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Discussion: Haydn: The Seasons - Jacobs

Posts: 21
Page: 1 2 3 next

Post by zeus June 21, 2009 (1 of 21)
Nothing like a bit of controversy to start the week ...

I'd like to ask the 31 people that universally recommended this recording (before I added my vote) what they hear in it because to my ears it's a dog. Highly processed sound from the opening bars, flat, poor timbal accuracy, woeful balance ... need I go on? It shares the same attributes as Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro - René Jacobs, a multi-award winning recording! I recently upgraded to a better player and my opinion hasn't changed. I should add that I'm not talking about the music or performance, both very fine, just the sonics. Nor is this a PCM vs DSD debate as I've heard better CDs. I buy most of Harmonia Mundi's SA-CDs and find them generally excellent. So what are you people hearing that I'm not?

Post by zeus June 22, 2009 (2 of 21)
Ok, I gave it yet another listen. My conclusion still is that it's not for close listening. The coloured sound, string balance and hollowness of soloists and choir get in the way for me. Who knows what constraints they were working under for the recording. Much better to just crank up the volume and let it wash over me. I forgot about the thunderclaps though.

Maybe I'm getting too spoilt for sound quality ...

Post by Anders June 22, 2009 (3 of 21)
zeus said:

Nothing like a bit of controversy to start the week ...

I'd like to ask the 31 people that universally recommended this recording (before I added my vote) what they hear in it because to my ears it's a dog. Highly processed sound from the opening bars, flat, poor timbal accuracy, woeful balance ... need I go on? It shares the same attributes as Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro - René Jacobs, a multi-award winning recording! I recently upgraded to a better player and my opinion hasn't changed. I should add that I'm not talking about the music or performance, both very fine, just the sonics. Nor is this a PCM vs DSD debate as I've heard better CDs. I buy most of Harmonia Mundi's SA-CDs and find them generally excellent. So what are you people hearing that I'm not?

You are quite right about both the recordings! I thought it would be wonderful with SACD:s of these works but I haven´t listened many times to either of them. They are just not "listenable". I have tried several times but must stop after a few tracks. It is a pity because Jacobs is a very good conductor and always have fine singers and musicians.
When it comes to Haydn there is a recording with LSO and Davis of The Creation just coming out.

Post by Kal Rubinson June 22, 2009 (4 of 21)
Anders said:

When it comes to Haydn there is a recording with LSO and Davis of The Creation just coming out.

Stodgy. I prefer the Bolton on Oehms.

Kal

Post by Domimag June 22, 2009 (5 of 21)
I'm not OK at all, both of these Jacobs are wonderful recordings, about the best available in SACD ! (for my taste and the taste of lot of people I know).

Regards - Dominique

Post by zeus June 22, 2009 (6 of 21)
Domimag said:

I'm not OK at all, both of these Jacobs are wonderful recordings, about the best available in SACD ! (for my taste and the taste of lot of people I know).

I'm aware of the pretty well universal acclaim for this recording, here and elsewhere, which is why I'm trying to get to the bottom of my adverse reaction to it. Maybe you could articulate why you feel it is "about the best available in SACD" so I can try to understand where you're coming from (leaving the music and performance aside).

Post by tream June 22, 2009 (7 of 21)
zeus said:

I'm aware of the pretty well universal acclaim for this recording, here and elsewhere, which is why I'm trying to get to the bottom of my adverse reaction to it. Maybe you could articulate why you feel it is "about the best available in SACD" so I can try to understand where you're coming from (leaving the music and performance aside).

Just to add fuel to the fire, I'm not sure I am that crazy about Jacobs' Figaro as a performance. His approach sounds too insistent and harsh to me. Mine is very much a minority view, though.

Post by Jonty June 22, 2009 (8 of 21)
It was Jacobs' Don Giovanni that disappointed me with its appalling miscasting of the Commendatore. As far as The Seasons goes I do like the performance a lot but feel the recording probably uses too many mikes to be truthful.

Over the years I have come across many records that are much admired that I find for one reason or another to be over rated. The Colin Davis Haydn London Symphonies, the Sutherland/Mehta Turandot or the Fry Street Quartet recordings for instance.

Post by tream June 23, 2009 (9 of 21)
Jonty said:

It was Jacobs' Don Giovanni that disappointed me with its appalling miscasting of the Commendatore. As far as The Seasons goes I do like the performance a lot but feel the recording probably uses too many mikes to be truthful.

Over the years I have come across many records that are much admired that I find for one reason or another to be over rated. The Colin Davis Haydn London Symphonies, the Sutherland/Mehta Turandot or the Fry Street Quartet recordings for instance.

I'm curious about which recordings you prefer for the Haydn London Symphonies and Turandot? I have both the recordings you mention. I'm about to play the Dorati recordings of the London - haven't heard them for years, and have been working my way through the Dorati set of Haydn symphonies over the past few months. Can't say that I have a favorite recording of the London symphonies - I also have the MDG recordings that Adam Fischer has done (incomplete thus far) and the set of 93-98 recorded by Szell.

As for Turandot - my hands down favorite is the Callas/Serafin, even though the Calaf (Fernandi) is surpassed by Bjorling, Pavarotti, and Corelli on disc (to name other recordings with which I am familiar), although he is serviceable, but no one touches Callas for her womanly portrayal of Turandot, and Serafin conducts the score as though he were composing it. Having said that, the RCA performance on SACD is quite good .

Post by Edvin June 23, 2009 (10 of 21)
Jonty said:

Over the years I have come across many records that are much admired that I find for one reason or another to be over rated. The Colin Davis Haydn London Symphonies, the Sutherland/Mehta Turandot or the Fry Street Quartet recordings for instance.

It would be very interesting to hear why you think the Mehta Turandot is overrated. I think it is near perfection with not a weak part within earsight.

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