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Review by jeff3948 April 16, 2011 (7 of 7 found this review helpful)
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There are 2 Sony Ravel SACDs out with Boulez conducting. The only piece that is duplicated between the two is "La Valse". However, this SACD is the Multi-channel version in great 5.0 surround sound, the other SACD is only in 2 channel stereo. The NYP orchestra literally surrounds you in this multi-channel recording. Even the center channel is used to great effect with the winds and inner orchestra voices heard from it. The rear channels contain percussion instruments. The basses come directly from your right in between the right front and right rear speakers. The first violins come from in between the left right and rear right speakers with a little more focus toward the front than the string basses. The woodwinds come mostly from the center channel with the contra-bassoon having a really nice presence to it. I wish more multi-channel SACD put you in the center of the orchestra like this recording does. Boulez and the New York Philharmonic's performance is superb with great attention to detail and shaping. I have the original vinyl record of this Ravel recording and always admired this performance with the New York Philharmonic and its warm, highly detailed recording with excellent reverberation of the hall represented. To be fair, my only complaint is, compared to most SACD today, the bass drum is just a little weak in this recording, but still good.
IN ALL THIS IS A PHENOMENAL SURROUND EXPERIENCE! If you have a multi-channel SACD player and surround speaker set-up, buy this SACD before they are all gone! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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Review by Claude February 6, 2008 (7 of 7 found this review helpful)
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Because many early Sony SACD releases are getting hard to find, I recently ordered this SACD (from Caiman), although I did not expect to hear a big sonic upgrade from the 4CD set I have of Boulez' Ravel recordings for Columbia (released by Sony France in 2002).
But I was wrong, and I listened to the stereo layer only. The SACD has a very different mix. On the CD set, the perspective is unnatural, too much sound is coming from the center of the stereo basis. A very constricted sonic picture, with spotlighted solo instruments. The SACD on the other hand sounds much better balanced. It's one of the best 1970's Columbia recordings I have heard.
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Sonics: 
