| Review by Arthur June 25, 2004 (2 of 2 found this review helpful)
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Performance:  Sonics:  |
I've never been a fan of Chandos' recordnigs. As much As I've respected the Cousins for their repertory choices, I've hated their recording philosophies. They've so often sounded like they are overmiked with too much added reverberation. The early SACDs have unfortunately not been an exception, in general. But this new release is the exception!
While this sounds like a PCM recording, not DSD, it has a very good sense of space and positioning for the instruments: it all sounds natural without strange spotlighting.
Making this release indispensable is the fact that the performance is an incredible one! For once a performmance accepts this work as simply a great Vaughan Williams Symphony, NOT Vaughan Williams trying to be modern!
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| Review by akiralx October 19, 2004 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
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Performance: Sonics: |
As others have said, Chandos' recordings are often so rich that detail is clouded - but this one is decidedly above average, with a nice acoustic and no excessive reverberation. And the performance of the symphony is an excellent one - I'm no great admirer of Hickox normally, finding him efficient but rarely inspired, but he has done a superb job here.
The tempi are faster than usual (like the composer's own mono recording) and the impetus of the reading is very compelling. A fine SACD of an underrated symphony, not RVW's best but worth having in a performnace as good as this one.
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