Post by Claude November 20, 2011 (61 of 74)
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Karajan's attitude in Nazi Germany is an interesting subject, but what does it have to do in a discussion thread about Esoteric SACDs?
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Claude said:
Karajan's attitude in Nazi Germany is an interesting subject, but what does it have to do in a discussion thread about Esoteric SACDs?
Nothing. The reactionary crowds, as always, want to first politicize all opinions and then personalize the issue.
PT
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Post by Jonalogic November 21, 2011 (63 of 74)
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Polarius T said:
Nothing. The reactionary crowds, as always, want to first politicize all opinions and then personalize the issue.
PT
Amen.
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Post by jdaniel November 21, 2011 (64 of 74)
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Claude said:
Karajan's attitude in Nazi Germany is an interesting subject, but what does it have to do in a discussion thread about Esoteric SACDs?
Well, Karajan is the most represented conductor thus far in the Esoteric line-up, at roughly 18%. Some are uncomfortable with his sketchy backround, or not.
Of the 5, I'd recommend the Schoenberg, Berg, Webern; not for the sound, although there's often amazing transparency.
I'd go for Kubelik for Dvorak 8th, Szell or Barbirolli are standard rec's for the Sibelius 2, (Ironically I have Karajan's Philharmonia 2nd Lp on the way, never heard it, we'll see). Szell is fantastic in the first three mov'ts, but IMHO doesn't lean enough on that great chord suspension/release before trumpets take us into the coda.
Not into Operetta, there's SO much Wagner chunks out there. Don't know the Karajan Berlin 2nd on EMI.
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I have the Karajan Sibelius disc in my hands. Analog tape was used in the production of this SACD, there is no doubt in my (ears) mind. Perhaps it was a digital recording originally, made with an analog back-up? Or, was it an analog production all the way? I do not own previous editions of this title.
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Post by Claude December 16, 2011 (66 of 74)
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Eddie Williamson said:
I have the Karajan Sibelius disc in my hands. Analog tape was used in the production of this SACD, there is no doubt in my (ears) mind. Perhaps it was a digital recording originally, made with an analog back-up? Or, was it an analog production all the way? I do not own previous editions of this title.
The symphony was a 1980 digital recording. The original LP release (EMI ASD 4060) had a "digital" sticker.
That Esoteric would have access to an analogue backup tape seems unlikely to me, given their previous record of sourcing their SACDs from 24/96 copies even where analogue tapes exist.
What Esoteric seems to do (according to an email by a technician, the printed notes avoiding to give any relevant information) is play back the digital copy through their DAC and digitize it with the DSD converter, instead of making the PCM/DSD conversion in the digital domain like most other labels.
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Post by jdaniel December 16, 2011 (67 of 74)
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Eddie Williamson said:
I have the Karajan Sibelius disc in my hands. Analog tape was used in the production of this SACD, there is no doubt in my (ears) mind. Perhaps it was a digital recording originally, made with an analog back-up? Or, was it an analog production all the way? I do not own previous editions of this title.
I was disappointed; would still stick with Szell or Barbirolli for the 2nd, (though Szell runs out of steam by the end). Still, Karajan's BPO 4th and 5th are unsurpassed, IMHO; esp. the 4th.
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Post by Chris December 17, 2011 (68 of 74)
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jdaniel said:
I was disappointed; would still stick with Szell or Barbirolli for the 2nd, (though Szell runs out of steam by the end). Still, Karajan's BPO 4th and 5th are unsurpassed, IMHO; esp. the 4th.
Which do you prefer?The old sixties ones for DGG or the remakes for EMI?
I like both.
IMO Karajan had one of the best orchestras ever and it counts a lot for me.
It is after all they who actually play the music!
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Post by jdaniel December 17, 2011 (69 of 74)
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Chris said:
Which do you prefer?The old sixties ones for DGG or the remakes for EMI?
I like both.
IMO Karajan had one of the best orchestras ever and it counts a lot for me.
It is after all they who actually play the music!
The old DGG Lp's, the 4th through the 7th, though the 7th is curiously underwhelming. Of his EMI Philharmonia series (in stereo) I've only heard the 2nd. Re: Karajan's 4th and 5th, the music is transparent when needed like Vanska's but also adequately "hefty." (So many performances are either one or the other, IMHO.) I also appreciate the careful attention to chord voicing.
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Post by dcramer December 17, 2011 (70 of 74)
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jdaniel said:
I was disappointed; would still stick with Szell or Barbirolli for the 2nd, (though Szell runs out of steam by the end). Still, Karajan's BPO 4th and 5th are unsurpassed, IMHO; esp. the 4th.
I generally agree and would add Ormandy's 4th (the Japanese RCA version) to the top ranks.
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