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Discussion: Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg - Janowski

Posts: 18
Page: 1 2 next

Post by Allen October 22, 2011 (1 of 18)
Finally, a Master singer in multi-channel sound!

Post by seth October 22, 2011 (2 of 18)
Allen said:

Finally, a Master singer in multi-channel sound!

That's what I'm thinking!

Excluding archival radio broadcast recordings, I think this is the first new recording of the opera in over a decade.

Post by Fitzcaraldo215 October 22, 2011 (3 of 18)
seth said:

That's what I'm thinking!

Excluding archival radio broadcast recordings, I think this is the first new recording of the opera in over a decade.

You are forgetting Blu-ray. There is one released this year from a 2008 Bayreuth performance, a Katerina Wagner production. I have not seen all of it, but the sound is exceptional, as is almost invariably the case with recent Blu-rays. The production is so-so, and I do not care for it much, although I have no quibbles with the cast and singing or even the sets and costumes. It's the concept that's off. I understand from Andy Quint of TAS, who was there this summer, that it turns the tables and glorifies Beckmesser as the hero! Go figure. So, yet another wierd Bayreuth production in an endlessly long chain of them. Can't they just, once in a while, do a straight up, traditional version so that we do not forget the composer's intentions? It seems that the norm for Wagner these days, not just at Bayreuth, always involves some strange twist. This might be a good candidate for listening with the monitor off.

In any case, opera on Blu-ray is absolutely the greatest from an opera fan's perspective, with stunning Mch sound. Exceptional hi def visual focus gives us wonderful insight into the acting, as well as the singing and staging. In my view, this is the best way to enjoy opera, short only of having the best seat in the house live. On my system, it greatly exceeds Met Live in HD simulcasts to local theaters. And, compared to SACD opera, Blu-rays are generally cheaper to boot.

Post by seth October 22, 2011 (4 of 18)
Fitzcaraldo215 said:

You are forgetting Blu-ray. There is one released this year from a 2008 Bayreuth performance, a Katerina Wagner production. I have not seen all of it, but the sound is exceptional, as is almost invariably the case with recent Blu-rays. The production is so-so, and I do not care for it much, although I have no quibbles with the cast and singing or even the sets and costumes. It's the concept that's off. I understand from Andy Quint of TAS, who was there this summer, that it turns the tables and glorifies Beckmesser as the hero! Go figure. So, yet another wierd Bayreuth production in an endlessly long chain of them. Can't they just, once in a while, do a straight up, traditional version so that we do not forget the composer's intentions? It seems that the norm for Wagner these days, not just at Bayreuth, always involves some strange twist. This might be a good candidate for listening with the monitor off.

True. I meant produced for CD/SACD.

Also, in case you weren't aware, the Met does do a different mix for the Blu-ray/DVD releases of the Met HD recordings (and it more accurately reflects the sound at the Met). The mix for movie theaters is done with the assumption that most theaters have crappy sound systems. And after a few year hiatus, DG/Decca is releasing Met HD recordings as Blu-rays again (but strangely, the ones released by Sony continue to be DVD only -- I'm going to be pissed if they get the rights to last year's "Don Carlos" and do it as a DVD only).

Post by GROOT GELUID October 24, 2011 (5 of 18)
Fitzcaraldo215 said:

You are forgetting Blu-ray.

In any case, opera on Blu-ray is absolutely the greatest from an opera fan's perspective, with stunning Mch sound. Exceptional hi def visual focus gives us wonderful insight into the acting, as well as the singing and staging. In my view, this is the best way to enjoy opera, short only of having the best seat in the house live. On my system, it greatly exceeds Met Live in HD simulcasts to local theaters. And, compared to SACD opera, Blu-rays are generally cheaper to boot.

The problem with Blu-ray and with video registration of opera in general is that the way the microphones can be set up, is dependent on the video situation, where the cameras should not have the microphones in their frame. This generally results in microphone set ups that are less then ideal for a good sound pick up. And then I am not speaking about the 'interesting' stage interpretations affecting the pick up of singers, we very often encounter, which degrades the possible quality of the audio even more.

The beauty of this Pentatone Wagner series is that the acoustical conditions are far better than in any opera house, and specially as there is no video involved, the microphone set up is tuned to get the best audio results. A perfect combination for a SA-CD release.

Post by Chris October 24, 2011 (6 of 18)
GROOT GELUID said

The beauty of this Pentatone Wagner series is that the acoustical conditions are far better than in any opera house, and specially as there is no video involved, the microphone set up is tuned to get the best audio results. A perfect combination for a SA-CD release.

I for one certainly hope that the sound will be better than the Grey and Black Cover-image!
Is it a close up of the wooden beams on a typical German Fachwerkhaus?

That is the only connection to Wagner and the Meistersinger I can think of. Or is it just yet another orgy in modern-day bright colourful exciting coverart?
Keeping my fingers crossed that the perfomance isn't as grey as your choice of Cover.

Post by Fitzcaraldo215 October 24, 2011 (7 of 18)
GROOT GELUID said:

The problem with Blu-ray and with video registration of opera in general is that the way the microphones can be set up, is dependent on the video situation, where the cameras should not have the microphones in their frame. This generally results in microphone set ups that are less then ideal for a good sound pick up. And then I am not speaking about the 'interesting' stage interpretations affecting the pick up of singers, we very often encounter, which degrades the possible quality of the audio even more.

The beauty of this Pentatone Wagner series is that the acoustical conditions are far better than in any opera house, and specially as there is no video involved, the microphone set up is tuned to get the best audio results. A perfect combination for a SA-CD release.

Indeed, I have noticed the issues you describe on certain Blu-ray operas. I have a few from the Zurich opera where there is a bit too much back stage echo accompanying singers, thought the orchestral sound is fine. I have also not liked the mix between singers and orchestra, so far at least, on Royal Opera Co. productions from Covent Garden. Other operas/houses so far have been pretty good, though, on Blu-ray. I am still traversing the Blu-ray opera repertoire, though, so my reactions are preliminary.

Speaking of Blu-ray, the "Ballet Russes" production you engineered of Firebird and Le Sacre with Gergiev and the Mariinski is truly exceptional. Kudos to you for marvelous sound once again. Fortunately for ballet, the on stage miking issue is not critical.

Post by seth October 24, 2011 (8 of 18)
GROOT GELUID said:

The problem with Blu-ray and with video registration of opera in general is that the way the microphones can be set up, is dependent on the video situation, where the cameras should not have the microphones in their frame. This generally results in microphone set ups that are less then ideal for a good sound pick up. And then I am not speaking about the 'interesting' stage interpretations affecting the pick up of singers, we very often encounter, which degrades the possible quality of the audio even more.

The beauty of this Pentatone Wagner series is that the acoustical conditions are far better than in any opera house, and specially as there is no video involved, the microphone set up is tuned to get the best audio results. A perfect combination for a SA-CD release.

But let's keep in mind that most opera recordings made for CD since the 1990s have been recorded live where you had the same problems as making a video recording, e.g. singers walking around the stage, microphone placement being unable to interfere with audience sightlines, etc. The only advantage these recordings had over video was the ease of patching together multiple performances or doing patch-up sessions.

For the most part, I'd say live recordings of performances have gotten pretty good at capturing the sound heard in the hall.

Post by seth November 7, 2011 (9 of 18)
FYI:

The recording is available for download at iTunes, so you can listen to 1:30 clips of all the tracks.

At 4:12:43 it's faster than Solti/CSO, and it sounds fast.

Post by Links November 15, 2011 (10 of 18)
So released today.
But, everywhere I look it is out of stock.
What is going on?

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