Golden Age of RCA and Mercury.

Dry Brett Kavanaugh · August 11, 2025, 01:57:21 PM

I just have listened to the mono (1955) and stereo (1960) recordings of Petrushka by Dorati. I think they both are the performance of the revised version. According to Dorati's memoir, Stravinsky revised the score at Dorati's hotel room. The both recordings are excellent and enjoyable while the instruments spread wide between the left and right channels in the stereo recording. Dorati also recorded the work with Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and I like it as well.

Irons · August 13, 2025, 02:23:01 AM

Quote from: Dry Brett Kavanaugh on August 11, 2025, 01:57:21 PMI just have listened to the mono (1955) and stereo (1960) recordings of Petrushka by Dorati. I think they both are the performance of the revised version. According to Dorati's memoir, Stravinsky revised the score at Dorati's hotel room. The both recordings are excellent and enjoyable while the instruments spread wide between the left and right channels in the stereo recording. Dorati also recorded the work with Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and I like it as well.

A work perfectly suited to Mercury's upfront dynamic recording technique.

That is one scary clown!

Irons · August 14, 2025, 02:49:24 AM

Another Dorati gem.

The first Roumanian Rhapsody by Enesco after a slow start the after-burners kick in! Miracle the LSO keep up, but keep up they do.

My copy is in mono sound.

Dry Brett Kavanaugh · August 14, 2025, 11:45:13 AM

Quote from: Irons on August 14, 2025, 02:49:24 AMAnother Dorati gem.

The first Roumanian Rhapsody by Enesco after a slow start the after-burners kick in! Miracle the LSO keep up, but keep up they do.

My copy is in mono sound.

Is your record mono edition of the same recording, rather than a different recording in mono? It appears that Dorati recorded some music twice- one in mono and one in stereo- for Mercury. As I previously said, he recorded Petrushka twice for Mercury, followed by the Decca recording. Similarly, Dorati recorded Nutcracker Suite twice for Mercury, followed by a Phillips recording.

Mercury used 35mm tape for recordings. Did RCA Living Stereo did the same?

Irons · August 15, 2025, 03:40:08 AM

A mono issue of the same stereo recording. I'm going against received wisdom, as I do not see mono recordings as inferior to stereo, just different. There is a caveat in that mono recordings sound excellent in my setup and may not be as good in others.
For the stereo Petrouchka, Mercury used an array of three Telefunken 201 microphones above conductor. For the mono issue Mercury used a single omni-directional microphone. It follows that although the same performance the sonics will not be identical, not a case of flicking a switch from mono to stereo. Decca used separate recording teams for their mono and stereo recordings.
I learnt a hard lesson many years ago after purchasing a mono issue of Michelangeli's famous recording of Ravel's PC, a fabulous LP. I decided at some cost to buy an early edition of a stereo issue. I then disposed of the original mono LP - big mistake as the later purchase lacked that something special that was so thrilling in the original. A buyer of LPs can occasionally be fortunate in coming across a 'hot' copy that will sound far superior to others be it mono or stereo. I think this occurred with the mono Michelangeli.