliance of Keith Johnson and his associates." -- Anthony Kershaw, Audiophilia.com

"Kick the volume control up and you get state-of-the-art sonics -- solid bass, overwhelming climaxes, and dynamics as wide as a Kansas sky." -- Dan Davis, Amazon.com

"Other versions I know . . . lack the energy, excitement, the involvement and conviction of Eiji Oue's performance. Keith Johnson's engineering, mastering and production have, in this case, produced the finest orchestral recording I have ever heard. It is instantly among that handful of CDs I will carry with me to audition sound systems, or that I will play to show off my own. Listening to this recording is one of those exultant musical experiences that will remind you why you got into the audiophile game in the first place." -- Russell Lichter, Soundstage.com

"Keith Johnson's HDCD recording captures the sound of Orchestra Hall with stunning impact. Like the best EMI recordings of the 1960s, the musical and technical qualities of this release are linked inextricably to its success. Quite a remarkable achievement." – Lawrence Vittes, GRAMOPHONE

"The playing by the Minnesota Orchestra is simply stupendous: tremendously unified ensemble, immaculate balances that let you hear all the important lines, and a palpable sense of enjoyment from the players (those trumpet players rule!)." --Victor Carr, Jr., ClassicsToday.com

RESPIGHI
RR-95

Grammy Nominated: Best Engineered Album, Classical
Keith O. Johnson, Engineer

"Oue plays each piece to the hilt; I cannot imagine more precise, more lovingly conducted performances. As for the recording, I’m running out of superlatives – it is brilliant and weighty, with tremendous undistorted dynamics."–Peter Aczel, THE AUDIO CRITIC

Selected by SoundStage!.com as "Best Audiophile Recording, 2001"

"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

STRICTLY SOUSA!
RR-94 HDCD

"America's rise in patriotism following the September 11th attacks is well known, and if any music deserves to be an anthem to this vast sentiment, it is the work of John Philip Sousa, ‘America's March Master,‘ as this collection is subtitled. Every Sousa march that you can think of is here, including a few like ‘El Capitan‘ and ‘The Picadore‘ that you may not know were by Sousa but you have heard, and often. The playing and arrangements are stirring, with the Dallas Wind Symphony, Jerry Junkin conducting, creating some real heavy metal. The HDCD sound is very open and hugely powerful, many of the marches ending in a bang that only Telarc's 1812 Overture recordings match in terms of sheer dynamic range. Like a pot of black coffee to your flag-waving soul, STRICTLY SOUSA is a collection that I, as an American in late 2001, wouldn't do without, and one for which we audiophiles can once again thank Reference Recordings." -- Marc Mickelson, Soundstage! (www.soundstage.com/music/)

COPLAND 100
Eiji Oue / Minnesota Orchestra
RR-93 HDCD

". . . I have been waiting for this CD for over 40 years. . . There has never been a stereo recording of Copland's Third that approaches the concert-hall experience. Until now. This recording clearly has great value as a musical experience, but it also sets a new standard as a sonic showcase for a nearly impossible-to-record work." --Arthur B. Lintgen, THE ABSOLUTE SOUND

"Oue’s performances are shapely, tasteful, beautifully played, with a judicious balance of drama and restraint. The recorded sound is nothing short of awesome; you might want to obtain this CD just as an audio experience." –Peter Aczel, THE AUDIO CRITIC

"Eiji Oue is far more satisfying to my ears than Michael Tilson Thomas [in Copland's music]. The Minnesota Orchestra's tone isn't perhaps as glossy as the San Franciscans', but they and their conductor are more emotionally in tune with the music. The Third Symphony is first-rate in every way. This orchestra made the first recording of the Third with Atal Dorati for Mercury in 1953, and the piece still seems to be in the players' bones. A major Copland release." --Sedgwick Clark, GRAMOPHONE

"The Minnesota Orchestra plays wonderfully. Woodwind soloists and the concertmaster shine in 'Appalachian Spring', but the stars of this CD are the brasses who electrify in a way that brings to mind the Chicago Symphony's brass section in their heyday. Of course, a good recording is necessary to make this fully apparent . . . and my, what an exceptional-sounding disc this is. If you have just one vaguely audiophile bone in your body, this CD will be irresistible. RR has produced another winner." -- Andrew Quint, FANFARE

"This is a hi-fi lover's dream disc. That's what we expect from this label -- a production that shows what hi-fi performance is all about. As to the performances, you're in for another treat. The orchestra is as responsive and richly sonorous as you could ask for, with some expecially lovely wind playing in the symphony. Each of these performances can stand as a "reference." This one seems to have just about everything in place for maximum impact, especially the knockout sound."--David Vernier, STEREOPHILE

"A compelling performance of the Third Sympohony. I think this is among the best recordings since Bernstein -- and the sound is spectacular." --Peter Dickinson, GRAMOPHONE

"The Fanfare increases in strength until you've got power that can blast right through your speakers and pound on your heart. However, the prize work on this disc is Copland's Thrd Symphony. Oue is the complete master of the score. A splendid disc of Copland's works. You simply cannot go wrong on this one." -- King Durkee, COPLEY NEWS SERVICE.

"This is the best interpretation of the Copland Third in a generation, and the sound is Keith Johnson at his considerable best. That is to say, jaw-dropping and a revelation." --Harry Pearson, THE ABSOLUTE SOUND (Also listed in HP's Super CD List, Top 10)

"This is one damned fine Copland disc. And the sound! the power, the impact, the three-dimensional image -- it beats all the competition. This disc could easily be anybody's first choice for a modern Copland collection." --Victor Carr, ClassicsToday.com

"One of the central recording events of the centenary year." -- Rob Barnett, MUSIC ON THE WEB.

BOLERO!
Eiji Oue / Minnesota Orchestra
RR-92 HDCD

"Warhorses, yes. Routine or boring, no – not under Oue’s baton. Boléro, in particular benefits from the highest possible audio fidelity, and this is it." –Peter Aczel, THE AUDIO CRITIC

"Fasten your safety belt before playing this recording! Oue's uncanny feel for style captures one of the greatest performances of 'Les Preludes' we've had on disc to date. A brilliant example of Romantic poetry in the grand manner." -- Heuwell Tircuit, GRAMOPHONE JAPAN

"One is reminded a little of Ozawa in Boston, for there is an element of refinement underlying the virtuosity. But Oue's readings have plenty of character." -- Ivan March, GRAMOPHONE

"The recording is breathtakingly vivid." -- David Denton, THE YORKSHIRE POST (U.K.)

GOLDEN EAR AWARD (best of the year) "This program...plays to Oue's greatest strength -- his gifts as a colorist. In each of the 12 works, symphonic textures are beautifully rendered, revealing fully the aptness of their composer's instrumental choices. Oue's patient performance of the title track develops insidiously into one of the most effective versions of Ravel's warhorse I know. The Minnesota Orchestra plays fabulously, with technical brilliance, beauty of tone, and terrific ensemble work. The sound is open, spacious, detailed, with loads of depth and a natural layering of orchestra sections. --Andrew Quint, THE ABSOLUTE SOUND

VALENTINO DANCES
Music of Dominick Argento
Eiji Oue / Minnesota Orchestra
RR-91 HDCD

"Rarely does one encounter a state-of-the-art audiophile recording that combines astounding sonics with definitive performances of finely crafted, contemporary classical music. Such is the case with this outstanding disc." -- Jason Serinus, SECRETS OF HOME THEATRE AND HIGH FIDELITY

"Argento's music is unmistakably New World: big, bright, brilliant, lyrically muscular, gymnastically supple and immediately appealing. . . magnificently articulate performances full of dash and detail that ring out with thrilling idiomatic aplomb." -- Michael Quinn, CLASSIC CD

"Bernstein-protege Eiji Oue secures first-rate results from his excellent, bright-toned band. Lovely, airy sound, too, as always from this enterprising label." -- Andrew Achenbach, GRAMOPHONE

"All of these in demonstration-quality sound to boot." -- Gimbel, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE

"Valentino Dances adds accordion to the orchestra and is a sensuous, voluptuous tango-inspired work that's blessed with rich and colorful orchestration. The performances of all the works are splendid and the recorded sound is about the best I've heard from Reference in Minnesota." --Rad Bennett, ClassicsToday.com

" The orchestra provides richly textured, dynamically charged renditions that present the music in the best possible light. Offering a substantial portion of the output of a distinguished figure somewhat underrepresented on recording, this is an important release for those interested in American orchestral music of the late 20th century."--Walter Simmons, FANFARE

SEREBRIER CONDUCTS SEREBRIER
Jose Serebrier / London Philharmonic Orchestra
RR-90 HDCD

"This disc is a lot of fun. The main offering, Jose Serebrier's Partita, is marvelous: brilliantly scored, Latin-influenced in a completely natural, kitsch-free way, and featuring a second movement funeral march that'll blow your speakers apart if you're not careful. You'll love it." --David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

"If this doesn't make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, I don't know what will. As always with RR, the sound is demonstration quality. The wide dynamic swings in this music are truthfully rendered, giving them great impact. If you want to impress/terrorize your friends, this is the disc for you. A disc worth exploring, if you dare." -- Paul Schumann, SOUNDSTAGE!

"This is a wonderful CD, and I recommend it highly to those who love the sound of the symphony orchestra in all its glory, and to those who love to show off what their audio systems can do when asked to reproduce first-class orchestral showpieces. Reference Recordings has lived up to its name with this disk." - Karl Nehring, THE SENSIBLE SOUND

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV:
Sheherazade / Russian Easter Overture
Jose Serebrier / London Philharmonic Orchestra
RR-89 HDCD

BEST AUDIOPHILE RECORDING OF 2000 (Soundstage!)

"Serebrier and the LPO strut their stuff when it comes to fine details of the score. Overall, this is a virtuoso performance of a technically demanding work. Through many listenings, I enjoyed this performance on both an intellectual and emotional level. The fact that I consider Serebrier’s and the LPO’s performance on equal footing with [Reiner's] is high praise indeed." --Paul Schumann, SOUNDSTAGE.com (complete review)

"Keith Johnson has achieved a high-definition recording of extraordinary detail and dynamic impact, without compromising the timbral accuracy of the orchestra." -- Peter Burwasser, CITYPAPER

"RR continues to put out, more consistently than anyone else, great-sounding symphonic compact discs. Keith Johnson sets up his mikes as no one else can, in front of first-rate ensembles playing repertoire that plenty of people care about. This 'Sheherazade' begs comparison to that audiophile icon, Fritz Reiner's 1960 RCA recording with the Chicago Sympony. The reading of 'Russian Easter,' too, is among the most satisfying I know, full of ecstatic exultation and drive. The performances were taped in Watford Colosseum and an enormous sense of space is reproduced." -- Andrew Quint, THE ABSOLUTE SOUND, Golden Ear Awards

"These people really know how to record an orchestra." -- Richard Freed, WETA Radio

MAHLER:
Das Lied von der Erde / The Song of the Earth
\Michelle DeYoung, mezzo; Jon Villars, tenor
Eiji Oue / Minnesota Orchestra
RR-88 HDCD

"Eiji Oue has been getting great press since he became music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, and this brand new recording gives us an idea why. The crystal-clear audiophile recording allows us to hear all of Mahler's colors. Jon Villars sounds as if he's at the start of a fine tenorial career. But the true find here is Michelle DeYoung, who sings with a warmth and communication reminiscent of Christa Ludwig. This is a wonderful set, performed with intelligence and feeling, and it should rise to the top of any list of superb Das Lieds." -- Robert Levine, AMAZON.COM

"For Mahler fans, this is simply a must-have recording." -- Karl Kehring, THE SENSIBLE SOUND

"Fine as the singers are, the real stars of this performance are the conductor and the orchestra. Oue draws from these musicians playing of the most refined delicacy and beauty, especially evident in the gorgeous woodwind solos. Having learned this score from such eminent conductors as Walter, Klemperer and Bernstein, I must affirm that Oue does not suffer in comparison to those giants, but stands here as their peer. If this masterpiece is new to you, there is no more persuasive combination of performance and sound to guide you through its mysteries." -- Wayne Donnelly, ULTIMATE AUDIO

"Eiji Oue has made some great recordings for Reference, but this one is simply extraordinary. In its expressive intensity this performance clearly belongs with the best ever recorded. Add to all of this, sonics of drop-dead demonstration quality, and the result is without question a recording for the ages. Stunning." -- David Hurwitz, CLASSICS TODAY

BERNSTEIN
Overture and Suite from "Candide," etc.
Eiji Oue / Minnesota Orchestra
RR-87 HDCD

"What a pleasure it was to make this music's acquaintance. The performance and recording are magnificent. As such, a high benchmark has been set for subsequent recordings. The usual RR 'house' sound is here in all its glory. Incredible bass impact, rich midrange and a very silky treble dominate engineer Keith Johnson's paen to Bernstein's sound world. Johnson's super consistency with Reference is quite staggering. Indeed, the music business is very lucky to have him. Highly recommended." -- Anthony Kershaw, AUDIOPHILIA

"Something like this has been long overdue. 'Candide' contains some of the most beautiful songs written in this century. At the very least its tunes deserve a life outside the musical play, and here is Charlie Harmon's suite to answer that need. It is sometimes difficult for me to review RR's releases critically, because how many ways can you say this is one of the best recordings of an orchestra you've heard?" -- Paul Seydor, THE ABSOLUTE SOUND

"This is an enjoyable compilation of offbeat Bernstein works. Played with great zest and energy by the Minnesota Orchestra under Oue's lively direction, its merits are considerably enhanced by the striking state-of-the-art quality of RR's recorded sound." -- Lawrence A. Johnson, FANFARE

"Quite simply,I think this is the best orchestral recording yet to come from Keith Johnson." -- John Atkinson, STEREOPHILE

". . .the most important Bernstein recording since Lenny's own. And of course, sonics are state of the art. Terrific." --David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com

"It is clearly one of the finest recordings I have ever heard." - Al Fasoldt, FANFARE

PSALMS
The Turtle Creek Chorale
Timothy Seelig, conductor
RR-86 HDCD
"The Chorale's richly resonant voices go well beyond the bounds of a meticulous perfomance. These men have found something in the material which touches them deeply, and it shines through their delivery with beacon-like honesty." -- Harry H. Long, LEBANON (PA) DAILY NEWS

"The recorded sound is quite spectacular. A number of the pieces, despite their short length, aspire to the grandeur of the Mahler Second, and the recording captures the brightest brass passages and the deepest organ tones with amazing fidelity." -- Richard Burke, FANFARE

"The sound of 200 men's voices plus that big organ and the other instruments in the Meyerson Center in Dallas is really thrilling. It's hard to find a weak piece here, or one that fails to move the hearer. This is the best contemporary sacred music I have heard in years, and I can't imagine better performances or recordings." -- Donald Vroon, AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE

MARCHES I'VE MISSED
Frederick Fennell / Dallas Wind Symphony
RR-85 HDCD

"Fennell catches cool dance rhythms, delicate neatness, and British propriety very nicely. The Dallas Wind Symphony and the engineering are terrific, and Fennell's liner notes are literate, informative and personal." -- Gil French, CITY (Rochester, NY)

"Playing is excellent. For Fennell's many admirers this disc is self-recommending. Anyone who does not detest marches should like it too." -- Robert McColley, FANFARE

"Perhaps most remarkable is the absolute rightness of his tempo choices: One can't imagine one of these marches going even the slightest bit slower or faster. The Dallas ensemble plays superbly and the sound is phenomenal. We get the immediacuy and visceral excitement of Fennell's Mercury recordings, the weight and atmosphere of the Cleveland Symphonic Wind performances on Telarc, plus a level of detail and ease of presentation that's state-of-the-art." -- Andrew Quint, THE ABSOLUTE SOUND

DICK HYMAN IN RECITAL
RR-84 HDCD

"Hyman was in top form for this recital, allowing his blazing two-hand technique to roam free, stating the melodies clealy, then thoughtfully turning his material inside out. Each of the 11 selections is a tour de force. The 10 minutes he takes to probe the well-worn 'Tea for Two' unleashes more inspired ideas than any man has a right to. Let's face it, the man can do no wrong at the keyboard." -- Fred Crafts, THE REGISTER-GUARD (Eugene, OR)

"I was constantly surprised, but never taken aback. His playing is flawless. Is it my imagination, or does recording engineer Keith Johnson just keep getting better and better? This disc isn't ever going to stray very far from my player." -- Gerard Rejskind, ULTRA HIGH FIDELITY (Canada)

"A memorable CD -- stunning virtuosity and audio fidelity that sets an unprecedented standard for recording that most recalcitrant of instrument, the grand piano. An extraordinary pianist with great taste, in total command of a magnificent instrument, recorded with awesome presence and fidelity!" -- Dave Burns, JAZZTIMES

"Man, who would've ever thought, back in the bleak days of cold, sterile, harsh, metallic, soulless early digital, that we'd ever be enjoying discs that sound as warm and wonderful as this superlative new disc of solo piano music from Dick Hyman, one of jazz and pop music's most accomplished musicians? This CD is proof. I am flabbergasted at how good it sounds. The musicianship is dazzling. At times, I just shook my head and laughed out loud at his level of virtuosity and musical invention -- all in the service of the song. And the sound is swooningly beautiful." -- Wayne Garcia, FI magazine

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