Brotons, Handel & Tchaikovsky [Pure DSD]

"The rapid growth of Spain's new recording company Eudora offers a delightful concert by Cammerata. This chamber orchestra is reputed to be one of the best Spanish chamber ensembles, both national and international. Conductor-less, youthful and energetic, the violin and viola players stand while playing. For this first recording, Cammerata have devised a fascinating programme, using 9 violins, 4 violas, 4 cellos, 2 double bass and a harpsichord for the Händel.

The apex of this SACD is Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings in C major (1880). The first few bars of Cammerata captured me, and the whole performance had me rapt.

Despite hearing dozens of Tchaikovsky String Serenades in concerts and recordings, I felt that I was hearing it anew, with the subtlety of nuanced phrases, dynamics, emotions and especially the gorgeous voicing of chordal work, which brought a special life of wooing romantics to the Serenades, which was revelatory. It should be noted that the composer himself wrote, "The larger number of players in the string orchestra, the more this shall be in accordance with the author's wishes."

Eudora's recording sessions were at the Sala Narciso Yepes at Auditorio Victor Villegas, Murcia, in the interior of the Costa Calida – Costa Blanca region of Spain. It is a said to be a "great symphony hall equipped with 1,768 seats, a stage of 300 m2, a spectacular sound with superb visibility from all areas. Several session photos show the disposition of the ensemble on the stage and the placing of Sonodore, Neumann U89 and Schoeps microphones. The album was recorded in DSD256 (11.289 MHz) Stereo and Surround Sound. Without an audience, there is a pleasing resonance of about 2 seconds, especially from the bass which have notably rich timbre but perhaps loose a little of their attack. The main recorded sound stage is quite close, but wide, with distinct positioning of instruments. The hall acoustics coexists with the music to make a fine DSD recording, especially, as usual, in 5.0 multichannel.

A very fine concert for lovers of a string chamber orchestra. Buy a copy and spread the name of Brotons. Performance and Multichannel Sonics: 5 out of 5 Stars, Stereo Sonics: 4.5 out of 5 Stars."