Post by Cicero February 9, 2010 (171 of 183)
|
|
In case people are interested, there is piece on the Esoteric Ring on
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2010/Feb10/Wagner_Ring_ESSD90021-34.htm
Little of it makes for an enlightening read, I must say; however, there is one passage that truly stands out for its high entertainment value:
"The new set contains three books: two are the most substantial librettos I have ever seen, in German and Japanese. The third is a Japanese copy of John Culshaw’s book; extremely useful."
Unless the (British) writer is fluent in Japanese, this last sentence must count as one of of the most funny - or rather, silly, take your pick - comments I have read in a while. If I've understood the situation correctly, the writer is an Esoteric dealer - ah well, journalistic integrity ... His comments on the transfer, and the interpretations, are predictably unhelpful, much less detailed and much less capable of providing critical evaluation than what can be found elsewhere in this thread. Still, that sentence ...
|
|
|
Post by Cicero February 9, 2010 (172 of 183)
|
|
Sorry for the duplication, Rosenkavalier must have beaten me by a few seconds.
|
|
|
Post by trazom February 10, 2010 (173 of 183)
|
|
I just received the box from elusivedisc. First of all, I have to thank elusivedisc for their service and phantastic handling/packaging - they are by far the best.
The Box is of utmost beauty - the whole package is very well done - a real haptique pleasure...
And to most important: the transfer to SACD is simply phantastic. Compared to the LP's the SACD has a far better dynamics (incredible the dynamic at the beginning of Rheingold - the LP is just rumble...) - then the finesse of the voices is just stunning - incredible how they flourish and shine in the room.
I also find Siegfried's voice stunning - I just have to set the Filter on my dCS on stage 3 - so no more harsh feeling...
All in all - a must have for every Wagneran - and for everybody who lovers good music and recordings.
Enjoy!!!
|
|
|
Post by operamuso February 12, 2010 (174 of 183)
|
|
This is undoubtedly the best version of the Decca Ring I have heard, and I have been listening to it, on and off, for forty years. The brass is wonderfully firm, and the voices are superbly present and natural. There is a lot of orchestral detail I have never heard before.
However, anyone coming to it after hearing the jaw-droppingly wonderful Maazel Sibelius 1, as I did, will I think be a little disappointed - that has a thrillingly 'being there' openness, space and sparkle to the sound which a lot of the Ring (to my ears and on my equipment) doesn't quite have. It is though, the best version (of this Ring - of course one can argue for ever over the virtues of other performances) to have if you're prepared to salt away that amount of cash in it.
The packaging though - it is ludicrously overdone. It seems to be aimed at people who will put their prized purchase in a showcase in their listening room - probably spotlit. Whoever thought it a good idea to house the discs, not in CD-sized boxes, but in SEVEN separate DVD-style boxes - thereby making it impossible to house them on one's CD shelves - needs their head examining. I shall be swapping the discs into the boxes of the 1997 Decca CD issue and sealing away the Esoteric packaging in the loft in case I ever sell it.
|
|
|
Post by Scytales March 6, 2010 (175 of 183)
|
|
I just received the box.
I am deeply impressed by the overall quality of the materials and finishes of this set, from the booklets to the beautiful bordeaux-color carton box. A pity Decca have not managed to édite a similarly luxurious edition of hih-rez discs to this date.
A have allready auditionned Das Rheingold, and I am overwhelmned both by the artistic direction of this masterworks and the technical achievement of the recording.
It's hard to believed such a recording was done in 1958, as it has all one can hope for in a disc. Simply one of the best recording I can think of, and its reproduction was astounding, as the soundstage completely filled the room, and even broke bounds and ceilings !
|
|
|
Post by Chris March 7, 2010 (176 of 183)
|
|
Good as it undoubtedly is, the Solti Ring does not really compare with Karajan´s on DGG and LP.IMHO.
I have both sets on LP and Karajan delves much deeper into the music than Solti who seems content to blaze out the Leitmotifs.
Karajan and his Berliners may not always have the same standard of soundquality, but musically they are in a different league, I would even say unrivalled in many respects.
Now those mastertapes would make a superb SACDs or high res downloads if DGG only, really cared.
Until then, I am happy that I still have the LPs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
journeyman said:
Simple question, strange response.
Not really, considering your continued insistence on trolling this site.
|
|
|
|
|
|
journeyman said:
why were analog remaster SACDs not valid material in the Meyer & Moran SACD versus CD tests?
for the same reason SACDs sourced from 24/44.1kHz or 24/48kHz would not be valid material in such a test.
|
|
|
|
|
|
journeyman said:
If I understand correctly your answer old analog tapes are not better than RBCD then.
you need to read my reply again, this time more carefully..
|
|
|
|
|
|
journeyman said:
Meyer & Moran SACD versus CD tests?
You mean "tests", don't you?
Here we go again...
|
|
