Thread: DSD recordings of Mozart Piano Concertos.

Posts: 10

Post by zany July 10, 2007 (1 of 10)
Does anyone share my surprise at the lack of DSD recorded Mozart Piano Concertos? There are only 3 SACDs covering 5 concertos. No K467, no K488, a very sparse coverage indeed. Can anyone suggest a reason for this?

Post by pentaman July 10, 2007 (2 of 10)
zany said:

Does anyone share my surprise at the lack of DSD recorded Mozart Piano Concertos? There are only 3 SACDs covering 5 concertos. No K467, no K488, a very sparse coverage indeed. Can anyone suggest a reason for this?

PentaTone will release in September a DSD recording of K 415 and 491 performed by Martin Helmchen accompanied by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra / Gordan Nikolic. Here is a little clip which will form part of a promotional DVD which will be included in the SA-CD jewel box.

http://www.pentatonemusic.com/index3.htm


Best, PentaMan

Post by deckerm July 10, 2007 (3 of 10)
pentaman said:

PentaTone will release in September a DSD recording of K 415 and 491 performed by Martin Helmchen accompanied by the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra / Gordan Nikolic. Here is a little clip which will form part of a promotional DVD which will be included in the SA-CD jewel box.

http://www.pentatonemusic.com/index3.htm


Best, PentaMan

K491 is outstanding, but I am partial to 466 (no. 20 in d). Are you taking a wait and see approach with releasing more concertos based on how well this one performs, or do you have a plan to release all the piano concertos.

Post by Windsurfer July 10, 2007 (4 of 10)
pentaman said:

Here is a little clip which will form part of a promotional DVD which will be included in the SA-CD jewel box.

http://www.pentatonemusic.com/index3.htm


Best, PentaMan

I honestly am excited about almost anything PentaTone chooses to release. I will buy this recording but I think the promotional DVD, while it will be fun for those of us with DVD capability, is preaching to the choir. If the DVD is to promote this recording, you need to distribute it to people who have not already purchased the subject recording....unless we are expected to pass it along to a friend!

Post by pentaman July 11, 2007 (5 of 10)
Windsurfer said:

I honestly am excited about almost anything PentaTone chooses to release. I will buy this recording but I think the promotional DVD, while it will be fun for those of us with DVD capability, is preaching to the choir. If the DVD is to promote this recording, you need to distribute it to people who have not already purchased the subject recording....unless we are expected to pass it along to a friend!

The video will also be used as Electronic Press Kit for the media. Further,we have learned that our consumers like to learn more about our artists than the obvious info a bio in the booklet. In particular with an artist who is new on the label it is interesting to hear him tell about his motivs to record Mozart and these particular concertos.

Best, PentaMan

Post by pentaman July 11, 2007 (6 of 10)
deckerm said:

K491 is outstanding, but I am partial to 466 (no. 20 in d). Are you taking a wait and see approach with releasing more concertos based on how well this one performs, or do you have a plan to release all the piano concertos.

we have many plans with Martin which include more Mozart. We do not plan to focus on all Mozart concertos. His next album will be Shubert solo.

Best,PentaMan

Post by zany July 11, 2007 (7 of 10)
Congratulations to Pentatone who will be releasing a DSD recording of K415 & K491 in September, this will bring the total to four! The CD catalogue is awash with recordings from the likes of Brendel, Perahia, Uchida, Goode, etc, etc, so why have the recording companies been so reluctant to give us SACD versions? 2006 was the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth which would have seemed to be the ideal stimulus for such releases, but no. I continue to be baffled.

Post by Windsurfer July 11, 2007 (8 of 10)
pentaman said:

Further,we have learned that our consumers like to learn more about our artists than the obvious info a bio in the booklet.
Best, PentaMan

There is no denying that! I could even make some suggestions for further such DVDs

But (and the press kit idea covers it) Distribution to those who have not yet purchased the said artist's discs may be an additional item for your consideration. I have always shaken my head at the SACD/DSD literature from SONY and Philips that most (especially earlier) SACD releases included in their packaging. Those leaflets with perhaps some different intro wording should have been included in all the rbcd releases not the sacd ones!

Looking forward to Martin Helmchen's new Mozart!

Post by Windsurfer July 11, 2007 (9 of 10)
pentaman said:

we have many plans with Martin which include more Mozart. We do not plan to focus on all Mozart concertos. His next album will be Shubert solo.

Best,PentaMan

While I recognize the "great" Mozart concertos are generally considered those numbered in the twenties, I hope numbers 17 and 18 figure in your plans. I think the experience of Uchida in her Mozart series - which left a public perception that she was a Mozart specialist and not to expect more from her - is a very good reason not to start a new artist on a series exclusively focusing on one composer .... despite that some of us would like to see a complete Mozart series materialize from thin air

Post by deckerm July 11, 2007 (10 of 10)
Windsurfer said:

While I recognize the "great" Mozart concertos are generally considered those numbered in the twenties, I hope numbers 17 and 18 figure in your plans. I think the experience of Uchida in her Mozart series - which left a public perception that she was a Mozart specialist and not to expect more from her - is a very good reason not to start a new artist on a series exclusively focusing on one composer .... despite that some of us would like to see a complete Mozart series materialize from thin air

I remember how long it took Philips to come out with those Brendel or Uchida recordings back in the 80s, so its definetly an investment in time. If you are doing Mozart, might I once again put on my request hat and recommend Hummell as a next recording?

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