The Legendary Recordings Thread

[Classy Guy]

[Dancing Divertimentian]

   


        

[Dancing Divertimentian]

[Mr. Darcy]

[Holden]

I love this thread, so many varying opinions yet so much to think about. A number of works I already own appear in this list that I hadn't considered so here goes for my second set of choices.













That's it for now folks.

[sidoze]

did you finally hear this? mops the floor with everything else

I don't know, a lot of the choices are very good, even exceptional. But legendary? the term is abused. try Sofronitsky for legendary.

[Florestan]

[George]

did you finally hear this? mops the floor with everything else

No, i haven't. Amazon has one for $950. 

[George]

Methinks you're talking to me!

Yes, here's my take (cut and paste from an earlier post) on the differences between the two Prokofiev 5th PC transfers:

Thanks Don. I remember your helpful post back then. I was more referring to overall SQ. Does the earlier one have more recessed sound? 

[sidoze]

look at that green haze around him. I always knew he's from another planet 

[orbital]

[Brian]

Pick-'em:

 

Before those two ... I would pick this one:


Fournier/Szell!

[BorisG]

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Thanks Don. I remember your helpful post back then. I was more referring to overall SQ. Does the earlier one have more recessed sound? 

George, as far as "up-to-date" sound is concerned, neither has a leg up on the other - not forgetting the lousy positioning of the piano on the Originals edition (way out front). But as far as the 'recessed' thing there's no worry.

In fact, over the years I've had a few of Richter's LP's on DG and never had issues with the sound. It's always been ringing and clear with a certain naturalness that's been most satisfying. Lady luck perhaps has smiled on the Richter/DG combination yet by and large I'd say the luck ran out on the Originals transfer. Most glaring is the missing balance. In its place is a sense of tampering (or fumbling) with what was already quality goods. Why is a mystery but I suppose "something different" was on order to appease seasoned collectors.

Oh, before I forget, another odd thing about the Originals transfer is some of the bass has been lopped off. Why that should be I don't know but it's disconcerting. In compensation there are more highs on the Originals but that doesn't mean there's a greater sense of space or openness. They've just substituted the missing low end with higher highs. But the trade-off isn't a successful one. The music is left 'groundless' without a solid foundation in the bass. But leave it to DG to fill in the empty space with that overbearing piano positioning! Piano on parade!!!

Anyway, when all is said and done, I'd give the nod to the first CD incarnation (for the Prokofiev concerto). The Originals edition really isn't an improvement.

[George]

George, as far as "up-to-date" sound is concerned, neither has a leg up on the other - not forgetting the lousy positioning of the piano on the Originals edition (way out front). But as far as the 'recessed' thing there's no worry.

In fact, over the years I've had a few of Richter's LP's on DG and never had issues with the sound. It's always been ringing and clear with a certain naturalness that's been most satisfying. Lady luck perhaps has smiled on the Richter/DG combination yet by and large I'd say the luck ran out with the Originals transfer. Most glaring is the missing naturalness. In its place is a sense of tampering (or fumbling) with what was already quality goods. Why is a mystery but I suppose "something different" was on order to appease seasoned collectors.

Oh, before I forget, another odd thing about the Originals transfer is some of the bass has been lopped off. Why that should be I don't know but it's disconcerting. In compensation there are more highs on the Originals but that doesn't mean there's a greater sense of space or openness. They've just substituted the missing low end with higher highs. But the trade-off isn't a successful one. The music is left 'groundless' without a solid foundation in the bass. But leave it to DG to fill in the empty space with that overbearing piano positioning! Piano on parade!!!

Anyway, when all is said and done, I'd give the nod to the first CD incarnation (for the Prokofiev concerto). The Originals edition really isn't an improvement.

Thanks for your always helpful words, Don.

I should upload a sample of the Rachmaninov Originals to see what differences there are there as well. Let me know if you are game.   

[FideLeo]

[FideLeo]

[FideLeo]

[BachQ]

[Holden]