I bought this remastered set today. I've resisted buying it after hearing reports of lots of wrong notes and horrid sound. True, there are some clinkers, and the 80 year old sound is not too good, but my goodness, what soulful, intense playing, at least in Op.106 "Hammerklavier" (the only one I've heard so far), my litmus test for pianists. I'm ashamed that I've waited so long to get into Schnabel!
will be listening to these when they arrive today. UK pressed treasures in NM condition. Ironically I won a RCA US press NM copy, 1s of Witches' Brew during the same auction in the UK. It will be a special evening of listening.
will be listening to these when they arrive today. UK pressed treasures in NM condition. Ironically I won a RCA US press NM copy, 1s of Witches' Brew during the same auction in the UK. It will be a special evening of listening.
Wow Christian, you are going to be in for a treat with that 1s Witches. It's one of the best sounding ( and IMO one of the most interesting musically) of the shaded dogs.
Last night I was listening to this: in a 10s 11s copy. This shaded dog is IMO well deserving of its reputation from HP and others. It is IMO one of the gems of the catalog and well worth seeking out if you can budget it.
Also: Seems like this one s getting harder to find too...a great sounding LP.
Here are my thoughts on the records I received yesterday:
Blue/Gold 33CX mono record catalog#1415. While this record was listed as NM, NM to me means zero marks. Side A Devil's Trill, 13 light ticks with diminishing intensity at the start of side A. The rest of side A is perfect. Side B has about 15 total light ticks throughout the side. The recording is phenomenal....It feels and sounds like a direct Stradivarius feed...like the mic is in the violin itself. The tone is rich, resonant and in your face. Piano has a lovely background sound and shows the hall ambience quite well. Although the record is NM-, imo...not NM, it is still a treasure and I don't regret the price paid....$850.00
Decca SXL 2296 ANSERMET* FALLA: THE THREE-CORNERED HAT. I paid big bucks for this record...$650.00. It did not disappoint....played NM and is probably the best sounding classical record I have heard to date. It is a sonic stunner in addition to a marvelous performance. It smokes the 45 ORG reissue that is great sounding in it's own right.
RCA LSC 2225 Witches' Brew 1s/1s. This record was advertised as NM and went for $620.00 at auction. It plays NM...as quiet as a RCA shaded dog can play. There were two instances during crescendo's where some distortion could be heard. Perhaps the dynamics exceeded the cutter head setting during lacquer cutting ? I could explain this away from significant playback, but then again, I would of heard more surface noise and a rolled top end which this record does not have. The overall sound is dynamic, big and bold. Is it worth the money over the best classic records reissue or QRP reissue...for most people probably not.
1. John Cage – In a Landscape
2. Arvo Pärt – For Alina: Variations for the healing of Arinushka
3. Aphex Twin – Avril 14th
4. György Ligeti – Musica Ricercata
5. Morton Feldman – Piano Piece 1952
6. Valentyn Sylvestrov – Earth O Earth
7. John Adams – China Gates
8. Erik Satie – Gnosienne n°3