What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. XI)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 31 December 2014
On the cusp of 2015, we start a new thread...
Anyway, links:
Volume X: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...-be-interested-vol-x
Volume IX: https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...16#22826037054683416
Volume VIII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...nt/12970396056050819
Volume VII: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...6878604287751/page/1
Volume VI: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878604097229
Volume V: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605140495
Volume IV: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878605795042
Volume III: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607309474
Volume II: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878606245043
Volume I: https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878607464290
Alexandre Tharaud : Bach Goldberg Variations 2015 Recording
I was interested to hear the latest from this French pianist to see how he pulls off German repertoire. Plus I was hoping for a decent vinyl production from Erato/Warner which jumped on a vinyl band wagon following Sony/DG/Decca.
Coming off from the all analogue 2015 Gould reissue, this is a dirty gray pressing with a tell tale digital recessed midrange. Noisy vinyl in spite it’s been pressed at the same French MPO plant as Sony/Gould reissue. Tone of piano now sounds fake and upper register has a hollow ringing sound. Slightly off center hole makes the pitch unstable and a distant perspective makes less involving. The vinyl also is less flat than the Gould pressing. The worst was on the ending Aria, there is a huge gouge on the surface making almost impossible to listen to with repeated loud popping noise.
This disc went back for a replacement. ( I am giving it another shot rather than getting a CD copy )
Now for the performance.
Surprisingly Tharaud takes measured and slow tempo altho, somewhat expected by the pianist's usual intelligent approach. Everything is always well thought-out and well planned. Each note is precious and delivered with care. Tender and gentle genuinely contemplative approach is surely fitting of the original intent of inducing drowsing. Ethereal and cerebral, but he adds an extra harmonic layer making sure the tunes stay rich and colorful. At times, he even tries to emulate jangly harpsichord sound out of the Steinway D. Never in your face or hurried, there is a sense of playfulness and esprit. No.25 Adagio sounds like a backdrop for a French cinema. Tharaud maintains a high tension all through bottled up angst is felt through.
I love how he adds a magical touch on closing: The ending Aria evaporates like a ghost in the foggy night.
Anyways, I enjoy this performance in spite the running time is over 74 min.! ( for a comparison Gould's '55 set runs 46 min. and '81 version runs a tad over 50 min. ) and stayed awake!
If I don't pay attention, then this is a very pleasant lovely wall paper, but when I really *listen*, I realised he put a lot into it albeit subtley and there's a lot going on.
I normally do not like this over studied approach, but he balances well between the heart and the brain.
Great write up. While I am sorry your Black Gold experience is not that great. I fully agree with your musical assessment this is also better then other recent outings of this piece of music. My recent favorite.
typical laid back, rich sound...., I like it....
Streaming | WAV
(1999)
Just to take a trip down memory lane and listen to her lovely voice again.
1st run...
Streaming | Deezer Elite
(2006)
Lot's of mono original versions on this one and so far its been just great.
"Mercury finally gets it right by putting out a truly essential compilation with a theme - her Complete A & B sides released in the UK between 1963 and 1970 and the result is simply smashing. Strictly no messing about. The singles are in strict chronological order with the A sides on one disc and the B sides on another. They are also in rare mono - the original singles mix - unless the tapes are unavailable, in which case the familiar stereo mixes are used (eg, Losing You and Little By Little). Some of the hits (eg. Goin' Back) are aurally very different in mono and a special treat. Some of the fades also run on longer than usual (e.g., In The Middle Of Nowhere and Some Of Your Lovin')." ~ An Amazonian
It's RUSH time, via Tidal:-
RUSH - Test For Echo
Superb acoustic blues album.
Listening to this on Tidal.......superb indeed......good shout Steve J.
Streaming | Deezer Elite
(1970)
Probably because I haven't listened to their first album for over forty years and this deluxe, remastered, expanded edition is available on Deezer Elite.
On CD:-
CD rip. Just received this - very nice.
CD rip. Just received this - very nice.
I received and ripped my old copy just a few days ago and I agree its very good indeed.
Got me in country frame of mind. This is a great track - lots of reverb guitar, deep base, drums sound superb ....
Streaming | WAV
Obscured by Clouds ~ Pink Floyd (1972)
This lovely old original 1987 West German EMI CD arrived the other day for ripping. Its sounding very good indeed benefitting from not having been mucked about with by various remastering engineers. Super recording and SQ.
Alexandre Tharaud : Bach Goldberg Variations 2015 Recording
Now for the performance.
...Everything is always well thought-out and well planned. Each note is precious and delivered with care. Tender and gentle genuinely contemplative approach is surely fitting of the original intent of inducing drowsing. Ethereal and cerebral... Never in your face or hurried, there is a sense of playfulness and esprit. ... this is a very pleasant lovely wall paper, but when I really *listen*, I realised he put a lot into it albeit subtley and there's a lot going on.
I normally do not like this over studied approach, but he balances well between the heart and the brain.
Kuma - I find we're usually aligned in our views on classical music (except for Kovacevich - I've accepted that). But first your take on the Quartetto Italiano, and now Tharaud's Bach disc. To my ears, after a slow but intense and flexibly paced aria (more deliberate trills than most, happily all of them starting on rather than before the beat), Tharaud sounds dramatic throughout the variations, with big dynamic range and long tension arches. Nimble enough, but fleetness does not seem high on his list of priorities here. I'm listening to the files in hires, on the Bryston.
Does the 500 have an attenuator switch? 
EJ
Streaming | WAV
(1982)
On a 1984 unmolested Warner Bros. CD rip and sounding wonderful.
Official Live recording
Streaming | WAV
(1982)
On a 1984 unmolested Warner Bros. CD rip and sounding wonderful.
Revisited this the other day & again now prompted by your post - great album but seems to sound rather lacking in base ? ( I have the same CD version as you ) . Maybe it's my set up ?
Streaming | WAV
(1982)
On a 1984 unmolested Warner Bros. CD rip and sounding wonderful.
Revisited this the other day & again now prompted by your post - great album but seems to sound rather lacking in base ? ( I have the same CD version as you ) . Maybe it's my set up ?
Possibly Nick, but remember there is no compression (loudness wars CD style) going on to speak of. Its one my best sounding CDs and I haven't found it lacking in bass in any system. Your set up looks fine by the way.
Streaming | WAV
(1982)
On a 1984 unmolested Warner Bros. CD rip and sounding wonderful.
Revisited this the other day & again now prompted by your post - great album but seems to sound rather lacking in base ? ( I have the same CD version as you ) . Maybe it's my set up ?
Possibly Nick, but remember there is no compression (loudness wars CD style) going on to speak of. Its one my best sounding CDs and I haven't found it lacking in bass in any system. Your set up looks fine by the way.
Could be Ive been listening to more bass (got the spelling right this time !) heavy recordings recently and its recalibrated my ears. I'll give Kamakiriad a spin soon also.