Reiner/CSO Pines of Rome -- Orchestra Hall, October 24, 1959.
This was a morning session. Respighi's Fountains of Rome was recorded that evening.
Producer: Richard Mohr. Engineer: Lewis Layton.
Don Tait
-----Original Message-----
From: DAVID BURNHAM <[log in to unmask]>
To: ARSCLIST <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Nov 6, 2012 2:46 am
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Medinah Temple
A recording which may have been made in the Medinah Temple, I don't know, (I
could check the CD but I'm in Florida at the moment and the CD isn't), Reiner's
CSO recording of the "Pines of Rome" as released on SACD is, I believe, arguably
one of the best orchestral recordings ever made - as regards the dynamic range,
the frequency range and the superb stereo imaging. I don't know what recording
techniques were involved but this recording presents a solid wall of sound
between the speakers with accurate imaging right across. One characteristic I
look for in orchestral recordings and strive for on my own recordings, (which
was often lacking on "Decca-tree" recordings or Mercury's and other's 3 mike
set-up), is near centre imaging. I want to clearly hear that the flutes and
clarinets are slightly to the left of centre and the oboes and bassoons are
slightly to the right. This recording exhibits that imaging. If you listen,
for example, to another
of my favourite orchestral recordings, Mercury's recording of Enesco's
"Roumanian Rhapsody No. 1", also on SACD, you'll hear the clarinet and the oboe,
playing a dialog with each other in the opening, occupying exactly the same
position in the centre of the sound-stage. I'm not a fanatic to the point that
my enjoyment of a recording is destroyed if this characteristic is lacking, but
I enjoy it more if it's there.
db
>________________________________
> From: Roderic G Stephens <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Sent: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 2:53:55 AM
>Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Medinah Temple
>
>Yes, the Capitol classical series on reel to reel two track stereo tapes that
had the ZF prefix were the beginning of hi-fi sound for those of us who were
looking for most outstanding new magnetic recordings. We shouldn't fail to
mention the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra (really the L.A. Philharmonic)
conducted by Carmen Dragon or the hi-fi spectacular, Felix Slatkin - Young
Person's Guide to the Orchestra - Britten - Variations on a Nursery Tune -
Dohnanyi - ZF-23. Both on tape or disk, it's still an amazing recording that
has been remastered and reissued at least once, last by Cisco.
>
>--- On Mon, 11/5/12, Paul Stamler <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>From: Paul Stamler <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Medinah Temple
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Monday, November 5, 2012, 10:07 PM
>
>On 11/5/2012 3:32 PM, Tom Fine wrote:
>
>> People sometimes don't associate Capitol and its engineering staff with
>> classical recording, but they always had at least one foot in the
>> business in the LP era. Steinberg/Pittsburgh and Stokowski/Houston
>> recorded on the Capitol label. Capitol also did "sound spectacular"
>> light-classical records in Hollywood with Erich Leinsdorf and Leonard
>> Slatkin.
>
>I have a few of those; in that era it would have been Felix Slatkin, Leonard's
dad; Leonard was just a pup then. As was I.
>
>Peace,
>Paul
>
>
>
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