Richard Hickox - Tippett: The Rose Lake • Ritual Dances (2005) [Hi-Res]

This recording of two masterful orchestral works by Sir Michael Tippett is fascinating and rewarding for many reasons, not least for the undeniable vividness of the music, the scintillating sonorities of the orchestration, and the vitality of the performances, but also for the utterly vibrant reproduction, presented in pristine DSD sound for this hybrid Super Audio CD from Chandos. This audiophile technology was intended for music of the widest dynamic range, depth, and variety of timbres, and Tippett's evocative and mysteriously shaded The Rose Lake (1991-1993) and his bright and vigorous Ritual Dances from The Midsummer Marriage (1946-1952) clearly provide the fullest possible experience of the large modern orchestra in scores of almost cinematic scope. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Richard Hickox, plays with delicate nuances in the quietest passages, and magnificent grandeur in climaxes, but most of all, delivers these sonic spectaculars with a sweeping vitality that feels spontaneous and genuine, as if the conductor and orchestra simply played their hearts out instead of cautiously calculating what effects would come off best on a multichannel system. This album, then, is more than just a flashy showcase for great sound, and anyone who enjoys modern orchestral music of imagination and passion will relish this package. ~ Blair Sanderson