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I remember very well the stir caused by this EMI recording when it was released in 1974. It became an immediate 'hit' partly it must be said because of the huge popularity enjoyed by Andre Previn at the time not least in the UK but also because of superb individual and collective performances of the LSO players and an especially fine recording which was acclaimed as a reference standard.
This excellent transcription into the SACD format preserves the greater part of that magnificent achievement with only a trace of the annoying veil which seems to drop down whenever analogue is transformed into DSD via PCM, distancing and slightly muddying the sound stage for the listener. We have not enjoyed a re-mastered SACD quite so much in a very long time.
Part of this success must be due to the original tapes still being in superb condition (my guess) but the original recording and balance engineers did such a fine job with microphone placement at The Kingsway Hall that the re-mastering guys needed to be only averagely competent to obtain excellent results as well and most certainly they have not screwed up.
The performance is tense, exciting and dynamic and perfect for this work. The brief appearance of the celestial choir at the end leaves those hairs at the back of your neck in a state of fearful anxiety. Everything is here again to remind us why this was an automatic first choice for so many years and why in my opinion at least remains so.
Arguably the best performance on SACD with sound to match. Not quite a no brainer as it'll set you back £30+ odd but take my word this is a superb disc, as fresh now as it was 40 years ago. Text deleted (see Cicero comment).
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Post by Cicero May 8, 2013 (2 of 12)
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hiredfox said:
... It's nice to have the modern Hickox but the late lamented maestro can't match this ...
I am assuming you refer to the Chandos SACD recording, in which case you mean Andrew Davis?
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Cicero said:
I am assuming you refer to the Chandos SACD recording, in which case you mean Andrew Davis?
Ouch! Temporary memory lapse. Thanks.
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Any comparison with the DVD-Audio version released last decade?
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Ubertrout said:
Any comparison with the DVD-Audio version released last decade?
To compare a single layered SACD mastered in 2013 with a DVD~A (both stereo and 4.0) which was released in 2001 and included The Ballet From "The Perfect Fool" and Egdon Heath, Op 47 (the latter two tracks are ommitted from the single layered SACD) would, IMO, be more of a factor predicated by what playback device one is using.
My experience with the recent single layered EMI releases (Martinon's Ravel and Saint Saens Symphonies) has been extremely positive as played on my Marantz SA113s. And as I use a Meridian 800 for multichannel DVD~A playback, I can only say that the 2001 EMI DVD~A release of Previn's Planets also sounds superb.
And with a running time of only 77 minutes (the DVD~A), why The Perfect Fool and Egdon Heath were not included on EMI's single~layered disc as 'bonus' material is downright stingy.
Bless those Japanese....sticklers for replicating only what was contained on Previn's original 1974 analogue recording.
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Ubertrout said:
Any comparison with the DVD-Audio version released last decade?
Regrettably, no.
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rammiepie said:
And with a running time of only 77 minutes (the DVD~A), why The Perfect Fool and Egdon Heath were not included on EMI's single~layered disc as 'bonus' material is downright stingy.
Bless those Japanese....sticklers for replicating only what was contained on Previn's original 1974 analogue recording.
Spot on! Value for money wasn't part of the brief for this exercise obviously. As you suggest, what price authenticity? It amazes me they didn't put a break in the middle to turn the disc over.
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rammiepie said:
My experience with the recent single layered EMI releases (Martinon's Ravel and Saint Saens Symphonies) has been extremely positive as played on my Marantz SA113s. And as I use a Meridian 800 for multichannel DVD~A playback, I can only say that the 2001 EMI DVD~A release of Previn's Planets also sounds superb.
Interesting, I have also made this observation about the SL discs. After rightly slagging off the first batches of EMI recuts, the latest single-layer jobs seem far superior to me, too.
You can tell them by the all-green plastic/label, like the lately lamented Universal single-layer SACDs.
I have heard two of the Barbirolli/Sibelius symphonies set (3/6 and 5/7)plus the Richter Prokofiev/Bartok piano concertos, and these sound notably less gritty, processed and digital than the early disasters I reviewed.
There seems to be a clear sound quality hierachy here. Worst IMO are the 'English' EMI compilations with blue or green covers. Then come the original hybrid releases. Best sounding by a long way are the new single-layer jobs.
I shall now get the Previn - it always was a superb reading and recording.
But I have to wonder, still, how EMI got it so wrong originally. I wonder if we will ever see some of the botched early classic recordings ever re-issued on single layer?
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Most notably, I just incorporated a Shunyata Research newly redesigned Hydra Alpha Series power conditioner using technology trickled down from their SOTA Triton series conditioners and the single layered discs sound 'startlingly' better through the Marantz SA113s (which is also equipped with a Shunyata Research power cord).
Say what you will, but the folks at Stereophile (Michael Fremer especially) highly endorse the SR power conditioners.
Was playing some Naxos BD~As which I had played previously using an older but expensive Richard Gray power conditioner and the bass extension and orchestral swells are nothing short of amazing.....and the string tone is to die for with the Shunyata Research Hydra Alpha 6.
It has also elevated the OPPO BDP~105 to a new level both aurally and visually.
New advances in power conditioner technology have led me to treat these devices not as tweaks but actual components as their benefits are immediate and extremely positive.
Music Direct is currently offering an $800 discount on these conditioners which come with a $300 20A Venom High Current power cord. And ALL come with a 30 day in home guarantee!
Just when you thought your system could not sound any better...............
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Post by hanser March 19, 2015 (10 of 12)
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Does anybody know, why this is a stereo only SACD, when it is known to be a quadrophonic recording and was available as DTS-CD and DVD Audio? A missed opportunity, I think.
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