Post by diw January 24, 2010 (1 of 18)
|
|
So I listened to this last night and had a number of thoughts:
1) I actually like the fact that there are no other pieces on the disc. It is priced accordingly, and reminds of the LP days when a single major work could fill both sides of a record. It's hard for me to absorb an 80 minute SACD with multiple major works at one sitting, and listening to a Mahler or Bruckner recording really requires planning ahead to make the time available:)
2) For DSD purists, this disc was recorded with the EMM converters. It may well be a full DSD recording, as opposed to most RCO Live releases, which are 88/24.
3) I listened to it immediately after playing disc 1 of the new LSO Live Romeo and Juliet (which is an abominable sounding recording IMO). It took me just a few seconds to think, now that's how a recording should sound! I would have to resort to the usual audiophile cliches to explain it, but the recording really recreates the sense of a large orchestra on a 3-dimensional auditorium stage. As opposed to other recordings that "image" well side-to-side and front-to-back but have more of a diorama "cardboard cutout" feel. I know many of you think that such terminology in describing recording technique and quality is rubbish, but I really think this recording should shoot near the top of the SACD reference quality recording list. There is this longstanding ongoing debate on this site about the relative merits of the recording techniques of the various companies. A certain company I will not name here has its proponents and detractors, and it turns out recordings that are consistently clean, transparent, dynamic, and tonally accurate. But to me, it goes back to the old Mercury term, "living presence" as a concept, and this disc has it.
4)On my player, however, there is a wierd glitch at the very end of the music and the transition to the audience applause (which is on a separate track). I would be interested in knowing if other listeners with other transports hear an anomaly at this transition or if it is my player (Oppo-83)
5) As far as the performance goes, the amazon.com review which has been copied to this site has a partially valid point. I have always thought that Pictures is a piece of music that is relatively "foolproof" from the conductor perspective. The melodies and parts for solo brass are so spectacular, that as long as you have a virtuoso orchestra (like this one), there is not so much that a conductor can do in terms of pacing and so forth that would really screw it up too badly. (I am sure someone out there will find a recording that proves me wrong). The performance is leisurely, but does not drag. Most of the individual scenes are wonderfully characterized. I do think it is valid that the Gate of Kiev finale lacks some impact, however. Essentially, this is an audiophile spectacular where the conductor did not attempt to emphasize the high voltage nature of the piece that typically makes it so.
6) This is not a review, but I would give 4 stars for performance and 5 (or 6 if you could) for recording. For many years, when I wanted to show off my stereo (or demo another), I would use the Telarc Levi version of Pictures. That was one of the most spectacular of all CD recordings. This issue will serve the same purpose for me with MC SACD. I recommend it highly.
|
|
|
Post by pgmdir January 26, 2010 (2 of 18)
|
|
Thanks.... Well put. I'd probably snap this up, but I have a zillion "Pictures" because I wanted other works on those discs. Sometimes the original piano version is required just to flush the brain.
|
|
|
Post by diw January 26, 2010 (3 of 18)
|
|
It's pretty inexpensive, even considering no filler. Worth it as a emo disc, if nothing else.
|
|
|
Post by hiredfox January 30, 2010 (4 of 18)
|
|
It was noted on another thread that this disc appears to have been recorded in DSD. My copy arrived today and the recording suite appears to revert to the Meitner DSD A/D converter. It is rare for Polyhymnia to veer away from DSD but as has been explained before on here, there is a conflicting need at the Concertgebouw to record live performances for radio as well as disc and understandably in these circumstances Polhymnia have to revert to the 'lowest common denominator' which is PCM, the format that is compatible with FM and Digital radio.
Presumably for this disc no radio broadcasting was involved? Everett????
Beware 'though, this is a very short disc (33') so don't pay over the odds for it.
|
|
|
Post by hiredfox January 30, 2010 (5 of 18)
|
|
diw said:
3) I listened to it immediately after playing disc 1 of the new LSO Live Romeo and Juliet (which is an abominable sounding recording IMO).
This could be a candidate for "THE most embarrassing statement ever" on this forum by any writer...
Oh dear!, oh dear!, oh dear! diw what have you got in your ears? May I suggest a precautionary visit to your local quack for a check-up?
Sarcasm is not my bag but this remark transcends even my tolerance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
hiredfox said:
It was noted on another thread that this disc appears to have been recorded in DSD. My copy arrived today and the recording suite appears to revert to the Meitner DSD A/D converter. It is rare for Polyhymnia to veer away from DSD but as has been explained before on here, there is a conflicting need at the Concertgebouw to record live performances for radio as well as disc and understandably in these circumstances Polhymnia have to revert to the 'lowest common denominator' which is PCM, the format that is compatible with FM and Digital radio.
Presumably for this disc no radio broadcasting was involved? Everett????
Beware 'though, this is a very short disc (33') so don't pay over the odds for it.
Hello all,
The technical information listed on this disk is unfortunately incorrect. It was recorded at 88.2/24 using Benchmark converters, our custom preamps, and our modified mics.
With all that goes on in the Concertgebouw (live radio and audio for television in addition to the SACD productions all done by a two man team), and extremely quick changeovers, it's not practical to record in DSD.
Regards,
Everett
|
|
|
Post by diw January 30, 2010 (7 of 18)
|
|
PolyhymniaEverett said:
Hello all,
The technical information listed on this disk is unfortunately incorrect. It was recorded at 88.2/24 using Benchmark converters, our custom preamps, and our modified mics.
With all that goes on in the Concertgebouw (live radio and audio for television in addition to the SACD productions all done by a two man team), and extremely quick changeovers, it's not practical to record in DSD.
Regards,
Everett
You should not have admitted to this. Now some people will think this spectacular recording is junk just because it's PCM:)
|
|
|
Post by steviev January 30, 2010 (8 of 18)
|
|
PolyhymniaEverett said:
Hello all,
The technical information listed on this disk is unfortunately incorrect. It was recorded at 88.2/24 using Benchmark converters, our custom preamps, and our modified mics.
Hey, don't sweat the small stuff. Every RCO Live SA-CD I have sounds amazing. You always do great work.
|
|
|
Post by hiredfox January 30, 2010 (9 of 18)
|
|
diw said:
You should not have admitted to this. Now some people will think this spectacular recording is junk just because it's PCM:)
The important point is that it's download rate of 2.1 million bits per sec is not that far off DSD's 2.8 million and will record frequencies to near 50kHz (cf 100). Not that all those bits are equal of course (one versus many) but that's another story from a long forgotten thread. As an approximation it'll do.
DSD it is NOT but even we bigots are not that prejudiced. RCO Live discs are "Must Buys" in my book.
|
|
|
Post by dcramer January 30, 2010 (10 of 18)
|
|
diw said:
You should not have admitted to this. Now some people will think this spectacular recording is junk just because it's PCM:)
And they'll claim they knew it all along :-)
|
|
