Thread: Askenazy's Sibelius Symphonies from Exton

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Post by Geohominid April 18, 2008 (11 of 20)
nickc said:

Hi John
I was interested in both the Debussy and Sibelius discs, now I'm not so sure...With the Debussy when you say there is no signal from the centre/surrounds and give 1/5, do you mean that the MC section sounds 5 times worse than the stereo section, or that it sounds just the same and is a waste of time? If it was recorded in 2002 it could be a fake MC layer.
When were the Sibelius discs recorded? I thought they were fairly new so hopefully it would be a real MC layer.
Cheers
Nick

The Sibelius discs were recorded in 2006/2007 so one could indeed expect them to have the latest technology. I did mention in my review of the Debussy that I suspected a possible synthesis of surround from a stereo master, but in the light of the Sibelius discs with an identical surround syndrome it seems possible that my Debussy disc, also being a European issue, was from the same pressing plant and has the same factory problem. I'm awaiting comments on the whole situation from JPC, which is where I sourced the discs.
As far as the star rating goes, it is never as scientifically objective a process as I would hope, but being asked to rate surround sound when there was very little of it (and that of poor quality), that was where I landed. I wanted to draw the attention of the issuing company to this, if they ever look at the site. It certainly would be helpful if someone from Octavia was watching the forum and could help us with some comments - we need another 'Bissie' or 'Pentaman'!
This is all very irritating for all concerned and gets in the way of listening to some fine music!!
Cheers

Post by Geohominid April 18, 2008 (12 of 20)
fafnir said:

Having enjoyed Askenazy's Decca Sibelius very much over the last two decades or so, I ordered the 1&3, and 4&5 discs from MDT. They are currently in the mail. I will keep an open mind on the sound quality until they arrive; I don't know what to expect at this point. However, I am often in agreement with Daland concerning sound quality - much more so than with some others.

Exton seems to be extremely variable with respect to sound quality - some good (none really excellent) and some poor. I will toss in my opinion for what it's worth after I've heard them.

Fafnir,
I wish you good luck with your discs from the excellent MDT! If they also have the dud surround channels, then it would confirm suspicions of a pressing plant disaster, and if not then my discs were individually faulty. Like others, I really want to hear a new Ashkenazy Sibelius Cycle in top quality sound.
I'm beginning to think that buying SACD discs is rather like upgrading to new versions of Microsoft Windows - one needs to wait for some months until the wrinkles are out!

Geo

Post by Windsurfer April 19, 2008 (13 of 20)
Geohominid said:

Fafnir,
I wish you good luck with your discs from the excellent MDT! If they also have the dud surround channels, then it would confirm suspicions of a pressing plant disaster, and if not then my discs were individually faulty. Like others, I really want to hear a new Ashkenazy Sibelius Cycle in top quality sound.
I'm beginning to think that buying SACD discs is rather like upgrading to new versions of Microsoft Windows - one needs to wait for some months until the wrinkles are out!

Geo

This is all very depressing. I am glad I never made the plunge on these very expensive discs. 1 and 3 are coming off my wish list.

Post by Peter April 21, 2008 (14 of 20)
Windsurfer said:

This is all very depressing. I am glad I never made the plunge on these very expensive discs. 1 and 3 are coming off my wish list.

I've sampled this one: slightly disappointing performances, orchestra seems to be under-rehearsed compared with excellent playing from the Philharmonia. Recording, a mix of live and not live, a bit dead in stereo with little "atmosphere" and with a touch of the "Phase 4s", though the Philharmonia sounds distinctly lo-res in comparison; I hope LSO Live issue the remainder of Davis's cycle.....

Peter

Post by Peter April 21, 2008 (15 of 20)
Peter said:

I've sampled this one: slightly disappointing performances, orchestra seems to be under-rehearsed compared with excellent playing from the Philharmonia. Recording, a mix of live and not live, a bit dead in stereo with little "atmosphere" and with a touch of the "Phase 4s", though the Philharmonia sounds distinctly lo-res in comparison; I hope LSO Live issue the remainder of Davis's cycle.....

Peter

Sounds more rewarding through my less revealing smaller system, also stereo SACD.....

Post by Jonty April 22, 2008 (16 of 20)
Of course, quite why anyone would anything conducted by Ashkenazy is a mystery to me.

Post by Peter April 22, 2008 (17 of 20)
Peter said:

Sounds more rewarding through my less revealing smaller system, also stereo SACD.....

The Third is a more successful performance than the First, good playing and well-judged tempi. Glorious work!

Post by Peter April 22, 2008 (18 of 20)
Jonty said:

Of course, quite why anyone would anything conducted by Ashkenazy is a mystery to me.

I've had the Sibelius (Philharmonia) and Rachmaninov (Concertgebouw) cycles for years and still enjoy them, particularly the latter.

Can't comment on any other of VA's recordings as conductor, but have noticed some of his Shostakovich have been well received.

After listening to the First on Exton, yesterday, I compared with the Philharmonia/Decca and Maazel/VPO/Decca (which still sounds excellent). In the end I was most interested in what Maazel did with it. And the VPO's playing is *so* good!

Post by mahlerei April 22, 2008 (19 of 20)
Indeed, Ashkenazy's Shostakovich 5, 7 and 11 are very fine performances, as good as any in the catalogue. I would like to hear more Prokofiev from him - his Cleveland Cinderella is top notch - and I heard him conduct a cracking Nevsky at a special showing of Eisenstein's film.

Post by ramesh April 22, 2008 (20 of 20)
mahlerei said:
I heard him conduct a cracking Nevsky at a special showing of Eisenstein's film.

So did I.
When did you see that?

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