Hi-Res Downloads

96kHz/24-bit FLAC, DG 479 2954 (supplied by www.highresaudio.com)

The theme of this album is composers who found new lives in Hollywood, some but not all escaping from Germany in the 1930s. Korngold’s Violin Concerto is the longest work in selections, not exclusively for films, spanning from 1908 up to Schindler’s List and American Beauty. We hear themes from Casablanca, Ben Hur, El Cíd, et al, ‘Tränen in der Geige’ bringing relief from the general romantic wash. Max Raabe is good in ‘Speak Low’ and Daniel Hope’s friend Sting appears to swallow his mic in one arrangement. In principle there’s variety, as accompaniments include harp, string quintet, piano, and orchestra (the Royal Stockholm PO under Alexander Shelley). But so much close-mic’d Hope and the added reverb does get wearing. ‘As Time Goes By’ in a weird solo version makes a decidedly down-beat conclusion to the album. CB

Sound Quality: 75%

Hi-Fi News Lab Report

The harmonic reach of the 1742 Guarneri violin is captured in all its rich glory here thanks to the bandwidth of this genuine 96kHz recording. Some tracks have slightly higher noise and 24kHz sampling tone, but are otherwise clean. PM