PentaTone Classics has announced the release of 2 new Multichannel SACDs: “Toccata: Organ Works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Reiger and Rheinberger” by Bram Beekman (PentaTone Classics SACD PTC 5186 003) and “Tango Royal” by Carel Kraayenhof and Sexteto Canyengue (PentaTone Classics SACD PTC 472318-2). This brings the total of PentaTone Classics Multichannel SACD releases to six.
The founders of PentaTone believe that 5-channel surround sound will gradually replace today’s stereo sound, because surround sound provides an extra dimension to the musical experience. They say that: “Hearing is believing. Not only the artists and the audiophiles are convinced. Everybody who attends a demonstration confirms that the experience is more natural and superior compared to stereo sound.”
PentaTone Classics is a division of PentaTone Music B.V. and was founded in 2001 by three former executives of Philips Classics (one of the classical music labels now owned by the Universal Music Group) together with Polyhymnia International (the former recording center of Philips Classics). PentaTone plans to create a new classical catalogue expertly recorded by Polyhymnia International, and starting with the most famous works, performed by top classical artists.
Polyhymnia International is a recording studio specializing in high-resolution 5 channel surround sound recordings of classical music. It has a reputation for producing very high quality recordings and has been responsible for some well known SACDs released to date including “Film Music of Jerry Goldsmith” and “Christus Apollo” on the Telarc label.
In January 2002 PentaTone recorded the official music which was performed during the wedding ceremony of the Dutch crown prince Willem-Alexander and Mбxima. This recording is distributed by the Universal Music Group (PentaTone Classics SACD PTC 5186 005). It includes a new arrangement of Piazzola’s famous tango “Adios Nonino” for Chamber Orchestra, Choir and Bandoneon.