Violin Concertos

I have no idea how people can actually listen to this disc and give it five stars. They must be reviewing by the bitrate, not with their ears. Either that or they don't really know what classical music is supposed to sound like.This recording is pretty much unlistenable. First off, the dynamic range is WAY too wide. Quiet passages disappear into the aether and loud parts blast. I kept grabbing the remote to adjust the levels. In the booklet there's a diagram of how they llaid out the band in a circle around the conductor and hung the mics right over his head. But all of the instruments were basically the same distance from the mic, so a trumpet is the same distance from the mic as a flute. Believe it or not, the tympani was positioned right next to the violin soloist, so every time there's a drum roll, you jump out of your seat! The violin section is at the back end of the circle, so they're in the rear channels. But I guess they thought that sounded weird, so they mixed them way down and overlaid an ambience that sounds like they're playing on the moon. No definition to the string tone at all. It sounds like a cheap synth. You can barely hear them under the solo violin, basses, percussion and brass blaring up front, so I guess that doesn't really matter. Imagine an orchestra where the violins are antiphonal on the other end of a huge cathedral and you have the basic idea of what this sounds like.The soloist is competent. The band is very scrappy and underrehearsed, and they have problems with ensemble more often than I'd like. The liner notes say that they aren't really an orchestra. They play everything from pop music to polka for community events in some foreign hamlet where they wear wooden shoes.This is hands down the weirdest recording of an orchestra I've ever heard. In the liner notes the engineer says it's impossible to record an orchestra to sound like it does in a concert hall, so he didn't even try. That is the truth! Yow! I wish I could get my money back for this dog's breakfast of a recording.

Ole Bull brought the world's attention to Norway's music and drama. No question that the performances are spectacular in their composition and rendition. It's the audio technology that is on display: choose Blu-ray and select either PCM stereo, or 5.1 DTS HD 24/192 kHz, or 7.1 DTS HD 24/96 kHz. If you have the capacity, each progression beginning at the 2.0 PCM recording and moving toward the 7.1 will thrill you with a sonic completeness--the orchestra surrounding you, as you listen to the instrumentation become a complete wholeness of performance. Never have I heard such a magnificent exposition of sound, not forgetting the passion found in each of the 10 parts. But wait, there's more. A second DSD disc is to be found within the packaging. For those who have SACD (super audio compact disc) playback, the best is yet to come. The DSD contains a beautiful rendition of all ten presentations. The playback may be listened to in 2.0 stereo or 5.1 surround. Actually, the big surprise is that the hybrid DSD disc will playback in 7.1 with all of the magnificence expected but with a polished sound emerging from its many channels--more holistic and yet pleasing, or on a regular CD player. Oh, and if you wish to show off your audio set-up, from the top of the sonic spectrum to the plumbing of the depths of the sound, you will be able to use this disc to demonstrate what high-end audio brings to the picture. We are living in a marvelous time with so much technology available to us. Enjoy the adventure!

Ole Bull's music has all been lost with the exception of the two Arve Tellefsen recordings; otherwise that is it. So, this is a welcomed surprise. As you probably know he was a virtuoso violinist. He learned his trade from another great forgotten violinist, Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst. Check-Out Ernst as well, especially the Aaron Rosand recording of Concerto in F sharp minor, Op. 23 - it's Exceptional!!! Back to Bull, he was very interested in the construction of the violin and the potential range of its effects, and he adapted many of his own violins. He lowered the bridge, used thinner strings, and made the bow larger and heavier so that he could play quadruple stops. One of his chief rivals was Henri Vieuxtemps. Think about the concerts both of these guys performed.All of the pieces on this recording are performed superbly and the sound is A+. The "Saeterjentens Sondag" is Bull's most famous piece. Actually it is an excerpt from "Et Saeterbesog" which is the fantasy piece. The "I Ensomme Stunde" is done very well but all of these pieces have been recorded before. As for the "Concerto in A", "Concerto Fantastico", and the "La Verbena de San Stunde" these are World Premieres. All of the these pieces encompass violin techniques developed by Paganini; double, triple, and quadruple stops, harmonics, ricochet bowing, and large scale phrases, but Bull uses them in a Norwegian style.What I like about all of these new pieces is that Bull uses a full romantic orchestra. The "La Verbena de San Stunde" is a Spanish piece some-what similar to Sarasate's pieces for Violin & Orch and displays Bull's breath of style and playing. The Concerto in A is excellent and the Concerto Fantastico I believe is the best piece on the CD. I love all of the movements especially the first; the build up orchestration before the soloist is great. The use of the tymbal is unexpected and completely catches you off guard but fits the music perfectly. The second movement severely tugs at your heart and the final has a quick and very happy melody. If you really enjoy great violin playing in the 19th century, I don't think you will be disappointed with this CD.

Case and disk were in good condition. Popped in and played. No issues. Bluray audio does sound great.

This Ole Bull rare Violin Concertos CD is excellent and the sound quality is perfect.I wish every classical music lover buys this lovely music on Blu Ray Audio and SACD.Thanks to -importcds for excellent rapid shipping.Pierre GélinasShawinigan QC Canada

Une dynamique renversante, comme on en voudrait sur tous enregistrements du commerce. La prise de son est particulièrement soignée, elle met en valeur la sensibilité des instrumentistes - ici au sommet de leur Art - Et une composition virtuose - le Tubular Bells de son époque.

Enfin on utilise à fond les possibilités du Bluray en ce qui concerne la qualité du son.Certainement le meilleur son disponible actuellement en multi-canal.Indispensable pour tout audiophile, à quand la même choseavec de la musique pop ou du jazz ?

Un peu surpris au départ , ne connaissant pas le concept Blue Ray pure audio ...Mais ensuite , quel régal !!!On se coirait au milieu de l'orchestre , chaque instrument , chaque trémolo se distingue , nous sommes dans une autre dimension

ブルーレイオーディオとSACDの2枚組。PCMとDSDの聴き比べができます。SACDには、ステレオ、5.1chサラウンドが収録されており、ブルーレイオーディオでは、5.1ch（24/192）、7.1ch（24/96）のサラウンドとPCM（24/192）ステレオが聴き比べられます。今回の録音では、第一ヴァイオリンと第二ヴァイオリンが後方に位置しているため面白いサラウンドが楽しめます。サラウンドを楽しめる環境をお持ちの方は絶対に買いです。

演奏もいいのですが、今まで経験したことのない音の体験ができました。BDオーディオに脱帽です。素晴らしい臨場感。今後のmulti-chの可能性に期待したいです。