London Blueback CS 6177: Ansermet's go at Mussorgsky's Pictures
Mussorgsky-Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition
Liszt: The Huns
Ernest Ansermet, conductor
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Pressing: UK, ED1Condition: VG++
Stampers: ZAL-4695-1E, ZAL-4696-1E
Mother #: 1
Buckingham code: C
Performance: 6/10
Sound: 7/10
Price range: $23-173 (mean $44) on popsike.com
Comments: Followers of this blog already know that recordings of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition have been frequently reviewed on this site. We've written about the Reiner (RCA), Karajan (Columbia SAX), Muti (EMI ASD), Szell (Columbia SAX), and Maazel (Columbia SAX). Well, I suppose every major classical record label had to put out a version of this work during the Golden Age of classical recordings, and this was London/Decca's first stereo take with none other than house conductor Ernest Ansermet with the OSR. From a performance standpoint, this one doesn't quite live up to the high standards of its contemporaries (see Szell, Reiner, and Muti). Nevertheless, it is decent and has its moments. Where the recording does shine, though, is in its sound, which is spacious and dynamic and has a nice hall presence. Since this is a truly an orchestral work, the ability to capture its power is one important component to a successful recording of this piece. In this regard, this London succeeds. Orchestral climaxes are well reproduced with little to no distortion. There is good bass depth, which can be appreciated when listening to the percussion in The Gnome and The Hut on Fowl's Legs. At the same time, quieter passages, many of which highlight wind solos, are delivered with clarity and solid imaging. All in all, I was very pleased listening to this recording again for the first time in several years.
Pictures is paired here with a performance of Liszt's The Huns, a tone poem composed in a similar vein (it depicts a large mural painting entitled The Battle of the Huns (1857) by Friedrich August von Kaulbach) with relatively few recordings (I counted 16 total on arkivmusic.com). It's a dynamic work and worth a listen. On my pressing, the sound quality of The Huns seemed not quite as impressive as that of Pictures, and louder musical passages suffered from some mild-moderate distortion.
The Decca equivalent of this LP appears to be quite rare and sells for a significantly higher price on the auction market ($23-454, mean $101). My opinion: skip it and get the London blueback FFSS. Same cover art, and the London cover is guaranteed to be sturdier and longer lasting over time. I have not heard the Decca, but if my previous comparisons between Londons and Deccas have provided me any insight, I would contend that you'll be getting the same record with the London for a fraction of the price. Not to mention that this London is far more accessible.
Of note, Moon and Gray give this recording a 5 for performance and 8 for sound.
I'd swear I had some kind of pressing of this, but no so (hazard of making our guide as now all the covers seem familiar.) Sound like a very weak recommendation of this LP. For pictures, RCA's power of orchestra is excellent. Acoustic Sounds has reissued it and I should do a review of it in the audiophile reissues series (good friend has a copy.) I've always like the performance a lot (like the Chesky well enough) and never have taken a liking to the Reiner.
ReplyDeleteYes, a review of the AP reissue of Power of the Orchestra would be great. I had an original that I bought for $0.60 10 years ago and later sold, but I'd love to get my hands on another original for review. I'll still have to side with Reiner, though, for the top position.
DeleteWhile I do like Ansermet and his recordings, none of them have ever been reference recordings for my own personal taste. It might just be the sound of the OSR.
DeleteI like Ansermet and OSR a lot. Love the nutcracker suites.
DeleteI struggle with Ansermet reading of this and always go back to the Mehta version on SXL 6328. It has good performances of both the piano and orchestral versions and I also like Karajan on SLPM 139010, although it took me quite a while to find a really good pressing to this one.
DeleteI haven't heard the Mehta SXL. Have you ever tried the Reiner (RCA Living Stereo) or Szell (Columbia SAX)?
DeleteI just took a brief youtube survey of these and I must say I love the Leibowitz version on Power of the Orchestra. It is very French and since this was orchestrated by Ravel it seems quite correct. Karajan is a bit too glacial on this one (DG or EMI). I could not find a Mehta sample.
DeleteI have the Reiner on UK SB 2001 but I haven't played it for a long time and can't really remember why it was not one of my favourites. I've yet to find a decent copy of Szell on Columbia SAX so can't comment on that either. The Karajan I have on SAX is quite good but my copy seems to have some groove damage issues in a couple of places which is a shame as visually it looks mint.
DeleteAndyW -- interesting observation about the Karajan SAX. Take a look at my review on that album from 2013. I had the exact same problem as you, I believe. Was the problem distortion? I noticed, particularly in the final movement, that the loud musical passages were plagued with distortion. My copy was also virtually mint, and I went as far as to acquire a second copy just to confirm that this was not just pressing variation ( I was fortunately able to sell the second copy easily ). I really liked the tube sound of that SAX, except for the distortion.
DeleteYes, the issues I found were on a few of the louder sections which is why I thought it might be groove damage due to mis-tracking in an earlier life.
DeleteOne recording I forgot to mention is Stokowski with the New Philharmonia Orchestra on Decca PFS 4095. I'm not a fan of the Phase 4 recordings but the Stokowski is well recorded and worth finding
Hmm ... I'm not familiar with that one, but I have heard about those Phase 4. Decca just reissued a whole bunch of those recordings in a CD box set. I am a big fan of Pictures! I think there is a Seiji Ozawa on late RCA that is supposed to be decent as well. Have you heard Muti with Philharmonia on EMI ASD?
DeleteOne last mention has to go to SB 6759. Seiji Ozawa conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Has to be the UK Decca pressed version (not LSC 2977) as although it says Dynagroove on the sleeve, it's not. Decca made their own Mothers and stampers from tapes without the infamous process. http://www.allmusic.com/album/mussorgsky-pictures-at-an-exhibition-a-night-on-bare-mountain-britten-the-young-persons-guide-to-the-orchestra-mw0002031839
DeleteThe Stokowski Pictures is supposedly the best of the Phase 4 recordings. I have an Orange/black spot label Ozawa RCA. It has only been played 6 times since new so is as near mint as an unsealed record can be. The recording is good as is the SQ. I have heard that the Dynagrove process sucked the life out of the US version but not having heard one I cannot confirm that.
DeleteFascinating. The UK Ozawa is superior, eh? I have actually never heard either UK or USA on vinyl but have heard good reviews about the performance. They reissued it in 24-bit remastered digital a few years ago, though I never got myself to buy a copy. I really like Ozawa's Ravel on DG ... might be a topic for a future review!
DeleteI've not heard the Muti recording, I'll look out for it. I also have a modern DG Digital recording with Abbado conducting that has impressive dynamics. Still prefer the Mehta though.
ReplyDeleteYour enthusiasm for this Mehta has piqued my interest. I'll be on the lookout for it!!
DeleteThe Muti is a very dynamic recording. You will not be disappointed I think. There is also a MFSL remaster of the album that is also highly acclaimed.
Youtubed the Stokowski and that one is interesting (looking at the cover I may have the London4 floating a round somewhere, looking.... mint 7L/6L Decca on deck). Ozawa has some staying power. I am going to have to fire up my UK RCA Alpine Symphony in nonDynagroove. The later RCAs are given short shrift given the shaded dogs, but many seem to get the job done and are little discussed.
DeleteIt's rather interesting. Of course many of those later RCAs were dynagroove, which seem to be anathema to the collector. There were some, however, that were not dynagroove, even though they were released at the same time as when dynagroove prevailed. I have heard some of these but not all ... not too bad. Martinon had a handful of recordings with the CSO.
DeleteI've sought out quite a lot of the white dog non-dynagroove and its interesting enough, though quite a few titles have eluded my grasp including some of the major Heifetz.
DeleteThe Stokowski is a wild ride musically with a large soundstage that emphasize the midrange qualities. The Debussy-Stokowski Engulfed Cathederal nicely rounds out the album.
I consulted with the Bassophile, who likes the Analog Productions reissue. He has not shot them out, but he did state the the Muti Mofi ($200 or so) would be the sonic champ hands down. The Muiti is Divinity on Maestro Salvatore's list with good reason. For the normal audiophile the recent Analog Productions reissue of Power of the Orchestra is a slam dunk at $30. It can be had used on Chesky, but not Classic Records, so the AP is a great choice for those with the highest sonic standards.
Picked up a copy of a Pye pressed Vanguard VCS 10116 Pictures at an Exhibition this morning at a charity boot sale held the 1st Sunday of every month just 5 minutes walk from my house.
ReplyDeleteThe performance dates from 1974 with Charles Mackerras conducting the New Philharmonia Orchestra. The filler is Prelude to Khovanschina.
What a wonderful recording, certainly top marks for performance and the pressing quality of the 1980 Pye issue is excellent.
All in all I'm very pleased an this one is certainly a keeper
Nice find! Another performance of Pictures that I haven't heard before and one for which I'll now be on the lookout. Is there any particular info about Pye and Vanguard that is important for collectors to know?
DeleteI don't think so. I have no reason to assume that they are any better than the US issues which I was told were pressed by RCA.
ReplyDeleteI think Pye actually issued the 1st stereo record in late 1957. They had a tie up with Mercury in the early days to press the UK issues of the MG series before HMV took over. Pye did continue to release classical music under its own label and I have found some great recordings. Info and discussion on these is quite thin on the ground though.
This is the version I have: http://kingswayhallclassics.com/products/mussorgsky-pictures-at-an-exhibition-prelude-mackerras-new-philharmonia-vcs-10116
Early, early vanguard from the tube era was pressed by RCA. I think that was it for their association. Recalling my Latin American Symphonette LPs, some of the later ones were pressed by American Columbia. A couple great other budget labels are Turnabout Vox and Nonesuch. I think Tin Ear has a bit of a crush on UK Turnabout. I've got all three of these labels by the truck load, not to mention later MHS wish were well done and pressed by Europadisk (very quiet) and later on they did fine DMM for Chesky and MHS.
DeleteOn both the Vanguard and Turnabout front, I don't recall the US vinyl being overly quiet. Its hard to say how they handled the master tapes and what was done for overseas. For that matter many of these labels sourced European recordings so not sure what that means for who's got the best fidelity.
I have a few very nice VOX/Turnabout releases from the 1970s, engineered by Aubort and Nickrenz, which are excellent. Will plan on reviewing the complete Ravel orchestral works with Skrowaczewski and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra as well as Abbey Simon's complete Ravel solo piano works.
Deletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard_Records
ReplyDelete"Vanguard released a number of important classical recordings, both domestically-produced and imported. Many of the latter came from the United Kingdom's Pye Records label, featuring performances by the Halle Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. The recordings were so exceptional in their stereo sound and overall quality that many classical radio stations programmed them. Vanguard even released some quadraphonic classical recordings in the early 1970s, including a performance of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony with the American Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski. The label also released many performances by the Utah Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maurice Abravanel, including one of the first sets of the complete ten symphonies of Gustav Mahler, a complete performance of The Nutcracker, as well as the earlier P.D.Q. Bach recordings, from 1965 to 1983. Vanguard was the first American label to release the complete 1944 high fidelity recordings of composer Richard Strauss conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in most of his tone poems; the recordings were made on the Magnetophon tape recording equipment in the Vienna Opera"
So it seems there was a long standing reciprocal arrangement between Pye and Vanguard
In the UK Vanguard was first issued on Philips through their Fontana label, then Pye, then UK RCA, followed again by Pye at their end/PRT.
ReplyDelete