On the turntable: Schumann Symphony No. 2 and Manfred Overture. Sinopoli/Vienna Philharmonic. DG / German press / 1984
Brahms: Symphony No.1; Haydn Variations Utah Symphony Orchestra & Maurice Abravanel Vanguard Classics
A lot of people do have a certain preference for recordings from the "golden age" of the mid-50s to the early 70s, before (1) excessive multimiking/tracking and then (2) harsh early digital sound came to the scene. There's something to these critiques although I think they tend to be overstated. There's also a sense that more recent performers tend to be technically proficient but soulless, a critique that I think is severely overstated. But there's no question there's a ton of wonderful stuff out there from that golden age, and with the rise of cheap big boxes, you can buy an incredible amount for less than a dollar a disc (until they go out of print). But, saying even gems like the RCA Living Stereo discs are just as good as a modern high-res recording is just fooling yourself. I've run the test a few times and the difference in sound quality between a well-done modern recording and a RCA or Mercury recording (SACD for both) is pretty obvious.
Mostly Beethoven today. First, symphonies 2, 3 and 4. Followed by piano concertos 3, 4, and 5. Very amusing photo of GG.
On the turntable: Something completely different. My copy is actually the Japanese release, which from the front is identical to this except without the red sticker (all the Japanese is on the spine and the rear cover). I've just added the Japanese version to Discogs.
Stolz (1880-1975) was a prolific composer as well as a conductor, but he only gets one track on this compilation. This has one of the few variations I've seen on the DG label.
Listening to "Bach - A Strange Beauty" performed by Simone Dinnerstein with the Kammerorchester Staatskapelle Berlin on Sony.
Ohhh I just found out (from Daniil Trifonov) that it's Rachmaninoff's birthday today! On the TT to celebrate one of my favourite composers!
Thanks! We replaced all of the flooring in our house with this wood a couple of years ago. One of the best things we have done to this house! We’ve lived here 18 years now. It seems like we just moved in.......
Recorded 7/6-11/73, Salle des Remparts, La tour de Peilz, Switzerland. Jazz flutist Eric Dolphy named one of the compositions on his classic Out to Lunch! album "Gazzelloni".
