London Blueback CS 6074: Weber Overtures in not so great sound
Weber Overtures
L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Ernest Ansermet, conductor
Pressing: UK, ED1
Date first published: 1959
Stampers: ZAL-4246-2E, ZAL-4247-3D
Mother #: 1 (side 1), 2 over 1 (side 2)
Buckingham code: I (sides 1 and 2)
Performance: 7/10
Sound: 5/10
Price range: $24-123 (mean $40)* on popsike.com
Comments: I was really looking forward to this recent purchase, since I don't have a dedicated recording of Weber overtures. Sadly, I was disappointed. My guess is that I probably got stuck with a bad pressing, maybe one produced at the tail end of a stamper's life (2E/3D matrix numbers seem to predominate among past copies sold on Ebay; judging by the Buckingham code on this copy, this is 5th generation stamper). The OSR is given a slightly more distant presentation. The soundstage is deep but constricted in width. String tone is dry and nasal in quality. Treble sounds a bit rolled off. There is an overall lack of transparency, clarity, and dynamic range on this recording. Notably, there was a lot of distortion on my pressing of this record. On side 1, it occurred mostly during loud musical passages. On side 2, it was persistent even in quieter musical passages. I hope that this is a pressing issue and that somewhere out there are copies** that are significant improvements over the one I own. Could the Stereo Treasury be better?
*The UK release, Decca SXL 2112, has a price range of $25-370 (mean $133).
*Full Frequency Stereophonic Sound grading: 7 performance, 7 sound. Maybe Moon and Gray had a better pressing.
Stampers: ZAL-4246-2E, ZAL-4247-3D
Mother #: 1 (side 1), 2 over 1 (side 2)
Buckingham code: I (sides 1 and 2)
Performance: 7/10
Sound: 5/10
Price range: $24-123 (mean $40)* on popsike.com
Comments: I was really looking forward to this recent purchase, since I don't have a dedicated recording of Weber overtures. Sadly, I was disappointed. My guess is that I probably got stuck with a bad pressing, maybe one produced at the tail end of a stamper's life (2E/3D matrix numbers seem to predominate among past copies sold on Ebay; judging by the Buckingham code on this copy, this is 5th generation stamper). The OSR is given a slightly more distant presentation. The soundstage is deep but constricted in width. String tone is dry and nasal in quality. Treble sounds a bit rolled off. There is an overall lack of transparency, clarity, and dynamic range on this recording. Notably, there was a lot of distortion on my pressing of this record. On side 1, it occurred mostly during loud musical passages. On side 2, it was persistent even in quieter musical passages. I hope that this is a pressing issue and that somewhere out there are copies** that are significant improvements over the one I own. Could the Stereo Treasury be better?
*The UK release, Decca SXL 2112, has a price range of $25-370 (mean $133).
*Full Frequency Stereophonic Sound grading: 7 performance, 7 sound. Maybe Moon and Gray had a better pressing.
STS 2e/1g side 2 ok. Look elsewher. Kubelik Dg red stereo or emi swallisch.
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a copy of that Sawallisch for some time now!
DeleteDisposed of a pristine SXL (ditto Cid/Pictures) but have the ECS with added Jubel - can't recall anything special.
DeleteThe Sawallisch have as 1st Edition (G/G) factory sample -1965 recut (old style metal-type: -14/-12) - SXLP 30038.
Same comment - but could give a new listen ..
Sawallisch's is best avoided.
DeleteIf you think Ansermet's is distant-balance, then...
Limited dynamics - the tambourine/triangle in Preciosa are virtually inaudible.. pretty characterless stuff.
The ECS (4W/1W) seems reasonably transparent/dynamic and not thin/glitzy in the treble.
Thanks for the insight! That Sawallisch is a hard to find SAX, but if it's lacking in sonic merits, then I'll probably pass it up. The ECS, however, might be worth a try, based on your comments.
DeleteI contacted my friend Eric, who has another 2E/3D pressing. He said no distortion on his copy, so it's very possible that it's just my copy that is the problem.
I have this on ECS 645 and it lacks finesse both in the recording and music compared to Karajan's similar recording on DG.
DeleteWell, that saves me from having to look for that. I haven't heard the Karajan on vinyl (I think I have it on CD somewhere as part of a Karajan boxed set). Have you heard the Kubelik on DG?
DeleteFollowing up on aqlam's comment: My 2E/3D pressing had no distortion. In fact, it plays beautifully and dynamically. The music is not all that inspiring -- but that's another matter.
DeleteWhat about your mother/buckingham codes? The same?
DeleteWell side 1 with original 2e stamper rates a 7. It is a bit dry, but nicer than the 1g side 2. Can't recommend given high price.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard the Kubelik disc, what's the SQ like? The Karajan version is on 2530 315, cover artwork is very vibrant for a DG. On the subject of Weber, Keilberth's Der Freischütz is a beautiful recording which can be quite expensive in original ASD 319/21 but can be found for a lot less on HQS 1031/2 albeit the six sides of the ASD are reduced to 4 in the HQS. Carlos Kleiber's effort on DG is worth seeking out as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat recs, thanks! These are harder to find stateside and require hunting the Ebay dealers of the UK. Paying the international shipping can be painful! Maybe I'll get lucky and find one in a local shop!
DeleteDer Freischuetz on Karajan's SAX 2439 is about average and the sound on the original blue/silver is not particularly flattering.
DeleteAndy I don't have the Kubelik. I saw those on the bay (sort by price for title) and know they are both good labels. Red DGG Stereo is kind of the undiscovered country for me, I've got half a dozen and some are pretty nice, but no really good titles.
DeleteDGG recordings with red labels, various red stickers, tulips, alle hersteller etc. are more of a minefield than Decca/Londons. One certainty is that the early DG sleeves are not the most robust and mint ones must be cherished
DeleteI have to agree with you on this. DGG are a toss-up. There are some real keepers. I like the Fricsay and Schneiderhan recordings. Some have a lot of surface noise. Some are very dynamic while others more constricted. I guess that goes for a lot of labels. And yes! Those sleeves wear on the seams very easily. Have you heard the original Mravinsky Tchaikovsky 4-6 releases on DGG red stereo? Highly sought after but I question the sound. I've only heard a second pressing of the 4th, and it had some issues, which may or may not have had to do with groove wear. The Italian DG box set reissue, which can be had for a bargain (I got mine for $3), improves on this but doesn't have the same life to it. I wonder which pressing of these is best.
DeleteI only have the 4th 138 657 and 6th 138 659 in the red logo. No issues with SW on either but I think my English pressed copy of the 4th on 104 431 edges the red logo version. Again it's not scientific and as I've not owned any of them from new it may just be from misuse in the past.
ReplyDeleteI have about 50 or so red logo / sticker DG's and I've found that they are not always the best pressing.
You've got a pretty solid collection! Other DGG red stereo tulips that I've liked:
ReplyDeleteGeza Anda's recording of the Mozart piano concertos
Pierre Fournier's Beethoven cello sonatas (though surface hiss was a bit stronger on my copy)
Jochum Haydn symphonies (I only have one red logo)
Monique Haas Debussy Preludes Vol. 2
Have to check my collection for others when I get home. I have to admit that I'm not the biggest Karajan/BPO fan ... string tone is just a bit too silky for me. I prefer his days with the Philharmonia, even though most people would say his DG recordings were better than his EMI ones.