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In Reply to: Beethoven 4, 5, 3, 8 posted by Avocat on November 14, 2006 at 06:58:14:
The Fritz Reiner/Chicago Symphony recording on the RCA Living Stereo label is legendary. It's the best Scheherazade recording of all time.The SACD sounds remarkable. It's like going back in time to the day the piece was recorded (1958 if I am not mistaken).
I cannot overstate the sonic beauty of this recording. It's the closest thing to a live performance of Scheherazade as has ever been put on disc.
The entire Living Stereo catalog, everything in it sounds miraculously fresh. I am always astonished at how good these recordings sound. It's a testament to SACD that these recordings have never been presented better. Each one is a treasure and must have.
Follow Ups:
The Reiner recording has great sound and playing, but IMHO is stiff and unyielding as an interpretation. I'm a huge Reiner fan but I would have preferred Stokowski, as an example, for this piece.
Stokowski has at least two recordings of the Scheherazade: The Royal Phil. Orch. with violinist Erich Gruenberg on RCA Victor Red Seal label and the London Sym. Orch. also with Gruenberg but on London/Decca. Which one were you referring to?
Perhaps I was too quick with my post - I think Scheherazade can be played with more imagination and effect than Reiner manages and suggest Stokowski as more of the type of conductor I'd like to see for this work. It has been a long time since I've actually heard one of Stokowski's recordings of this piece so I can't really pinpoint a specific one for you.
"It's a testament to SACD that these recordings have never been presented better."Not to mention Mark Donahue and SoundMirror in Boston, who actually do the mastering for the Living Stereo series.
Actually, it was recorded in 1960. Yes, it is one of the best Scheherazade on discs, with the sound to match.
Tape hiss is awful. Ambience is artificial. Sound not nearly as good as on modern DSD recordings. Great performances, no argument here, but there are many other great performances.
HowdyIf you are talking about the Reiner "Scheherazade" something is amis. My system is quite flat in freq response and there isn't nearly as much tape hiss as many other great recordings. I know my ears aren't perfect but when I turn it up enough for the tape hiss to be very noticeable the flutes and piccolos are painful.
Besides it's a wonderful performance :)
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