Audiophile Audition has a new review for our new Reference Mastercuts LP of the Kansas City Symphony’s Elgar and Vaughan Williams recording: “This version of Elgar’s familiar “Greensleeves” variations may be the best one on recordings—absolutely spell-binding… “The work’s concluding “Finale” brings the variations to a tumultuous close, and since Reference stays away from the center label a good distance and there is only around 14 minutes maximum per side, fidelity is astounding. “…this 200-gram…
Capital Public Radio’s morning host Kent Teeters reviews the new Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra recording, Strauss in his segment below. Jump to the 8-minute mark for his discussion of the piece Don Juan and listen to an excerpt from the work: Order Strauss Today!
Audiophilia Magazine has their review of our new Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra recording Strauss, and agree that it’s an audiophile must-have! “…with Don Juan having a sweep and sense of virility that is infectious and Till Eulenspiegel portrayed very successfully as a lusty lad out to do no harm but paying the ultimate price for his jokes. The orchestra’s soloists are exemplary here (horns, Eb clarinet and concertmaster, in particular). As an ensemble, the Pittsburgh Symphony…
“Let’s be very clear here; this is what Strauss should sound like.” —Brian Wigman, ClassicalNet Classical.net has a pre-release review of our first Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra recording, Strauss, and it’s quite the rave! “Now that the Pittsburgh Symphony has signed on with this pioneering label, let us hope they get some more exposure … because they are clearly one of the very best orchestras in the world right now.… “…with absolutely radiant brass playing and…
The Absolute Sound 2014 High-End Audio Buyer’s Guide was just published and includes a feature in which writers list their recommended ‘obscure’ music and encourage readers to go find it. Two RR Minnesota Orchestra recordings were selected in this “Ten Little-Known But Great-Sounding Recordings” list! Mephisto & Co., Minnesota Orchestra “…it gets my vote as the single best sounding RR CD. The centerpiece of the collection is Malcolm Arnold’s Tam O’ Shanter Overture, here in…
Audiophile Audition gives four stars to FRESH! From Reference Recordings release Andrés Segovia Archive, Vol. 1 featuring guitarist Roberto Moronn Pérez: “Andrés Segovia is regarded as the savior of the classical guitar and its literature…These are mostly short, rather quiet, guitar pieces by six Spanish composers: Aregui, Sanjuan, Cassado, Donostia, Pahissa and Mompou…Spanish-born Perez is an accomplished guitarist…The outstanding recording was made in 2010 in the acoustics of the Holy Trinity Church in Weston, Hertfordshire…
Graham Rickson of theartsdesk.com has a great new review for our San Francisco Ballet Orchestra Bizet release: “So it makes perfect sense for a crack ballet orchestra to record the work and Martin West’s San Francisco Ballet forces play the work beautifully; this disc oozes frothy joie de vivre. Musically there’s little to surprise, but the symphony does it what it does with swaggering confidence and bucketloads of brio. It’s a work which will raise…
The “Atlanta Live Music Examiner” reviews a host of new Blues releases on Examiner.com, including our latest Doug MacLeod release, There’s A Time: “With a soothing guitar and soulful voice, McLeod effortlessly rolls through a collection of original tunes that is pleasant to the ear.… From the opening track…there is something familiar about this record. I swear I had heard many of these tunes before but they are all McLeod originals. He plays and sings…
Noted Bay Area dance critic, Heather Desaulniers, offered a wonderful review of our first San Francisco Ballet Orchestra recording (Delibes), and has just published a new review for the latest Bizet recording on her Dance Commentary blog: “Thanks to Reference Recordings, Bay Area balletomanes can visit the ballet anytime they wish, even in the off-season. Their most recent release features three scores by Georges Bizet – Symphony in C, Jeux d’Enfants and Variations Chromatiques –…
SA-CD.net has a review of next month’s new SACD release of our latest Kansas City Symphony recording: “Those who, like me, already have the superb CD/HDCD of this disc will discover an even greater depth of sound and stunning realism from this 5.1 channel hybrid SACD release…the surround channels have been used purely to capture the warm ambience of the recording venue – Community of Christ Auditorium, Independence, Missouri. “The delightful illustrations in the accompanying…
Houston’s 91.7 KUHA FM has a new review from their music librarian Chris Hathaway for our new Bizet recording featuring the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. “Martin West continues to show his conductorial prowess, and proves that his orchestra is a first-rate ensemble, with this handsome all-Bizet disc. …Balance and pacing are the key to handling this symphony, and West does not fall short of these. The slow movement, full of balance problems — notably, the…
John J. Puccio of Classical Candor calls our newest San Francisco Ballet Orchestra Bizet release a “delight” and a “special occasion”: “Thus, it is a delight to welcome this latest RR entry into the catalogue, the music of French composer Georges Bizet (1838-1875), performed by Martin West and the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. … [West] brings the light, delicate touch of the ballet conductor with him, always exercising a spring in his step, a lilt…
Barcelona Radio Show “La Hora del Blues” reviews Doug MacLeod There’s A Time “ A magnificent musician with a lot of swing, great charisma and much experience to perform semi-acoustic blues with taste and elegant nuances, always from a personal, original and clever point of view. … On this new album Doug shows all his talent and energy, singing and playing acoustic guitars, dobros, and also some six and twelve string National ones. Doug is…
Blues Blast Magazine has a great review of the Winthrop (Washington) Rhythm & Blues Festival, and includes quite the praise for RR artist Doug MacLeod: “Each morning opened with songwriter, story teller, and Delta inspired bluesman Doug MacLeod. If you have never had the opportunity to listen to Doug talk and play, then you should find him and listen. Aside from being quite funny, he is also inspiring with his down-home philosophies embedded in his…
Anthony Kershaw has a new review for our upcoming Bizet release from the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra: “The recording, sourced at Skywalker Studios, is much like the SF Ballet’s previous CD release. As such, it’s yet another gem from Keith Johnson and his team. No matter where the recording is sourced, Johnson manages to snag the Reference ‘house’ sound. Meaning, incredibly defined bass, beautiful separation of instruments (listen to the flute and violin unison in…