“With CDs on the way out, our brave new streaming world has proved not so hot for classical, jazz, world music and many other tributaries outside the commercial mainstream,” writes Mark Swed in Thursday’s (8/29) Los Angeles Times. “Within the last few months, new classical-friendly streaming services have arrived for your computer, tablet and phone. Sound quality has been greatly improved. Metadata too, which is to say streaming services identify what you are hearing while you are hearing it…. The one essential upgrade … is an external … digital audio converter…. The streaming services all offer something a little different…. Qobuz, a French site that has finally launched in U.S…. has a spectacular collection of recordings and pretty good, if still imperfect, search functions…. The idealistic Idagio, out of Berlin, is good for newbies and devotees alike…. The founders have been traveling the world to hook up with orchestras… The curation is lovingly personal…. Metadata on the basics is very good…. Primephonic has fairly similar offerings … with extensive curated playlists for everything from music of female composers to that of ghosts…. Both Idagio and Primephonic invite noted musicians to share their interests, and these are engines of discovery.”
Posted September 3, 2019
