Heitor Villa-Lobos / Alberto Ginastera - Sir Eugene Goossens Milhaud / Stravinsky - John Carewe

Two album for the price of one

Having seen many references in the past to this Everest audiophile recording of “The Little Train”, my expectations where set high. Since I never got hold of the SACD-version, I have nothing to compare to. However, while listening I feel there must be something missing to this classic with regard to transparency and dimension. Things improve for the chamber pieces. The L’Histoire du Soldat holds well for repeated listening and has a warm and natural feel to it. A good complement to the Robert Mandell version. Though, playing them one after the other clearly reveals who’s the top choice for stunning (disturbing?) realism.

Don't how to title!

Haitor Villa-Lobos' music, as well as Ginastera's is, are quite underrated, so far. Even for we, Iberian public. Don't ask me why, I just don't kow. They are rarely programmed in worlde orchestral concertos. But, as in this miscellaneous slbum, they deserve far more attention from the audiences. They're not "revolutionary", yes. But, was Copland, a point of reference for this period, a revolutionary. I think he WAS, in his own way and time. The opposition to Vienna's Second School postulates was a "revolution" in itself. And Music, as all forms of Art, is a constant controversy: between what has been done yet and what is still waiting for coming to existence. Milhaud's "Creation du Monde" is, in my opinion, some sort of dadaism applied to music with an attempt of "burlesque" wich is, viewed with today's eyes, a failure, sorry to say. Of course, there will be many listeners who disagree with my statement. Stravinsky's "Le Hitoire du Soldat" is, as almost everything from his author, a classic beyond the pass of Time. I could say that Stravinsky is a musical genre in his own. From the sound quality, both Villa-Lobos and Ginastera's works are a little bit overloaded in level (surprisingly, the deep, deep bass is present as in rare occasions is). Don't know HOW the original master tapes are, sure, but my previous experience with HDTT recordings let me to gess they're not much different, if any. A conclusion: music to DISCOVER and enjoy.. Recommended.

Mixed bag

The Villa Lobos and Ginastera part of this compilation is, of course, a bona fide audiophile classic, with stunning, limpid transparency and extravagant 3D staging. Plus some unwelcome tape overload... But I regret to advise that this hi-res transfer is not as good as the short-lived and uber-rare Vanguard/Everest SACD or a DSD-rip from that. But good luck getting hold of it... The Stravinsky pieces are welcome are well up with the commercial transfers. Still, there's a lot of value for money in this compilation, especially looking at availability and prices of originals!