Columbia SAX 2439: Overtures with Karajan
Karajan conducts Weber, Wagner, Nicolai, Mendelssohn
Herbert von Karajan, conductor
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Condition: EX
Date first published: 1962
Stampers:
YRX 1526-2
YRX 1527-1
Performance: 8/10
Sound: 7/10Price range: $30-202 (mean $92) on popsike.com
Comments: This album of popular overtures contains performances that are played well (the Berlin Philharmonic already had its silky smooth sound honed by Karajan) but are unfortunately not particularly memorable. This is not aided by the fact that the recorded sound is also far from the highest caliber of EMI's standards. The presentation is quite distant (you feel like you are sitting pretty far back in the concert hall), making for a rather narrow soundstage. Spatial separation of instruments is also problematic, with all instruments basically sounding huddled together in the middle. Not quite mono, but not the best that stereo had to offer. Not much bass weight either. I'd say this LP is best reserved for Karajan die-hards only, but perhaps my colleague Miles can inform us if the album was ever reissued (with the potential for improved sound quality).
Never had the SAX - but do the (first?) 1984 reissue: EMI Eminence (EMX 41 2052 1) -8 /-6 - "Popular German Overtures".
ReplyDeleteThe sound is pretty 'tubey' but presumably more accurate to the mastertape - and doubt anyone would be too unhappy.
Karajan's Philharmonia Carmen/L'Arlessienne is also in that series - EX 2028 - never had SAX 2289 - though retain 2x SAX 2274 (Gaite/Faust/W.Tell) - and the mono 33CX is vastly better..
I would be interested to hear the Eminence. Perhaps things opened up a bit in terms of soundstage.
DeleteGreat job Tin Ear! I did not have the eminence for an alternate pressing for this one. I may have to alter my search parameters since they appear to change the titles for eminence perhaps.
ReplyDeleteKarajan's Philharmonia SAX 2404 'Philharmonia Promenade Concert' is a c.1980 CFP - 40368 (7/7) - previousy WRC ST838.
DeleteTchaikovsky 4/BPO is on ST872 (have SAX 2357) - Gaite, etc on ST1084 - Mozart 29/38 on ST1032 (have SAX2356 - another unplayed USAF LP) - but not the last 4 ST's mentioned).
The Eminence, above, could've been on ST639; supposedly the Bruckner 8 was an ST (no SAX - bad recording as 33CX/CfP reissues).
Finally (?) Brahms PC2 Richter-Haaser is on ST1090 - an earlier side 2 (19) with recut side 1 (17G).
These WRC's possibly are more difficult to find than the SAX's..
Thank you very much for your info on the ST's and WRC's. I have the Tchaikovsky 4 and will review that soon as well as the Gaite. How do you feel that the ST's and WRC's compare "in general" to the original SAXes?
DeleteVenturing beyond simplistic 'label collecting' introduces many variables; so it's likely best, as you are doing, to point out the merits/otherwise of an individual T/S..W/G..W-B, etc - in relation to others of that time-period (even though the comment/s may not be applicable to alternative masterings with the same label).
DeleteIE: one of the 'dime discs' from a few days back was SXL2121 Beethoven 7/Solti (1959: 100% mint - 3K/2K) - compared it to my 1960 Karajan (SB2087 ditto -2M/1E) and wouldn't hesitate to give the Solti a '5/5' (or more..). Karajan's (like his Brahms 1 on SB) was badly congested...same Hall/engineer.
I might do some 'Year' scans of EMG Monthly Letters (have all excepting 1 from 1947-1985): as the Canoscan software can create pdf's.
The reviews are biased towards sound-quality (via 'antique' equipment - but are pretty reliable guides: your Beinum: Water Music was 'murky and undistinguished' - the mono [I have: UK '420' mastering] is 'spacious and lively'!).
Re:WRC ST's - they aren't too commonplace for SAX/ASD material - and are not always recuts.
One which is apparently a huge improvement is Kempe/VPO Hary Janos, etc (ST763) - which is indeed good - but not mastered differently from SXLP recuts of that period - so your previous comments would be applicable.
I believe it on the W RC records. You just have to wait and pounce on them when you have the opportunity. Jubilee, Eclipse, eminence, spa are probably all in the same boat.
ReplyDelete