Mystery Orchestra

[Mark]

What kind of hints would you like?

Where in the world is the orchestra in the very first clip from?

[Que]

OK, looks like we got ina lot of great reviews and interesting posts, I don't want to draw it out too long. Let's quiz a little. That's more fun than just posting a list.

What kind of hints would you like?

Drop a few names of orchestras and/or conductors. (Without telling which name goes with which (clip)).

Q

[MishaK]

Drop a few names of orchestras and/or conductors. (Without telling which name goes with which (clip)).

No, that's already giving away too much. I, like Mark, would just be curious to have confirmation of the general provenance of the first orchestra. We can then still debate from there, especially if a number of us were considerably off.

[Black Knight]

Allright, I'll give my uneducated opinion, even though I have never heard the piece before this. I listened to bonus#2 (clip 3) and bonus#3 (clip 4).

Bonus#2 (clip 3). There really is something wrong with the two first trumpet notes. I doubt that I would have noticed it, had I not read it first. Didn't like the timpani, especially where there was a crescendo in the opening for that instrument it seemed awkward. Same goes for the violin solo around 10 minutes into the piece. This also reminded me why I generally dislike the organ - a horrid, ugly sound.    For big parts of the piece, I found the woodwinds way to loud, when compared to the other parts of the orchestra (Is that what is called "bad balance"?).

Bonus#3 (clip 4). The opening was much better. The timpanist did a better job, and the first two trumpet notes were completely normal.  The organ sound was actually OK, a nice surprise there. Overall, the balance was perfect (if I am using the word "balance" correctly?), much more expression, passion, feeling, much more music. The ending was perfectly controlled. On the negative side, I did find some minor climaxes to be a somewhat lacking of that last "push". Nevertheless, I pick this one as my favourite of the two.

Now, I know nothing about any conductor or orchestra, but I want to play too, so I'll make a wild guess  For bonus#3 (clip 4), I pick Solti. He impressed me mightily with Mozart's requiem, so why shouldn't he impress me with Also Sprach Zarathustra?  (A bit of research shows that Solti recorded this with three different orchestras (VPO, CSO and Berliner Philharmoniker), so I'm not making any guesses there)

edit: I wrote "horn" instead of trumpet" 

[Bunny]

Where in the world is the orchestra in the very first clip from?

The venue would certainly help, especially if it's a city like Leipzig or Dresden.

[M forever]

Bonus#2 (clip 3). There really is something wrong with the two first horn notes.

Horn notes?

Bonus#3 (clip 4). The opening was much better. The timpanist did a better job, and the first two horn notes were completely normal. 

Horn notes?

[Black Knight]

Horn notes?

Horn notes?

I hereby change that into trumpet notes!   

[M forever]

I hereby change that into trumpet notes!   

I thought you had a time machine, but it looks more like you edited your post, but without going back in time. It still says "horns" in the quote in my posts. Actually, that post wouldn't even be there if you had gone back in time. Nor would this one here...uh...

The venue would certainly help, especially if it's a city like Leipzig or Dresden.

You are very correct, the original Mystery Orchestra is indeed based in a venue which, like Leipzig or Dresden, can be described as "a city".

This is Mystery Orchestra 15:

[Black Knight]

Well, that tells me absolutely nothing! 

Just listened to bonus#1 (clip 2). I found the balance between wind instruments and the rest of the orchestra to be somewhere in between of bonus 2 and 3, which was kind of nice. Now I can't decide wether I like this one or bonus#3 better...

[M forever]

OK, how about this:

Since I know how much y'all love all these silly polls and votes and all that, while you try to figure out who the nice people in the picture are, decide which of the 6 clips you like best and second best, and those two will be revealed first, plus I will post the entire performances for you.

[Bunny]

I thought you had a time machine, but it looks more like you edited your post, but without going back in time. It still says "horns" in the quote in my posts. Actually, that post wouldn't even be there if you had gone back in time. Nor would this one here...uh...

You are very correct, the original Mystery Orchestra is indeed based in a venue which, like Leipzig or Dresden, can be described as "a city".

This is Mystery Orchestra 15:

We already knew that the orchestra was located in what would be described as a city.  There are very few orchestras (if any at all) that are located in areas that are not urbanized.  Please let me know how many orchestras are located in the depths of forests or the middle of cow fields.

[M forever]

Interesting question really. I would have to look into that.

OK, here are more clues in addition to the pic: MO15 was founded in 1918 and it is indeed located in a city, in a country which has 4 official languages.

[MishaK]

Interesting question really. I would have to look into that.

OK, here are more clues in addition to the pic: MO15 was founded in 1918 and it is indeed located in a city, in a country which has 4 official languages.

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. That explains why I had so much trouble with that. I have not heard any recent recordings of them, nor seen them live, and never in German repertoire. Explains the ensemble problems, though. From when is this recording and who's conducting?

[MishaK]

Please let me know how many orchestras are located in the depths of forests or the middle of cow fields.

Academy of St.Martin-in-the Fields. 

[Drasko]

This perhaps?

[MishaK]

This perhaps?

That would also explain the atrocious sound. What is it with Denon? Do they bury their microphones in the fabric of the seats in the last row of the auditorium? I just got Blomstedt's Leipzig Bruckner 4 on Denon which has the same sound problems.

[sidoze]

I just got Blomstedt's Leipzig Bruckner 4 on Denon which has the same sound problems.

OT: Blomstedt's Strauss disc on Denon is a demonstration disc IMO.

[Drasko]

That would also explain the atrocious sound. What is it with Denon? Do they bury their microphones in the fabric of the seats in the last row of the auditorium? I just got Blomstedt's Leipzig Bruckner 4 on Denon which has the same sound problems.

Don't know, I've heard from mor than one person completely opposite opinions on Denon engineering; that their soundpicture is very natural and that sounds great on high-end equipment. On my lo-end only thing bothering me about that clip was distant sounding quieter sections.

[Bunny]

Academy of St.Martin-in-the Fields. 

The last time I looked those fields of daisies had become fields of motor cars.

[Bunny]

That would also explain the atrocious sound. What is it with Denon? Do they bury their microphones in the fabric of the seats in the last row of the auditorium? I just got Blomstedt's Leipzig Bruckner 4 on Denon which has the same sound problems.

I have to agree with you on that.  Denon had a reputation for excellent, top quality, digital sound, but I always have to bump up the volume considerably just to hear the music on all of the Denon recordings I have -- including Inbal's Mahler cycle.  Almost all of their recordings sound recessed to me.