Thread: Can someone recommend Mecury Living Presence titles?

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Post by Killerpuppies February 24, 2009 (1 of 15)
I've recently purchased Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker/ Serenade for Strings by the London Symphony Orchestra Philharmonia Hungarica (Serenade) with conductor Antal Dorati on Mercury Living Presence and was absolutely blown away with the quality of the SACD.

I'm not that familiar with the rest of the offerings of that label and was hoping some of the long term forum members could recommend some of the better titles in the series.

I'm a fan of classical piano and strings (either together or separate) (or full orchestral versions, too) so any of the violin or cello offerings would be of interest to me.

Composers or time periods (Baroque, Romantic, etc.) are also inconsequential at the moment.

Thanks for the help in advance. (Corrected the name of the title. - KP)

Post by Polly Nomial February 24, 2009 (2 of 15)
I cannot recommend Balalaika Favorites - Osipov State Russian Folk Orchestra too highly; you'll have trouble playing anything else!

Post by Cherubino February 24, 2009 (3 of 15)
Killerpuppies said:

I've recently purchased Anton Dvorkin's Nutcracker Ballet on Mercury Living Presence and was absolutely blown away with the quality of the SACD.

I'm not that familiar with the rest of the offerings of that label and was hoping some of the long term forum members could recommend some of the better titles in the series.

I'm a fan of classical piano and strings (either together or separate) (or full orchestral versions, too) so any of the violin or cello offerings would be of interest to me.

Composers or time periods (Baroque, Romantic, etc.) are also inconsequential at the moment.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Stravinsky: The Firebird (complete ballet), etc - Dorati
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances - Dorati
Bach: Six Suites for Solo Cello - Janos Starker

Post by Kieron February 24, 2009 (4 of 15)
Must agree with Polly Nomial above.

I have many of the previous RBCD issues, a few sound a bit dry and constricted, particularly some of the Mineapolis recordings with Dorati.

Performance wise, well many are just fine and will give much pleasure and enjoyment.

Kieron.

ps.include those mentioned by Cherubino!

Post by tream February 24, 2009 (5 of 15)
Cherubino said:

Stravinsky: The Firebird (complete ballet), etc - Dorati
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances - Dorati
Bach: Six Suites for Solo Cello - Janos Starker

I think these titles recommended by Cherubino are essential. I have also found enjoyment in the Paray titles (the Berlioz, which is whipped up but fun, the Chabrier, and the Suppe overtures), also the Rimsky-Korsakov conducted by Dorati, the Rachmanioff concertos played by Janis (which also makes it into the essential MLP titles) and the Rodrigo/Romeros disc.

I loved the MLP reissues and was extremely sorry to see this series come to an end. For me, they were better than the Living Stereo reissues, and right up there with the Pentatone RQR's.

Post by Windsurfer February 24, 2009 (6 of 15)
Killerpuppies said:

I'm not that familiar with the rest of the offerings of that label and was hoping some of the long term forum members could recommend some of the better titles in the series.

No, I really can't in good faith make such a recommendation to you. Since you are new around here, I want to make some different recommendations.

In August, PentaTone will release volume 1 of the complete music of Franz Schubert for violin and piano played by Julia Fischer, violin and Martin Helmchen, piano. The interaction between these two young musicians produces exceptional artistry. I know this because I was lucky enough to catch an internet broadcast of one of their recitals in Germany last spring. In the sonatina, after the pianists introduction, Fischer follows her big bold almost piercing declamations by a hushed, almost whispered pianimissimo of just heart stopping beauty. Those few seconds alone will be worth the entire price of the disc!

Sadly that will be the first installment of Fischer's last recordings for PentaTone before she decided she wanted the greater publicity of a relationship with one of the so-called "major labels" and signed with Decca.

There are eight other Julia Fischer PentaTone recordings and if I were you, I would get each and every one of them. She is something else! She is really something else. As to sound quality, PentaTone, BIS, Channel Classics, Chandos and Telarc and most other labels recording SACDs all, in my opinion trump the 35 to 40 year old Mercury Living Presence recordings in every way.

The Dvorak Cello concerto recording to have is:

Dvorak: Cello Concerto, Dumky Trio - Jean-Guihen Queyras

Any of Harmonia Mundi's Tchaikovsky symphonies is recommendable but I especially like

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, Serenade for Strings - Gatti

for it has as well an almost perfect performance of the Serenade for Strings along with the Pathetique Symphony.

I am resisting the urge to complete this list because at least three threads on this forum contain such lists by many members.

Good Listening,
Bruce

Post by Killerpuppies February 24, 2009 (7 of 15)
Windsurfer said:

No, I really can't in good faith make such a recommendation to you. Since you are new around here, I want to make some different recommendations.

In August, PentaTone will release volume 1 of the complete music of Franz Schubert for violin and piano played by Julia Fischer, violin and Martin Helmchen, piano. The interaction between these two young artists produces exceptional artistry. I know this because I was lucky enough to catch an internet broadcast of one of their recitals in Germany last spring. In the sonatina, after the pianists introduction, Fischer follows her big bold almost piercing declamations by a hushed, almost whispered pianimissimo of just heart stopping beauty. Those few seconds alone will be worth the entire price of the disc!

Sadly that will be the first installment of Fischer's last recordings for PentaTone before she decided she wanted the greater publicity of a relationship with one of the so-called "major labels" and signed with Decca.

There are eight other Julia Fischer PentaTone recordings and if I were you, I would get each and every one of them. She is something else! She is really something else. As to sound quality, PentaTone, BIS, Channel Classics, Chandos and Telarc and most other labels recording SACDs all, in my opinion trump the 35 to 40 year old Mercury Living Presence recordings in every way.

The Dvorak Cello concerto recording to have is:

Dvorak: Cello Concerto, Dumky Trio - Jean-Guihen Queyras

Any of Harmonia Mundi's Tchaikovsky symphonies is recommendable but I especially like

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, Serenade for Strings - Gatti

for it has as well an almost perfect performance of the Serenade for Strings along with the Pathetique Symphony.

I am resisting the urge to complete this list because at least three threads on this forum contain such lists by many members.

Good Listening,
Bruce

Bruce,

Thank you very much for the in depth recommendations. Actually, thanks to all who've come forward with their favorites!

I will definitely research these and seek them out based on your detailed accounts. In reviewing the MLP details I realize very many of them are restricted due to their recording limitations (typically 2-3 channel availability vs. what we have today).

Having said that, the classical genre has not been my strong suit so expertise in this area by those who have a much more refined ear such as yourself is just the help I was looking for.

I'll also search the threads for the other MLP discussions and see if there are other nuggets of gold out there to look for.

Thanks again!

Post by Gigi February 24, 2009 (8 of 15)
Hi,
for me the most impressive Mercury SACD is:

Suppé & Auber: Overtures

Composer: Suppé & Auber*
Works: The Beautiful Galatea / Pique Dame / Light Cavalry / Poet & Peasant / Morning, Noon & Night in Vienna / Boccaccio / The Bronze Horse* / Fra Diavolo* / Masaniello*
Artists: Detroit Symphony Orchestra / Paul Paray
Duration: 64.44

Disc Content: SACD 3-Channel Stereo / SACD Stereo / CD Audio

Recorded: Cass Technical High School, Detroit, 29 November 1959 (Suppé) and Old Orchestra Hall, Detroit, 4 April 1959 (Auber)

Recording Format: Three channel DSD recording [Left, Right, Centre]

SACD: 470 6382 7 MSA

Incredible !!!

Post by Windsurfer February 24, 2009 (9 of 15)
Gigi said:

Hi,
for me the most impressive Mercury SACD is:

Suppé & Auber: Overtures

Actually that is one of my favorite of the MLP recordings. Paray has just the right feeling for the "Light Cavalry" Overture, the trumpets are phrased exactly right! Another favorite of mine is the Resphigi Ancient Airs and Dances.

Post by Gigi February 24, 2009 (10 of 15)
I agree !
Dynamics in Paray disc and brass presence are incredible. Bass drum is a little bit confused but in general is a top SACD on my system.

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