Review by Chris April 25, 2005 (9 of 12 found this review helpful)
|
Performance: Sonics: |
I have to say right away that I completely disagree with the two other reviews of this disc so far posted here. This disc is IMO yet another, superb SACD from LSO LIVE! And it has also been selected as Editor's Choice by Gramophone. I can't comment on the surround version, having heard it in Stereo only.But over my Sennheiser HD 650 headphones and through my modded Xindak SCD1, tubed SACD player,it shows all the advantages of pure DSD recordings, with breathtakingly clear and realistic strings and close, but natural perspectives.My only complaint regarding the sound would be the well-known limitations of the hall itself.I'm pretty sure that what we hear from this SACD is a truthful replica of how these splendid symphonies sounded there and then.Unfortunately the close miking also captures some of Davis's gruntings and "singalongs" again,more so in the third than the seventh. But in most respects this is a SOTA recording! Just listen to the marvellous clarity of the opening pages of the Seventh Symphony and revel in all the low level detail and natural timbre captured! Colin Davis certainly knows these symphonies,also having recorded them before for Philips with the Boston symphony in the seventies. I have those LPs and find that these new readings compare favourably with his older ones. The Boston Symphony recordings are perhaps more atmospheric with more bloom and venue captured. These new ones are drier yes ,but also more intimate, revealing more of Sibelius's masterful scoring, and if anything I am more conscious of multimiking on the Boston set than here. All in all this is a bargain not to be missed IMHO.
|
Was this review helpful to you?
yes |
no
|
|