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"DSD recordings good. PCM recordings bad." - Dr. Diamond
From: Kalman Rubinson )wrote:
On 5 Feb 2004 23:16:07 GMT, "langvid" wrote: By the way, the SACD (multi-channel or two channel) Poulenc "Concerto for Organ", far exceeds any other version I have heard outside of the concert hall. I understand that the CD layer is also stunning. Does anyone know whether this disc is available as a CD only? Do you mean the Gillian Weir performance on Linn? Not my favorite although fairly nice recording. Kal Yes, the Gillian Weir performance. Actually, its my second favorite performance of the Poulenc Organ Concerto on record (I have five performances) but it is by *far* the best recording, in my opinion. I am no expert but given the combination of sound quality, performance, and as far as I know, being the only one in multi-channel I would say that the Gillian is the definitive Poulenc Organ Concerto. That the Weir performance is not the favorite of either of us speaks to the point made by Norm. Not only will it take years to begin to duplicate in hi-rez the redbook inventory it will take even longer, probably a palette of 4 or 5 recordings, to produce performances to supplant those recorded during the CD era. While, I am no expert much of the experience I have with the Poulenc is first hand. I heard Michael Murray perform this piece 3 times in a 5 day period in San Francisco. (2 performances, 1 open rehearsal, all which included the Saint Saens "organ Symphony). So I have always had a bias for Michael Murray's performance on Telarc although the Weir, despite the tempos coming across as a bit rushed, has replaced it as my second favorite. With respect to recording, the Weir wins hands down, with one very notable (important) exception in my book. More on that below. The SACD has a diamond like clarity that the 20 year old Telarc does not match. I'm not conceding this to only SACD technology, which undoubtedly helps. The acoustic of the hall as well as the engineering probably made the critical difference in making the SACD sound so superior. The strings, in particular are so much more clearly audible with the Weir, both with respect to the Organ, but also with respect to the Timpani. This, I believe, is how Poulenc intended. The beauty and the wonderful textures of the Concerto benefit as a result. I remember clearly on hearing the Concerto live how the Organ tended to drown out the accompaniment. But nobody seemed to care because the Organ was absolutely awesome. With the Weir you are both in awe of the grandeur of the Organ but equally appreciated the delicacies of the strings. But the Weir does lack, for me, the visceral impact of the Murray in a key part of the performance just prior to the finale. No question that Weir has power and decibels in her organ. I'm not talking about that. However, the last 3 minutes or so of the Concerto includes, both live and in the Murray recording, a somewhat faint (barely audible) but *very* deep organ passage which is sustained continuously for well over 90 seconds. Because it is sustained it is easier to gauge than a transient. I read where this sustained note was below 23 hz. More so live, of course, but also with speakers that truly go this deep the Poulenc passage seemingly causes a change of barometric pressure in the hall or room. It feels like a small earthquake which lasts for 90 seconds.(I live in the San Francisco Bay Area). (Believe me once you have heard the Poulenc Concerto in a live performance you will *never* forget it). During that portion of the Concerto the Weir fell very shot of replicating the music that is on the Murray or replicating what I remember from the live performance. And then there are the other compositions on the disc from Pierre Petit and Samuel Barber. These are real finds, not flash in the pan compositions. Neither is quite in the league of the Poulenc with respect to the combination and balance of musicality and power. But each offers goodies that matches or even exceeds the Poulenc with respect to power. The Barber, in particular, but also the Petit, have "tour de force" written all over them. And for organ lovers the Barber (but also the Petit) delivers some "low end grunt" that rivals the most potent I have heard in recorded music. The point is the *entire* disc is wonderfully performed recorded. Robert C. Lang |
#2
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"DSD recordings good. PCM recordings bad." - Dr. Diamond
On Sun, 08 Feb 2004 19:33:28 GMT, "langvid"
wrote: Yes, the Gillian Weir performance. Actually, its my second favorite performance of the Poulenc Organ Concerto on record (I have five performances) but it is by *far* the best recording, in my opinion. Fully agreed. I prefer the Murray and the older Weir performances on Virgin by a small margin but the organ sound on the Linn has the great advantage of being enveloping in space and weight. Kal |
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