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SACD

Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki – Bach: The Complete Secular Cantatas [10 SACDs] (2003-2017/2019) [SACD / BIS – BIS-2491]

adminJuly 10, 2025 346 Views

Title: Bach Collegium Japan, Masaaki Suzuki – Bach: The Complete Secular Cantatas [10 SACDs] (2003-2017/2019)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

In 1995 Masaaki Suzuki and his Bach Collegium Japan began the monumental task of recording J.S. Bach’s extant church cantatas – an adventure that was brought to a close 18 years later. But Bach also composed a number of cantatas for secular occasions of which some twenty works have survived intact. Released on individual discs between 2004 and 2018, Masaaki Suzuki’s recordings of these works have now been gathered in a box set, available as a limited edition. The secular cantatas were written (both the texts and the music) for special events in the family, social, academic or political calendar – a wedding, a birthday celebration, an academic ceremony or a tribute to a prince. Although they were normally only performed once in their original form, Bach was keen to reuse material from them, if the opportunity arose. The best-known examples of using secular arias and choruses with new sacred texts are found in the Christmas Oratorio, for which Bach drew extensively on three festive cantatas written for the Prince-Elector of Saxony and his family. Included in the box is a 156-page booklet with an introduction by Bach specialist Dr Klaus Hofmann (in English, German and French) and the texts of the cantatas with English translations.

hraudio | bis.eclassical.com | discogs

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2 min read

SACD

János Starker – Bach: Suites for Solo Cello BWV 1007-1012 [2 SACDs] (1963-1965/2016) [SACD / Stereo Sound – SSHRS-011～014]

adminJuly 10, 2025 1237 Views

Title: János Starker – Bach: Suites for Solo Cello BWV 1007-1012 [2 SACDs] (1963-1965/2016)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

The joy of audiophiles is to listen to great performances and recordings of masterpieces. Analog master tapes of “historical masterpieces and recordings of eternal value” are stored by record companies around the world. Stereo Sound has started the “Audio Masterpieces Collection,” which unearths high-quality master tapes from among these and uses the latest technology to create the “best sound” possible. 　This product is a digital version of the original analog master tapes with virtually no processing. Therefore, as a rule, no correction processing such as equalization to make the sound easier to hear, noise cut or dropout caused by the master tapes, let alone cutting of ultra-low frequencies, has been performed. This is based on the product plan to deliver the sound of the master tapes to audiophiles as faithfully as possible, which was previously available only to a limited number of people involved in the production. The sound image of the cello, which draws on Bach’s miraculous music in a fresh way, is slightly larger, but maintains a holographic shape in medium perspective. Low-level texture and natural timbre are of a phenomenal standard. The sound of strings hitting the fretboard and breath sounds are delivered with a sense of distance, but even in single-note passages, not to mention heavy notes, the chords created in space by resonance create a grand architecture of sound. It would be too much to say that this is a moving recording that transforms the place into the center of the world. (Excerpt from “The Ultimate Guide to Classical Masterpieces” by Mamoru Shima, published by our company)

hraudio | stereosound-store.jp | discogs

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2 min read

SACD

Anner Bylsma – Bach: Partita BWV 1006 and Sonatas BWV 1003 & 1013 for Violoncello piccolo (1988/2019) [SACD / Sony Classical – SICC-10297]

adminJuly 10, 2025 365 Views

Title: Anner Bylsma – Bach: Partita BWV 1006 and Sonatas BWV 1003 & 1013 for Violoncello piccolo (1988/2019)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

Anner Bylsma, a cellist with a long history of baroque cello activity, passed away on July 25. He was 85 years old. Bilsma was born in February 1934 in The Hague, the Netherlands, and was one of the leaders of the Dutch antique music movement, along with Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) and France Brugghen (flute and recorder). In honor of Mr. Bilsma’s achievements, we are releasing his masterpiece Bach on SACD hybrid. The cello piccolo is a small cello among many types of cellos that developed in the 17th century based on the large cello of the 16th century, which also existed at that time as a five-stringed cello. Baroque cello master Anner Bylsma put this cello piccolo into practice in Bach’s “Suite for Unaccompanied Cello,” No. 6, for which it is best suited. This album is an unprecedented effort by Bylsma ten years later, in which he plays the beautiful instrument at his command and expresses Bach’s world to perfection.

hraudio | sonymusic.co.jp

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1 min read

SACD

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Rudolf Mauersberger – Bach: Matthaeus Passion BWV 244 / St. Matthew’s Passion BWV 244 [3 SACDs] (1970/2021) [SACD / Berlin Classics x Tower Record – 0302061BC ]

adminJuly 10, 2025July 10, 2025 460 Views

Title: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Rudolf Mauersberger – Bach: Matthaeus Passion BWV 244 / St. Matthew’s Passion BWV 244 [3 SACDs] (1970/2021)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

The monumental masterpiece recorded in 1970 by the former East Germany with all its efforts is reproduced in the best sound quality ever. On the 50th anniversary of Rudolf Mauersberger’s death, it was newly reissued from the original ETERNA analog tapes in its home country. World’s first SACD release! Mastered only in the analog domain and converted directly to DSD! This is the 13th SACD hybrid version of the latest reissue of the original ETERNA analog tapes in Japan. The two prestigious East German choirs led by the Mauersberger brothers in 1970 were the Dresden Holy Cross Choir on the left and the Leipzig St. Thomas Church Choir on the right, and together with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, they recorded “Matthew” in analog stereo at Luke’s Church in Dresden. The smoky silver tone and humble performance attitude dedicated to the work were captured in the best possible conditions. The warmth of sound and rich emotion in the chorale is now unheard of, and as the work progresses, the colors of sorrow deepen, beautifully depicting the scenes of the Passion story. The singers are all East German, with Schreier and Adam from the Dresden Choir of the Holy Cross singing with a beautiful voice that is one of a kind, showing a dramatic tension building in their clean, beautiful voices. This performance is what most listeners would agree is the “authentic” Matthew. This recording is a masterpiece representing ETERNA as a recording of the best members of the former East Germany at that time. The recording has been reissued several times, but the appearance of this high-quality disc with renewed sound quality is noteworthy. The recording was made by the famous engineer Streuben, and the breath of the chorus and the atmosphere and realism of the recording location are outstanding. The soloist, 35-year-old Schreier, is a masterpiece. He has been the Evangelist in many recordings, and this disc is considered the best of them all. The chorus is also very skillful and of a high level, which is unique to the former East Germany, and is a great feature of this recording. Furthermore, the Mauersberger brothers’ recording of the Mauersberger Chorus is a compilation of the Mauersberger Brothers’ works, as their older brother Rudolf died the year after this recording was made. For this reissue, the master tapes were flown from the label to the studio of Vienna-based mastering engineer Christoph Stickel, where they were mastered in the analog domain, and then digitized separately in DSD for the SACD layer and PCM for the CD layer. Then, the digitalization was done in two separate systems, DSD for SACD layer and PCM for CD layer. This project realized the ideal method of mastering as far as currently conceivable. The effect is remarkable: it is now possible to reproduce the quality that was left on the master tape with extreme fidelity, and the mastering and direct DSD conversion in the analog domain only has even greater sonic benefits. The result is a performance that is so clear and resolved compared to its predecessor that further appreciation of the performance can be expected. The manual also includes a color photo of the outer box of the original analog master tape used in this project.

hraudio | tower.jp | discogs

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3 min read

SACD

Staatskapelle Dresden, Rudolf Mauersberger – Bach: Hohe Messe in h-Moll BWV 232 / Mass in B minor BWV 232 [2 SACDs] (1958/2021) [SACD / Berlin Classics x Tower Record – 0302062BC]

adminJuly 10, 2025 427 Views

Title: Staatskapelle Dresden, Rudolf Mauersberger – Bach: Hohe Messe in h-Moll BWV 232 / Mass in B minor BWV 232 [2 SACDs] (1958/2021)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

The latest reissue of the fantastic 1958 stereo recording of the “Mass in B minor,” a masterpiece! On the 50th anniversary of Rudolf Mauersberger’s death, this is a new reissue from the original ETERNA analog tapes in the country of origin. World’s first SACD release! Mastered only in the analog domain and directly converted to DSD! The 13th SACD hybridization of the latest reissue project of ETERNA’s original analog tapes in Japan. A fantastic masterpiece that was not released in the West in the LP era: In 1958, famous singers from East and West Germany gathered in Dresden to form the Dresden Holy Cross Choir, which has a pre-Bach tradition, The best part of the recording is the chorus. The best listening is in the chorus, which prioritizes human warmth over transparent textural expression, with the large group of singers listening to each other’s parts and joining their hearts together to create a wellspring of harmony. The way in which Bach’s counterpoint writing is depicted in an extremely majestic manner is breathtaking. The stylistic unity and balance with the austere and subdued tone of the orchestra proves the excellent musicianship and solid technique of the conductor, and the singers include Adam from the Dresden Holy Cross Choir, three famous singers from the West, Stauder’s shining and beautiful voice, Wagner’s richly shaded voice, and Heflinger’s soft and gentle voice. Heflinger’s soft and gentle singing adds to the mix, making this a truly perfect recording. The first stereo recording also captures the full scale and flavor of the performance, making it a truly representative masterpiece of its time. This album has never been released in Japan even after the CD era; it was recorded between October and November 1958, and the original monaural LP was released the following year only in the former East German territories. The original monaural LP was released the following year only in the former East Germany, followed by a monaural reissue in 1963 and a stereo reissue in 1968, followed by a highlight version in 1969. The jacket design of this reissue is the same as the one used for the first monaural release in 1959 (the main visual of the stereo version is almost the same as the monaural version. The stereo version of the album is also unchanged, but the stereo indication is added to the lower right corner of the jacket.) The master tapes were flown from the label to Vienna-based mastering engineer Christoph Stickel’s studio for mastering in the analog domain, and then digitized separately to DSD for the SACD layer and PCM for the CD layer. The project was then digitized into a product. This project realized the ideal method of mastering as far as currently conceivable. The effect is remarkable: it is now possible to reproduce the quality left on the master tapes with extreme fidelity, and the mastering and direct DSD conversion in the analog domain only has even greater sonic benefits. The result is a performance that is so clear and resolved compared to the previous version that further appreciation of the performance can be expected. The manual also includes a photograph of the outer box of the original analog master tape used in this project.

hraudio | tower.jp | discogs

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3 min read

SACD

Münchner Bach-Orchester, Karl Richter – Bach: Johannes-Passion BWV 245 – St John Passion – Passio secundum Joannem [2 SACDs] (1964/2016) [SACD / Archiv Produktion – UCGA-9010/1]

adminJuly 10, 2025 446 Views

Title: Münchner Bach-Orchester, Karl Richter – Bach: Johannes-Passion BWV 245 – St John Passion – Passio secundum Joannem [2 SACDs] (1964/2016)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

[In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of Karl Richter’s birth, J.S. Bach’s immortal masterpieces are now available in SACD-SHM format. Like the “Matthew Passion,” the “John Passion,” which depicts the Passion of Christ, is filled with highlights such as the beauty of the chorus and the singing of Heflinger as the evangelist. Karl Richter’s eternal and definitive masterpiece, the collection of Bach’s four major religious works, is now available for the first time on SA-CD-SHM! DSD masters were newly created from the original analog masters at Emil Berliner Studios in Germany for this SACD-SHM release [using 2016 DSD masters produced at Emil Berliner Studios in Germany] [lyrics with bilingual translation].

hraudio | universal-music.co.jp | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Born – At The End Of The Day (2005) [SACD / Traverso Records – 900.0417.071]

adminJuly 10, 2025 449 Views

Title: Born – At The End Of The Day (2005)
Genre: Pop Rock
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Born Stuyven is a Dutch singer/songwriter, rock & roll style who made a name with his previous bands Thunderin’ Hearts & Enos. “At The End Of The Day” is his debut solo album. This sentimental rock & roll album contains a couple very strong songs.

hraudio | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Gustav Leonhardt – Bach: Goldberg Variatione (1965/2024) [SACD / Esoteric – ESSW-90290]

adminJuly 10, 2025 386 Views

Title: Gustav Leonhardt – Bach: Goldberg Variatione (1965/2024)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

hraudio | esoteric.jp | discogs

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1 min read

SACD

Friedrich Gulda – Bach: Das wohltemperierte Klavier [4 SACDs] (1972-1973/2020) [SACD / MPS x Tower Records – 0301659BC]

adminJuly 10, 2025 431 Views

Title: Friedrich Gulda – Bach: Das wohltemperierte Klavier [4 SACDs] (1972-1973/2020)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

90th anniversary of Gurda’s birth and 20th anniversary of his death, one of Gurda’s greatest masterpieces recorded on MPS from 1972 to the following year. The latest reissue reproduces a variety of touches and textures better than ever before! Mastered only in the analog domain and converted directly to DSD! New reissue from the original MPS analog tape in Japan. Excellent recording. World’s first SACD release! This is a masterpiece among masterpieces, session-recorded by MPS, a former West German jazz label, from 1972 to the following year. The brilliant technique and rare inspiration of Goulda, who was in his early 40s at the time of recording, have long reigned as the top historical recording of the “law of averages” played on the piano. They have been reissued many times since the LP era, but their sudden revival on the MPS label in 2015 on CD brought back their fresh, crisp tone and made a huge impact on fans and non-fans alike. This latest reissue is not only the first SACD, but it is also a permanent reissue with the original jacket design. The MPS label was sold to Polygram in 1983, and in the CD era was reissued on the PHILIPS label, but in 2014 it was transferred to the Edel Group, which owns Berlin Classics and other labels. Later, in June 2015, the aforementioned CD, reissued from the original analog master tapes stored at MPS, was released, and as you know it was quite controversial at the time. The CD is no longer available, but for this reissue, the original MPS analog master tapes were used, and the mastering was done by the famous engineer Christoph Stickel, just as we have done for the previous Berlin Classics releases. The mastering was done with the utmost care to preserve the best possible sound quality in the package, so you can enjoy Gulda’s performance with more precision and density than ever before. The piano tone has a heavy weight to it, and the sound is more natural and easier to listen to than ever before. The more you listen to this superb masterpiece, the more deeply you will appreciate it, and it has been beautifully revived in high sound quality.

For this reissue, the master tapes were flown from the label to Vienna-based mastering engineer Christoph Stickel’s studio, mastered in the analog domain, and then digitized using separate systems for DSD for the SACD layer and PCM for the CD layer. The project was then digitized into a product. This project realized the ideal method of mastering as far as currently conceivable. The effect is remarkable: it is possible to reproduce the quality of the master tapes with extreme fidelity, and the mastering in the analog domain only and direct DSD conversion have further enhanced the sound quality. The manual also includes a photograph of the outer box of the original analog master tape used in this project. ＜Mastering engineer (including DSD conversion): Mr. Christoph Stickel – in Vienna. He was in charge of mastering the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra’s self-produced recordings as well as the ECM SACD project (2017~) for Tower’s Jazz project. SACD layer: Directly converted to DSD after mastering in the analog domain from a new analog master tape in the home country CD layer: Similarly mastered in the analog domain. CD layer: Similarly mastered in analog domain, digitized at 96kHz/24bit in high quality, then converted to 44.1kHz/16bit Each digital data is not transmitted, but flown in on an optical disc

hraudio | tower.jp | discogs

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3 min read

SACD

Anner Bylsma – Bach: Suites for Violoncello Solo, BWV1007-1012 [2 SACDs] (1992/2019) [SACD / Sony Classical – S2K 48047]

adminJuly 10, 2025 340 Views

Title: Anner Bylsma – Bach: Suites for Violoncello Solo, BWV1007-1012 [2 SACDs] (1992/2019)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

Anner Bylsma, a cellist with a long history of baroque cello activity, passed away on July 25. He was 85 years old. Bilsma was born in February 1934 in The Hague, the Netherlands, and was one of the leaders of the Dutch antique music movement, along with Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) and France Brugghen (flute and recorder). In honor of Mr. Bilsma’s achievements, we are releasing his representative masterpiece of Bach on SACD hybrid. This is Bilsma’s second recording of Bach’s “Suite for Unaccompanied Cello” in its entirety. In 1979, Birsma recorded the complete works on baroque cello (SEON label), which was highly acclaimed worldwide, and in this new recording made in 1992, he uses a Stradivari called “Servais” made in 1701, the so-called “modern cello,” to present a new approach to this infinite This new recording, made in 1992, uses a Stradivari cello called the “Servais” (1701), or “modern cello,” to shed new light on this “cello bible” with its infinite possibilities. This is a bold challenge by Bylsma, who is always in pursuit of new possibilities.

hraudio | sonymusic.co.jp

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1 min read