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BBC Radio 3 just finished its piece on this cycle and as I predicted SACD was only talked of on terms of surround sound. Indeed the surround capabilty was a major topic. So that means that hundreds of listeners will now not buy the discs as they will think that their lack of a surround playback facility puts the discs outside of their need for condideration. There was no mention at all of the stereo in high-rez availablity and the redbook compatibility was talked of only in passing as the discs were said to be hybrid. How many casual radio listeners know what this word signifies?I have nothing at all against surround per se but if SACD is only portayed as a medium for this then it will be be seen as irrelevant for the majority and as just a gimmick for many others.
Follow Ups:
Comparing the Rheingold orchestral prelude on the Melba SACD to the 24/96 remastering of the Solti Decca recording on CD is no contest : the Australian version has far superior sound, especially in the clarity, firmness and depth of the bass.I have Walküre and Siegfried on the DVD-V of the Barenboim-Kupfer Bayreuth, and their Siegfried and Götterdämmerung on CD. Comparison of the Siegfried demonstrates that the CD audio is superior to the PCM stereo sound of the DVD-V. This underscores a recurrent problem with DVD-Vs of opera : the relative mediocrity of sound either on DTS or PCM stereo. If one wants fine singing of the Ring on CD, the Solti set in my view is overrated : Böhm's Philips 'live' Bayreuth Ring with Nilsson and Windgassen is magnificent, and I have read raves about the Testament Keilberth Bayreuth.
Don't forget that the 'Etcetera' label is also bringing out a MC SACD 'Live' Ring. I have just bought its Siegfried, which cost about half the price of the Melba Walküre. It has a bizarre boy Woodbird, but reasonable sound and performance.
Interesting reaction but I think unduly pessimistic from the sales point of view. What struck me was how superficial the whole thing was - a sadly typical example of how Radio 3 misses the point these days. Where was the follow up on the issue of using 64 microphones that need a surround down-mix? Where was any mention whatsoever that this was *not* the first surround Valkyrie anyway (Mehta on Farao was 1st)? What follow up did we get about the admiration that she has for her sound engineer, what makes him so good? Why did the interviewer not ask about the very issues you raise vis-a-vis compatibility? Answer, because the interviewer either didn't know about them himself, or, more likely, some teenage sub-editor chopped the interview to fit it in before the slot ended. We did get a huge chunk of the inevitable Ride as a substitute for intelligent discussion. All that fits in with the new ethos of a channel that is abandoning live concert broadcasts don't you think?Hmmm! Guess I'm as pessimistic as you after all, but not about the same things. I somehow doubt if many outside the UK listened anyway - and Valkyrie is apparently selling really well in the US. I note that much of the interview is to be found in print on the Melba website, maybe even the same interview.
Have you managed to obtain The Rheingold yet? I haven't.
Dave
Dave, you make some interesting comments that I wish I had thought of myself!No, I haven't bought Rheingold myself yet and am in rather two minds about it from what I heard. I loved the real feel of excitement that has been captured from the live performance(s). On the downside the orchestral playing whilst very competent is, for someone brought up on the Solti/Culshaw/VPO set ...well I need say no more. Anyway I was quite impressed with it but perhaps not enough to open the wallet when there are so many other discs vying for my attention.
I have an embarrassing number of Rheingold's, including of course the Solti. I still turn to him for the frisson of excitement - and I love the sound effects even though one should not admit to this. I always remember some unkind critic who reported on some other recording that Donner's hammer sounded like a jeweller's pick, unlike the truly frightening weapon wielded by Solti's thunder god thanks to Culshaw's team!! I see you are south London, contact me off board, perhaps we should visit sometime for a Wagner session, I'm not far away in Pompey. No pressure though. Good listening!
Dave
I found the Rheingold was nice, but excellent from an engineering standpoint, but performance wise not as enthralling as the Valkyrie.
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