Historical Recordings

[George]

Definitely, Rubio. I had the same disc you have posted on the listening thread and got rid of within a week. The re-mastering was so poor. The transfers are far better from MOT on the Music and Arts set.

My theory is that for a period of time, the EMI remastering studios were located at the bottom of a swimming pool. 

[Peregrine]

You maybe on to something there Inspector Perkins...

[George]

You maybe on to something there Inspector Perkins...

Might be time for a new avatar.

[Mandryka]

Talking of historical, anyone know the Schubert on this? It is amazing.

[George]

Talking of historical, anyone know the Schubert on this? It is amazing.

Which works? I have the RCA set.

[Mandryka]

Which works? I have the RCA set.

The Schubert is the  Impromptu in A flat major, D. 899/4. Best I know -- better, IMO, than Schnabel.

The CD contains some other good stuff, like the Sarabande from Bach's fourth partita and Beethoven's C Minor variations, and some Chopin Waltzes.

I love this CD!

[Coopmv]

Does anyone own any recordings issued by the Andante label or have any experience with the label?  What is the sound quality like?  I am interested in getting the following CD-set.  Your insight will be much appreciated.

[Vidar P]

I haven't got this Bach set, but I've got more than 20 other Andante 3-4CD sets; the sound quality of course depends on the recorded sound quality; this differs a lot between boxes, and most of the time between different recordings in the same box.

My impression of the older remastered recordings Andante reissues, is that the sound quality is at least as good as any other label that doesn't have useable mastertapes at hand. But sometimes companies that have access to the original master tapes have a huge advantage of course, like for instance DGG, Decca and Philips with their "Original Masters" series, which is superb sounding to say the least. So it all depends on the master.

I don't know if the Bach set is mastered from the original tapes or from some other source; but the performance was most likely recorded to tape (1950), so it could be an idea to seek out a version mastered from tapes, not from discs... Andantes Bach set could very well be from the tapes for all I know, if so I'm sure it will be very true to the tapes, and at least as good sounding as any other remastering from other companies. Andante is technically a very high quality label! Many of their sets are mastered from original master tapes btw.

The boxes are delightfully presented, and are really desireable as items imo. Comprehensive booklets. Most of them tend to become unavailable (or at least very expensive) shortly after they're out-of-print (which most often is not too far away in time).

Regards. Vidar

[George]

Great idea for a thread. I own nothing by this company but will be watching with interest. 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Andante is a 'class A' historical label all around. Sound restoration is top of the heap and their generosity when it comes to annotation is unsurpassed. Expect full text/libretto for relevant material, plus background information is comprehensive.

[Renfield]

Andante is a 'class A' historical label all around. Sound restoration is top of the heap and their generosity when it comes to annotation is unsurpassed. Expect full text/libretto for relevant material, plus background information is comprehensive.

Word.

I'll return when I have more time with a couple of Andante recommendations, as the label can really strike gold with its choice of recordings!

[Que]

Does anyone own any recordings issued by the Andante label or have any experience with the label?  What is the sound quality like?  I am interested in getting the following CD-set.  Your insight will be much appreciated.

Andante is (was - it went down some time ago) an excellent historical label.
I have several sets by them: luxurious presentation (booklet, artwork etc. - the reason why the went down, made the issues too expensive) and good sound quality. Though their transfers of 78 rpms were a just bit on the "quiet" side for my taste.

Some previous discussion on this very thread on Andante is to be found HERE.

Q

[Coopmv]

Andante is (was - it went down some time ago) an excellent historical label.
I have several sets by them: luxurious presentation (booklet, artwork etc. - the reason why the went down, made the issues too expensive) and good sound quality. Though their transfers of 78 rpms were a just bit on the "quiet" side for my taste.

Some previous discussion on this very thread on Andante is to be found HERE.

Q

So is Andante out of business?  This historical recording of the Bach St Matthew Passion by Karajan and the Vienna Symphony is pretty recent release.  Has another outfit taken over the company name/trademark?

[dirkronk]

Don't know if Andante is down for good or just playin' possum--as Biddulph did for a while until it found some second-round investment money somewhere. Still, if you can find Andante sets that you want for anything close to a reasonable price (they were always exceptionally pricey until hitting remainder outlets like Berkshire), grab 'em. I can personally vouch for the Mengelberg and van Beinum sets. I've purchased others, as well, but those two are ones I've heard frequently enough to recommend.

Cheers,

Dirk

[Bogey]

Does anyone own any recordings issued by the Andante label or have any experience with the label?  What is the sound quality like?  I am interested in getting the following CD-set.  Your insight will be much appreciated.

Was looking at this set as well Stuart.

[sporkadelic]

Does anyone own any recordings issued by the Andante label or have any experience with the label?  What is the sound quality like?  I am interested in getting the following CD-set.  Your insight will be much appreciated.

Do you have a good source for Andante sets?  I wish I'd bought their Toscanini Salzburg sets (Meistersinger and Falstaff; they never got around to Zauberflöte) while they were around.  I can't afford them at the prices I've seen quoted.

Never heard this Karajan SMP.  Ferrier is always a strong selling point IMO.

[Que]

So is Andante out of business?  This historical recording of the Bach St Matthew Passion by Karajan and the Vienna Symphony is pretty recent release. Has another outfit taken over the company name/trademark?

April 2004 is not so recent (date according to Amazon).

Andante had a website, still on line but inactive.
I believe Naïve took over briefly, but stalled the operation soon after. Maybe they still have the rights.

Q

[Bogey]

Going on a little "historical kick", so thought I would move my review over here and give this thread a little boost:



All under the baton of Adolf Busch's brother, Fritz (1890-1951) who was heralded in the liner notes as putting the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra on the map:

Beethoven
Leonore Overture No. 2 in C major, Op. 72a
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1950

Mozart
Symphony No. 36 in C major ("Linz"), K. 425
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1949

Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 4 in A major ("Italian"), Op. 90
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1950

Brahms
Tragic Overture, in D minor, Op. 81
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1950

Carl Maria von Weber
Der Freischütz, overture to the opera
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1948

Haydn
Sinfonia Concertante for violin, cello, oboe, bassoon & orchestra, H. 1/105
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
with Waldemar Wolsing, Alberto Medici, Leo Hansen
1948


Brahms
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73
Performed by Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra
1947

Richard Strauss
Don Juan, tone poem for orchestra, Op. 20 (TrV 156)
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
1936

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of these recording considering that EMI tends to over filter the sound and lose some of the music in the process.  Though the surface noise is all but gone, they only seem to overdue it on the Brahms' 2nd and also to a point on the Mozart, of which the later I had very little hope for to begin with.  (Seems like historical recordings of Mozart suffer the most when it comes to sound, and for that matter, performance level.) What was shocking was the the "wonderfulness of the Haydn" and the highlight of this two disc set being the live Mendelssohn, IMO. 

[Bogey]

Some Scottish served "neat":



An enjoyable rendition of the 3rd, but I would not throw as much "fuss" at it as many reviewers.  The sound is fine, but for '57 but it probably should be (?).  As eluded to in my opening, this recording is almost too smooth for my taste, but maybe it will grow on me.  I give the performance a well-done yet not overly inspired effort.

[Coopmv]

Some Scottish served "neat":



An enjoyable rendition of the 3rd, but I would not throw as much "fuss" at it as many reviewers.  The sound is fine, but for '57 but it probably should be (?).  As eluded to in my opening, this recording is almost too smooth for my taste, but maybe it will grow on me.  I give the performance a well-done yet not overly inspired effort.

These DECCA Legends are surprisingly good SQ wise.  I have a few of them and this is my favorite ...