AA.VV.: THE AUDIOPHILE CLASSICAL COLLECTION (ONE STEP)

Performer: Various orchestras
Artist: Various artists
Number of discs: 1
Barcode: 4895241451454
Label: Evolution Music Group
Format: LP
Genre: Orchestral Classical
Year: 2026

Chesky Records, the legendary New York label renowned for its audiophile-quality recordings and minimalist approach to capturing sound in reverberant spaces, is proud to present The Audiophile Classical Collection. Personally selected from the company's extensive back catalogue, this anthology highlights the label's commitment to delivering first-class, unprocessed sound across a wide range of musical styles. From the Baroque clarity of Vivaldi, performed with one player per part, to the late-Romantic grandeur of Wagner and Holst, each selection demonstrates the depth and brilliance of the Chesky sound.

This collection showcases an extraordinary array of talent, including Charles Gerhardt conducting the National Philharmonic Orchestra in a thrilling interpretation of Wagner's Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries, and the Bruckner Orchestra Linz delivering the sheer orchestral power demanded by Holst's Mars and Strauss's The Blue Danube.

The collection also features the intricate chamber compositions performed by the Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble under the direction of Igor Kipnis, alongside the sensual and evocative saxophone playing of Lawrence Feldman with Orquesta Nova. For a truly immersive experience, organist Gregory D'Agostino performs Bach's Toccata and Fugue at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan, recorded using Chesky's proprietary Binaural+ process to create a remarkably lifelike sense of presence.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Orquesta Nova – Piazzolla: “Oblivion”
2. The Connecticut Early Music Festival Ensemble, Igor Kipnis – Vivaldi: “Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, ‘L'Estate’ (Summer), RV 315: I. Allegro non molto – Allegro”
3. Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Dennis Russell Davies – Holst: “Mars (The Planets)”

Side B

1. Gregory D'Agostino – Bach: “Toccata and Fugue”
2. Bruckner Orchestra Linz, Peter Guth – Strauss: “An der schönen blauen Donau” (The Blue Danube)
3. National Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Gerhardt – Wagner: “Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries”