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Review by DSD September 17, 2008 (4 of 4 found this review helpful)
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I was thrilled when I discovered de Meij's newest Symphony "Planet Earth" was on SACD and conducted by the composer himself! Ever since I heard his Symphony No. 1 "The Lord of the Rings" back in 1990 I've been a big fan! Johan de Meij is a dutch composer born November 23, 1953 in Voorburg, the Netherlands.
Problem is the SACD is a Japanese only release and expensive. It includes the following compositions:
Symphony No. 3 "Planet Earth"
Windy City Overture
Extreme Make-Over - Metamorphosis on a Theme by Tchaikovsky
The SACD was recorded live at Osaka Symphony Hall on June 8, 2007. Cryston is a sister company to Exton as they are both produced by Octavia Records, but unlike the Exton's I have this one is not a DSD recording but a DSD remastering. That is all I could find out as the notes are in Japanese only. The cover is in English, one spine in English and one in Japanese and the back in both Japanese and English.
Excellent music and excellent sound in 2 channel high resolution stereo, it also has a 5 channel surround high resolution program for multi-channel listeners. I am one of those dinosaurs who actually prefers 2 channel stereo to multi-channel or the old quadraphonic, so all of my reviews are of the 2 channel high resolution program only. I've played these compositions four times now, twice through speakers and twice through my Sennheiser HD-580 headphones.
I love this SACD mostly for the music, the recording sounds excellent but I hear a PCM signature and it is not as good sonically as my Exton SACDs. But the music, oh my goodness the music! I bought this for the title work the Symphony No. 3 "Planet Earth" which combines Wind orchestra and chorus with sparing use of electronic sound effects at certain points in the music. This is really a beautiful composition, perhaps one of this greatest of this century! Very melodic, tonal and exciting. I also loved the "Windy City Overture" as well as the delightful "Extreme Make-Over - Metamorphosis on a Theme by Tchaikovsky"
We need more de Meij, I am still waiting for a recording of his Symphony No. 1 "The Lord of the Rings" whose music is enchanting and delightful but all the CDs versions I've tried sound way too digital. I am hoping that Exton's sister company Cryton begins an entire de Meji cycle, I would love to hear his Symphony No. 2 "The Big Apple" (A New York Symphony) as well.
I recommend both of this SACD to anyone who loves modern tonal classical music!
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