Completely agree with everything you said here, IME as far as mastering went for original records it was the audiophile favorites like Living Stereo (kept all my Heifetz shaded and white dogs that used shaded dog stampers) and Mercury, some UK EMI were the ones that sounded just as good or better than reissues. Otherwise give me the quieter, fuller sounding reissues for nearly every other label.
Hahaha....not me! My husband does. He has everything and more. I practically live in a music store....
It appears we've come to a consensus here (and a logical one) that if the end result is pleasing--and especially if it is an improvement--then the process employed may be interesting, but inconsequential. Some mastering engineers can do wonders with crude tools; others will use the latest & greatest and still screw it up. I think that who worked on it is more important than what was used. I'm also very grateful to those of you who have bought these reissues and reported your results here. I know they are not cheap, so your opinions are highly valued!
Now streaming on Spotify, "Sacrum Mysterium: Celtic Christmas Vespers" performed by Apollo's Fire led by Jeannette Sorrell on AVIE.
WP Mahler's Fourth - Czech Philharmonic, Ridi conductor (Supraphone) recorded in 1980 Magdaléna Hájaóssyová soprano NP Brahms Violin Concerto LSO, Dorati conducting, Henryk Szeryng violin ( Living Presence Stereo 35 mm magnetic film recording maroon label Sublime.
I go by what I hear and if I like it I don't care why. I'm happy that the world of recording engineering has learned how to do a much better job with modern technology over the last 25 years. I never let the technical details of a great sounding recording/mastering/manufacture stand in the way of enjoying how it sounds. I also think that something is either all-analog or it ain't. Just as a matter of honesty. I might enjoy how it sounds but I don't like being lied to.
Now on the turntable, "Wagner - Das Rheingold" performed by Staatskapelle Dresden led by Marek Janowski on Eurodisc. (from cdandlp)... Nibelungen: Alberich - Siegmund Nimsgern Mime - Christian Vogel Riesen: Fasold - Roland Bracht Fafner - Matti Salminen Göttinnen: Fricka - Yvonne Minton Freia - Marita Napier Erda - Ortrun Wenkel Rheintöchter: Woglinde - Lucia Popp Wellgunde - Uta Priew Flosshilde - Hanna Schwarz
From the DG Originals Vol. 1 box set: I also own his Mercury Living Presence version of the 9th, which is much faster paced then this account. Really enjoyed the first rate sound (which isn't always the case with DG)
That was my introduction to Dvorak's Ninth on lp although it took tween pester power to get it and do own his complete cycle on cd these days. Macal's recording of the ninth on EMI-Classics for pleasure is one worth hearing too.
Now on the turntable, "Bruckner - Symphony No. 1" performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker led by Herbert Von Karajan on DG.
Firebird suite, the Rite of Spring and Jeu de cartes 1975 /1987 Dg Galleria Lso cond. Claudio Abbado Favourites of the 'second wave' of cds when we decided paying around $18 for just over half an hour's music on disc was too much especially when the recording regardless of quality had been around for a good period and to which as those Galleria discs with their artwork covers came out I stocked up on on my baby steps into establishing a classical cd collection. One reason for playing has to do with the introduction of the Firebird which is very good test for low level digital distortion of which early players did suffer from with an out of focus sound and still is potentially an issue with regular 16/44.1 discs. Ones Marantz sacd player handled this very well easily the best of many players I've had even if a well recorded and mastered sacd takes things to another level. About the performances, Abbado's work in London was amongst his finest and these remain terrific performances with subtlety when needed and fireworks when not. I do have a soft spot for the Dg/ now PentaTone Boston S.O with Michael Tilson-Thomas performance on sacd btw that does give you four channels too.
I agree! Some of my favourite interpretations of these Stravinsky pieces. By the way, my favourite sound is the "Original-Bit"-whatever remasters from the mid-90s that came out on 2-CD. I even prefer them to the SHM-SACD, which sounds more open and "audiophile"-like but lacks some of the string midrange heft. Plus, the 2-CD set contains more music. Funnily, I have your Galleria pressing on LP (minus Jeu de cartes). It contains a whopping 33 minutes of music on side B, but still manages to sound fine:
Now on the CDP-- Johannes Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem Katharine Fuge, soprano Matthew Brook, baritone The Monteverdi Choir Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique/John Eliot Gardiner
Now on the turntable, "Brahms - Symphony No. 1" performed by The London Symphony Orchestra led by Jascha Horenstein on Quintessence.
This is definitely on my want-list to add to my collection. I need to find it on Discogs, because I doubt I will find it in Recordland that is now quite depleted.
Totally random letter day from yesterday: Beethoven: Overtures RCA 2015 sacd Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen cond. Paavo Jarvi Recorded by the people who do PentaTones new recordings this may be 'only' 51 minutes but it's a excellent set performances that be found cheaply. Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto +2 other works 2006 PentaTone stereo/surround sound sacd PTC 5186 095 Russian National Orchestra cond Yakov Kreizberg (also plays piano on the Souvenir d'un lieu cher Op.42) with Julia Fischer on violin. The playing has a very much Russian tonal palate which is both different and in some respects perhaps more appropriate than what we're used to which serves the music well being warm, sensuous in its feel that Ms Fisher's playing just moves in and out of as a whole, not dominating. The recording quality is really good in the way whatever one might think of A-S Mutters 1988 Salzburg recording when it comes to her playing (nothing really special imho) that suffers from a harsh glaze over which does the violin no favours at all. A great buy. [Todays post was brought to you by the letter M for Mould and T for tires ]
Now on the turntable, "Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6" performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra led by Eugene Ormandy on CBS Great Performances.
