What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol.VIII)
Posted by: Richard Dane on 29 December 2011
With 2012 almost upon us, it's time to start a fresh thread. I've gone back to an earlier thread title because often the "why" is the most interesting part of the post.
Anyway, links:
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
Capturing the Russian spirit in a magnificent piano playing.
Very highly recommended.
Can't wait to hear Lubimov's new double disc of Debussy's Preludes.
Listened to it once before, couldn't get into it then.
Thought just to give it a try again ..... Just because it's a happy day today.....
Not played this in a while. What a great band they were. On Vinyl
On Vinyl
Recorded in London, dates from 25th April 1933 - 6th June 1936
[AAD] mono
CD1 78:58
CD2 78:25
CD3 79:21
Arkadia 78's 3xCD box-set © 2000
Playing this on my upstairs system, with doors open listening from a neighbouring room.
The recordings expose some needle-drop harshness when listening directly in front of speakers, seems far better to give way to distance and allow room acoustics to mellow out the hard edges.
More interesting in historical account than record quality.
Debs
On CD:-
The original Dark Side of the Moon by Medicine Head
I think, but am not sure, another band brought out album with the same title over a year later, but it was not as good as the original - if you haven;t heard it then try it, the reissue is superb, as is Heavy On The Drum their previous offering.
Went to my local record store for one of these today. However, only this was available and now playing:
Good tip anyhow since this is a nice one also.
On Vinyl
A replay of a radio program from Sunday before last.The start of the summer show.
Pop eilen - toissapäivänä (Pop yesterday - day before)
Heikki Harman sunnuntaiaamun kattaus (Heikki Harma's Sunday morning setting)
Recorded in London, dates from 25th April 1933 - 6th June 1936
Arkadia 78's 3xCD box-set © 2000
Playing this on my upstairs system, with doors open listening from a neighbouring room.
The recordings expose some needle-drop harshness when listening directly in front of speakers, seems far better to give way to distance and allow room acoustics to mellow out the hard edges.
More interesting in historical account than record quality.
Debs
Dear Debs,
I know nothiing of Arkadia's way of transfering 78s, but it seems that they have messed this up. If you can find this performance on EMI CD or LP, then you would find the performances are still valid today - rather than being a historical curio - and that the basic recordings are at least as good as 1950s LP piano recordings. The difference is that the EMI transfers are based on new vimyl pressing made with the original master metal stanpers, and then carefully transfered. I trust very few compnies to make effective transfers from commercial vintage shallac, but APR manage it beautifully, and I must recommend you to investigate the three Mozart CDs that they have of Edwin Fischer playing a couple of sonatas and the piano concertos Nos 17, 20, 23, 24, 25, and one by Haydn. These were recorded at much the same time as the above recordings of the "48" and are very fine indeed in APR's painstaking transfers from shellac, which rival the quality EMI gets from the master parts.
ATB from George
Cheers
Flettster
Any good?
I have One Life Stand which is great and does this stand against it?
Jono
A bit of Dexter before the Spain v Ireland game.
Vinyl:
Recorded in London, dates from 25th April 1933 - 6th June 1936
Arkadia 78's 3xCD box-set © 2000
Playing this on my upstairs system, with doors open listening from a neighbouring room.
The recordings expose some needle-drop harshness when listening directly in front of speakers, seems far better to give way to distance and allow room acoustics to mellow out the hard edges.
More interesting in historical account than record quality.
Debs
Dear Debs,
I know nothiing of Arkadia's way of transfering 78s, but it seems that they have messed this up. If you can find this performance on EMI CD or LP, then you would find the performances are still valid today - rather than being a historical curio - and that the basic recordings are at least as good as 1950s LP piano recordings. The difference is that the EMI transfers are based on new vimyl pressing made with the original master metal stanpers, and then carefully transfered. I trust very few compnies to make effective transfers from commercial vintage shallac, but APR manage it beautifully, and I must recommend you to investigate the three Mozart CDs that they have of Edwin Fischer playing a couple of sonatas and the piano concertos Nos 17, 20, 23, 24, 25, and one by Haydn. These were recorded at much the same time as the above recordings of the "48" and are very fine indeed in APR's painstaking transfers from shellac, which rival the quality EMI gets from the master parts.
ATB from George
Dear George,
This WTC box-set has scant little information, and nothing at all about the transfers.
I tried a google-search on 'Arkadia - The 78’s' but failed to find anything but sales with no reviews.
This is undoubtedly the worse WTC in my collection, i'm unable to get into the feel of the performance with constant head-ache inducing upper register plinky-plonky droning, and monotonous lower register muddy bass. The needle crackle [if that’s what it is] is very quiet, only heard emitting from tweeters, with occasion eerie clicking noises.
Edwin could be playing a Steinway at somewhere like Abbey Road Studio but for what it’s worth it may as well be the upright in the Dog and Duck.
This was a gamble purchase for just a few quid, knew it was WTC I&II on piano by a, ‘Ficsher’, but thought [hoped] it would be Annie…
But never-mind, i can console myself with a 3xLP box-set of WTC I by Sviatoslav Richter,
which also came in todays post : )
Debs
A few from this during half time.
Stu.
On Vinyl
Sounding great on the Sondek : )
On Vinyl
only have this on CD, great album -- will probably get the vinyl version as well...
enjoy
ken
Wonderful music and vocals with many great performers on board
Medtner: Forgotten Melodies I, II: Marc-Andre Hamelin
Thanks to Haim, I was introduced to this wonderful Medtner music.
This is, indeed, very good.
It is puzzling that his name never became a household name like Rachmaninov or Stravinsky.
He must have had a lousy PR agent.
Scored for a fin at the s/h store. HDCD.