Dvořák - Violin Concerto - Gershwin - An American In Paris - Venzago & Ferschtman - Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra - Challenge Classics CC72530 (2011) SACD rip via PS3 to iso (3.95GB) | 24bit/88.2kHz flac | Mch (2.51GB) (+6dB gain) | 2ch (1.03GB) DR15 (+6dB gain) | Classical DSD recording :) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Review on SA-CD.net: Northstar's 1st class DSD recording is natural & impeccably balanced as usual, in a pleasantly resonant but not reverberant acoustic, & a low noise floor. The soloist is portrayed as standing just in front of the orchestra, blending well with the orchestral sound without any obtrusive spotlighting; the violin tone is given plenty of air to develop. ... A demonstration-worthy recording includes a stunningly well-focussed sound stage, notably in front to back perspective. I was thrilled by this reading in both sonics & performance & can't keep it out of my player. ~ John Mille AllMusic Review by V. Vasan: There are some musicians who are so comfortable with their repertoire that they truly own the pieces they play. On this CD, Dvoràk: Violin Concerto; Gershwin: An American in Paris, the pieces are owned by violinist Liza Ferschtman &d conductor Mario Venzago with the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam. From the very beginning of the concerto, one can hear the clean, bright energetic sound with a sensual, liquid violin soloing over the orchestra. There is indeed power in the orchestra, as one can hear in the timpani. Ferschtman plays with such ease that her sound is seamless, the result of solid technique & absolute comfort with the piece. Her sound is what one would expect from the designation "solo violinist": confident, expressive, & a delight to hear. She moves through passages with agility, with the orchestra backing her fully. Her violin at the end of the 2nd movement sings so sweetly, & the concerto progresses into the clean, playful 3rd movement. None of this daunts the violinist, who changes emotional gears with no difficulty, & the orchestra keeps the music light. The players are full of emotion, but never over the top; Venzago maintains just a touch of elegant restraint. The minor key Slavic folk melody is very appealing, certainly a hallmark of the composer. An American in Paris is such a popular work that there is a danger of new recordings the piece becoming "yet another" performance that has nothing special to say. Here, however, the Netherlands Philharmonic performs it with exuberance & a buoyant quality. The players capture the contrasting textures simultaneously: crisp trumpets, machine guns snare rhythms, & legato strings. It is a testament to the conductor that he can bring out each part so clearly. There is no doubt that the orchestra members are enjoying themselves, especially in the languid, jazzy trumpet theme that conjures up Harlem in the jazz age. All the ingredients work together on this CD, a sleight-of-hand that masks the hard work & technique & creates magic. Tracks: Antonin Dvořák - Violin Concerto in A minor op 53 1-Allegro ma non troppo-Quasi moderato 2-Adagio ma non troppo 3-Finale. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo George Gershwin - An American In Paris 4-An American in Paris Time: 52:30 Musicians: Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Mario Venzago - conductor Liza Ferschtman - Violin http://www.filefactory.com/folder/2afedc2a37a830ef ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Checksum for iso: 552a2639f8dc3c89271b160fb7801738 *NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - Dvorak - Gershwin.iso Checksums for flac tracks Mch: e716476bd487116268197f249dce0bc4 *01 - NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - Allegro ma non troppo-Quasi moderato.flac a5893cc71ff6fa60120639a0c74cb416 *02 - NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - Adagio ma non troppo.flac ba572d667eb2112fdd5a01fd67c8e30c *03 - NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - Finale. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo.flac ecfa290f8b8ef59cd26b335c6253214d *04 - NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - An American in Paris.flac Checksums for flac tracks 2ch: 57ddfaa38917dc06a7d937bbd0cff11a *01 - NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - Allegro ma non troppo-Quasi moderato.flac efb293922c06b18e26f4b2be60c87019 *02 - NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - Adagio ma non troppo.flac 0c5c7f689b75e5153e8d20baf615f269 *03 - NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - Finale. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo.flac aedee6aacbe33cad55870690bcbb976e *04 - NFO - Venzago - Ferschtman - An American in Paris.flac