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Discussion: Britten: War Requiem etc - Hickox

Posts: 7

Post by canonical April 6, 2009 (1 of 7)
The review by SimonTJU states:
"Britten was mastered from 16/44 (info from discs cover)."

This does not make sense to me: that would be standard CD quality. Can someone who has the disc clarify what this was recorded as?

Post by Claude April 6, 2009 (2 of 7)
I don't know where SimonTJU quoted from. The booklet (available on the label website) does not say what the resolution of the digital source material is:

http://www.chandos.net/details06.asp?CNumber=CHSA%205007

Because it was recorded already in 1991, it is unlikely to have been recorded at a resolution which is much higher than 16/44.

The main (potential) benefit of this SACD reissue would be the multichannel remix, like for some of the Universal Classics SACDs using mid-90's 16/48 PCM recordings.

Post by Geohominid April 6, 2009 (3 of 7)
canonical said:

The review by SimonTJU states:
"Britten was mastered from 16/44 (info from discs cover)."

This does not make sense to me: that would be standard CD quality. Can someone who has the disc clarify what this was recorded as?

Like Claude, I could find no indication of the resolution of this recording anywhere in the package. Unusually for Ralph and Brian Couzens I find the multichannel sound very distant and with little impact; bringing up the volume reveals a grainy sound. Disappointing.
John

Post by Peter April 6, 2009 (4 of 7)
Geohominid said:

Like Claude, I could find no indication of the resolution of this recording anywhere in the package. Unusually for Ralph and Brian Couzens I find the multichannel sound very distant and with little impact; bringing up the volume reveals a grainy sound. Disappointing.
John

...but the RBCDs still sound very good indeed, and the performances are, I think, excellent.

Post by jlk155 March 27, 2012 (5 of 7)
Geohominid said:

... I find the multichannel sound very distant and with little impact; bringing up the volume reveals a grainy sound. Disappointing.
John

John,

Your comments from April 2009 regarding the Hickox recording were rather dismissive, while your review posted today is quite laudatory. I’m curious as to whether this was a result of changes to your MC setup during the intervening three years, strictly a reassessment of the sound quality, or perhaps some combination of factors.

On a related matter, it appears that you’re quickly working through the SACD versions of the Britten War Requiem, having published reviews of three recordings in the past several days. I’m quite happy with the Masur SACD, but am curious about the upcoming Britten: War Requiem - Jaap van Zweden from Challenge Classics. Will we be seeing your review of this one soon? I’m hoping this will be a thoughtfully produced studio recording rather than captured in concert. BTW, will you be covering the apparently quite obscure (at least outside of Japan) Ozawa Decca recording, for which I’ve been unable to find even a single review in English?

Post by Geohominid March 27, 2012 (6 of 7)
Hi, I wondered if anyone would spot those early and rash comments! Yes, I revised my view of the Hickox because at the time I had only sampled it briefly, it was one in a large pile of discs waiting for full attention. Also, since then I have upgraded my system completely, particularly with my player and a complete set of Magnaplanar speakers, with the 1.7s at the front, which have staggering imaging properties. I have been planning to comparatively review all the SACD War Requiems I have for some time, but health issues prevented me. The near arrival of the Dutch account prompted me to complete the job. I'm waiting for the release any time now, I've had it on order for over a month and the release date has been put back several times. A review will follow as soon as I have digested it. Must say that the experience of such close contact with the War Requiem has been a fascinating one, and deepened my love of the piece considerably.

Cheers,
John

Post by Geohominid March 27, 2012 (7 of 7)
Re the Japanese disc, I don't have it, and at the time couldn't afford it! However, if an SACD with a proper DSD remastering of the Decca Britain version were to appear, I might just be tempted to buy it, although I avoid these high priced reissues as a matter of principle.
J

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