Zero Distortion: Tango Time

[bonzo75]

I said before Marc. I go to youtube first. At least I would like the music I purchase even if they turnout to be terrible sonically. Ked told me a few great sounding great performance records. I even listened with him too. But I did not buy because they were not the music I like. Try to do this and your spending could be more efficient.

Tang

YouTube is only indicative on some fronts. Not always.

 

[bonzo75]

Tango, I go on Ebay and choose "Price: Low to High"
Plenty of choice down in the foothills.

Sorting on price is hands down the best strategy to pick winners, whether in LP, gear, or horse racing

 

[bonzo75]

I was not referring to audiophile forums when addressing classical music, just classical recordings forums and sites. And yes, although they never refer to it, 99% of them are "digiphiles".

BTW, the 250 greatest recordings of all time: chosen by 35 of the world's leading musicians (Gramophone website) : https://www.gramophone.co.uk/features/focus/greatest-recordings-of-all-time-chosen-by-leading-musicians. The comments on how the musicians criticize others recordings is also worth reading.

This is all excellent music, but you would be mistaken to assume these musicians have access to the greatest recordings. In fact many of these are only current which they have easy access to. Will this suffice someone to listen to music? Sure

I have already tried quite a few of these, and they are not even close to great performances or great sonics. For example, for Goldberg variations, Glenn Gould is just the most common digitally known. Try Maria Yudina on LP, for this one, but impossible to find one, one of the most memorable visits I have had to the General's was to listen to this one. Unfortunately just before seeing Angela Hewitt perform it live, as the live was not as enjoyable. Stalin would shoot anyone who coughed during Yudina's performance. She is portrayed in the opening scenes of the movie Death of Stalin.

I have seen many of these, like Andras Schiff, Steve Isserlis, a few times. In fact saw Schiff do the well-tempered Clavier mentioned there in what is easily my favorite hall for acoustics, especially piano acoustics, the Sheldonian. for Bach concerto for two violins the Nathan Milstein and Erica Morini would be a better buy. The St Mathews Passion is indeed my favorite concert ever but never compared, I have the Karl Richter one, which is the most well known following the Klemperer, which was too expensive. I never heard these on audio, too long - I prefer going live though they play only once a year during Easter. The Oistrakh Beethoven is excellent, but best is debatable. Again there is mono, stereo, and which pressing for this. The Solti for the 9th I still use for my auditions, though there are better performances especially for certain aspects of the symphony. Ditto for the other symphonies. But would I use this list to stream via digital? Definitely? Are these the 250 best recordings? Definitely not. Later stopping at B now

 

[Bodhi]

This thread is like Seinfeld...a show about nothing!

 

[bonzo75]

This thread is like Seinfeld...a show about nothing!

As is the hobby

 

[Tango]

YouTube is only indicative on some fronts. Not always.

This thread is like Seinfeld...a show about nothing!

No wonder why MikeL gives a lot of sighs and rolleyes to comments.

Tang

 

[Bodhi]

As is the hobby

I don’t know about that. That was just a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact that the title of this thread is about nothing in particular, except Tang (hence the Seinfeld reference). Don’t get me wrong, it is a fascinating thread following Tang’s audio journey! But It seems however my attempt at humor fell flat (queue rolleyes emoticon).

 

[NorthStar]

This thread is about . . . The Music. ...Classical Music with a capital "C".
It's one of my favorite music threads.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

This thread is about . . . The Music. ...Classical Music with a capital "C".
It's one of my favorite music threads.

I agree. Finally an audiophile forum is taking a more tasteful and mature direction of discussion.

 

[bonzo75]

I agree. Finally an audiophile forum is taking a more tasteful and mature direction of discussion.

The reality is if these recordings had been posted by a guy with TD 124, tannoy and small SETs, the Munich cones crowd would not have known what they do not know. But now they are wondering what is this that a guy with higher gear spend than us is listening to? So it gets credence rather than for what the performance and sonics are. But then that is an audio forum

 

[spiritofmusic]

"Tasteful And Mature", Bill? Some threads are more "Dumb And Dumber".

 

[Tango]

A week ago I put on a video Khatchaturian violin concerto by Kogan/Khatchaturian, Russian label. That album comes with two vinyls. The other one is on Saint-Seans. The sound quality is excellent. Great naked recording with low surface noise and sublime exciting performance. That one costed me 75 euros for two vinyls.

Today's special is another Khatchaturian that I like so much. It totally lifts my spirit every timeI listen to. The piece is a ballet suite from Masquerade. The music is by London Symphony/Stanley Black. This album also comes with ballet suite from Spartacus. Spatacus Adagio is also good. The sound of this vinyl is excellent. I personally think it sounds more natural than the famous Analog Production Swan Lake. You have to listen more and more old recordings and you will realize the modern ones tend to engineer sound a certain way. This record costed me £2.87 + £15 shipping.



Here is the Masquerade Waltz. (Sorry I was in a good mood so cranked up the volume a little too high.)

Tang

 

[spiritofmusic]

Ked, I find it interesting that you promote a very strong line of reasoning that is in opposition to others, and yet when I just ask for a couple of examples to back it up, nothing is forthcoming. I know the opinion is likely correct because it's common w guys like Bill and The General, but it would have been enlightening to have a couple of interesting data points to really illustrate your point. I can't keep asking, so I'll pass, and take myself off a thread that I can't really contribute further to. Superior pressings/performances in classical is so outside my very limited experience in the genre.

 

[bonzo75]

Sorry Marc, your question didn't make sense, except for you to tlyell food fight like Tang previously mentioned. If you haven't seen examples in this thread, then not only did you not contribute, but you also do not learn, which is worse

 

[spiritofmusic]

And you not understanding a simple Q leading to a pointless answer is worse.

So, let me ask it one last time. You propose that only the best classical performances are worth having on vinyl (average ones are better served on digital). I don't agree w this exceptionalist POV, but let's assume for argument's sake you're right.

Are there compositions where only a small handful of lps are the ones to have, the rest you might as well go to Tidal on?

And others where there are dozens of must-have lps of a particular piece?

Are there several eg Planets Suite performances worth having, but only a small number of eg Also Sprach Zarasthustra?

So, before you always reach for yr sarcastic put down of me as a reflex spasm, why don't you pay attention to my Q and try to answer it.

 

[bonzo75]

And you not understanding a simple Q leading to a pointless answer is worse.

So, let me ask it one last time. You propose that only the best classical performances are worth having on vinyl (average ones are better served on digital). I don't agree w this exceptionalist POV, but let's assume for argument's sake you're right.

Are there compositions where only a small handful of lps are the ones to have, the rest you might as well go to Tidal on?

And others where there are dozens of must-have lps of a particular piece?

Are there several eg Planets Suite performances worth having, but only a small number of eg Also Sprach Zarasthustra?

So, before you always reach for yr sarcastic put down of me as a reflex spasm, why don't you pay attention to my Q and try to answer it.

Marc, only you would think that the above question is the same as the one below...

"So Ked, can you identify any famous classical pieces where what you consider worthwhile sonically from audio and also performance standpoints numbers just one or two, and others maybe a dozen or so?"

the answer is it still doesn't make sense, to collapse the vast world of classical into forcing one to answer those questions you have raised. You could listen to all on tidal. Where you move to LPs and how many is entirely upto you. Just be cognizant of what's performance, what's sonics, and what's a cross of the two. General has no tidal, while some musicians will do only tidal

 

[spiritofmusic]

Bye bye sweetheart. Just where did the love go?

 

[Audiophile Bill]

"Tasteful And Mature", Bill? Some threads are more "Dumb And Dumber".

Yes tasteful and mature!! Finally we are discussing performance and music and not the merits of gear. If you can’t agree that this is tasteful and mature, then clearly we are diametrically opposed in our core value sets. Will leave you to HRS damping plates, Marc.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

Marc - to be fair your question doesn’t make any sense as phrased above.

But if you are asking whether there are known performances of recognised pieces - of course there are lol. Suggest you start with something like the Penguin guide - will help you perhaps.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Sure Bill, I have that, plus one or two other tomes. Good advice.