Philips Hi-Fi Stereo 835 004 AY: Van Beinum's Handel
Handel: Wassermusik (The Water Music)
Eduard Van Beinum, conductor
Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam
Pressing: Dutch, maroon 1st label with "Hi-Fi Stereo" logo
Condition: EX
Date first published: 1959
Stampers: N/A
Performance: 8/10
Sound: 8/10
Price range: $26-56 (mean $39) on popsike.com
Comments: This is the album I pull from the shelf when I want to listen to an analog era recording of Handel's complete Water Music. In spite of this performance being more of the old-school, full orchestral Handel, tempos are lively and swift, and textures never sound overly dense. The Concertgebouw is in excellent form. I was quite surprised on first listening to this record to hear a sound that was incredibly natural and would have to say that this is one of Philips' better-sounding early stereo recordings. The orchestra is set just a little bit further back from the listener, giving you more soundstage depth and the feeling of sitting in the middle of the concert hall.
Eduard Van Beinum was really a great conductor, and it's a shame that he doesn't receive much attention today. While he didn't leave an extensive recording legacy, what he put on record was of pretty consistent high caliber. Thanks to Philips and Decca (I guess whom you would call Universal Music now), compilations of his analog Philips recordings were released in two box sets of CDs in the early-mid 2000's as part of the Original Masters series. Sadly, these are out of print and are themselves collector's items now. Australian Decca Eloquence, however, has taken up the reins and reissued many of these recordings on single CDs.
On original instrument, the McCegan Philharmonia Baroque Water Music is nice enough (rates a Demi-God on Salavatore's Supreme Recordings.)
ReplyDeleteHave to check that one out. I would also recommend the Argo recording with Sir Neville Marriner conducting the ASMF.
DeleteThe Marriner Water Suite is not my cup of tea-or coffee for that matter. Far more entertaining is another Philips recording of the Water/Firework suites, the 88 083 DY with Lorin Maazel conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. My red label pressing sounds pretty fine, but I found a store here that has 2 or 3 more copies, so I will try and find a plum label and compare them, see if there is any real difference.
ReplyDeleteI shall look forward to that and you'll have to explain which is which is I am not as familiar with this label, But I'm gathering the plum label would be earlier?
Delete