Re: [ARSCLIST] RCA Living Stereo

[Matt Bailey <msbailey@xxxxxxx>]

As a former clarinetist, I like the "in the midst of the orchestra"
aesthetic. I also must admit to being inordinately obsessed with
non-standard placement of microphones in recording situations. So these
discs are perfect for me.

I suppose the great thing about orchestral music is that there are
usually several recordings of any given piece and one is bound to appeal
to any particular taste.

I've been listening to the CD-audio track and comparing them to the
previous reissues, but will probably be adding an SACD player to my home
system next month. Great, another remote.

Matt

Steven Smolian wrote:

> I take issue with the deification of these recordings.  To me they are
> extremely artifical, with no attempt to recreate the listener's concert hall
> experience.  The sound stage is set up from the conductor's perspecive.
> There seems no blending of the forward-directed sound mixed with the
> slightly later one  thrust out by the proscenium.
>
> I find the frequencies of the massed strings artificially distributed.  Back
> in the audience, one never hears the preponderence of the string's highest
> overtones to the extent they are emphasized on these records- the Mercs
> bother me more than the RCAs on this count.
>
> This music was written to be heard by an audience seated at a distance from
> the performers, not from the conductor's lap.
>
> Steven Smolian
>
> That may be the aesthetic you wish.  I hate it.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Don Cox" <doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, September 24, 2004 7:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] RCA Living Stereo
>
>
>
> > On 23/09/04, Matt Bailey wrote:
> >
> > > RCA (actually BMG) has just released the first ten recordings in their
> > > new line of hybrid SACD/CD reissues of the famous RCA Living Stereo
> > > classical recordings of the 1950s. I just got them today and they
> > > sound incredible. While not everyone is a fan of this type of music,
> > > the technical aspects of this project from its inception to today
> > > should fascinate most. Here is a little info on the current project
> > > and a brief interview with three of the people involved:
> > >
> > > http://www.livingstereo-sacd.com/news/index.jsp
> > >
> > > (and I am in no way affiliated with BMG)
> >
> > Are you listening to them in SACD format or in CD format?
> >
> > Did you compare any with the CD issues from a few years ago?
> >
> > These were always good recordings, as were the Mercuries of the same
> > vintage.
> >
> > Regards
> > --
> > Don Cox
> > doncox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

--
Matt Bailey
Audiovisual Archivist

Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies
University of Georgia Libraries
Athens, GA 30602-1641
(706)542-5788
http://www.libs.uga.edu/russell/