Cisco Music 24 KT. Gold Edition - mastered by Steve Hoffman

I did a search and could not find information here on the Cisco Music gold CDs. I picked one up at CES for $20 and thought I'd see what other members have from this series.

These gold CDs are listed on John Harp's web site. Inside the CD I have is also a listing of the titles with pictures. The titles are:

• GCD 8001 - Yoko Fujita & Keiko Ogura - Stradivarius on Gold CD
• GCD 8002 - Louis Fremaux, England's City of Birmingham Symphony - Massenet: Ballet Music, "Le Cid" & "Scenes Pittoresques"
• GCD 8003 - Gary Karr, double bass / Harmon Lewis, piano - Adagio D' Albinoni: Works of Franck, Albinoni, Beethoven, Handel, etc.
• GCD 8004 - Various Artists - The Favorite Opera Arias
• GCD 8005 - Igarashi / Tamura - Here at Last
• GCD 8006 - The Sax - Syndicate Breath of Air
• GCD 8007 - Mori Mamoru Quartet - Standards
• GCD 8008 - William De Rosa, Valentina Lisitska - Rachmaninoff Piano and Cello Sonatas
• GCD 8009 - Gary Karr - Spirituals & Foster Songs

I bought the last one. Gary Karr on an Amati double-bass (made in 1611!!) with Harmon Lewis on piano and organ. As the title indicates, the CD comprises old spirituals and a number of well known songs by the great Steven Foster (who tragically died from his own hand aged 38).

Summarizing the liner notes:

The recording was originally 2-channel all analogue and was made in 1996 at the Arte Hall in Tokyo. Engineered by Hatsuro Takanami. Licensed by King Record Co. Ltd. to Cisco Music, project coordinator Karela R. Dudley.

Mastered by Steve Hoffman on his all vaccum-tube (yes, a spelling error) mastering system.

I played this CD three times yesterday, and it is a stunning recording, with a beautifully relaxed sound and wonderful double-bass tone.

One of the main reasons I bring this to your attention is that this CD is not mentioned in Steve's Discography. I'd like to know if any members have any of the other 8 gold CDs in this series and whether they were also mastered by Steve. This information, once gathered, should be added to the discography.

 

If it's possible to license more King titles, I note that they did some recordings of Takashi Asahina and the Osaka Philharmonic. I've never heard them; almost nothing by Asahina has been available in the West, and I think there would be interest particularly in his Mahler (Symphonies 2 & 9, Das Lied von der Erde), Strauss (Also sprach Zarathustra) and the record of Wagner selections. Gary Karr's recording of the Dvorak cello concerto (played on double-bass!) is also conducted by Asahina.

 

That would be pretty interesting!

I guess Cisco Music is not planning on any gold CDs, but they are doing SACD. I bought their latest disc called "Gypsy" with Lara St. John on violin. Mastered by Paul Stubbelbine and it's a real stunner.

I'd be sweet if Cisco Music could release some of those King titles you mentioned on SACD.

 

Geoff and everyone, these will be listed in the upcoming Discography update soon.

 

I have the Massenet Le Cid (GCD 8002) and it is not mastered by Steve. I also have the 200g Cisco Vinyl issue of Berlioz Spectaculars by Fremaux/CBSO, again no mention of Steve being involved.

 

No I haven't! – is actually the Klavier issue, as is the Berlioz. I think there was/is a connection between Cisco and Klavier so they may be the same mastering.

 

I have the 8001, the 8004, and the 8010. All sound excellent, but none mention Steve in the liner notes.