Thanks so much for the shout-out re. my review in Tracking Angle. I almost talked about the Paray on Mercury, but I have only heard the CD version that's part of the Eloquence box, and I must say this is one of those rare times when I found Paray's no-nonsense, straightforward approach did not do complete justice to the work. The Ozawa is simply killer! Great to hear you enthuse about the Marc Aubort records - I buy anything I see he engineered, even digital LPs! Those Nonesuch records are everywhere for a few dollars and such a good value. But I did not know about that contemporary music series produced by Thomas Mowrey you mention, so I will definitely be investigating those!

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

8 ай бұрын

@musiconrecord6724 Thank you! I really am going to have to do a video about the nonesuch spectrum series, It's just a lot to listen to. The Acoustic Research series is great although some of it is beyond modern and into the avant-garde, not everyone's cup of tea and there is a good amount of singing in there too. Which reminds me, I'm gonna email you, someone got in touch with me about a large collection of vocal, early music, and baroque records for sale...sounds right up your alley!

@musiconrecord6724

8 ай бұрын

Probably would be! My poor check book though.....!!!@@FLOWERINGSPIKES

Really enjoyed this one, nice tour of releases for this work. I'm so glad I opted for the Berlioz and passed on the Smetana, although I was close! Thanks as always.

Another great video, and wow the Original Source was your favorite. Great news. I received mine, but have been out of town. Cant wait to listen to the Ozawa performance. Thanks for the great information. Always enjoy your videos.

Thanks for making this, enjoyed hearing your thoughts on all your pressings. -- Mike

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

8 ай бұрын

@JazzBums Thanks for watching, I have a few more coming down the pike! It just takes time to listen to so many performances and take notes and go back and re-listen to sections but I do love it!

Thanks for the video! Can’t wait for my Berlioz/Ozawa to arrive. I’ve also ordered the Ma Vlast though I have the original which I didn’t notice the “reverb” as you mentioned with the reissue. I still love very much Kubelik’s earlier recording with the VPO on my Ace of Diamonds pressing especially the track Tábor. Love Beecham’s Fantastique, as much as his Sheherazade!

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

8 ай бұрын

@davidchan8108 The Kubelik is killer! I really like the Beecham too, I actually listened to that one a few times just for fun while doing this. Really they are all great in their own way, each one has something that is fantastic and sets it slightly apart from the rest.

@zizendorf

8 ай бұрын

Got my TOS copy of the Berlioz/Ozawa. I returned the first that I received. The recording is so good, so dynamic - tight, that there were disturbing little 'pops'/clicks during some of the quieter passages. The first one was #1181 of 3000 pressings. My second is 652 of 3000 and is a better pressing. Fantastic performance, recording, engineering, and pressing!

@analogueanorak1904

7 ай бұрын

This thread is really interesting for me as I am about to film a vintage mono v stereo shootout comparing early grooved Decca pressings of the Kubelik VPO Ma Vlast which would have used fairly basic cutting heads. The stereo version I have is a grooved ace of diamonds repressing and it is very poor sound quality as far as thin brittle strings throughout. David it would be really helpful if you could confirm if the copy you really enjoy is a later non grooved ace of diamonds pressing and if there are any issues around unpleasant string sound?

@analogueanorak1904

7 ай бұрын

@@FLOWERINGSPIKESI really enjoyed this video especially your personal insights about SF being a prototype psychedelic recording and will keep this in mind next time I listen to one of copies

@davidchan8108

7 ай бұрын

⁠@@analogueanorak1904 Thanks for asking! Yes, my Ma Vlast, Kubelik/VPO Ace of Ds 1967 pressings SDD161/162 single LPs are grooved; and the 4 stampers are: ZAL4077 4L ZAL4078 4L ZAL4079 9L ZAL4080 5L They sound fabulous in my system. I never had the SXL2064/65 original 1958 UK ED1, the UK 1977 ED4 DPA575/576, or the Speakers Corner. Looking forward to your video!

I listened today to my 1960’s RD pressing of Freccia’s SF. It’s a very detailed pressing. Each “bell” toll is I’m pretty sure is a tubular bell hit immediately followed by a quieter tam tam blow. Occasionally this combo slightly varies in timing!

I concur with your idea about someone doing 45rpm all-analog pressings of the Mercury series - that would be amazing. I've had my eye on Hobson's single-sided 4x45rpm set of this (RCA Living Stereo version with Munch with Boston) - but it's a bit lofty on Discogs. I have the 2004 Speakers Corner Decca reissue with Argenta and the PCO - which to my ears is quite nice. Always enjoy these shoot-outs. Many thanks for your insights. Cheers.

@musiconrecord6724

8 ай бұрын

Hey Michael!! Yes, someone really needs to start doing Mercurys - 33/45 - I don't care! Not sure I would spring for the Munch on 45 - as I wrote in my review, orchestral ensemble gets a little ropey in the last two movements. The 33 sounds great.

@markusberzborn6346

8 ай бұрын

There were! Classic Records did it. I have some of them here.

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

8 ай бұрын

Classic only did a handful, there are so many amazing Mercury's. My favorite of the classic records 45's is Ravel* / Ibert*, Detroit Symphony*, Paray* - Rapsodie Espagnole: La Valse: Pavane: Alborada / Escales. Sonically one of the greatest albums I have! Def worth trying to hunt one down. Thanks for watching, coming up next will be Sibelius violin concerto.

@markusberzborn6346

8 ай бұрын

@@FLOWERINGSPIKES Yes, I have this Ravel record.

@musiconrecord6724

8 ай бұрын

I have all the Classic Mercurys, including that 45, but it drives me nuts they didn't do the whole record, thus including La Valse!@@FLOWERINGSPIKES

Got my copy last night, played it twice today. Its superb, stands up to your critique. Agreed on the Reference Recordings Fantastique is a sonic blockbuster. The Munch with the BSO on RCA LSC is I think is my fav.

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

8 ай бұрын

Ya, amongst the top 4-5 that I own I'm quite sure it just comes down to personal taste as to which performance anyone will like the best!

I recently pulled out a non-classical record cut by Sidney Meyer. It was Hiroshi Suzuki's Cat and it distorts too during certain parts of the trombone solos on a couple of tracks. I love this album, but just can't listen to it because of that. I listen to it on KZread instead these days. I have a very good turntable with a very good tonearm and cartridge. I did my very best to set it up though I'm no Michael Fremer. I'm open to suggestions regarding where the problem may be in my setup, but until I'm able to fix it on my end I'm assuming that the record is cut too hot.

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

8 ай бұрын

Hello! I have the Yutaka Hirose - Nova +4 that she cut for WRWTFWW and it actually sounds really nice, The Rattle, Sibelius cycle and the Bernstein, Mahler cycle not so much.

How many bloody records do you have - are you sure you're not a record bank robber?-) I thought you were done with this series, can't stay away like the rest of us hehehe. I think its great to have these audiophile reissues of previously CRAP sounding DG titles. This particular one is a treat all around. Thanks for the great review!

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

8 ай бұрын

Haha! I really wasn't going to get any more of them but @poetryonplastic told me that the Boston records sounded so much better than the Vienna so I got them and he was right for sure!

"Psychedelic"? Well, that's a new and novel descriptor. I don't know I've ever heard it used as a means to describe... Then again, isn't that what makes music so special? Literature, poetry, prose of all sorts might be thought of as food/nurturance for one's brain. Music? Music is food for the soul! Hmmm...psychedelic soul...

if you dont wanna do a 45 min... maybe make it into 2 parts

How does it compare to the Kojian Utah?

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

4 ай бұрын

The Kojian Utah is in this review. Nothing really "sounds" better than the Kojian but the Ozawa is an all around better performance...to me.

RIP Marc Aubourt, he just passed.

@FLOWERINGSPIKES

8 ай бұрын

I had no idea, I love so much of his work!