Soprano Lucy Shelton, a winner of two Walter W. Naumburg Awards, is a leading interpreter of contemporary music, with over 100 works written for her.
Historical Context
The Harvard University Department of Music, which supported this project, has a rich history of composer-professors, including Walter Piston, Leon Kirchner, Earl Kim, Bernard Rands, and Mario Davidovsky, all featured on this album.
Recording & Production
This recording uses Direct Stream Digital (DSD) technology, a one-bit system that takes up to 2.8 million samples per second, significantly more than previous technologies.
Instruments
The Mendelssohn String Quartet performs on valuable historical instruments, including a 1718 Stradivarius violin, a 1683 Stradivarius violin, and a 1720 David Tecchler cello.
Performer Biography
The Mendelssohn String Quartet has a strong commitment to contemporary music, having given over 100 world premieres for composers like Bernard Rands and Mario Davidovsky.
Recording & Production
The Hybrid SACD contains three versions of the DSD master recording: a multi-bit CD version, a stereo SACD version with greater resolution, and a surround sound version for multichannel players.
Recording & Production
DSD technology offers a frequency response extending to 100,000 Hz, five times higher than CD technology, and a dynamic range up to 120 dB.
