Anyway as several of you know I have had a long liking for what is termed Classical music stemming from actual childhood having had my own meagre record collection from around the age of 8 of my favourite pieces.
Over the years I've added recordings to them, changed formats as the years have seen the availability of and advent of recordings new media has changed and I've written a bit in the past on the blog about them.
The music of Ravel was one of the first composers I encountered and recently this recording by the distinguished American conductor Leonard Slatkin, whose career I've followed over the years. The playing by the French orchestra is superb and I can see this and it's second volume that I also purchased gaining a few awards at the years end.
Bela Bartok's Concerto is a fine example of twentieth century classical music, indeed many have said it has some of the boldness associated with American composers that period so it's fitting this is performed by an an American orchestra and a remarkable female American conductor Marin Alsop who has conducted in many countries including the 2013 Last Night of the Proms in England.
How many of us just loved watching Disney's Fantasia and can remember that series with Mickey Mouse getting in trouble as the Sorcerer's Apprentice?
Well that was written by by France's Dukas and is featured in this excellent modern recording that has plenty of character.
One thing technically all these recordings I purchased have in common is that although they are available on regular cd, I bought these as better than cd quality 'High Definition' 24 bit downloads which can be played on a computer.
I play them using my Fiio x3 digital audio players line output through my hifi system as well as on headphones where the smoothness and lack of the low level artifacts that even the best cds have is noticeable.
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