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In Reply to: RE: Beecham Scheherazade available at HDTT, finally posted by jdaniel@jps.net on February 20, 2017 at 08:16:29
For those who don't read beyond one-line commentaries: I like it--a lot.Most of the online reviews I've read of the Beecham CD reissues have ranged anywhere from provisionally accepting to "meh" to downright critical of both performance and sonics (a lot of it having to do with shy bass). Having sampled everything from Bernstein and Rossi to Ormandy and Ansermet to Reiner, Stokowski (all on vinyl plus Stokie on a terribly-compressed CD reissue of the same Phase 4 outing) and Temirkanov (CD) over the years, I figure I've traversed the landscape of performance interpretations and recording approaches. So, based on listening on my acoustically-treated Windows 10/JRiver-based bedroom system (TEAC UD-501 to Counterpoint SA-2000 to Sonographe SA250 to stand-mounted Paradigm Studio 20 v.5's)...
The Beecham DSD128 transfer from the 15ips tape, whatever its provenance, is exquisite. Quiet and transparent. The performance is not as fiery as, say, Temirkanov's or Stokie's (particularly in the final movement) and the bass is perhaps understated, but the reading and what the ensemble does with it is well-balanced overall and, as jd put it, "charming", evoking the mood with which Scheherazade no doubt spun her nightly tales to the sultan in order to keep her precious head. I agree, too, with his characterization as "comfortable," though I'd term it "relaxed."
The bottom line is that it will get more play here.
Thanks for the heads-up, jd.
Jim
http://jimtranr.com
Edits: 02/20/17 02/20/17 02/20/17Follow Ups:
I listened to Mov't II last night. Transfer is warm and detailed, like the Lp, (I had four). What floored me, (no pun intended) is the lower noise floor which provides for a more listening experience. I especially marveled over the sense of space around solo bassoon and oboe. The surrounding hall is much more obvious. Very impressed!!
I'm up to my 7th HDTT transfer.I've been wildly happy with all except the Liszt/Richter Piano Concertos, which seemed a bit dull, (did the record sound like that? I don't remember); the Bruch Scottish Fantasy with Oistrakh, which seemed a bit flat and harsh in the strings, BUT the accompanying Hindemith is absolutely fantastic; and the Tchaikovsky 4th with Monteux, which is not one of RCA's demo recordings but the performance is white hot and worth having IMHO, so sound-nuts proceed with caution.
No complaints whatsoever with the following, both sound and performance:
Ansermet's Petrushka
Stravinsky's Columbia Firebird
Bernstein's Columbia Gerswhin
Munch's RCA Schubert 9th (what perfect pacing in first mov't!)
Karajan's Sibelius 4th and 5th
Walter's lovely Columbia Dvorak 9th (my favorite)
Mehta's Decca Bruckner 9th...and Morris' Mahler 8th if you know what to expect.
Edits: 02/21/17
The original Richter Liszt concertos were done by Bob Fine of Mercury records for Phillips. They are very exciting recordings with great dynamics and almost brite sounding. Certainly not dull. They are also stunning performances
Alan
Thanks. I'm aware of those Merc engineered Philips. I also like the Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty with Concertgebouw and a few Tchaikovsky suites.
Well then, the HDTT Liszt/Richter is officially my first disappointment. Not bad considering all their home runs.
jdaniel thank you for this. I am indebted to you already for your introduction to the HDTT transfers last year.
May I add one recommendation? The Ansermet Nutcracker. I bought a DSD64 download and was at first, not exactly dismissive, but not that impressed. However the download more or less coincided with the return of my loudspeakers after a rebuild with a brand new pair of tweeters. They just cannot have been burned in when I first listened to it as it knocked me sideways when I heard it last weekend. Very familiar recording which I have owned for the past 30 something years but it never sounded as good as this.
Thanks! I initially felt a little awkward recommending a business that may or may not be legal. But quickly got over it. : )
I had the Ansermet Nutcracker on Lp and liked it a lot, except for the strings being a touch light in the big lyrical moments. But I love the Suisse Romande's charming woodwinds throughout--piece sounds freshly minted.
Ansermet's Swan Lake has the same pluses.
I wouldn't get too concerned about legality. When I played that Nutcracker at the weekend it was in the company of someone who is concerned with copyright and repertoire for one of the majors. He asked what the source was and just said in a relaxed way "Oh, all PD* then". Had he been concerned believe me I would have known about it.* Public Domain
Edits: 02/22/17
nt
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