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In Reply to: RE: europe's finest posted by jazz1 on November 02, 2009 at 08:20:32
After a single listen, I also find the sound to be very fine overall and excellent in some areas. Sound stage depth, width, ambiance, and scale is,, exceptional. This is especially heard (and seen) in "Capricio Espagnol" where Rimsky-Korsakov spotlights many individual musicans for brief periods and a solo violin for a major role. Placement of the specific musicians, width and depth, are exceptionally good. On another track, I can’t remember which one, there is passage for harp that is about the best I have heard for that instrument this side of a Susan McDonald LP I have.
The balance, too, is quite good. In may recordings, for example, the timpani is too distant or too pronounced. In “Europe’s Finest” several tracks including Sibelius’ “Karelia Overture” the recording of timpani (and the orchestra at large) is very close to what I have been experiencing live in recent weeks. And that is quite an endorsement.
I consider the music to be “light classical”, with some war horses such as "Capricio Espagnol", and “Bolero” and some less well known works from composers such as Von Weber, Alfeven, Verdi (an overture) and Bach (clearly a Romantic transcription). But that does not at all diminish the selected content here, especially since it is so well performed and so well recorded. I found it very enjoyable on first listen and will listen again!
The disc is listed on SA-CD.net
Robert C. Lang
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