Hi-Res Highlights,
Hi-Res Downloads - available now!
We're thrilled to announce the long-awaited launch of our Studio Quality (HD) download service.
Studio Quality (or High-Definition) downloads are the pinnacle of modern digital audio. While standard-definition FLAC files match the quality of a standard CD (encoded in 16 bits at 44.1kHz), Studio Quality (HD) FLACs retain the higher definition of the files used by the sound engineers in the mastering process itself - hence the name.
The most common Studio Quality format is 24/96 - that is, a bit depth of 24 bits and a sampling rate of 96 kHz (though other bit depths and sampling rates exist, such as 24/192). Among other benefits, this enables them to retain a considerably greater range of both dynamics and frequencies.
To get you started we've selected seventeen releases from 2014 available in Studio Quality which we believe are particularly fine! We'll be highlighting different parts of our Studio Quality catalogue over the coming weeks, so do keep an eye out for these articles on the homepage and in the weekly newsletter.
Please note: FLAC is not supported by all devices and software, and some systems do not support 24-bit data, so do check the specification of your equipment before buying downloads. Unfortunately, these downloads are not yet available to customers in the US and Canada, although we're working on this and hope to have good news in this respect in the coming weeks.
Recent releases available in Studio Master quality
Pierre-Laurent Aimard's thoughtful account of the first book of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier makes a strong case for playing Bach on the piano, and showcases the inexhaustible originality of the preludes and fugues.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Mitsuko Uchida directs the Cleveland Orchestra from the keyboard in performances which 'draw out Mozart's originality' (The Observer)
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Soprano Pumeza Matshikiza (who recently sang at the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games) makes her Decca debut with a collection of popular operatic arias and songs from her native South Africa.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
International Chopin Competition prizewinner Ingolf Wunder is the soloist in these two popular concertos, with veteran pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in live performances from the 2012 "White Nights” Festival.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Benedetti embraces her Scottish roots with a programme centring on Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, which also includes traditional Scots songs and works by folk musician Phil Cunningham.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC
Jirí Belohlávek conducts the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in the complete Symphonies; they are joined by cellist Alisa Weilerstein, pianist Garrick Ohlsson and violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann for the concertos.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Evelyn Herlitzius is a mesmerising, fearless Elektra, with veteran mezzo Waltraud Meier as her tormented mother, Anne Schwanewilms as her sister and René Pape as her estranged brother. Christian Thielemann conducts the Staatskapelle Dresden.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Having made their name with vital, sparkling performances of baroque music (including a wonderful Handel Alessandro on Decca), Greek conductor George Petrou and his period band Armonia Atenea turn their attention to Beethoven's mythical ballet.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The stylish German tenor Daniel Behle makes a classy contribution to the Gluck tercentenary celebrations with this collection of arias - many of them world-premiere recordings from Ezio, Antigone, Semiramide and of course Orphée.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC
René Jacobs continues his distinguished survey of Handel's operas, with countertenor Bejun Mehta as the distracted hero, Sophie Karthäuser as his beloved Angelica and Kristina Hammarström as his love-rival; Konstantin Wolff is the magician Zoroastre and Sunhae Im Dorinda.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Daniel Barenboim conducts the Staatskapelle Berlin in a performance which was hailed as 'a superb, in fact I feel justified in calling it a great, Elgar Two' (BBC Music) and 'a glorious disc' (Sunday Times).
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
American cellist Alisa Weilerstein is the soloist on this all-Dvorak programme with Jiří Bělohlávek conducting Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - the mighty Concerto is the centrepiece, with 'Waldesruhe' ('Silent Woods') and 'Lasst mich allein' as illuminating fillers.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Virtuoso high countertenor Max Emanuel Cencic explores the rich musical legacy of Johann Adolf Hasse (1699-1783) with robust, characterful support from Armonia Atenea and George Petrou. Many of the arias are world premiere recordings, from operas including Il Siroe, Arminio, Tito Vespasiano and Il Trionfo di Clelia.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The energetic Mexican tenor Rolando Villazón explores a little-known corner of Mozart's repertoire - his concert works for tenor and orchestra, taking in comic patter numbers as well as lyrical and dramatic arias. Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra are spirited collaborators.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
The Israeli mandolin prodigy Avi Avital delights in this ingenious programme of dance-inspired music from three continents, including music by Bartók, Bloch, Piazzólla, Tsintsadze and Villa-Lobos. The finger-breaking transcription of Monti's Csardas is a breathtaking highlight.
Available Formats: CD, MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Yuja Wang (desribed as 'a'a talent with a vengeance' in Gramophone's review of the disc) is the fire-brand soloist in these two Russian concertos, with Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela providing suitably high-octane support.
Available Formats: MP3, FLAC, Hi-Res FLAC
Chris O'Reilly - Chief Executive
