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Fellow Inmates: I recently ordered the Analogue Productions SACD of the Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances (Dallas SO/Donald Johanos). You're probably aware that this recording has developed a cult following over the years and has been reissued any number of times. This version must be reckoned a success: the laser-like clarity and immediacy are there in spades, but there's a bit more warmth than other versions I've heard.
Here's my question for anyone else who has this disc: in the first minute or so of the last movement (track 3), something that sounds like low-level radio static is audible. It doesn't really sound like a defect in the disc itself; perhaps a bit of deterioration of the master tape is the culprit. If you have this disc, please let me know if you can hear this as well. Thanks for your response!
Follow Ups:
It features an outstanding reading of the Symphonic Dances with an equally impressive Isle of the Dead. The stereo SACD sound is also very good.
NT
It really captures the heat and inspiration of a live performance. Recording-wise, I thought it wasn't quite as good as Jansons or Oue, but still, as you say, it was pretty good even so.
nt
Show him the right oue to spell
Missed that one.
I have owned the original LP for many years, and there were some exciting things about the sound, as well as some recording and usual analog artifacts. I am much more taken by the RCO Live performance on SACD with Jansons paired with an excellent Petrouchka. It delivers reference quality Mch sound in exciting performances. It is slightly marred by some groaning in the last movement of the Symphonic Dances, apparently by the conductor himself. But, I highly recommend it nonetheless.
I have the Turnabout Vox Lp ....the dbx version no less. Ha! I played it this afternoon for the first time in a generation, I'm sure. The dynamic range on this dbx encoded disc is almost unbelievable. I would say that it is the equal to any SACD I own, although probably a wee bit overblown. And I found the performance to be quite exciting, too. But as you well know the sense of realism falls considerably short of a well done hi-rez multi-channel recorded performance, not to mention that the Dances are spread over two sides and the vinyl/dbx artifacts (although actually not bad). So, thanks for the recommendation on the Jansons.
Robert C. Lang
Available in the US on April 10:
If it's like the other LSO Live SACD's, this should also be a close perspective.
BTW, like you and Kal, I really like the Jansons/RCOA recording too (a more distant perspective). And like the OP, I also like the Johanos/Dallas recording - I currently have the Classic Records 24/96 two-channel audio-only DVD (but don't call it a DVD-audio!) incarnation, but I used to have the LP too. Another one I like is the two-channel 24/96 download of the Reference Recordings Oue/Minnesota performance.
Well, I will give Gergiev an audition but Oue??? Boring.
Que may be a tad boring but as far as recordings go is there any better? It has to be one of the finest recordings I've heard! and I'm suprised it was mentioned here so late in the post.
It is a superlative recording but I cannot listen to it as music for any length of time. I sample it for demos.
I am not one of those who revere archaic performances without question and I do really enjoy good sound. (Surprise?) OTOH, if I cannot enjoy the music/performance, I cannot really enjoy the overall experience.
"Kal said" if I cannot enjoy the music/performance, I cannot really enjoy the overall experience.
Wow this is quite a statement, then there is so much music you cannot enjoy?
The other night I was listening to Charlie Parker "Dial recordings"
and once you accept that the sound is compromised the music can be enjoyed
to it's fullest.
Parker is just an example they are 1000's of others.
And make no mistake I do enjoy good sound, and sure I would love to have the Bill Evans recordings souding like the new Chick Corea with Paul Motian and Eddie Gomes where the sound is so good that it becomes
part of the music, but there is so few of these around.
Your first two sentences seem to suggest that you disagree with my post but the rest of your post is quite in synch with my thoughts. Perhaps you misinterpreted what I said although you quote me correctly. You post that:
"Kal said" if I cannot enjoy the music/performance, I cannot really enjoy the overall experience.
This refers to the music (type, genre, composition) and to the performance (players, conductors) and not to the sound or other aspects of recording or reproduction. In other words, if I don't like what they are playing, I cannot enjoy the overall experience, regardless of how well it is recorded. Conversely, I can and do enjoy good music even if the recording quality is not excellent or modern.Perhaps you were confusing me someone else. ;-)
Kal
Edits: 03/20/12 03/20/12
I can enjoy poor recordings is the performances are great!!
But I can't enjoy poor performances even is the recordings are good.
Edits: 03/20/12
That is exactly what Kal is saying. The two of you agree
Alan
that he and I agree.
Kal
I had to pull out Que and give it listen and must admit it has a way of engaging the audiophile and music lover in me that very few recordings can (only five at best come to mind), it may have a slight nudge to the audiophile in me for precision.Is it because of an all out assault fidelity by RR to produce sound so good you may forget your listing to a performance? I can't say its not exciting at times because that would be a lie. It's one of the few performance /recordings you can close your eyes and almost sense the hall from which the recording was made and feel apart of the performance. As a still an up and comer of gauging performances perhaps a comparison is due! but I still feel that the recording itself may hinder the audiophile in me.
Hmm!
OUE.
Gee! Thanks, and just when you thought the editors did there job, someone is getting fired for this out rage (lol)!
I agree 100%, just to bad that it all comes together to rarely though!
There are quite a few performances of the Symphonic Dances that I prefer to Johanos' and I did right from the time of its original LP release. The Jansons SACD is one of them and it is also superior in sound quality as well.Kal
Edits: 03/18/12
I have it. I will check it and get back tomorrow. I'm on my way to dinner and a concert.
I'm not hearing at the beginning of the 3rd movement what you describe. I've listened several times, once with my ear up close to each speaker. My disc sounds normal throughout all four tracks. So it may be a defective disc.
With this SACD I need to listen with the volume at a higher than normal setting in order to get the full impact. I have the original Turnabout pressing and both the reissued Athena Japanese and USA pressings. I don't have the 45 rpm reissue. I find the SACD diminishes the three dimensionality and the delicate beauty of the soft playing on my Ayre C-5xeMP player . The dynamic range is there, but I expected a little more impact from the bass drum and more space between the instrumentalists. Other players may give different results.
I've always liked this recording because it creates an uncanny sense of an orchestra in a dryish hall. In fact, last night at the concert I attended (Mandeville Center at UCSD with the La Jolla Symphony, there is a very similar acoustic with an exposed sound that is very clear and can be very explosive at the loud moments. Two weeks ago I attended a performance of the Rachmaninoff 2nd Piano Concerto in a small, wetter hall. I was about 20 feet from the piano in the sixth row. The sound was more cushioned, but had the explosive characteristics of the composer's orchestration.
Someone said that the way to enjoy digital sound is not to listen to analog sound. I listen to both. There is a photo with the disc of the two original tape reels of the 2-track recording. Now if the folks at The Tape Project would reissue a 2-track 15 ips version, I would consider buying it. I have 4 of these tapes, and they are the ne plus ultra in recording.
I think most listeners will find this SACD a satisfactory transfer.
Thanks for your time and effort. I'll carefully clean my copy of the disc and listen again.
Interesting to hear your take on the SACD. When I listen to this recording, I always imagine that this is what hearing Tosacanini conduct in Studio 8H would have sounded like.
Thanks again for your trouble.
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