Featured here:
Brahms
Chopin
Dvorak
Gounod
Mahler
Schubert
Schumann
Wagner
*:Whenever I hear the name of Brahms, I always think of Victor Borge! His performance at the Carnegie Hall is a must to listen to, very educational. Especially on subject of Brahms...
The Four Symphonies box sets
6/6/2020. With Voice of Lancelot speakers. They are compared in their merit of the 1st symphony - that should be a good indication of the differences in the recording quality and conducting styles, orchestral performance.
Here they cometh:
Command Records, Stereo 35mm, CC14001. Steinberg, Pittsbugh SO. Two copies. Both sound very similar, one is has a little more high end extension than the other. Good detail level, balanced tone. Has the feel of an orchestra, althoguh feels a little light. Very good dynamics, lots of detail level in the quiet parts. Nice conducting and playing, involving and in-depth. On second listening, the first copy has more body, and the copy with the more top end is leaner. Ultimately, I like the one with the fuller body.
London FFRR, CSA2406 Solti: The Command has better dynamic resolution. Also, Command better at tuttis. Soltis portrayal is more dramatic. Very nice, though.
Toscanini. RCA Victor Red Seal LM6108, Limited edition leather covered box set, wonderful booklet. While Solti and Steinberg had a very similar interpretation, this is a completely different interpretation. The recording quality is not bad, dynamic but thin sounding. The record surface itself is quite scratched, and has tremendous surface nosie with the Altecs, even though played with mono cartridge. Keeping it, as I am quite a fan of Toscanini. Will be able to listen to happily with the Lancers.
Singles albums:
DG, Furtwangler 2530744. Symph #1. Very Beethovenesque conducting. I am quite astounded, as Furtwangler is such a slouch conducting Beethoven (his Beethoven feels like a comatose-Beethoven - - at leasr, the one I heard. It might have been a misfire/misrepresentative recording though....). It sounds as a completely different piece compared to any of the box set conductors. Has very large drum rolls. Good sound in general, but not as dynamic as Command.
Everest, 35MM 3101, Hollreiser Symph #1. Very similar to Furtwangler's. Better recording, but barely can hear the drum roll. More dynamic shading, and orchestra plays better.
RCA Soria, Karajan Vienna Ph. Symph #1. Mono. LD2351. Karajan's version is different again from the other conductors. Similar to Hollreiser, but even more delicate. More dynamic, but less dynamic gradations as on the Everest recording. Also, less resolution in general. Beautiful to listen to.
RCA Living Stereo LSC2537, Karajan Vienna Ph. Symph #1. Wow, big drum roll! Much better body and tone than the mono version. It seems that the Altecs with their current crossover do not favor the mono recordings. (At least, RCA stereos are generally much more dynamic than the respective RCA mono, which makes sense as RCA stereo used more magnetic material to record than RCA mono. ) Very heartfelt quiet passages, and crescendos like a storm. Superb conducting!
First Component series FCS 50072. Bamberger / Frankfurt Opera Orch. Symph #2. Much better condition than the previous singles (much quieter), but more compressed. Well, it isn't, it's a different EQ. (EQ2 vs EQ3 of the previous ones.)
4 Symphonies 2019 Spring-Summer (with Lancer speakers / 807SET)
Szell / Cleveland O., Columbia D3L358. Compressed and thin, lacks detail. Too compressed to sound majestic. Dynamic peaks are especially bad. Makes impression of poorly recorded film music. No macrodynamics, no pianissimo. EQ'd to loud level. Zero dynamic range, very compressed material.
Steinberg / Pitt. Symph 35MM Command CC14001SD. Extremely high dynamic levels on 2nd symphony. 1st symphony side A sounds as a later pressing, not too good (or maybe it's worn out or needs ultrasonic cleaning?) Super high recording level.
Toscanini / BNC SO. RCA Victor Red Seal, LM6108, mono. Limited edition 1S/4S. Disc 1 is heavily damaged. Symphony 2 is surprisingly soft from Toscanini! Ending is rough though, maestro in full vigor. 1st symphony is much smoother starting than either Steinb's or Szell's. More consistent sounding across records than the other two. Campfire-level surface noise with stereo cartridge. Amazingly, the center image is rock solid and super clean, the campfire is extreme L & R, independent from music. Let's clean this up and play with the mono cartridge! Will be a treat!
Brahms Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet in B minor, OP 115:
VOX STPL516200 Jost Michaels clarinet, The Endres Quartet. Very nice playing, superb interpretation, superb clariet. Superb recordin. Very quiet, dyamic, natural sounding. Clarinet sounds fabulous. A MUST for clarinet players. EQ2. June 12, 2020.
MS-6226 Columbia Masterworks, The Budapest String Quartet and David Oppenheim - clarinet. The initial accords are superb, a romantic, but well-together presentation. Cello has a very nice tone and body, it is well recorded. The particular clarinet has a mocking tone, it does not suit the piece. Certain parts sound as if they were mocking the composer, or turning it into a parody. EQ2. June 12, 2020.
Chandos ABR-1035. SuperAnalog. 1981. Lindsay String Quartet and Janet Hilton. Indeed, a very good sounding recording! And thanks audio heavens, a very good interpretation as well! Played on instruments with beautiful tone. Masterful interpretation. EQ2. June 12, 2020.
DG 139354 SLPM. Amadeus-Quartett and Karl Leister. Good sound, but not as good as the Chandos. Starts off as a Mozart piece, and then it becomes very erratic. What were they on? Sounds as a satire of the piece. EQ2. June 12, 2020.
EMI PathéMarconi, mono DMM, 78RPM original. Busch, Serkin. Thin sound, but clean and transparent, and with good image. I di not find it nearly as engaging as the Chandos or the VOX. However, this certainly ranks third, head and shoulders above the rest. June 12, 2020.
Brahms Quintet for Piano and Strings, f minor, OP 34:
DGS 712.002. EQ2. Very good interpretation, recording quality, and also a very good piece. June 12, 2020
Columbia EPIC SAX-2541. EQ3. Leon Fleisher and the Juiliard String Quartet. Also a superb interpretation, the DG may be a teensy bit more balanced. Also, recording quality is about the same as the other recording. Impact is higher, but imaging of DG is more spacious and relaxed. Strings sound better with DG, but piano shines better and has better body here. These two are very close! June 12, 2020.
Brahms, Piano Concertos:
No 2, Sir John Barbirolli / Barenboim. Angel S-36526. Very good recording quality! CUriouly, with the VOL all of the Angels I listened to so far sounded very good. Quiet, nice acoustic space, great sounding piano. The orchestra could be a little clearer, but honestly, I'm not missing it on this recording, it's perfectly satisfactory. The orchestra is wonderful, conducting is superb. Piano interpretation is spot on. The piano bits are quite well written (in the beginning, then it starts going nutters). Orchestral part is sometimes very nice, sometimes I'm thinking, ok, this is the part when I'm shutting this down. Go to almost half of the First movement. June 12, 2020.
No 2, Reiner / Van Clinburn. LSC-2581. The recording is much more transparent, orchestra much cleaner. However, piano falls apart, there's a center bit, a right and a left channel bit. The imaging of piano is really messed up. I much prefer the Barbirolli / Barenboim interpretation. They are much ore balanced, and bring a sense of coherency and musical value to this piece. Both Reiner and Clinburn take it towards the romantic extreme, and that's a total turn-off for me. The listener is manhandled, dragged left and right without any reason, cause, or sense. If you want to listen to musical instruments spilling stochastic lines this is the piece and recording for you. I have two more versions (Richter, and Bernstein) but I will not listen to this piece any more. I'm donating all the versions / copies. Hopefully Goodwill reopens soon, so someone will get more enjoyment from them than I did. June 12, 2020.
No1. Graffman, Munch BSO. LM-2274. Recording quality mediocre. Piece is very rough, big opening, followed by an erratic piano. These will also go to Goodwill... more place on the shelf for new recordings. June 12, 2020.
Brahms, other piano works:
10 intermezzi, Glenn Gould, Columbia MS6237. Very good interpretation, calm works (at least the first intermezzo), and nice for an afternoon of light relaxation. However, has lots of surface noise, so not keeping... : ( June 12, 2020
3 intermezzi, Wilhelm Kempff. DG 138903 SLPM. NIce recording, good interpretation. However, this is also like a lullaby, will put you to sleep, and you can't really recall what you have heard.
Clarinet Trio Op 114. Schiff András & New Vienna Octet members. London FFRR digital, recorded 1982, recording 1984. Beautoful works, instruments, superb musicians and interpretation. Dynamic and quiet recording, good imaging. Lacks a bit of harmonic richess and fluidity, feels as a very good CD. June 12, 2020
Sonatas for Violin and Piano 1-5. EMI digital, Angel. DSB-3937. Anne-Sophie Mutter, Weissenberg. Very nice piano and violin interpretation. However, the violin's tone is yuck. Brr. Digital is NOT flattering to violin. It does not sound as a violin, but as a plastic instrument. Sorry, out... this nice interpretation cannot be enjoyed through this recording. Maybe on a boom box. June 12, 2020
Piano Trios Nos 1,3. Katchen / Suk / Starker. London FFRR CS6611. Nice works and performance. Recording quality is good, but not nearly so as the EMI above. (EMI is much better in every aspect, except it fails in the tone department.) June 12, 2020
Brahms - Double Concerto, A minor:
Oistrakh, Rostropovich, Szell: Angel Stereo SFO-36032. The recording is a little murky, dynamics is limited. The orchestra is nice and big, but not very transparent. Conducting very good, soloists phenomenal. Solo instrument tones and balance are great!
Perlman, Rostropovich, Haitnik. EMI Electrola 1C 065 03 691. It's similar interpretation to the Angel, However, recording quality is stellar. Cello tone fabulous.
Again, stellar recording, with fantastic tone cello, maybe even better tone than R's. Soundstage is wider and sallower than Haitniks. Violin is better recorded.
Brahms, other works:
Alto Rhaspsody. SR90467. Mercury, recorded in Moscow. Okay piece of work. Record not in very good shape. Side B has Kodály's Psalmus Hungaricus, sung by Ilosfalvy Róbert. He sings superbly, but this is an extremely depressing piece, if you understand the lyrics. I do not recommend listening to it. June 14, 2020.
Motets and Chorale Preludes. New English Singers / Simon Preston. Unnamed British Organ. Agro, ZRG 571. Absolute fantastic album. Superb recording quality, EQ2, no need to adjust HF levels. The church organ is fabulous, big and balanced sound. The choir is superb. Recording top notch. The music is very good as well! Had no idea that motets and chorales were Brahms' forte. Now I know. HALL OF FAME recording, superb organ and choir demo disc with great material. Machi loves it. June 16, 2020.
16 Hungarian Dances, Doráti / London Symphony. MLP, Stereo. SR90437. Quite fast paced conducting, certainly has nothing to do with authentic Hungarian dances. However, the conductors Hungarian heritage comes through, as the melodies are not butchered, and I can tell the Hungarian tunes behind the works. The reocrding is fantastic, has a recording feel to it (not natural), but hugely dynamic and superbly refreshing. It feels as taking a Ferrari to a spin in the Tuscan mountains. Very high energy, impact, speed. Good stuff! (EQ2) June 16, 2020.
D.F.Dieskau, Jörg Demus piano / Brahms Lieder. DG, DGM-12007. Mono. Very dynamic, good stuff! June 16, 2020.
Helen Watts - A Lieder Recital. Brahms & Schumann. London L' Lyre, Paris, 1964. Stereo, SOL 268. An absolutely wonderful songbook, a Lieder soirée. Well recorded. Helen Watts (contralto) deserves attention, and I will return to this album with a more fitting review. For now, let it suffice that be prepared for an evening, as if you were going to an event. Dress up, pour your favorite tea or wine, sit down and listen to this fabulous, deep and touching evening performance in Paris, back in time when the Earth and mankind was half a century younger. June 16, 2020.
Female Choirs / Budapest Kodály Zoltán female choir, cond. Andor Ilona. Hungaroton SLPX 11691. Stereo-Mono. Absolutely fantastic female choir, in a league by herself. Every choir member is pitch-perfect. Dare say one of the best choirs of the world, comparable to the King's Singers. Superbly recorded. HALL OF FAME FEMALE CHOIR. June 16, 2020.
Deux Sonates Pour Violoncelle et Piano. Erato RE-1009-RE/Stereo. Starker and Sebők. Nectar directly from the bow of the undying cello god. Mastreful presentation and performance, but the pieces are not that good. Recording quality average. Well. June 16, 2020.
Chamber music, Vol IV. The Austrian String Quartet, VOX SVBX 584. Recorded with Dolby S/N stretcher. Sounds weird, screechy violins, lack of harmonic detail, lack of low details, poor dimensionality. Briefly, mediocre sound at best. Some of the pieces are pretty bland, but there are some nice ones as well (Op 36 nice, Op 88 boring). June 16, 2020.
Brahms Violin Concerto D major
Ranked from weakest violinist performance to best for the last: June 16, 2020.
Heifetz, Chicago Symphony / Reiner, 1958. Reiner is a rough mason compared to the fine architect Monteux. A popuklar interpretation, in Hollywood technicolor style, both from conductor and soloist. Heifetz plays as a bravur-maestro, very dashing and forceful, but lacks the subtlety of Szeryng. Three different releases: #1. Green cover with Heifetz in the center "LSC-1903 STEREO", with white dog RCA VICTOR RED SEAL in right upper corner, white dog / white logo red label. This is the poorest sounding version. However, it's still very dynamic, and has big sound. #2. "LSC-1903 LIVING STEREO" with RCA VICTOR RED SEAL logo with transparent black dog on the left. 22S, middle/later of the pressing. Much more dynamic, and fuller sound. #3. Living stereo logo with "RCA VICTOR LSC-1903 RED SEAL" on left, with transparent teal dog. 1S/1S, first of the pressing. As #2, but more dynamic, alive, and richer in tone. Heifetz sounds more nuanced, his playing more elaborate than we would have thought.
Heifetz, Chicago Symphony / Reiner, 1963. RCA R1133935 Stereo RED SEAL. Same quality as #1 of the 58' edition. The performance is a little better, more mature from both orchestra and soloist.
Szeryng / London Symphony / Monteux. 1963, VICS-1028. RCA Victrola. Monteux is 88 years old. Beautiful recording and interpretation. Much more mature and deeper than Reiner / Heifetz.
Szeryng / London Symphony / Monteux. 1959. Living stereo logo, LSC-2281. A more energetic conducting and performance. The 63 version is a little anemic in comparison. Fuller sound and much more dynamic, bigger stage. Szeryng's violin sounds much better. EQ2. Very, very good sound.
Leonid Kogan / Philharmonia Orchestra / Kyril Kondarashin. EMI SAX 2307, 180g vinyl edition of the 1960 original release. This is the best recording of 3 copies: one was noticeably weaker, and another one sounded with more detail in the bass but also had a mechanical sound. All three had "A112" in the deadwax. This is the most dynamic of all the Brahms violin concertos. A first row experience. Very quiet, midrange and top end are highlighted, and bass is lacking in comparison (a generic 180g release feature compared to original pressings). LSCs have much better bottom end. EQ3. Very different performance from Szeryng or Heifetz.
Oistrakh / State Symphony Orchestra / Kondarashin. Hall of Fame, Great artist series HOFS-508, electronically reproduced stereo (listened to in mono). Very reverberant hall, deep stage and lots of scattered high frequency energy (natural in an echoey hall). Very different recording technique from the rest of the recordings. His playing gave me goosebumps.
Johanna Martzy / Philharmonia Orchestra / Paul Kletzki. Angel 35137. Unfortunately this is the "poorest" quality / issue recording of all, and would be quite inferior on most speakers. (This is a reissue, the original is a very high quality issue.) However, on the VOLs I do not find anything lacking from the experience compared to the other performances. We are far from the stage, about the last row of seats. Much less detail and transparency than the RCA/LSCs. However, we still get the concert hall acoustics, natural whole sound, and despite last row, this is still a wonderful experience. Especially, as Johanna's performance is on a different plane: more powerful than any of the famous male virtuosi, yet more shaded and much more intricate. Despite the lower resolution, because of the exemplary interpretation I still recommend this as the ultimate recording of the Brahms Violin concerto. If I had to keep only one, this would be it, and I'd chuck all the sought out male virtuosi to the bin. Comparing the interpretations: all the famous performers are basically doing a show for recognition, "performing", and Johanna is channeling Brahms. It's that deep.
CHOPIN
Mazurkas, Rubinstein June 8 2020
LM6177. Dynagroove. EQ2. 1S/1S.
LM6109. Red Seal. EQ2. They sound about the same. Both have great sound, this has a bigger box set. I suspect this Red Seal series sounds better, but is also from a later mother (12S/22S), so more information is lost, equaling out the two.
Polonaises:
Rubinstein LSC7037. Dynagroove. Box set. Two copies, one 9S, other 10-13S. The 10-13S copy is in better shape, much better dynamic range and much quieter. EQ2. Very good piano sound. Nice playing. June 8 2020 Errata Oct 23, 2020: EQ3, and quality is much superior to Brailowski's! Also, interpretation is much better, more feeling and musicality while Brailowsky's is rather haphazard and rough. (ATF7 now running through SUT step up, and on PUA arm, Violin rebuild, now with 12ax7 x2 instead of 12ax7/12bz7).
Brailowsky, Columbia MS6305. Single LP. Very different from Rubinstein's. Better sound quality. EQ3 June 9 2020.
Malcuzynski, 6 Polonaises. Angel 35728. EQ2. Mono. Absolute stunner recording! Very coherent sounding piano - not shiny and overly detailed, but whole. Playing style is superlative! I like him better than Moravecz. Another HALL OF FAME. EQ2. June 9 2020. Re-listen Oct 23, 2020: ABsolutely real piano, in every aspect. I have heard many pianos in real life that did not sound as good as this recording. The harmonics of the strings overhang is to die for, especially at the low registers. In low registers it destroys all of the other Polonaises. PERFECT RECORDING zero shortcomings or criticism. (Some surface pops after US, that's all.) Best interpretation of all Polonaises, overshadows even Anda by a large margin. True heritage, landmark recording of music history.
Sonatas: mostly June 9 2020
Sonata #2 Funeral March on: "Ashkenazy in Concert - Chopin" London FFRR red label. Stereo CS6794. SUperb sound, very good hall acoustics, audience clap authentic, top tier piano recording. Askhenazy's playing is superb. His interpretation is a "performer" style, going for high impact. There's a distortion at the forte registers, hopefully it cleans up or it could be the FFRR cutting... :(
Sonata #2 Funeral March CS2026 Conosseur Society, Antonio Barbosa. Superb recording (Ashkenazy's is a little better). Ashkenazy's playing style is much deeper.
Sonata #2 Funeral March LSC3053 Red Seal stereo, Van Clinburn. His playing style is the most comprehensive so far, there are no breaks felt. He does not want to impress: he puts his heart into the piece. Recording quality is about the same as Askhkenazy's, just no occasional distortion. Beautiful recording.
Sonata #2 Funeral March, Vásáry Tamás. DG SLGM-1316. Japanese pressing. Perhaps the best sound quality of all, yet, recording level is much lower so have to crank up volume to compare. First performance where I can feel the tragedy of death coming through. Touch of death, urgency surrounding a funeral and all the heightened feelings and the relaxed apathy of sorrow and surrender surrounding the passing. Dare say, interpretation on the dot.
Sonata #2 Funeral March ... oh no, not another Funeral march!!!! Yes, here it is. Rubinstein, RCA Red Seal Stereo LSC-3194. Recording engineer: Anthony Salvatore. Dare say KING OF FUNERAL MARCHES??? Fabulous recording quality, energizing interpretation. Does not hang up on death, no depressive moods here. This will energize you, move you out of your sorrow and loss. Vásáry delves deep into sorrow, and Rubinstein rescues us from the depths. Delivery is here. It delivers the ENERGY of the piano. Absolute stellar recording!!! HALL OF FAME. Soria version is darker sounding. June 9, 2020.
Sonata #2 Funeral March ... another one! Horowitz. LM1235. 17S/9S I. EQ3. By now I am oozing March Funébre through my tuckus. Yet, this is quite different from the others. Has a lots of attack and speed, and fast decaying, controlled harmonic riches. Good dynamics and attacking fortes. Needs cleaning though. June 9, 2020.
Ballades:
Ivan Moravec complete ballades, Conosseur Society CS1266. Stellar piano recording, top notch playing! Hall of fame recording and performance. July 8 2020
Graffman, LSC-2304. EQ2. Second to Moravec in both playing style and recording quality. Still, a very good, top notch recording! June 8 2020.
Études:
Abbey Simon, Études Op 10 & 25. VOX Turnabout TV34688. EQ2. Higher, but not explicitly high noise floor. Very, very good recording! Fortes are stellar, but pianissimos lack resolving detail. Low register energy is INSANE, best foundation, bettering any of the Moravec or Rubinstein recordings. June 9 2020.
Brailowsky, LM-6000 box set. 36S. End of the run - noisy, not much detail, no harmonic detail. Not very enjoyable, took it off after 2 minutes. June 9, 2020.
Préludes, Op 28:
Ivan Moravec, Conoisseur Society CS1366. Beautiful playing, superb recording. His ballades recording is a little better quality. July 9 2020
Rubinstein, LM1163. Recording noisy and thin and very low level. Playing was not too captivating. July 8 2020
Maria Joao Pires , Steinway. Erato STU70969. Superb sound, very good interpretation! 1976. More impressed with sund quality than with the Tele DMM Waltz. July 9 2020
Anda Géza, DG Privilege Stereo 2535 154. Most delicate interpretation. Very good sound, but top end not as extended - could be EQ3? Have not checked it... Lower recording level than the others - this might be a DG thing for piano. July 9 2020
Maurizio Pollini DG 2530 550. Superb recording quality. Very good playing. It's not as close to me as the four above. July 8 2020
Martha Argerich DG 2530 721. Superb recording quality. Very good playing. It's not as close to me as the four top. She is very good at the slow movements, but the complex parts seem to loose coherence (not sound - interpretation slackens). July 8 2020
Waltzes:
Cyprien Katsaris , Telefunken DMM 6.42706AZ Super quiet background. Dynamic and very focused sound. Energetic playing, very playful, could work for Tango Vals!! Has a little metallic feel to the sound (clipping?), not as relaxed.
Dinu Lipatti, EMI Angel HMV Treasury, Hayes Middlesex England, Mono. HLM7075. EQ2 This is a superb mono specimen!!! Piano image is NOT ANY LESSER than any of the stereo recordings! Frequency range VERY extended. Dynamics betters ANY and ALL stereo recordings I listened to today and yesterday, including the DMM, and all Moravecz. His playing is AMAZING, the bestestest Chopin in my collection. Superlative interpretation and recording! HALL OF FAME. June 9 2020.
Rubinstein. LM-1892. EQ2. Pretty good playing but not as good as Maestro Dinu's. Recording is sharp, dynamic but thin and lacks harmonics. June 9, 2020.
Vásáry Tamás, 17 Valses. DG 136-486 SLPEM Good sound, but not stellar, on the thin side. Technically very good playing, but superficial interpretation. I'm a more than a little disappointed. Vásáry's other DG Chopin record is very similar, superficial interpretation. Get it done for the recording. Feb 3, 2021. (VOL, Ampex)
Nocturnes:
LSC-7050 Dynagroove Rubinstein, 9S/I. Much better than LM6005 mono version or the EMI Electrola Odeon mono version (which is much better than the LM6005). Absolutely superb playing and recording. ! June 9 2020.
Scherzos:
Rubinstein LSC-2368. 2S/3S I; Wow. Stellar recording! Both interpretation and recording quality are top notch. Rubinstein at his best. 8S/4S I copy: pretty close to 2S/3S! Very little loss of information, outstanding for a 8S copy. EQ2. June 9 2020.
Rubinstein LSC-2368. 8S/4S I copy: pretty close to 2S/3S! Very little loss of information, outstanding for a 8S copy. June 9 2020.
Concertos:
Rubinstein, Concerto #2. With Alfred Wallenstein / Symphony of the air. LSC-2265 Living stereo. 15S. EQ2. Recording engineer: Lewis Layton. Stellar sound, superb interpretation, very good orchestra. Focus on piano, orchestra in background. June 9 2020.
Rubinstein, Concerto #2. With Ormandy / Philadelphia Orchestra 1969 LSC-2265 Living stereo. 10S/10S - but sounds as a 1S or 2S copy!!! This is a stellar recording if it carries over this well to a middle pressing! Recording engineer: Edwin Begley. More dynamic and open sound than his other version. Excellent orchestra recording. Wow. Piano is stunner presence / energy / detail. A league better than the already superb Wallenstein version. HALL OF FAME. EQ2. June 9 2020.
Graffman / Munch Boston SO. Concerto #1. LSC-2468. 10A A1, I. EQ2. Superb big orchestra, very nice piano but not as well recorded piano as Rubinstein/PO. More noisy as well, and less detail. Nevertheless, a superb recording and superb performance. Wow, the drum rolls! Big and forceful orchestra. June 9, 2020.
Rubinstein / Wallenstein LA PO. Concerto #1. EQ2, with 2nd order XO engaged on Altec (otherwise much midrange glare.) LM-1810. Mono. Old sounding recording. Nice performance though, thoroughly enjoyable, a wonderful Chopin reference performance for musicians. Not for audiofiles. Although has many very good attrivutes, but audiofile community would scoff at it for "outdated" sound. June 9, 2020.
Mixed Chopin selections:
Ballades, Préludes, Nocturnes big Moravecz box set: The CLassics Record Library, Conoisseur Society, RL7664. The recording quality is mediocre compared to the CS singles recordings. Two box sets tested, both are mediocre in sound quality, although top notch in interpretation. Relatively rare box set, people are willing to buy used. Tells lot for a box set (usually opened box sets do not sell at all.) June 8 2020
Meiko Miyazawa - Chopin. Audio Lab Record, ALC-1015. EQ3. Japanese audiophile record. Super quiet, zero background noise, sounds as if it was a CD. LAck of noise, but also lack of ambient cues, feels quite artificial. Low level details are missing, not clear. Tone is on the dry side, but there is some shine. Playing style is very precise. People who love digital will crave this recording. June 9 2020.
Wilhelm Kempff Chopin Vol II. London FFRR, orange label. STS 15039. Good sound, nice and pleasant interpretation. Not special, but very comfy as a pleasant background music. EQ2. June 9 2020.
Josef Hofmann 1935 first release Chopin RCA Victrola mono, VIC-1550. Two early pressings 1S/2S. The vinyl is the flimsiest I have ever seen! So skinny the center does not touch platter, and makes awful noise when I press down the center. The recording is incredibly noisy and poor quality. Quite a weak transfer, both copies. 9/6/2020
A. Dvorzak:
Piano Trio #3. Chandos Digital. ABRD 1107, Borodin Trio. The play well. Music is not that captivating. Sound: too digital, just like a CD. No subtle details, as if everthing was polished too much, and all the fine detail level was rubbed off. Sounds as an amplifier with too much feedback, the transients are missing. Apparently this is a common trait for Chandos digital (and digital DMM).
Gounod - Faust
Has occasional very nice arias and pieces, but as a whole it did not grab me.
Mahler No1: (reviews circa Feb 2020)
Ormandy: RCA LSC3107, superb recording. Grand performance. Has the lost second movement.
E Kubelik LL1107 London FFRR: mono. Early Kubelik, sounds like a bar mitzwah music. Not grandiose at all, too syrupy and bitter at the same time. Hopefully G’kar will like it better than I did… he’s also getting a copy of the Ormandy, so he can decide for himself ;).
Kubelik DG box set: 1st: second side has immense high level forte. Drums, trumpets blast the cats to hell. Quite an engineering feat to press that uncompressed into the record! Much more mature conducting. Compared to Ormandy, it sometimes goes into a feel of Sarah in the enchanted forest of Baba Yaga, in technicolor.
No 9.: 2019 Spring-Summer
Bernstein , Amsterdam. DG Digital edition. Does not have the speed and attack ofanalogue LPs. Very little spatial information. Columbia / Bernstein version sounds so much better.
Bernstein / NY Ph & LSO. Very good sound! Columbia GMS785.
No 5. 2019 Spring-Summer
Sir John Barbirolli: EMI ASD2518-9. 1969, stereo. Absolutely BRUTAL LF energy and dynamic peaks! True ultimate test of a system. Superb conducting! Top large scale orchestra demo record! I'd call it Class A+, Divinity... you get the idea.
Schubert symphonies reviewed July 30-31, 2020.
Number 5:
Bruno Walter, #5, #8 Columbia MS-6218: nice recording, EQ3. Conducted as a Mozart piece. ML-4093: #7, also mozartesque. Not as good as Szell's #7. EQ4 - quite different from modern RIAA, unless you can adjust curve, you it will not sound right. It's very dynamic, and quiet.
Otto Klemperer, Angel 36164: (#5, #8) finally, a genuine Schubert interpretation! Bass is more flabby than the other versions, more noisy, but otherwise not bad.
Lorin Maazel, DG SPLM (#8, #4) 138-128. Weird tonal balance, thin and screechy. Does not sound as Schubert.
Peter Maag, complete symphonies VOX TV-34334-38: dark tone, probably cut too slow. Sounds as if it's slow by at least 5%. Recorded with Dolby S/N stretcher!!! Maybe that's why it sounds weird. Conducting not particularly Schubert. Listened to #1 and #8.
Karl Münchinger: very Beethovenesque. All of them sound as if they were lost Beethoven symphonies. Pretty good as such! London CM-9259 (#2,#8) and London FFRR STS-15095 (#4,5).
Pablo Casals: ferrocious Beethoven/ with dab of Toscanini. Actually pretty good, but violins can be annoying. Columbia MS-7262.
Szell, EPIC Stereorama BC-1009. Very big sound. Not Scubert at all, but a very unique, fulfilling experience.
Furtwangler, Heliodor 88006 mono, 1951 Dec, Berlin. #9. Romantic and sweet. Very Furtwangler. Russian pressings of his #9 go for crazy money. This is a pretty decent version, big sound and dynamic. Highly individual performance. Not Schubert, but a statement from Furtwangler.
Paul Kletzki, Royal PO. Angel 35779, mono. #8. This is Schubert! Quality is okay, fully enjoyable but not high def.
Schubert Symphony #9:
Bruno Walter, Columbia SO, Columbia Odyssey Y-34620, promo copy. This goes to 11! Make sure to use the Columbia EQ, otherwise it sounds distorted. Columbia has a bad rep for distorted records. However, they have plenty of superb records, provided we use the right EQ for playback. This record is a prime example for that. 7/31/2020.
Carlo Maria Giulini, Chicago SO: same intepretation as Bruno Walters. This also goes to 11. Not sure which goes further, listened to them under very different circumstances (well warmed vs cold system, max loudness vs 2 ticks down, late night vs morning.) 8/1/2020
Colin Davis Boston SO. Dutch Philips 9500-890. Not as dynamic as the previous two, and has higher noise floor. However, tone is better than either of those. Also, conducting is Schubert! Dynamic parts have power and strength in them, but under control - versus the unrestrained wonton rampage of Bruno Walter and CMG. The controlled power is in contrast with the soft and delicate, intricate passages:this piece is the contrast between the delicate schubertian world and the outside world of heroes and titans. Very well done, superb! I suspect that the seemingly lower macrodynamics is due to the band not playing as loud at forte, but with more control and restraint Still, the difference between forte and piano is not as big as in the previous two, but there's always the same level of resolution, while with the other two (esp Bruno W) there's noticeably less resolution at the pianos. 8/1/2020
Bernard Haitnik, Concertgebow Orch Amsterdam. Dutch Philips 9500-097. Much lower noise floor and more details & dynamics than the Colin Davis Philips. More natural sound, very good drum rolls and foundation. Very delicate introduction, more romantic than Colin Davis. 8/1/2020
Toscanini RCA Victor Soria 2S LD-2663 mono. Tonal balance is not right. 8/1/2020
Toscanini LSC LM-1835. Shaded dog 16S: right tonal balance, dynamic and good sound. Performance is very Toscanini, very good indeed but not Schubert. 8/1/2020
Schubert piano works 8/1/2020.
Das Klavierwerk zu vier Handen Vol I. Teldec 66.22671. Okay recording quality, content is okay, nothing special.
Sonatas A maj & min, Hun melody, 12 Waltzes. London ffrr CS-6500. Ashkenazy. Highs are not clear, fuzzy. Otherwise quite good recording.
Decca version: SXL-6260. Clear highs, much better 3D focus. Very good sound, good interpretation.
Sonata in A minor, Richter. Monitor MC-2027, mono. Tons of energy, from bottom end to top end. A little fuzzy though, not as clear as Decca.
Sonata A major, Radu Lupu London ffrr CS-6996. Truly superb recording, real piano in your living room. Dynamics, impact, speed, everything top notch.
Schubert Symphony #4,5:
Kertesz, Wiener Ph. Decca Jubilee JB-75: Very dynamic, good recording. Serious interpretation oscillating between Beethoven and Haydn.
Schubert chamber music
Piano Quintet Op 114 The Trout. Beux arts trio. Dutch Philips. 9500-071. Not particularly good sound - okay, but nothing special. Playing is okay, nothing special...
Death and the Maiden - Hollywood String Quartet, Capitol FDS P-8359. Good quality, good sonics but it's not hitting any of the EQ curves that I have right. The interpretation is much inferior to the LSC. Sonics inferior as well.
Trio #1 op 99. Angel COLH-12. Casals et al. Despite Pablo Casals, it's pretty lackluster. The piece is not very good either, and I have qualms about the interpretation as well. This is a miss..
Forellenquintett - Notturno. DG 136-488. EQ4. Okay quality, but nothing special. Playing style is quite anemic, enervated. Does not get a recommendation.
String quartets Op 29, 125. Quartetto Italiano. Dutch Philips 9500-078. EQ2. Much inferior to the other Q. Italiano Dutch Philips below - sound quality is MUCH inferior, and the pieces are not as strong either.
String quartet Op 161. D887. Quartetto Italiano, Dutch Philips 9500-409. EQ4. Very different EQ from the other Dutch Philips. Lively performance, played with heart and soul. Very good recording. Very nice, superb interpretation. Highly recommended!
Octet Op 166. The Vienna Octet, London FFSS. CS-6051. Very good recording, quiet music for quiet listening, very good interpretation. Recommended!
Gilbert Kalish, Sonata in C Major / Drei Klavierstücke, Nonesuch H-71386. Nice recording quality, but piece is quite uninteresting. Interpretation quite good.
Robert Schumann Symphonies 7/27/2020
First symphony: reminds me of an unhinged version of Beethovens Pastorle. Lack of clarity, lots of peaks, running about.
Second symphony: slow start turns into cacophony.
Third symphony: haphazard melody lines, haphazard dynamic play.
Fourth symphony: sombre melodic beginning, drum rolls very nice accent. Builds up to the forte. Actually, very good introduction! After the forte, it gets playful but then it gets syroupy and sappy, resolving in Beethovenesque fervor. The best of the Schumann symphonies. Overall, Schumann did not grab me with his symphonies: there is no intellectual or spiritual nor emotional cohesion. Strives to go beyond or around Beethoven, but fails. As many have said, there's no music beyond Beethoven. Indeed, there's only downhill from the mountaintop. Yet, we can all enjoy the view from the slopes as well...
Other works: 7/27/2020
Liederalbum, Elly Ameling: Dutch Philips, nice recording. The songs are not as good as Schubert songs...
Telefunken mono LGX-66029. Carnaval Op 9; Etudes symphoniques Op 13. Anda Géza. EQ4 Good sound, good playing, decent pieces, but did not grab me.
Ma Vlast, Kubelik boxed sets. 2019 Spring-Summer
LONDON FFRR. STS 15906/7 Orange / silver label. Vienna PO. Cantilever of AT440MLb died, can't tell much.
DG 2561074 Boston SO. Nice playing, big sound, enjoyable recording. Dynamic peaks restrained. No serious compression, but it does not go ballistic. Vienna PO plays more delicately. Boston SO is less intricate.