Lossless / HD Music

Souvenir is the TrondheimSolistene's 2012 release on the Norwegian label 2L, and it presents three late-Romantic standards for string orchestra. While this group's stated purpose is to close "the gap between the recording and the living, ever open human ear," this seems to promise more than the CD delivers. The ensemble turns in engaging and fresh readings of Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence and the Serenade in C major for strings, with Carl Nielsen's delightful Little Suite for string orchestra sandwiched between them. For most classical listeners, this is a perfectly fine offering of beautiful string works, but serious audiophiles may need some clarification on its technical aspects. Even though the recording notes indicate the use of Digital eXtreme Definition, a process that attempts to duplicate the sound of analog recording in 24-bit, the reproduction sounds roughly the same as a good stereo CD, if not slightly less crisp because of the resonant acoustics of Selbu Church, the venue of the sessions. For all the care taken in providing state-of-the-art microphones, amplifiers, and converters, the presentation on CD seems substantially less impressive than many hybrid SACDs. This album has been simultaneously released on vinyl and on Blu-Ray, so there are alternatives for listeners who seek different formats. In the end, the performances are lovely, so the album is quite enjoyable, even though its technical aspects may disappoint.