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Vanska conducts Beethoveen's 9th

64.204.175.50
Posted on October 26, 2009 at 06:44:34
jygesq
Audiophile

Posts: 323
Location: connecticut
Joined: January 17, 2006
 I bought the complete 9 symphonies. I listen to a few was not really impressed until I played the 9th. WOW WOW WOW. The choral parts where so clear. I have a few copies of the 9th, but this one puts the chorus right into your living room. I will replay other symphonies again with a bit more volume. Possibly the same result. This compilation seems to bee recorded at a lower volume level than most of my other cd/sacds

1st impressions, posted on October 28, 2009 at 11:12:02
jazz1
Audiophile

Posts: 959
Joined: October 30, 2000
 After a quick sampling through.
8/10 for audio when compared to my best SACD's/CD's
As far as performances I obviously need to listen properly in the next few weeks.

RE: 1st impressions, posted on October 28, 2009 at 13:49:53
Mali
Audiophile

Posts: 655
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 That's disappointing. I have plenty of excellent performances of the Beethoven symphonies. I waited for this set, and recently ordered it, because of it reportedly great sonics. Now everybody is saying the sonics are pretty mediocre, or just average, at best.

Got the set on Saturday. Sounds fine., posted on November 1, 2009 at 20:30:47
Mali
Audiophile

Posts: 655
Location: Wyoming
Joined: June 12, 2003
Contributor
  Since: November 11, 2009
 I was afraid it would be one of the 30 rows back in an empty hall ala those old Chandos recordings, some of which sound like they were recorded in an echo chamber. But, no, the sonics seem to be good on the couple I've tried so far. Up to Bis's usual high standard.

RE: 1st impressions, posted on October 28, 2009 at 22:03:31
jazz1
Audiophile

Posts: 959
Joined: October 30, 2000
 I think that 8/10 is excellent as I compare it to the best I have and they are few 9/10, I am still looking for a 10/10.
I always think that there is room for improvements thus a 10/10 would be an extraordinary recording.

Disappointment on sonics is misplaced in my opinion, posted on October 28, 2009 at 20:25:40
Robert C. Lang
Audiophile

Posts: 2489
Joined: March 1, 2001
 There are several factors here.

First, Jazz1 has high standards for sound quality (that's a good thing). And if he rates the sound 8-10 against the "best" in his collection that's damn good. Is the sound the best out there? I would hesitate to say that about any recording. But I will say that the Vanska Beethven 9th (the only one that I heard so far) has excellent sonics (although not the best of the best), certainly surpassing the best of the Haitnink Beethoven set (or any Barbican recordings) that I own.

Secondly, the cost for me came to a mere $30.13 *including* shipping to US from MD in England (I think).

Third, after seeing Vanska conduct first hand on Friday, I think I will have a greater appreciation for the performances on this set.

Fourth, I doubt if many will give a thumbs up or down on this set based on sonics. I believe it will be the performances that will make or break for most listeners. These performances (at least the 9th)are "different" from most Beethoven performances I have heard. I delineate differences I found (for example, compared to the Haitnink 9th) in a thread about two years ago titled (I think) "Haitnink or (not vs.) Vanska".

Robert C. Lang
Forget the sonic's......., posted on October 28, 2009 at 18:38:52
Chuck Y
Audiophile

Posts: 3880
Joined: August 31, 2001
 The last movement of the 9th will make the cost of the set worth every cent(IMHO). It is about as exciting as it can be. I'm not a particular fan of the 9th. I have more often than not found the last movement spoiled some otherwise fine performances of the preceding movements. Not this time!

Enjoy Vanska's performances for what they are. I think they wear well with time and you will really enjoy them.

Sound is natural, clean and spacious, posted on October 28, 2009 at 17:27:41
srl1
Audiophile

Posts: 178
Location: Florida Panhandle
Joined: September 2, 2003
 I think this is the best-sounding Beethoven set I have. This is Beethoven, not Russian romantic bombast. The presentation is clean, natural, detailed and spacious. It gets out of the way of super-revealing performances.

Sonics are top notch on the Vanska 9th (nt), posted on October 28, 2009 at 14:04:03
krisjan
Audiophile

Posts: 309
Joined: May 6, 2001
 .

RE: Vanska conducts Beethoveen's 9th, posted on October 26, 2009 at 19:59:51
pbarach
Audiophile

Posts: 75
Location: Ohio
Joined: June 22, 2008
 I have this SACD. The performance seems to me efficient and that's all. The sound quality lacks imaging, and it recedes dimly into the distance during pianissimi. The first recordings of this orchestra in the same hall (Ravel, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, conducted by Skrowaczewski, during the 1970's) had much better sound, especially in their various reissues on CD. I think a few have been reissued on expensive SACD's, but I haven't heard them.

RE: Vanska conducts Beethoveen's 9th, posted on October 28, 2009 at 18:50:08
Chuck Y
Audiophile

Posts: 3880
Joined: August 31, 2001
 I think two things come into play 1) the recordings seem to have minimal compression, ergo the very quiet moments - it can be tough in a lot of rooms/systems to hear the quiet moments properly without overdriving the room or your system when the music gets loud, and 2)these are multichannel recordings and my experience with these and other multichannel recordings is that the front two channels (operated alone in a two channel system) don't create the full front stage imaging effect that a normal two channel recording would. It is obvious in the Ninth which I just finished listening to. Early in the symphony the bass viols were dominating the music yet their sound was just slightly off right center, not to the far right where they would normally be found. But it is saved by the performances I think.

Agree with you about playback level........, posted on October 26, 2009 at 11:12:29
Chuck Y
Audiophile

Posts: 3880
Joined: August 31, 2001
 On first listening I had my volume set for normal sound levels and I wasn't impressed. The next time I kicked up the volume a few notches and it really brought Vanska's Beethoven to life. The sound is fairly clean and can take a boost.

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