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Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Van Cliburn dies
From: Roderic G Stephens <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, February 27, 2013 10:21 pm
To: [log in to unmask]

In my case, the irony of Van Cliburn's passing is heightened by my
receiving today these two RCA "Living Stereo" SACD's, Tchaikovsky: Piano
Concerto No. 1; Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 [Hybrid SACD]
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor / Beethoven: Emperor Concerto ~
Cliburn.  I'd ordered them from Amazon last week for a very reasonable
price.  Stuart, these SACD's DO combine two "albums" on each CD, so if
you hadn't already bought the box set, these might have been perfect for
you, although you might have only played the stereo layer if you don't
have a 5.1 or 7.1 discrete audio setup/player.  I'm looking forward to
paying homage to Mr. Cliburn as I play them in my studio/den.  They cost
me approximately $5.20 per concerto, since there are two concertos on
each disk plus free shipping with the third SACD of Richard Strauss:
Symphonia Domestica [Hybrid SACD]. I also already have his Rachmanioff
#3 on a reel to reel tape, but that recording
lacks the clarity and sound field of his other RCA's; it's very close
miked and off balance to the right. So, I was surprised when I found
that people were asking about $60 for the remastered version, although
it does include the Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 which I imagine is
probably quite different, sonically. I'm listening to the Tchaikovsky as
I type this, and it is truly wonderful, so I'm very pleased to honor his
memory tonight; he was/is an amazing part of our musical history, and
thanks to the remasterings, still with us in more than spirit! To
paraphrase Stewart, The sets are a fitting farewell to a great artist
and American.

DrG

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You may find the sound of the Beethoven "Emperor" disappointing.  I've found RCA's SACDs pretty reliable but this one seems to have had a problem.  For me the problem is the sound of the orchestra - it's very roomy and unfocused, and, strangely, the 2nd violins and the violas sound much closer to the mikes than the 1st violins and cellos.  This surprised me because Mohr and Leyton produced some of their finest recordings in Chicago.  In any case, this is just my opinion and others may disagree.  
db