What are you listening to? (Vol VII)

Posted by: Richard Dane on 29 December 2010

On the cusp of another new year, yet again it's time to start a new thread, I think...

Vol VI - https://forums.naimaudio.com/ev...8019385/m/9042967727

Vol V - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...385/m/9962941917/p/1

Vol IV - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...8019385/m/1832985817

Vol III - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...385/m/6192934617/p/1

Vol II - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...8019385/m/3112927317

Vol I - http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...8019385/m/6532968996


AND - this might be of interest:
http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...962920617#1962920617
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by DrMark
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by Haim Ronen
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by u5227470736789524
just finishing:

Anais Mitchell
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by u5227470736789524
next up:

John Vanderslice "White Wilderness"
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by matt podniesinski
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by u5227470736789524
Geri Allen - piano
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by Florestan
The C minor Choral Fantasy being the highlight for me to start the evening off...

Posted on: 24 January 2011 by smiglass

The long awaited followup to "Lyric".   Very good listening.   Childs incorporates a chamber group with his jazz combo

Anthony
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by u5227470736789524
Becca Stevens Band
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by Florestan
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by Florestan
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by Haim Ronen
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by ClaudeP
Claude, I should say right off that the Fischer-Dieskau set for me was not intended to be my one and only set.  I don't mind Fischer-Dieskau but in general, he seems to convey a certain detached emotion which I don't always care for.  Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't.  It depends on the mood I'm in and maybe what I might think is the intention of the piece.  For instance, today I might prefer a Padmore/Lewis Winterreise to the Fischer-Dieskau/Moore.  Overall though, I still want Fischer-Dieskau in my library and to be familiar with and know his interpretations.  Recorded sound quality is excellent.

As EJ pointed out earlier, their is the Hyperion set and this has been on my Wishlist for some time.  Within the next year I will likely be getting this one too.  With thousands of lieder to contend with I don't think it is realistic to relate to them all.  For me personally, I really favour the dark ones filled with gut-wrenching despair, desolation and tragedy.  These ones also tend to have the most interesting or dramatic piano scoring.  This is the emotion I find most true and fitting from Schubert.  It really irks me when he tries to shine some sunlight on the matter and suggest that their may be hope lying somewhere around the bend somewhere.  Ah, but that's just me 

As important and informative the lyrics and program notes are I find that about half the time I like to just listen and use my intuition to let the music inform me as to what is going on.  While many would disagree, Franz Liszt was a master at understanding the emotion or heart of the music and bringing that to us through many of his piano transcriptions.  And because I don't always have a singer handy this allows me to enjoy some of this music on the piano alone.

So to answer the question, I am enjoying the Fischer-Dieskau.  It is very good and is a strong representative of a certain style.  If the Hyperion Schubert edition was not so expensive I may have sprung for that one first though because it has a better, more complete package.

Doug

Thank you very much Doug, I'll put it on my "To Buy" list...

Claude
Posted on: 24 January 2011 by EJS


Taken from F-D's complete Schubert edition. The man's a genius, and you can hear that on each of these songs. Still, I now prefer the softer-grained and emotionally more varied Matthias Goerne in this repertoire (who is currently halfway in recording a 12-disc Schubert series).

EJ
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by Flettster


Cheers
Flettster
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by fasterbyelan
Good Morning,

Just time for a couple of sonata's before work from -



Karl
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by lutyens


and now this



both on the black stuff.

atb
james
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by fasterbyelan


Disc 2 - Richter - Pictures at an Exhibition, 6 Songs, Boris Godunov -Excepts

Karl
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by Richard Dane
Reference:
What R2R deck do you use? Karl

Karl, I have a couple (see my profile), however I just finished restoring a lovely Sony TC-377 last week and have been running it in over the last few days.  For such a relatively simple and inexpensive machine the sound is quite stunning. The beauty of the TC-377 is that it's just so reliable that overhaul is quite straightforward.  The heads are about as good as they get and last for ages and the motor will last almost forever if it's not abused.  Belts are easily obtained and the electronics decent and reliable too.  On my example I didn't even have to touch the pots - they're totally silent.  My dream is to get a Revox G36 and then have the full TdeP works done to it with the latest heads.  A working G36 can be picked up relatively cheaply, but you wouldn't want to use it without a serious overhaul - and that comes at a hefty price!

Great sound needn't cost a fortune, as the TC-377 shows.  "Effortless" pretty much sums up decent R2R replay.  Much will depend on the source material, but if you can get some nice mint 4 track 7 1/2 ips pre-recorded tapes (hopefully well stored) then you're in for an unexpected treat.  The best ones were dubbed in real time straight off a copy master.  Most were recorded on good quality Ampex tape. The MTD issues from Reprise are a revelation.  Only problem is finding the tapes.  The UK is not so good, most coming from the US.  When you do find them they're usually expensive, especially if you look on auction sites.  However, every now and then you strike gold.  It's all great fun...
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by Lontano
"I would tell you what I am listening to but I don't believe I can post an album cover from my iPad.

This is going to be one of the albums of 2011 so it deserves a picture. You'll just have to wait until I am in front of a computer to find out. It is lovely summery music as I drive on this lovely sunny day."

Posted on: 25 January 2011 by fasterbyelan


Karl, I have a couple (see my profile), however I just finished restoringa lovely Sony TC-377 last week and 
have been running it in over the last few days.  For such a relatively simple and inexpensive machine the sound is quite stunning. The beauty of the TC-377 is that it's just so reliable that overhaul is quite straightforward.  The heads are about as good as they get and last for ages and the motor will last almost forever if it's not abused.  Belts are easily obtained and the electronics decent and reliable too.  On my example I didn't even have to touch the pots - they're totally silent.  My dream is to get a Revox G36 and then have the full TdeP works done to it with the latest heads.  A working G36 can be picked up relatively cheaply, but you wouldn't want to use it without a serious overhaul - and that comes at a hefty price!

Great sound needn't cost a fortune, as the TC-377 shows.  "Effortless" pretty much sums up decent R2R replay.  Much will depend on the source material, but if you can get some nice mint 4 track 7 1/2 ips pre-recorded tapes (hopefully well stored) then you're in for an unexpected treat.  The best ones were dubbed in real time straight off a copy master.  Most were recorded on good quality Ampex tape. The MTD issues from Reprise are a revelation.  Only problem is finding the tapes.  The UK is not so good, most coming from the US.  When you do find them they're usually expensive, especially if you look on auction sites.  However, every now and then you strike gold.  It's all great fun...

Richard,

Thanks for you reply.  I bought new a Teac X2000R (the one used in Pulp Fiction) about 25 years ago and still use it occasionally with tapes I recorded music on. It’s visible in the photo of my system on the System pics 2011 thread. (https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...6878604314841/page/4

I do not have an pre-recorded material but feel that I need to start looking around for some.  As you say the US seems to be the place to buy such due, I believe, to the medium being more popular in the States.  Will keep my eye out in all the normal places!

Karl

Posted on: 25 January 2011 by Richard Dane
The X-2000 is a beast! I just let go of my X-1000M.  A stunning performer but I just don't need a high speed mastering deck these days.  They're not easy decks to fettle either....

The problem with buying pre-recorded tapes is that provenance is key.  A thrashed or poorly stored tape will sound awful.  I was lucky to find an entire collection close-by that used to be owned by a Decca executive.  They had obviously been handled very well and stored properly.  Many looked unplayed.  You need to look hard and be patient.
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by fasterbyelan


From the DG 111 box set.

Karl
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by matt podniesinski
Posted on: 25 January 2011 by fasterbyelan
Chopin - Piano Concerto No. 1, Ballade No. 1, Polonaise No. 6

Maurizio Pollini, Philharmonia Orchestra - Paul Kletzki

EMI Studio DRM

Karl