add to wish list | library


35 of 38 recommend this,
would you recommend it?

yes | no

Support this site by purchasing from these vendors using the paid links below. As an Amazon Associate SA-CD.net earns from qualifying purchases.
 
amazon.ca
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
amazon.de
 
amazon.fr
amazon.it
 
 

Discussion: Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3 - Byron Janis

Posts: 9

Post by flyingdutchman December 10, 2009 (1 of 9)
How does the 2nd sound on this remastering? I have the RBCD and found the Minneapolis SO in the hall where it was recorded to sound dry and sterile.

Post by sacd_fan_2007 December 10, 2009 (2 of 9)
flyingdutchman said:

How does the 2nd sound on this remastering? I have the RBCD and found the Minneapolis SO in the hall where it was recorded to sound dry and sterile.

I haven't heard the rbcd version, but there isn't a whole lot of "air" around the instruments in this SACD 2CH layer remastering.

Post by flyingdutchman December 10, 2009 (3 of 9)
sacd_fan_2007 said:

I haven't heard the rbcd version, but there isn't a whole lot of "air" around the instruments in this SACD 2CH layer remastering.

It's a 3 channel remastering in SACD

Post by fafnir December 11, 2009 (4 of 9)
flyingdutchman said:

How does the 2nd sound on this remastering? I have the RBCD and found the Minneapolis SO in the hall where it was recorded to sound dry and sterile.

The SACD of the 2nd and 3rd recordings are good, but not very good - perhaps 3 1/2 stars. Typical for Mercury, they are clean but somewhat lacking in warmth IMHO.

Nevertheless, they sound much better than the terribly-recorded Hough on Hyperion and the awful Volodos Rach 3 on Sony. I guess knowing how to set up the mics really makes a lot of difference in the end result.

Post by flyingdutchman December 12, 2009 (5 of 9)
Perhaps one of the 24 out of 24 people who recommend it can comment.

Post by john563 April 2, 2010 (6 of 9)
Well, I am the one oponent against the 27 who recommends it. The sound is flat and lack dynamics, and do not stand the test of time. Especially the bottom is missing. It is no match for the Living Stereo version with Van Cliburn ( Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos - Van Cliburn ) which is just as old, or the newer BIS recordings with Yevgeny Sudbin ( Rachmaninov, Medtner: Piano Concertos - Sudbin, Llewellyn ) or the Telarc version with LangLang ( Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 3 etc. - Lang Lang ). Even the CD from Deutsche Grammophone ( http://www2.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/result?SearchString=419061-2 ) recorded 1976/77 with Tamás Vásáry sound much more lifelike and recent than this one.

But now the price have reached ridiculous levels, so maybe it will turn out a good investment after all :-)

Post by Ubertrout April 2, 2010 (7 of 9)
So, given that I have several versions of both pieces on SACD already, is it worthwhile to track down the SACD or just get the RBCD, given the marginal differences in sound quality and huge price differences?

Post by flyingdutchman April 2, 2010 (8 of 9)
Ubertrout said:

So, given that I have several versions of both pieces on SACD already, is it worthwhile to track down the SACD or just get the RBCD, given the marginal differences in sound quality and huge price differences?

I tracked one down for $13.99 on ebay. We'll see if it's the real deal.

Post by flyingdutchman May 2, 2010 (9 of 9)
flyingdutchman said:

I tracked one down for $13.99 on ebay. We'll see if it's the real deal.

Lucky me, it was the real deal. Probably the last Mercury I needed to buy (unfortunately). Wish there were more to be had.

Closed