Universal Releases 2 Classical SACDs and Sets Date for New Elton John SACD

The Universal Music Group released two more Surround Sound Super Audio CDs this week as they move closer to their goal of issuing 350 SACDs worldwide during 2004. The record group also provided a new update to its SACD Release List. Of key significance was the announcement of a firm in store release date for Elton John’s next album. Here’s a look at this week’s SACD news from Universal Music.

2 New Classical Music SACD Releases
As scheduled, the Deutsche Grammophon label released two more Classical Music Surround Sound Super Audio CDs on September 14th in the U.S. market. The first of the releases features Pierre Boulez and the Berlin Philharmonic performing several compositions by Ravel including Bolero, Ma Mere l’Oye, Rapsodie Espagnole, Une Baroque Sur l’Ocean and Alborada Del Gracioso.

The second SACD release features Claudio Abbado conducting the Chamber Orchestra of Europe along with singers Anne Sofie Von Otter and Thomas Quasthoff performing Schubert’s Lieder with Orchestra.

Both of these new Super Audio CD releases are 2 disc sets. Even so, they still carry the label’s standard $18.98 list price.

  • Pierre Boulez, Berlin Philharmonic – Ravel: Bolero (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Anne Sofie Von Otter, Thomas Quasthoff, Claudio Abbado, Chamber Orchestra of Europe – Schubert: Lieder With Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon)Official SACD Release Dates Set for Peachtree Road and Motown Two
    Turning to upcoming SACDs, this week’s SACD Release List announced that the in store release date for Elton John’s next album entitled Peachtree Road in SACD Surround Sound will be November 9th. At the moment, Peachtree Road is also shown as a Single Inventory Surround Sound SACD release on that date. We’ll watch to see if that remains the case as November 9th draws nearer.

    Also joining the official SACD release list this week is Michael McDonald’s Motown Two Surround Sound SACD which is due in stores on October 26th. Motown Two is slated to be a “day and date” release with separate CD Audio and SACD Surround Sound editions arriving in stores on the same date.

  • Elton John – Peachtree Road (Universal/Rocket)
  • Michael McDonald – Motown Two (Motown)More SACD Release and Pricing News
    For the SACD releases slated for October 12th, Universal Music has announced that one of the Mercury Living Presence titles Six Suites for Solo Cello, will be issued as a 2 SACD Set and will be priced accordingly. The 3 SACD Set of Mozart’s Don Giovanni and the 5 SACD Set of Beethoven’s Complete Symphonies due on the same day will both carry the price of a 3 SACD release according to Universal Music.

    In other SACD Release list news, the release of The Carpenters Singles Surround Sound SACD has been moved from October 26th to November 9th. Similarly, the Nick Drake Greatest Hits collection entitled A Collection has been moved from September 28th to October 26th.

    Finally, two Classical Music SACDs shown on the Coming Soon list last week have now been moved to an in store availbility date of November 9th. These SACDs are Handel by Renee Fleming and Great Tenor Arias by Juan Diego Florez. This brings the number of SACDs slated for release on that date to 21 titles.

    Upcoming Universal Music SACD Release List
    Here’s the complete list of upcoming SACDs from Universal Music in the U.S. market that includes the additions and changes mentioned above:

    September 28, 2004 SACD Release

  • Marvin Gaye – The Marvin Gaye Collection (Motown)
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    October 12, 2004 SACD Releases

  • Argerich & Pletnev – Cinderella Suite from the Ballet for 2 Pianos & La Mere (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Antal Dorati, Philharmonia Hugarica Orchestra – Respighi: Ancient Airs & Dances for Lute (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Antal Dorati, London Symphony Orchestra – Stravinsky: The Firebird (Complete); Tango; Scherzo а la Russe (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Byron Janis, Antal Dorati, London Sympohny Orchestra, Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra – Rachmaninov: Piano Concerti 2 & 3; 2 Preludes (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Paul Paray, Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Suppй: Overtures (+Auber) (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Janos Starker – Bach: Six Suites For Solo Cello (2 SACD Set) (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Bryn Terfel, Claudio Abbado, Chamber Orchestra Europe – Mozart: Don Giovanni (3 SACD Box Set) (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Jaap van Zweden, Residentie Orchestra – Beethoven: Complete Symphonies (5 SACD Box Set) (Philips)
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    October 26, 2004 SACD Releases

  • Eric Clapton – 461 Ocean Boulevard (Polydor)
  • Eric Clapton – Slow Hand (Polydor)
  • Derek & the Dominoes – Layla (Polydor)
  • Nick Drake – A Collection [Greatest Hits] (Island)
  • Elton John – Captain Fantastic (Universal/Rocket)
  • Elton John – Elton John (Universal/Rocket)
  • Elton John – Honky Chateau (Universal/Rocket)
  • Elton John – Madman Across The Water (Universal/Rocket)
  • Elton John – Tumbleweed Connection (Universal/Rocket)
  • Michael McDonald – Motown Two (Motown)
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    November 9, 2004 SACD Releases

  • Chet Baker – Baker’s Holiday: Chet Baker Plays & Sings The Billie Holiday Songbook (Verve)
  • The Carpenters – Singles: 1969-1981 (A&M Records)
  • John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Impulse)
  • Cotrubas, Domingo, Kleiber, Bayerischer, Staatsorchester – Verdi: La Traviata (2 SACD Set) (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Richard Croft, Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre – Gluck: Orphee et Eurydice (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Antal Dorati, London Sympohny Orchestra – Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol (Mercury Living Presence)
  • Charles Dutoit – Poeme (Philips Classics)
  • Frederick Fennell, Eastman Wind Ensemble – Sousa Marches (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Renee Fleming – Handel (Decca Classics)
  • Juan Diego Florez – Great Tenor Arias (Decca Classics)
  • Paul Mc Creesh, Gabrieli Consort & Players – Music for San Rocco (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Hilary Hahn, Colin Davis, London Symphony Orchestra – Elgar: Violin Concerto Op. 61 & Williams: The Lark Ascending (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Herbie Hancock – Gershwin’s World (Verve)
  • Howard Hanson, Eastman Rochester Orchestra – Hanson: Symphonies No. 1 (Nordic) & 2 (Romantic); Song of Democracy (Mercury Living Classics)
  • Joe Henderson – Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn (Verve)
  • Shirley Horn – Here’s to Live: Shirley Horn With Strings (Verve)
  • Elton John – Peachtree Road (Universal/Rocket)
  • Los Romeros, Victor Alessandro, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra – Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez (Mercury Living Presence)
  • Anna Netrebko, Claudio Abbado, Mahler Chamber Orchestra – Sempre Libera (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Seiji Ozawa, Saito Kinen Orchestra – Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 (Philips Classics)
  • Paul Paray, Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Chabrier: Espana, Rhapsody & Roussel: Suite in F (Mercury Living Presence)
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    SACD Releases Coming Soon

  • Count Basie & His Orchestra – April In Paris (Verve)
  • Andrea Bocelli – Andrea (Philips Classics)
  • Dorati, Enescu, London Symphony Orch – Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies (Decca Classics)
  • John Fogerty – Deja Vu All Over Again (Geffen)
  • Ferenc Fricsay – Rosette Collection: Mozart: Magic Flute (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Tonu Kaljuste – Te Deum (ECM)
  • Eleni Karaindrou – Soundtrack: Ulysses’ Gaze (ECM)
  • Keane – Hopes and Fears (Interscope)
  • Christina Milian – It’s About Time (Island)
  • Motley Crьe – Greatest Hits (Hip-O Records)
  • Anne Sofie Mutter, Andre Previn, London Symphony Orchestra – Tchaikovsky & Korngold: Violin Concertos (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Nine Inch Nails – Downward Spiral (Interscope)
  • Zimerman, Polish Festival Orchestra – Chopin: Piano Concertos No. 1 & 2 (Deutsche Grammophon)
  • Linda Ronstadt – Humming to Myself (Verve)
  • Andreas Scholl – Senesino Album (Decca Classics)