|
|
|
Mr Panessa,
Thanks for the review. I'm interested in Asahina's Beethoven, but will only buy one set, for obvious ($) reasons.
Which set do you prefer? I assume all the sets sound terrific, so I'd like the one with more tension and drama, which I know takes back seat to luxurious beauty in Asahina's work, so I'll take the one with as much drama as possible.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
David, I think I'd go for this one, truthfully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Exton release of Asahina's cycle is one of the best SACDs ever made, from performance all the way to playback.
The other is the byproduct of a video done ten years earlier on the occasion of Asahina's eightieth birthday. It is fine, but exceeded by the Exton.
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is very useful. Thanks. BTW, BRO has some Asahina (might be out of stock) on WEitblick and Tobu that are terrific; $8/each.
All the best,
|
|
|
|
|
|
OK, I have it and it IS very good. Potential purchasers might want to know:
As with much Asahina, there is a reverential quality. Grandeur and respect are priorities, don't expect impetuosity or even "personality." Tempi tend to be slow, like a 47 minute #7 with a 12 minute scherzo! Too much for me, frankly. Symphonies 1 and 2 are dull, 3 and 4 OK, 5 works very well with this approach. Sound is excellent, 2 channel SACD, with the audience a bit too present. Hope that helps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Alt said:
As with much Asahina, there is a reverential quality. Grandeur and respect are priorities, don't expect impetuosity or even "personality." Tempi tend to be slow.
Conductors like Asahina and Celibidache especially benefit from the acoustic elbowroom provided by high-resolution audio formats. They not only play the notes, they play the rests between the notes. We are very fortunate to have ample Bruckner from both of them on SACD from Japan, as well as the two Asahina Beethoven cycles.
I just listened to Bruckner's Fifth conducted by Asahina, from the Tokyo FM Archives. Dynamic range is a bit compressed to fit FM transmission, but otherwise the recording is sterling. I bought that one instead of the later Fifth, because the latter is spread out to two discs, even though the latter is probably a better recording. I did not feel deprived listening to the FM Archives recording.
|
|
