Deutsche Grammophon presents a new album of music “For Clara” by French pianist Hélène Grimaud. Released in September 2023 by Deutsche Grammophon, the album pays tribute to Clara Schumann, a German composer and pianist who was the wife of Robert Schumann and friend of Johannes Brahms.

The album contains 20 tracks, including solo piano works by Schumann and Brahms, as well as lieder (songs) performed by baritone Konstantin Krimmel, a young German singer who has won several awards. Hélène Grimaud and Konstantin Krimmel have chosen pieces that reflect the complex and passionate relationship between Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms, who formed a famous love triangle in the history of music.

The pianist plays the works Kreisleriana op. 16; Intermezzi op. 117 and Lieder und Gesänge op. 32.

The analysis of this Deutsche Grammophon album is interesting from several points of view.
Firstly, it’s an album in two parts, one purely piano, the other piano accompanied by the baritone Konstantin Krimmel.
It’s a recent recording featuring multiple microphones, which are exploited for both the stereo and Dolby Atmos versions.
This makes it possible to compare the stereo version with the multichannel version more accurately in terms of spatial rendering when listening on a loudspeaker system.
Reproducing the piano isn’t easy; it’s a very complex instrument to reproduce well, just like the voice. This is an opportunity to compare the 2 formats used for this test. There’s the lossless PCM format, and the Dolby Digital format, which must be able to pass many channels at a limited bit rate.

For this review, you will find 2 versions tested: Ed1 : Amazon Music UltraHD in 24 bits 96 kHz and Ed2: Tidal Dolby Atmos.

The album is composed of 20 tracks:

1. Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 1, Ausserst bewegt
2. Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 2, Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch
3. Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 3, Sehr aufgeregt
4. Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 4, Sehr langsam
5. Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 5, Sehr lebhaft
6. Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 6, Sehr langsam
7. Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 7, Sehr rasch
8. Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 8, Schnell und spielend
9. Brahms- 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 – No. 1, Andante moderato
10. Brahms- 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 – No. 2, Andante non troppo e con molto espressione
11. Brahms- 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 – No. 3, Andante con moto
12. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 1, Wie rafft ich mich auf in der Nacht
13. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 2, Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen
14. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 3, Ich schleich umher
15. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 4, Der Strom, der neben mir verrauschte
16. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 5, Wehe, so willst du mich wieder
17. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 6, Du sprichst, dass ich mich tauschte
18. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 7, Bitteres zu sagen denkst du
19. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 8, So stehn wir, ich und meine Weide
20. Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 9, Wie bist du, meine Konigin

First we will analyze each edition in detail (technical and qualitative analysis), then we will compare the successive editions with their dynamics and assign a final score, and you will be able to listen some samples.

The streaming versions may evolve over time, those presented here correspond to the version tested at the date of publication, or update of the review.

Waveform and dynamic

The waveform represents tracks of this album.

The waveform of the Amazon UltraHD and Dolby Atmos version, downmixed in stereo, shows very good dynamics. Differences between the two waveforms are due to the different mixes used for these two versions.

Dynamic

Dynamic represents the ability to reproduce a wide range of sounds from the softest to the loudest. The target is to compare the dynamics of the music and not of the media (CD, digital files or vinyl).

For our 2 editions reviewed have obtained the following Dynamic Range (DR) :

	Amazon UltraHD – 2023	Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2023
Global	DR13	DR13
Min	DR10	DR10
Max	DR15	DR15
Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 1, Ausserst bewegt	DR11	DR11
Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 2, Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch	DR13	DR13
Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 3, Sehr aufgeregt	DR11	DR12
Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 4, Sehr langsam	DR13	DR13
Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 5, Sehr lebhaft	DR12	DR12
Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 6, Sehr langsam	DR15	DR13
Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 7, Sehr rasch	DR10	DR10
Schumann- Kreisleriana, Op. 16 – No. 8, Schnell und spielend	DR11	DR12
Brahms- 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 – No. 1, Andante moderato	DR14	DR14
Brahms- 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 – No. 2, Andante non troppo e con molto espressione	DR14	DR14
Brahms- 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117 – No. 3, Andante con moto	DR14	DR14
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 1, Wie rafft ich mich auf in der Nacht	DR13	DR13
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 2, Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen	DR14	DR15
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 3, Ich schleich umher	DR11	DR11
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 4, Der Strom, der neben mir verrauschte	DR10	DR11
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 5, Wehe, so willst du mich wieder	DR11	DR12
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 6, Du sprichst, dass ich mich tauschte	DR12	DR12
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 7, Bitteres zu sagen denkst du	DR13	DR12
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 8, So stehn wir, ich und meine Weide	DR12	DR12
Brahms- 9 Lieder und Gesange, Op. 32 – No. 9, Wie bist du, meine Konigin	DR14	DR14

The DR measurement confirms the dynamics visible in the waveform analysis, with an average DR13.

As a reminder, the scale goes from 0 to more 20, but the dynamics are considered good from 12, quite good between 10 and 11, and deteriorate below 10.

Spectrum comparisons

The Spectrum allows to check the tonal balance of the music (balance between treble, medium and bass sounds) and to detect process that may have been carried out during the recording, the mixing, mastering or manufacturing phases. It is also possible to detect frequency interference issues.

The graph below compares the spectrum of the Amazon stereo version. The signal attenuates progressively up to 20 kHz, with signal again above 20 kHz during piano attacks. For tracks with the baritone, the signal rises above 20 kHz, as the spectrogram shows.

The spectrum of the Dolby Atmos version decoded in 7.1 shows that the left and right front channels are the most used, followed by the surround channels, which have an average sound level between 5 and 10 db lower . The bass channel is filtered at 120 Hz, as indicated by the green arrow. The yellow arrow indicates the high-frequency limit at 20 kHz due to Dolby Digital Plus encoding.

Spectrogram comparaisons

Spectrogram is another representation of frequency versus time of a track. For each channel (right and left), horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents frequency. The amplitude is represented by the intensity (brightness) of the color of each point in the image.

The spectrogram of the stereo version rises above the 22 kHz frequency (yellow arrow), with a signal above 30 kHz as shown by the white arrow. The spectrogram is divided into 2 parts, corresponding to the two recordings on the album. The first tracks have a less extended bandwidth due to the piano playing alone, whereas the last 9 tracks, where the piano is accompanied, the bandwidth easily rises above 20 kHz.

The spectrogram of the Dolby Atmos track downmixed in stereo is limited to 20kHz (yellow arrow) with no signal above (white arrow). This limitation is due to Dolby Digital Plus encoding, which is a lossy encoder that limits bandwidth to optimize data size for a bit rate of 768 kbits/s.

Spatialization

Spatialization allows you to define the sound distribution of the music on all the channels. The spatialization indicator and the description of the graph are described here.

Spatialization is available for Tidal Dolby Atmos .

Below the spatialization for all tracks. Click on the images to zoom in.

Summary, scoring and Samples

Ed 1: Amazon UltraHD – 2023

The high-resolution stereo version provides a very fine, detailed listening experience with all the details of piano playing.
The sound image of the piano solo is totally immersive, projecting us into the piano.
We find the spirit of Atmos mixing with this notion of immersion and the presence of the piano.
The stereo rendering is almost spatial, giving the impression of a much wider soundstage.
In the second part of the album, the baritone is perfectly centered, with a beautiful voice that occupies the space between the two speakers. We find the same immersion of the piano, with coherent timbres for the voice and the piano.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●● (5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●● (5)
• Restitution: ●●●●o (4.5)

Sample : ”Op. 16 – No. 3″ 16 bits 96 kHz:

Ed 2: Tidal Dolby Atmos – 2023

The Dolby Atmos version extends the rendering to the immersive level, with better lateral, rear and height localization. It’s totally consistent with the stereo mix.
The Atmos version seems to be an extension of the stereo version.
However, the use of Dolby Digital Plus limits the bit rate allocated to the various channels (768 kbits/s), which has an impact on the finesse of the reproduction.
A version with Dolby Digital TrueHD on a Blu-ray audio, which can have a bit rate in excess of 8000 kbits/s, for example, would bring finesse to this spatial mix for truly extended listening of the stereo version.
This is all the more noticeable in the second half of the album, where the piano and baritone take center stage. For better spatialization, it’s best, if you can, to listen in 7.1.4 rather than 5.1.4.

Rating:

• Dynamic: ●●●●● (5)
• Bandwidth: ●●●●o (4)
• Spatialization: ●●●●oooooo (4.4)
• Restitution: ●●●oo (3.5)

Sample : ”Op. 16 – No. 3″ 7.1 16 bits 48 kHz:

The sample is in 7.1 wav format, if you can not play the sample in your navigator, you can save it, right button menu and “Save Audio As…” and play it with an external player.

Here, the stereo version retains all its advantage over the Dolby Atmos version in terms of precision and finesse of high-resolution restitution (24-bit 96 kHz).
The Atmos mix is very interesting in terms of its spatial distribution and overall rendering, but doesn’t offer all the finesse due to the format used, which limits its restitution capacities.
A Blu-ray version or a streaming service that offers Dolby Atmos in Dolby True HD for classical music albums should be available.

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Detail of the ratings :

• Dynamic :
  1. Significant dynamic compression, DR less than 7
  2. Compression of the present dynamics, DR between 7 and 9.
  3. Correct piece DR >=10
  4. No dynamic compression (DR >12), dynamic rendering
  5. No dynamic compression, high DR and very dynamic sound rendering
• Spectrum :
  1. Spectrum cut and less than 15 khz
  2. Spectrum cut at 15 khz
  3. Spectrum not conforming to the original and cut (not HD) or original but limited bandwidth (but less than 20 kHz)
  4. Spectrum conforming to the original (but not HD)
  5. Spectrum conforming to the original with HD resolution (higher than 24kHz)
• Surface noise (only for vinyl):
  1. Continuous audible noise
  2. Audible surface noise except on passages with a high level of noise
  3. Reduced surface noise, barely audible on low level crossings
  4. Low surface noise, very good quality
  5. Very low surface noise, no defects, almost inaudible on the quiet passages (exceptional disc)
• Spatialization :
  • Between 0 and 5 for 5.1 or 7.1 channels configuration
  • Between 0 and 10 for Atmos configuration (7.1.4)
  • For more information on spatialization, you can read the article describing this parameter here.
• Restitution :
  1. Low quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
  2. Average quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments.
  3. Quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Good record.
  4. High quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Very high level disc.
  5. Maximum quality of the restitution mixing dynamics, clarity, separation of voices and instruments. Exceptional disc.

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