I had an excited message from Ed Pong of UltraAnalogue Recordings the other day. Ed sounded like he was on the kind of high that you only get from those peak musical experiences (you know the ones!) – and with good reason, since he’s just finished making several new master tape recordings of a stunning … More Beethoven, Schubert, Dvorak & Mendelssohn: new master tapes from UltraAnalogue Recordings

What we have here are ‘two Schuberts’, two recordings on tape from Toronto-based UltraAnalogue Recordings: Rondo Brillant in B Minor and Grand Fantasy in C Major. Both were recorded at the same live performance, which took place in UltraAnalogue’s own premises. The artists are violinist Alena Baeva and Vadym Kholodenko, both winners of two of … More Discovering Alena Baeva with UltraAnalogue Recordings: part 4 – two Schuberts

Alena Baeva is fast emerging as one of the finest violinists of her generation. A protégée of the late, great Russian cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich, and of multi-award wininng Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, she’s been described as a ‘magnetic presence’ and a ‘constantly fascinating sound technician’. I’ve been hooked ever since I first saw … More Discovering Alena Baeva with UltraAnalogue Recordings: part 3 – Schumann’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op 121

In part 1 of Discovering the amazing Alena Baeva you found me tugging at UltraAnalogue Recordings’ Ed Pong’s coat tails like an over-excited kid, dying to get my hands on five tapes of virtuoso violinist Alena Baeva performing in Toronto. Having seen her perform live in the UK twice, and having had the immense pleasure of meeting … More Discovering Alena Baeva with UltraAnalogue Recordings: part 2 – Beethoven & Mozart

I’m casting my mind back to August 2018. I’ve been exchanging emails with Ed Pong about his Toronto-based label UltraAnalogue Recordings, which specialises in making superb recordings of chamber music in natural settings, on analogue tape. One day Ed asks me if I’m based anywhere near London. Turns out he’s going to be visiting with … More Discovering the amazing Alena Baeva with UltraAnalogue Recordings: part 1

About six months ago I penned my first review of a tape from Toronto-based UltraAnalogue Recordings, Shostakovich Cello Sonata & Elgar’s Salut d’Amour. To say that I enjoyed myself would be an understatement (have I mentioned how much I love my job?) and so it was only a matter of time before I went back … More Review: a classical musical masterclass from UltraAnalogue Recordings

Canada-based UltraAnalogue Recordings has just released 3 new open reel tapes, all recorded at a live concert held in May 2018 featuring star cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan with pianist Benjamin Smith. Priced at $275 each, the three are: Shostakovich Cello Sonata & Elgar’s Salut d’Amour; Brahms Cello Sonata No.2; and Albeniz Asturias, Shchedrin Imitating Albeniz, Tchaikovsky Nocturne … More Emotion, wit and stunning transparency: Shostakovich Cello Sonata & Elgar’s Salut d’Amour from UltraAnalogue Recordings (part 2 of 2)