EMI HMV ASD 330: Kempe's Excellent Overtures Album
Overtures
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Rudolf Kempe, conductor
Pressing: UK, ED1, white/gold
Date first published: 1960
Stampers: 2YVH 7-6, 2YVH 8-6
Performance: 9/10
Sound: 9/10
Price range: $29-455 (mean $115) on popsike.com
Comments: I haven't had the kindest words to say about some of the more recently reviewed Rudolf Kempe EMI ASD records, but this one, like the Nights in Vienna, deserves nothing but praise. The repertoire consists of a selection of well-loved overtures, including Mendelssohn's The Hebrides, Weber's Oberon, Berlioz's Le Carnaval Romain, Smetana's The Bartered Bride, and Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor. All are given solid performances here by the VPO, and Kempe brings much more interest to these than he does in his Beethoven Eroica and Overtures recordings. The recording quality is also far better here than on those LPs. Gone is the heavily distorted sound about which I previously complained and replaced by a sound that is immensely more airy and transparent. The VPO is captured in rich, dynamic sound at all frequencies and commendable clarity (yes, that means essentially no distortion). Expect to hear a wide soundstage and appreciable hall acoustics. This isn't the cheapest LP on the market, but at least a few copies are generally available on the auction market at any given time. A semi-circle ED2 is also available, though I can't comment on its sound relative to the white/gold pressing. Buy this one with confidence. It's fantastic.
This can also me had in a semi pressing for much cheaper with possibly even better sound. Concert Classic SXLP30077 is quite nice and also adds another piece according to reader Tin Ear. I'd love to have the semi, but it is much more rare, so SXLP30077 might be best for those on a budget.
ReplyDeleteSemi-pressing might be pretty darn good alternative, though this is one where the white/gold is really nothing to complain about. Test out the SXLP first and see how you like it.
DeleteMy W/G pressing has the same stamper numbers 2YVH 7-6 & 2YVH 8-6 with a 1 and A ant the 9 and 3 o'clock positions respectively. I'd rate the SQ at 3.5 though as there appears to be some distortion on a few of the louder passages
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I'll have to check back on the additional stamper info on my pressing to see if ours are similar. I don't seem to recall the distortion on mine but I ought to go back and relisten on my system. Using our current 10 point system, I would not give it a 10, more like an 8. With distortion, I'd bump it down to 7.
DeleteThe problem with 2nd hand records is that in the majority of cases you just do not know what has been previously used to play it and what damage could have been done to the grooves. The distortion on my record may have been inflicted rather than inherent.
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