Telarc’s latest Surround Sound Super Audio CD release is a collection of 45 waltzes performed by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. The new SACD titled The Never Ending Waltz was released to music stores on both Super Audio CD and CD Audio disc on the same day, becoming the label’s latest “day and date” title. (In the last few years, most of Telarc’s Super Audio CD releases have been “day and date” releases).
Telarc also has two more Surround Sound Super Audio CDs slated for release in late November. These two will wrap up the label’s SACD activity in 2006. Here’s further information on the new Cincinnati Pops Orchestra SACD as well as the two upcoming SACDs from Telarc.
The Never Ending Waltz
Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
SACD Surround Sound/SACD Stereo/CD Audio
(Telarc SACD-60668)
The Never Ending Waltz is a brand new Direct Stream Digital (DSD) recording by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. It was recorded at the Music Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 20, 2006. The SACD features 45 well known waltzes that have been grouped into 8 categories. Conductor Erich Kunzel has cleverly weaved the compositions together so that the listener gets the sense that the orchestra is playing a “never ending waltz”.
Telarc says
“We’ve all heard of “The Minute Waltz,” but those of us who are captivated by music set in three-four time might prefer a waltz that goes on and on. The music on this dream-like recording does end eventually, but not until after almost a full hour of non-stop music. Maestro Kunzel and the Pops have created a completely seamless musical journey of almost sixty minutes of mesmerizing waltz music – from Strauss to Brahms to Tchaikovsky. All of the music recorded in this collection is authentic, performed in the original keys and orchestrations. Creatively crafted by Kunzel, with a clever understanding of where to move from one section in one waltz to a section in another, this musical “sleight of hand” will challenge even those most familiar with the waltz repertoire to know exactly where they are at any given moment. Minor changes were needed to assign instruments the original vocal parts from a few famous opera and operetta waltzes, but nothing was rewritten or transcribed.
The Never-Ending Waltz includes some of the most world renowned and regal waltzes from Viennese, opera, operetta, ballet, to Waldteufel (famous for “The Skater’s Waltz) without missing a step. Highlights within the eight groupings include Strauss Jr.’s Waltzes “Tales from the Vienna Woods,” “Emperor’s Waltz,” and “On the Beautiful Blue Danube,” and Operetta Waltzes including “Lehár’s “Ballsirene-Waltzer,” and Offenbach’s “Gâité parisienne, No. 8: Valse lento” as well as Tchaikovsky Waltzes “Waltz from Eugene Onégin and such classics as the Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker and the Waltzes of Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty.”
The Never Ending Waltz was produced by Robert Woods, engineered by Michael Bishop with Todd Brown and Bill MCKinney, edited by Todd Brown with SACD production supervision by Erica Brenner. The Hybrid Surround Sound SACD was made by Sony DADC in Terre Haute, Indiana on their Hybrid SACD replication line.
Listening to The Never Ending Waltz in Super Audio CD Surround Sound is very enjoyable. You’re taken on a journey that mixes familiar compositions (like waltzes from the Blue Danube and Swan Lake) with less familiar but equally musical waltzes. The performances are pretty seamless and unless you are paying close attention, you’ll have a hard time noticing where one ends and the next one begins!
Album Selections
- Johann Strauss, Jr. Waltzes
- Vienna Waltzes
- Operetta Waltzes
- Opera Waltzes
- Waldteufel Waltzes
- Concert Waltzes
- Ballet Waltzes
- Tchaikovsky Waltzes
Upcoming Telarc Surround Sound Super Audio CD Releases in November
Telarc plans to finish their Surround Sound Super Audio CD releases in 2006 with two more titles in late November. These new SACDs will be a performance of Kullervo by Robert Spano conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the long awaited Mega Movies Surround Sound Super Audio CD with Sound Effects also performed by Erich Kunzel conducting the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.
Telarc Surround Sound SACD Releases – November 21, 2006
- Mega Movies by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra (Telarc SACD-60535)
- Kullervo by Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (Telarc SACD-60665)
Availability
The Never Ending Waltz by Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is now available in music stores. It is also available for purchase from the Telarc web site as well as several web sites that carry Super Audio CDs including Acoustic Sounds, Elusive Disc, Music Direct, CD Universe, Amazon.Com and Jpc.de.