Karel Ancerl "Gold Edition"
Posted by: Todd A on 26 September 2002
I was thrilled to learn a few weeks ago that Supraphon has begun a 42-title tribute to Karel Ancerl. Since picking up his set in the Great Conductors series as well his Brahms 1 and Dvorak 9, I have been more interested in the recordings of this maestro. From the new series, I picked up the Stravinsky disc containing The Rite of Spring and Petrushka. And what a fine disc it is. While I cannot claim that Ancerl laid down the finest version of either work, they easily stand alongside recordings by other great Stravinskians like Ansermet, Salonen (the greatest living Stravinsky conductor, IMO), and, of course, Stravinsky himself. This mid-price release is worth investigating, as are many of the other titles to come: more Dvorak, Janacek and Martinu; Prokofiev's First Piano Concerto with Richter! Oh, how I must buy that one. Mahler. (I just ordered a closeout of Mahler's 1 and 9 for $5 a pop, so the old transfers are for me.)
Some words on sound: the transfers are very good, but not great. They are definitely not as hot as Decca's or some of DG's, but they seem to lack that something. Both the Brahms and Dvorak discs I bought are of the older, analog transfer variety, and I like them somewhat more. The analog transfers lack the detail and hiss-free presentation of the new transfers, but they are "larger" sounding, with more emphatic bass. The newer transfers are cleaner but sound more artificial, complete with added reverb. That written, the sound is very good.
Now I must wait for the other titles. (BTW, the Dvorak 9 is a great recording. If it cannot best Kubelik - and who can - it is still worth hearing, if only for those Czech winds.)
Some words on sound: the transfers are very good, but not great. They are definitely not as hot as Decca's or some of DG's, but they seem to lack that something. Both the Brahms and Dvorak discs I bought are of the older, analog transfer variety, and I like them somewhat more. The analog transfers lack the detail and hiss-free presentation of the new transfers, but they are "larger" sounding, with more emphatic bass. The newer transfers are cleaner but sound more artificial, complete with added reverb. That written, the sound is very good.
Now I must wait for the other titles. (BTW, the Dvorak 9 is a great recording. If it cannot best Kubelik - and who can - it is still worth hearing, if only for those Czech winds.)