Another Reiner Chicago Symphony gem. I have the CD version that has Stravinsky's Song of the Nightingale as well. The best performance of that work ever. My favorite trumpet solo by Adolph Herseth is near the end of that work. I remember Norm Pellegrini said that Mr. Herseth was playing from slightly off stage with the stage door open during that solo and that's how he produced that beautiful tone color. After hearing this performance of Song of the Nightingale Stravinsky himself said that "Reiner's Chicago Symphony was the most precise and flexible orchestra in the world". I left my take on the best Planets and a few tidbits of trivia in the reply section you might find interesting.
I came across your thumbnail so I thought I'd add a comment. Scheherazade rang a bell from a guy who knows little about classical music. When I started getting back into vinyl, the thrift stores were one of the first places I'd visit. Classical records were almost always in great shape. My copy is RCA Victor LM-2208 Red Label from Feb 1959 Pierre Monteux with the LSO. I listened to it once probably 8 yrs ago. Today I will give it another listen. I'm so happy I kept it! Can't wait for the violin solo.
That's a great one too! It often gets overlooked next to Reiner's but it's a nice record. I have the mono and stereo and the mono is very good. Cool cover too!
Well I wouldn't worry about it, these are fine differences between several excellent versions. If you love the record, the AP is one to consider. It's a beauty.
@@ThePressingMatters I put the A.P. in my wishlist but I need to play my old one again since it's been awhile. My "Royal Ballet Gala" along with a few others are coming today. Yay!
@chrislj2890 keep me updated with your listening impressions. Maybe leave a comment in the Royal Ballet Gala video. th-cam.com/video/gQbvnT-KhNE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=6XA5dTBYf2AvGuRf
I only have the 45rpm Analogue Productions and it’s what I like to call “an event” album like The Wall or Sgt Pepper, absolutely fantastic and so glad to hear how highly you rate the AP!
I just purchased this record as well as the Stokowsky Rhapsodies from AP both in 45 RPM. They are both absolutely brilliant. My house was shaking. The dynamics go from quiet as a whisper to booming thunder. Hands down two of my best sounding records.
That one is on my list to get next from the series. I haven't tried the 45s yet, but I have most of the Classics. I have a review of Power of the Orchestra coming up this week!
loving your channel! I'm working my way through the classical library playlist. It's so hard to find someone knowledgeable about classical music in this format, thanks!
Thank you so much for your comment! There are classical videos scattered through the channel on different playlists as well. Glad you are enjoying what I'm doing. Thank you so much for watching! Take care, Scott
Though I don’t (yet) own it on vinyl, I know this recording and is legendary, and if you were to have only one recording of Scheherazade, it should probably be this one. The one performance I currently own is Monteux‘s, which I think is equally essential. For anyone who doesn’t know it, definitely check out Kondrashin‘s gorgeous recording for Philips with the Concertgebouw.
I do have the Monteux as well, a good one as well, but not the Kondrashin, which I will check out. Trying to remember what label that performance is on. Nevertheless, the Reiner is something you'll want to check out, it a jewel in the Living Stereo crown. Thanks so much for watching and please let me know the label for the Kondrashin version.
Great review., Hopefully one day you will share your top 10 classical albums. I am just getting into this and so guidance would certainly help. Thanks for a very informative review.
Great video. I have the same album and it does sound great in my stereo system. Highly recommended to any vinyl collector and a good album to test your sound system 🤘🏽👍🏽🤙🏽
Hi, there has been some renewed interest in this video, probably because of my continuing championing of the AP series. I noticed I had missed responding to you. First, thank you for the encouragement and your own impression of this record on your system. I do too often use the final segment, as a demonstration and reference for big scale dynamics and other aspects of this great recording. Thank you for watching and I hope you're still following the reviews that followed this one. I'd love your input.
Great video on one of the greatest! The reason I guessed right was there was an old issue of The Absolute Sound where the reviewer of some audio gear said Chad came up to him at a show and handed him the Scheherazade and said "You gotta hear this." So my guess was based on that. In another issue of the same audio journal, Harry Pearson reviewing Classic Records, suggested to Classic in print, that they should get some Conrad Johnson tube amps and cut their records with them. Classic records then at some point did change over to tube amps to cut their records; and they started sounding better. If found on the used market; there might be someone out there who knows how to distinguish which ones were tube cut. The .5 Scheherazadd is a rare one; never seen that cover. The 200g records always seem to sound better than the 180g. The biggest jump in sound was discernible on some Classic Records rock titles. Of course how these records sound depends on stylus shape, equipment balance etc. I threw a little brainteaser in with my last comment. What does "headaches" have to do with Scheherazade? It is the longest word you can make using just the letters in the word Scheherazade. Sounds like something out of the daily New York Times crossword puzzle I know. Their difficulty ranges from easiest on Sundays and progressively harder through Saturday; with of course Saturdays crossword being the hardest.
Thank you! Yes I remember all of that era and the criticism from HP leading to the switch to tubes. I'd really like to know when it happened. I thought it was when they started the 45s but it may have happened earlier. This was an early title and definitely transistor. A great listen, but I can see where the strings might come off a bit dry. The 45 Classic of this is better and I hope to see the AP 45 back in stock soon. Have you ever noticed the congestion I'm referring to in the first side of the record? I think it's on the tape as they all have it.
I could not for the life of me figure out your brain teaser! Also I'm surprised you feel the 200gm Classics sound better. I had bought all the 189s and the few 200s I tried has noise issues. Their Clarity made it even worse.
@@ThePressingMatters I haven't played it in a while. I'm not sure I noticed that congestion. I did have the white dog and it didn't sound as good as the shaded dog. No one has mentioned the Living Stereo CD or SACD. I was underwhelmed with the RCA SACD's. I don't have the Scheherazede SACD. But comparing the Reiner SACD of Pictures At An Exhibition & the SACD of Fielders renowned Gaite Parisienne with the regular Living Stereo redbook cds of those same titles, when I put on the SACD (same player) it sounded like there wasn't as much color to the timbre. Yes, there was a little more air and smoothness with the SACD, but not as interesting tone colors. In the RCA booklet which accompanies the SACDs, RCA mentions that they used Siltech brand cables in their mastering. Is that a characteristic of Siltech, or was it something else? Some SACDs really do sonically impress. I do have an extra copy (still sealed) of the out of print Britten's Orchestra, on Reference Recordings SACD, which in a featured review, The Absolute Sound hinted that it was the ultimate SACD for sound quality.
I originally bought the 33 AP & loved it. Unfortunately there's a part on my copy on side 1 that is quite noisy (live in Canada so couldn't return). After that kept bugging me, I decided to upgrade to the 45 to see the difference. It was even more incredible. Just everything more open, more dynamic, more lush string tone, etc. Everything you would expect from a 45rpm upgrade. If I could assign a numerical improvement, I would say the 45 is about 15% better than the 33. Personally, I would recommend the 45 upgrade, but as you said, the 33 is just about there & a fantastic listen. Great vid!
Hi, thanks for your comment! That's too bad about the 33, I know it's tough if you are outside of the US to do exchanges etc. Now, you have me contemplating the 45! Thanks a lot, lol. I know my Classic 45 is an upgrade over their 33, but I didn't want to include it in this shootout. Now if I do get the new 45, I will do an update on this. Tell me do you hear the congestion in parts on side one, or is it resolved on the new 45? I think it's the recording. It's just hard to hear clear separation in those sections. I think you'll probably know where on the side I'm talking about. I think it's side one, first movement in the 45.
@@ThePressingMatters It may be the recording itself (seems to be present on a few Living Stereos), but I believe that overall the separation has improved quite significantly. The major difference I honestly hear between 33s and 45s in general is just a more open and realistic environment. Better soundstage and depth to the music. On my system, I never really noticed much congestion whilst playing the 45 but it was a bit more noticeable on the 33.
@@1770Vinyl Right, it's less apparent on the 45 for sure, I guess the extra room allows for these details to be resolved more clearly. Thanks for getting back to me on that!
Great review! I have all the Classic Records Living Stereos (including some 45s) and am slowly getting the AP versions. I think Sheherazade was one of the earliest Classics to be done, and some adjustments in the masterings took place with later titles, mainly to damp down the "ferocity" in the string sound. I have to say that I love the Classic versions - there's an energy and immediacy which isn't exactly lacking in the AP versions, but which comes across with more vividness on the Classic reissues. (Having said that, the Classic Scheherazade is one that really can benefit from a remastering). Now I have an all-tube system, so the brightness in the strings isn't so much of an issue, and to me it sounds just the way that strings sound if you are playing in the orchestra or sitting up close. This is all a matter of taste, and this Scheherazade by AP is my next purchase. I wish, wish Chad would release the other fabulous and less well-known Living Stereos put out by Classic. There are some wonderful records - eg. Clair de Lune (one of my absolute favorites) and the Prokofiev 2nd piano concerto amongst others.
Thank you, and thanks for the great comment. I remember well anticipating those first 10 titles from Classic! It was a big deal - original artwork and almost shaded dog labels! Do you recall if they switched to tube equipment for the 45's? I'll have to look back but I am under the impression that all the 33s were transistor and then they made the switch. I think that was due to criticism of the string sound. I do hope Chad does a third series and includes titles like Claire de Lune (great!) and some that hadn't been done by Classic. I'm hoping too they all stay in print as I'm just starting with these. I also picked up the Munch Bolero Ravel disc and the Van Cliburn Prokofiev / MacDowell concerto disc, as my originals on those needed an upgrade. It's an exciting project and it's great to finally have jackets that do these records justice! Just lovely.
@@ThePressingMatters I'm not sure that classical is a priority for Chad, but I agree - wish he would do some more. I didn't know about the possible switch from transistors to tube for the 45s. Need to register.....
Hi Scott. Please review the Faust you recently got - I saw your review over on Acoustic Sounds. I can’t find videos or anywhere to stream this so no idea what to expect.
@@ThePressingMatters oh nice! You don’t have to do that, haha. Thank you though. Mike Esposito was saying that this album is apparently highly sought after and raved about, so I was hoping to find something more in depth to see if I need to jump on it before it’s back off the presses.
I have a 14s/11s shaded dog. The side one is fine enough sounding, but the side two is amazing. The legend was the 11s is the best cut for side two, and the 13s best for side one.
I found another copy in my garage collection, I've got to check if it's 11s. Side two forth movement is one of the best things RCA ever did! Over whelming!
Hi Scott, Thank you so much for this video. I have always loved this recording. The copy I've been listening to is from the Living Stereo box set. It has a CD produced in 1995 from a DSD master. I also stream on TIDAL and can listen to two versions, a 24/192 from 2005 or 2010. No further information is available about what they sourced from. Based on your review here I just ordered the gold CD from Analogue Productions from 2015. If it's from the same mastering as your LP, my hope is that it will sound as good. My point is that I wouldn't have known if it weren't for your review. I've now signed up on the AP website and can check for available music on CD. I can't run with the vinyl crowd. It's just too difficult and costly. I learn and benefit from your reviews. Thanks again, Ray
You're welcome, Ray. I wish I still had all my Living Stereo CDs because i intend to add disc playback to my system soon. I abandoned it a few decades ago and original CDs can be quite good. Not to mention cheaper and blessedly free of the small annoyances with vinyl. I'd say if you don't already have a substantial investment in a record collection, it would be silly to spend what you'd need to to get into vinyl. It's fun for sure but expensive for a good setup and software to play on it. Plus hunting for CDs is cheap and easy these days. Thanks for watching - glad I touched on one of your favorites!
Hi Scott, what about this one : Rimsky-Korsakov / Scheherazade / Ansermet / Suisse Romande; London Records - CS 6212 ? the Ansermet recording on Decca/London can not only hold its own with the Reiner on RCA, but beat it in virtually every area. The presentation and the sound itself are both more relaxed and natural, even when compared to the best RCA pressings. The emotional content of the first three movements (all of side one) under Ansermet’s direction are clearly superior. The roller-coaster excitement Reiner and the CSO bring to the fourth movement cannot be faulted, or equaled. In every other way, Ansermet’s performance is the one for me. The hall the Suisse Romande recorded in was possibly the best recording venue of its day, possibly of all time. More amazing sounding recordings were made there than in any other hall we know of. There is a solidity and richness to the sound beyond all others, yet clarity and transparency are not sacrificed in the least. It’s as wide, deep and three-dimensional as any, which is of course all to the good, but what makes the sound of these recordings so special is the weight and power of the brass, combined with unerring timbral accuracy of the instruments in every section of the orchestra. ( Cheers from switzerland, luca)
Im going to pull that out for a spin on your recommendation. I love the ANSERMET series on London, lots of gems but I may have overlooked his version of this classic. I know I have at least the blueback and a stereo treasury. Will let you know! Thanks
You're absolutely right Luca. That hall in Geneva is a special place. I read one time that Sir Georg Solti said that wooden halls are the best and I believe the Victoria Hall must have a lot of wooden surfaces that make the fabulous acoustics.
That was an excellent video, thank you! However I have to say that my experience with this analogue production record is not pleasant. The pitch is not consistent. Maybe a problem with the center hole? Thank you again for your wonderful videos!
Thank you Thomas! AP has had problems with centering records. My copy was not affected but when I get anything off center, the pitch variation will drive me crazy and I'll exchange it. Did you get the earlier 200gm pressing?
I Hi Jason, No i have never done one for the Planets but I will be covering all the major classical works over time and I will definitely pick a favorite Planets and pull together a few pressings of it. Do you have a particular favorite? I have so many versions - Boult, Previn, Mehta, and more. Let me know!
Karajan's classic 1961 version with the Vienna Philharmonic is the best. Karajan's Mars has that wonderful sinister quality like an army of evil ants is coming to take over the world. The big string tune Jupiter is really beautiful and perfectly balanced with the French horns. The deep organ pedals under the radiant strings at the end of Saturn are gorgeous. The ethereal, disembodied women chorus in Neptune is just right. I really believe that this Planets is one of Karajan's finest recordings. Little bit of trivia. The Vienna Philharmonic is the only orchestra in the world that uses natural skin heads on their timpanis and you can really hear that distinctive quality in this recording. They must be murder to keep in tune.
Solti was recording Wagner's Ring during that same time when Karajan did the Planets. I believe Wagner's addage contributed to the burnished quality of the brass in Karajan's VPO Planets.
Great video, Scott. Do you have the AP pressing of the Living Stereo version of Belafonte at Carnegie Hall? That would be a good listen and might make for an interesting video.
Hi John, I do not have the AP but I do have several RCA black dog pressings and the Classic 33 and the 8LP 45 box. I recall at the time I had a non audiophile friend come over for a shootout of original vs Classic. We both preferred the original. It be interesting to revisit this now that I have upgraded some things and the APs are available. I guess I'd need to spring for their 45 box set. Lol! This hobby is fascinating but you need $$$! I sometimes wonder how I afford it but I guess being single no children helps!
Let me guess. The Analogue Productions, and I never even heard it.. I heard the Chesky and it sounded so smoothed over compared to a 1s/2s shaded dog. Notre Dame at this time is upsetting Ohio St., who a lot of people picked to win the national title.. The RCA point 5.would be an even bigger upset. I can't wait.
Haha that was funny. Well I'll give you one clue, it is not the .5 series reissue. My shaded dog was not a first pressing and a bit worse for the wear. That leaves three remaining.
Scheherezade is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever, and that Reiner interpretation is a great one. Maybe for someone just getting into classical music, that would be a great first classical record and introduction into classical. Back to the football.
@@ThePressingMatters I didn't even realize there was any video content yet. You learn something new every day.. Here's a question for later in the morning today. Maybe people can ponder this when they're in church or going to church. What does "headaches" have to do with "Scheherazade"?
You guessed correctly! The original is a beauty, but I need to search out an earlier one . There is a certain magic in the original RCA's but a few drawbacks. I think AP got the balance just about right. It's a modern take of it with respect to the original.
I only have the AP 33rpm version and agree it is STUNNING. Every vinyl collector should have a copy in their collection. I've been collecting the AP 33rpm RCA Living Stereo titles for about five years and have over three dozen. The quality is consistently outstanding across the series, all sound about as good as you described the AP 33 Scheherazade to be. And the great news is that many are still available at Acoustic Sounds and similar retailers, most for $40 each. Some of the sold-out ones later get repressed (this is how I got Scheherazade after waiting a couple years for it), so anyone who wants to get a collection going can certainly do so. Also, may I just add: the jackets are beautiful. Heavy, Stoughton-like. Top-quality paper and printing with vibrant colors really show off the beauty of the cover art. It's not why we buy vinyl instead of CDs, but it sure is a LOT nicer to hold one of these jackets and really enjoy the beauty of the cover art at full size compared to a 4x4" CD booklet that looks very mass-produced on average paper. Warmest regards to you and your subscribers, Ron Kenosha WI
Hi Ron, Thanks for your comment and experience with the series. I'm very impressed with the three I bought and want them all now! May as well Vite the bullet and get the second subscription lol. But no, I will add a few every month. I did get the Munch Bolero and Van Cliburn Prokofiev in addition to Scheherazade. I'm trying to start with stuff that Classic didn't release or titles in which my originals need an upgrade. I'm fortunate to have amassed a good amount of original pressings. I really forgot to mention it and I'm glad you brought it up - these jackets are the best ever for these Living Stereo titles. That Munch Bolero is stunning as is the other two. Finally everything done right including the labels! It's a joy to handle them. Thanks again for tuning in!
Glad I have the AP, though your repress is probably better since in my experience APs surface noise got lower over time, maybe by ditching that 200 gram format. I know some prefer the Cheskys to many of the AP which sounds possible to me if they are from the 3 track but I just cant stand those covers. How does the Classic 45 compare by the way? If theres one area it would improve I would assume it to be the crescendos. I did buy and compare The Fountains / Pines of Rome AP33 and 45 and in that case the difference was quite small, just a little brighter tone overall and a somewhat less rolled off sound on the crescendos of the 45, but not a big gain for all the cons like price, flipping and break of musical flow.
Hi Leon, I hope to get mostly 180s from this series, because I think they generally come out quieter. I had no noise al all on this. Was like a tape. I like the Chesky records but more so for the Readers Digest material. The RCA stuff is good but yeah the cover art is just terrible. Especially the typography! The 45 is spectacular in climaxes. That forth side is jaw dropping, but I prefer this on 33 due to continuity and this AP is just as enjoyable. I am really curious about their 45, but I want to pick up more titles from the 33 series first m, especially those not done by Classic. Thanks for watching as always, and for the great comment!
even though you reviewed this 11 months ago, just now caught it. Nice review. Concur with comments. There are two comments I would add. 1. the RCA .5 series was labeled to indicate 1/2 speed mastering as you noted. But many audiophiles said it was called .5 series because this version left half the music out. 2. There was a pressing version in between the white dog and the dynaflex versions. This version used the red label with the white RCA lettering of to the side but was pressed on 140 gram vinyl. This era was a transition point for RCA. The WD era was over and RCA was still pressing classical titles. These early thick red label pressings can sound quite good. They were all cut with early transistor electronics so do not have the nice string tone of the Shaded Dog but can be more dynamic with better bass response. The WD is also good if a person can find an early INDY pressing. This title sold tons and tons of copies for RCA back in the day so believe all 4 pressing RCA plants were making this. Pass on the Hollywood pressings; Rockaway pressings can be ok but are usually 2nd fiddle to Indy pressings.
Great comment! Yes, I remember the seeing the original comment about the .5 Series in an issue of TAS. It was very influential and probably put a big damper on the .5 Series. Do you expect there was a digital step in that series? I always wondered about that. I have half a dozen of them, and I look forward to revisiting a few in future shootouts. . That transitional period did occasionally produce really nice records. I would always check out an Indy pressing from that period. Agree with all your points on the pressing plants. Such a fascinating label to collect! Have you determined your favorite pressing of this record?
@@ThePressingMatters The digital transition is a good Q. I do not know for sure one way or the other if a digital master was used on the .5 series or not. I do know RCA was experimenting with early digital transfers at that time. as far as my fav pressing would have to say the AP 45 RPM set. Its a true demo record. This piece of music was recorded by so many labels and orchestras. The Reiner CSO is probably the best reading. Sonically there are others that are excellent. The Metha / LA phil version Decca recorded is good and was re-issued by King Records on their laboratory series. The King pressing has sonics that are blockbuster; just excellent. This King version has SQ that can go toe to toe with the AP 45 RPM Reiner version. Toshiba-EMI also released a 45 RPM version cut on two discs for the Japan DAM club. Hayes Middlesex cut the lacquers and Toshiba pressed it on super quiet vinyl. Its also a demo type record. The US Mercury recording is nice but does not have the excellent reading the Reiner version has. There are many more but those are the versions that come to mind.
I can only imagine side 4 of the 45, if it's anything like the Classic 45. Whenever I spin that my jaw is on the floor and I want to jump up and applaud lol. Im curious if you have ever found a .5 you thought was an improvement on came before.
@@ThePressingMatters yes, quite so on the AP 45. Do not know how all of the RCA .5 series compared to the originals. I originally had 5 or 6 of the .5 series. All of these I tried were inferior to the SD originals, WD and RCA red label issues. After batting zero out of 6 I quit buying any more. All of the .5 series are all long gone now. They hit the trade pile many moons ago.
@@mcgjohn22 I hung on to them and it's fun for me to include them now in these shootouts. Eventually I'll be thinning out all these lesser duplicate versions and keeping one original and the best reissue. The .5s I have from memory are The Reiner Strauss, Scheherazade, and Mussorgsky, the Van Cliburn, The Rubinstein Rachmaninoff, and Munch Debussy and Saint Saens.
Hi, thanks for the wonderful review. I am new to your videos and I have just subscribed. I want to buy this lp this but I want to make sure I purchase the right one. Was this pressing from 2013 or more recent. 2023 ? I know it is from analogue productions. Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer. I can't wait to start watching more of your reviews etc. Kind regards, John
Hi John! Welcome to the channel and thank you for your kind words. I bought my copy a month before that video was done. So it's the most recent 180gm pressing. It's a beauty. Do you have any other or would this be your first vinyl pressing of the album?
John, You can be confident that the currently available pressing is the same as the one reviewed here. If you do end up getting it please get back to me with your impressions. I'd love to hear your reaction!
Many thanks for this! FYI, I believe Reiner recorded Scheherezade with Chicago twice, in 1954 and 1960. If memory serves, Reiner had changed string seating between the two, as well. In 1954, Reiner had 1st and 2nd violins on opposite sides of the stage, etc. They should sound very distinctly different, and not just in terms of sound quality. Anyway, it would be really helpful if you could include specific references, e.g., unique catalog numbers. Thanks again.
Hi, and thank you for your comments! I do recall hearing about an unusual string section layout, but the earlier recording is in mono, so I'm not sure how that comes across or if it's even detectable. I've not heard that version. I will be more specific on catalog numbers and matrix information going forward. Great suggestion!
@@ThePressingMatters There were early RCA Living Presence recordings of Reiner and the CSO in stereo, going all the way back to 1954. Anyway, the earlier seating method, with 1st and 2nd violins on opposite sides of the stage was not at all unusual at the time. Recording was the reason for the change, in fact. Recording requires greater attention to perfection than live performance and it's easier for the violins to be in tune and bowing with each other when 1st and 2nd are grouped in closer proximity. They were traditionally seated on opposite sides until the advent of the recording era.
@spodvoll That's right, many appeared on two track tape before the advent of the stereo disc. I am not aware of another Reiner Scheherazade in stereo though. Is there one?
@@ThePressingMatters I have a dim recollection of an earlier stereo version but could be mistaken. Reiner’s first stereo recordings were in 1954 I think.
@@spodvoll I think one of the early ones that made it to stereo disc was LSC 1806 Richard Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra. That was a two track recording that was available earlier on stereo two track tape. There were a few other too from this period. I believe they were recording stereo in the years leading up to the introduction of stereo disc technology and some of these came out on tape first. They had a nice backlog of stereo recordings to make a splash with the announcement of the Living Stereo line. Such a fascinating history. If you've never seen them, check out TH-cam for some of the early promotional films the did pre stereo and with the introduction of stereo. Really fun stuff!
Thanks for another great videos, Scott. Oddly, I bought the AP 45 before buying the AP 33. Both are superb-the AP is the only one I’ve heard that does the incredible CSO brass section justice, particularly tubist Arnold Jacobs. Just amazing! The slight edge in sound quality of the 45 is, for me, offset by the opportunity to luxuriate in two movements at a time before having to flip the side. As for that fourth movement, it is doubly stunning to consider that it was recorded in one take!
@@ThePressingMatters Probably kids that didn't grow up with them like I did. My stereo back in the day when I was a poor college kid living on blood donations and food stamps was piss poor compared to mine today. My current turntable cost more than that whole system. Everything sounded the same on that system. I still have my old Technics belt drive and use it occasionally at another location. Luckily it has a speed strobe so I can keep the speed relatively correct with frequent corrections
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 84 วันนี้!! คู่เอก "ก้องศึก vs เมืองไทย"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3kuzsAIDf1c/mqdefault.jpg)
Another Reiner Chicago Symphony gem. I have the CD version that has Stravinsky's Song of the Nightingale as well. The best performance of that work ever. My favorite trumpet solo by Adolph Herseth is near the end of that work. I remember Norm Pellegrini said that Mr. Herseth was playing from slightly off stage with the stage door open during that solo and that's how he produced that beautiful tone color. After hearing this performance of Song of the Nightingale Stravinsky himself said that "Reiner's Chicago Symphony was the most precise and flexible orchestra in the world".
I left my take on the best Planets and a few tidbits of trivia in the reply section you might find interesting.
I came across your thumbnail so I thought I'd add a comment. Scheherazade rang a bell from a guy who knows little about classical music. When I started getting back into vinyl, the thrift stores were one of the first places I'd visit. Classical records were almost always in great shape. My copy is RCA Victor LM-2208 Red Label from Feb 1959 Pierre Monteux with the LSO. I listened to it once probably 8 yrs ago. Today I will give it another listen. I'm so happy I kept it! Can't wait for the violin solo.
That's a great one too! It often gets overlooked next to Reiner's but it's a nice record. I have the mono and stereo and the mono is very good. Cool cover too!
I have the Classic Records version I bought back in the '90s and was happy with it. Now you've got me second guessing, lol.
Well I wouldn't worry about it, these are fine differences between several excellent versions. If you love the record, the AP is one to consider. It's a beauty.
@@ThePressingMatters
I put the A.P. in my wishlist but I need to play my old one again since it's been awhile. My "Royal Ballet Gala" along with a few others are coming today. Yay!
@chrislj2890 keep me updated with your listening impressions. Maybe leave a comment in the Royal Ballet Gala video.
th-cam.com/video/gQbvnT-KhNE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=6XA5dTBYf2AvGuRf
@@ThePressingMatters
Will do. 😊
I sent you a reply in the Royal ballet video!
I only have the 45rpm Analogue Productions and it’s what I like to call “an event” album like The Wall or Sgt Pepper, absolutely fantastic and so glad to hear how highly you rate the AP!
Hi Paul, that's a very good characterization of this album! Now I want the 45 too! Thanks for tuning in again and for your comments. Always welcome!
I just purchased this record as well as the Stokowsky Rhapsodies from AP both in 45 RPM. They are both absolutely brilliant. My house was shaking. The dynamics go from quiet as a whisper to booming thunder. Hands down two of my best sounding records.
That one is on my list to get next from the series. I haven't tried the 45s yet, but I have most of the Classics. I have a review of Power of the Orchestra coming up this week!
loving your channel! I'm working my way through the classical library playlist. It's so hard to find someone knowledgeable about classical music in this format, thanks!
Thank you so much for your comment! There are classical videos scattered through the channel on different playlists as well. Glad you are enjoying what I'm doing. Thank you so much for watching! Take care,
Scott
Though I don’t (yet) own it on vinyl, I know this recording and is legendary, and if you were to have only one recording of Scheherazade, it should probably be this one. The one performance I currently own is Monteux‘s, which I think is equally essential. For anyone who doesn’t know it, definitely check out Kondrashin‘s gorgeous recording for Philips with the Concertgebouw.
I do have the Monteux as well, a good one as well, but not the Kondrashin, which I will check out. Trying to remember what label that performance is on. Nevertheless, the Reiner is something you'll want to check out, it a jewel in the Living Stereo crown. Thanks so much for watching and please let me know the label for the Kondrashin version.
Great to see a member of vc that promotes orchestral concert music, keep it up!
Im so glad there is such a good response. More good stuff coming! Thank you for the support and encouragement!
Great review., Hopefully one day you will share your top 10 classical albums. I am just getting into this and so guidance would certainly help. Thanks for a very informative review.
That's a great idea - maybe I'll do a top ten for the next classical video! Glad you liked it.
Thank you so much. That would be awesome! Again thanks for the review.
Great video. I have the same album and it does sound great in my stereo system. Highly recommended to any vinyl collector and a good album to test your sound system 🤘🏽👍🏽🤙🏽
Hi, there has been some renewed interest in this video, probably because of my continuing championing of the AP series. I noticed I had missed responding to you. First, thank you for the encouragement and your own impression of this record on your system. I do too often use the final segment, as a demonstration and reference for big scale dynamics and other aspects of this great recording. Thank you for watching and I hope you're still following the reviews that followed this one. I'd love your input.
Great video on one of the greatest! The reason I guessed right was there was an old issue of The Absolute Sound where the reviewer of some audio gear said Chad came up to him at a show and handed him the Scheherazade and said "You gotta hear this." So my guess was based on that. In another issue of the same audio journal, Harry Pearson reviewing Classic Records, suggested to Classic in print, that they should get some Conrad Johnson tube amps and cut their records with them. Classic records then at some point did change over to tube amps to cut their records; and they started sounding better. If found on the used market; there might be someone out there who knows how to distinguish which ones were tube cut.
The .5 Scheherazadd is a rare one; never seen that cover. The 200g records always seem to sound better than the 180g. The biggest jump in sound was discernible on some Classic Records rock titles.
Of course how these records sound depends on stylus shape, equipment balance etc. I threw a little brainteaser in with my last comment. What does "headaches" have to do with Scheherazade? It is the longest word you can make using just the letters in the word Scheherazade. Sounds like something out of the daily New York Times crossword puzzle I know. Their difficulty ranges from easiest on Sundays and progressively harder through Saturday; with of course Saturdays crossword being the hardest.
Thank you! Yes I remember all of that era and the criticism from HP leading to the switch to tubes. I'd really like to know when it happened. I thought it was when they started the 45s but it may have happened earlier. This was an early title and definitely transistor. A great listen, but I can see where the strings might come off a bit dry. The 45 Classic of this is better and I hope to see the AP 45 back in stock soon. Have you ever noticed the congestion I'm referring to in the first side of the record? I think it's on the tape as they all have it.
I could not for the life of me figure out your brain teaser!
Also I'm surprised you feel the 200gm Classics sound better. I had bought all the 189s and the few 200s I tried has noise issues. Their Clarity made it even worse.
@@ThePressingMatters I haven't played it in a while. I'm not sure I noticed that congestion. I did have the white dog and it didn't sound as good as the shaded dog. No one has mentioned the Living Stereo CD or SACD. I was underwhelmed with the RCA SACD's. I don't have the Scheherazede SACD. But comparing the Reiner SACD of Pictures At An Exhibition & the SACD of Fielders renowned Gaite Parisienne with the regular Living Stereo redbook cds of those same titles, when I put on the SACD (same player) it sounded like there wasn't as much color to the timbre. Yes, there was a little more air and smoothness with the SACD, but not as interesting tone colors. In the RCA booklet which accompanies the SACDs, RCA mentions that they used Siltech brand cables in their mastering. Is that a characteristic of Siltech, or was it something else?
Some SACDs really do sonically impress. I do have an extra copy (still sealed) of the out of print Britten's Orchestra, on Reference Recordings SACD, which in a featured review, The Absolute Sound hinted that it was the ultimate SACD for sound quality.
I originally bought the 33 AP & loved it. Unfortunately there's a part on my copy on side 1 that is quite noisy (live in Canada so couldn't return). After that kept bugging me, I decided to upgrade to the 45 to see the difference. It was even more incredible. Just everything more open, more dynamic, more lush string tone, etc. Everything you would expect from a 45rpm upgrade. If I could assign a numerical improvement, I would say the 45 is about 15% better than the 33. Personally, I would recommend the 45 upgrade, but as you said, the 33 is just about there & a fantastic listen. Great vid!
Hi, thanks for your comment! That's too bad about the 33, I know it's tough if you are outside of the US to do exchanges etc. Now, you have me contemplating the 45! Thanks a lot, lol. I know my Classic 45 is an upgrade over their 33, but I didn't want to include it in this shootout. Now if I do get the new 45, I will do an update on this. Tell me do you hear the congestion in parts on side one, or is it resolved on the new 45? I think it's the recording. It's just hard to hear clear separation in those sections. I think you'll probably know where on the side I'm talking about. I think it's side one, first movement in the 45.
@@ThePressingMatters It may be the recording itself (seems to be present on a few Living Stereos), but I believe that overall the separation has improved quite significantly. The major difference I honestly hear between 33s and 45s in general is just a more open and realistic environment. Better soundstage and depth to the music. On my system, I never really noticed much congestion whilst playing the 45 but it was a bit more noticeable on the 33.
@@1770Vinyl Right, it's less apparent on the 45 for sure, I guess the extra room allows for these details to be resolved more clearly. Thanks for getting back to me on that!
Great review! I have all the Classic Records Living Stereos (including some 45s) and am slowly getting the AP versions. I think Sheherazade was one of the earliest Classics to be done, and some adjustments in the masterings took place with later titles, mainly to damp down the "ferocity" in the string sound. I have to say that I love the Classic versions - there's an energy and immediacy which isn't exactly lacking in the AP versions, but which comes across with more vividness on the Classic reissues. (Having said that, the Classic Scheherazade is one that really can benefit from a remastering). Now I have an all-tube system, so the brightness in the strings isn't so much of an issue, and to me it sounds just the way that strings sound if you are playing in the orchestra or sitting up close. This is all a matter of taste, and this Scheherazade by AP is my next purchase. I wish, wish Chad would release the other fabulous and less well-known Living Stereos put out by Classic. There are some wonderful records - eg. Clair de Lune (one of my absolute favorites) and the Prokofiev 2nd piano concerto amongst others.
Thank you, and thanks for the great comment. I remember well anticipating those first 10 titles from Classic! It was a big deal - original artwork and almost shaded dog labels! Do you recall if they switched to tube equipment for the 45's? I'll have to look back but I am under the impression that all the 33s were transistor and then they made the switch. I think that was due to criticism of the string sound. I do hope Chad does a third series and includes titles like Claire de Lune (great!) and some that hadn't been done by Classic. I'm hoping too they all stay in print as I'm just starting with these. I also picked up the Munch Bolero Ravel disc and the Van Cliburn Prokofiev / MacDowell concerto disc, as my originals on those needed an upgrade. It's an exciting project and it's great to finally have jackets that do these records justice! Just lovely.
@@ThePressingMatters I'm not sure that classical is a priority for Chad, but I agree - wish he would do some more. I didn't know about the possible switch from transistors to tube for the 45s. Need to register.....
Hi Scott. Please review the Faust you recently got - I saw your review over on Acoustic Sounds. I can’t find videos or anywhere to stream this so no idea what to expect.
I plan to, Micheal. Next up is Power of the Orchestra this week. Next one I will do Faust. Let me see if I can locate it on Spotify for you.
@@ThePressingMatters oh nice! You don’t have to do that, haha. Thank you though. Mike Esposito was saying that this album is apparently highly sought after and raved about, so I was hoping to find something more in depth to see if I need to jump on it before it’s back off the presses.
I have a 14s/11s shaded dog. The side one is fine enough sounding, but the side two is amazing. The legend was the 11s is the best cut for side two, and the 13s best for side one.
I found another copy in my garage collection, I've got to check if it's 11s. Side two forth movement is one of the best things RCA ever did! Over whelming!
@@ThePressingMatters I believe the fourth movement was done in one take. Astonishing.
Absolutely. It's legendary for a reason!
Hi Scott, Thank you so much for this video. I have always loved this recording. The copy I've been listening to is from the Living Stereo box set. It has a CD produced in 1995 from a DSD master. I also stream on TIDAL and can listen to two versions, a 24/192 from 2005 or 2010. No further information is available about what they sourced from. Based on your review here I just ordered the gold CD from Analogue Productions from 2015. If it's from the same mastering as your LP, my hope is that it will sound as good. My point is that I wouldn't have known if it weren't for your review. I've now signed up on the AP website and can check for available music on CD. I can't run with the vinyl crowd. It's just too difficult and costly. I learn and benefit from your reviews. Thanks again, Ray
You're welcome, Ray. I wish I still had all my Living Stereo CDs because i intend to add disc playback to my system soon. I abandoned it a few decades ago and original CDs can be quite good. Not to mention cheaper and blessedly free of the small annoyances with vinyl. I'd say if you don't already have a substantial investment in a record collection, it would be silly to spend what you'd need to to get into vinyl. It's fun for sure but expensive for a good setup and software to play on it. Plus hunting for CDs is cheap and easy these days. Thanks for watching - glad I touched on one of your favorites!
Hi Scott, what about this one : Rimsky-Korsakov / Scheherazade / Ansermet / Suisse Romande; London Records - CS 6212 ? the Ansermet recording on Decca/London can not only hold its own with the Reiner on RCA, but beat it in virtually every area. The presentation and the sound itself are both more relaxed and natural, even when compared to the best RCA pressings. The emotional content of the first three movements (all of side one) under Ansermet’s direction are clearly superior. The roller-coaster excitement Reiner and the CSO bring to the fourth movement cannot be faulted, or equaled. In every other way, Ansermet’s performance is the one for me. The hall the Suisse Romande recorded in was possibly the best recording venue of its day, possibly of all time. More amazing sounding recordings were made there than in any other hall we know of. There is a solidity and richness to the sound beyond all others, yet clarity and transparency are not sacrificed in the least.
It’s as wide, deep and three-dimensional as any, which is of course all to the good, but what makes the sound of these recordings so special is the weight and power of the brass, combined with unerring timbral accuracy of the instruments in every section of the orchestra. ( Cheers from switzerland, luca)
Im going to pull that out for a spin on your recommendation. I love the ANSERMET series on London, lots of gems but I may have overlooked his version of this classic. I know I have at least the blueback and a stereo treasury. Will let you know! Thanks
You're absolutely right Luca. That hall in Geneva is a special place. I read one time that Sir Georg Solti said that wooden halls are the best and I believe the Victoria Hall must have a lot of wooden surfaces that make the fabulous acoustics.
CS 6212 is his second stereo reading of this I think. I have both the earlier one and this. I'll check it out when I return home.
That was an excellent video, thank you! However I have to say that my experience with this analogue production record is not pleasant. The pitch is not consistent. Maybe a problem with the center hole? Thank you again for your wonderful videos!
Thank you Thomas! AP has had problems with centering records. My copy was not affected but when I get anything off center, the pitch variation will drive me crazy and I'll exchange it. Did you get the earlier 200gm pressing?
@@ThePressingMatters Yes that's the one I have. I'm glad yours is OK!
Thanks for your videos! Have you done one of these for The Planets? That would be awesome!
I Hi Jason,
No i have never done one for the Planets but I will be covering all the major classical works over time and I will definitely pick a favorite Planets and pull together a few pressings of it. Do you have a particular favorite? I have so many versions - Boult, Previn, Mehta, and more. Let me know!
I have Stokowski, Solti, and Hermann on vinyl and Karajan on cd - I'm always curious about what people think are the best sounding ones.
@@jasonsmith2032 Yes come to think of it I have all those too!
Karajan's classic 1961 version with the Vienna Philharmonic is the best. Karajan's Mars has that wonderful sinister quality like an army of evil ants is coming to take over the world. The big string tune Jupiter is really beautiful and perfectly balanced with the French horns. The deep organ pedals under the radiant strings at the end of Saturn are gorgeous. The ethereal, disembodied women chorus in Neptune is just right. I really believe that this Planets is one of Karajan's finest recordings.
Little bit of trivia. The Vienna Philharmonic is the only orchestra in the world that uses natural skin heads on their timpanis and you can really hear that distinctive quality in this recording. They must be murder to keep in tune.
Solti was recording Wagner's Ring during that same time when Karajan did the Planets. I believe Wagner's addage contributed to the burnished quality of the brass in Karajan's VPO Planets.
Great video, Scott. Do you have the AP pressing of the Living Stereo version of Belafonte at Carnegie Hall? That would be a good listen and might make for an interesting video.
Hi John, I do not have the AP but I do have several RCA black dog pressings and the Classic 33 and the 8LP 45 box. I recall at the time I had a non audiophile friend come over for a shootout of original vs Classic. We both preferred the original. It be interesting to revisit this now that I have upgraded some things and the APs are available. I guess I'd need to spring for their 45 box set. Lol! This hobby is fascinating but you need $$$! I sometimes wonder how I afford it but I guess being single no children helps!
Let me guess. The Analogue Productions, and I never even heard it.. I heard the Chesky and it sounded so smoothed over compared to a 1s/2s shaded dog. Notre Dame at this time is upsetting Ohio St., who a lot of people picked to win the national title.. The RCA point 5.would be an even bigger upset. I can't wait.
Haha that was funny. Well I'll give you one clue, it is not the .5 series reissue. My shaded dog was not a first pressing and a bit worse for the wear. That leaves three remaining.
Scheherezade is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever, and that Reiner interpretation is a great one. Maybe for someone just getting into classical music, that would be a great first classical record and introduction into classical. Back to the football.
@@sidesup8286 Exactly my thought too, in fact I mentioned it in the description.
@@ThePressingMatters I didn't even realize there was any video content yet. You learn something new every day.. Here's a question for later in the morning today. Maybe people can ponder this when they're in church or going to church. What does "headaches" have to do with "Scheherazade"?
You guessed correctly! The original is a beauty, but I need to search out an earlier one . There is a certain magic in the original RCA's but a few drawbacks. I think AP got the balance just about right. It's a modern take of it with respect to the original.
I only have the AP 33rpm version and agree it is STUNNING. Every vinyl collector should have a copy in their collection.
I've been collecting the AP 33rpm RCA Living Stereo titles for about five years and have over three dozen. The quality is consistently outstanding across the series, all sound about as good as you described the AP 33 Scheherazade to be.
And the great news is that many are still available at Acoustic Sounds and similar retailers, most for $40 each. Some of the sold-out ones later get repressed (this is how I got Scheherazade after waiting a couple years for it), so anyone who wants to get a collection going can certainly do so.
Also, may I just add: the jackets are beautiful. Heavy, Stoughton-like. Top-quality paper and printing with vibrant colors really show off the beauty of the cover art. It's not why we buy vinyl instead of CDs, but it sure is a LOT nicer to hold one of these jackets and really enjoy the beauty of the cover art at full size compared to a 4x4" CD booklet that looks very mass-produced on average paper.
Warmest regards to you and your subscribers,
Ron
Kenosha WI
Hi Ron,
Thanks for your comment and experience with the series. I'm very impressed with the three I bought and want them all now! May as well Vite the bullet and get the second subscription lol. But no, I will add a few every month. I did get the Munch Bolero and Van Cliburn Prokofiev in addition to Scheherazade. I'm trying to start with stuff that Classic didn't release or titles in which my originals need an upgrade. I'm fortunate to have amassed a good amount of original pressings.
I really forgot to mention it and I'm glad you brought it up - these jackets are the best ever for these Living Stereo titles. That Munch Bolero is stunning as is the other two. Finally everything done right including the labels! It's a joy to handle them. Thanks again for tuning in!
Glad I have the AP, though your repress is probably better since in my experience APs surface noise got lower over time, maybe by ditching that 200 gram format.
I know some prefer the Cheskys to many of the AP which sounds possible to me if they are from the 3 track but I just cant stand those covers.
How does the Classic 45 compare by the way? If theres one area it would improve I would assume it to be the crescendos.
I did buy and compare The Fountains / Pines of Rome AP33 and 45 and in that case the difference was quite small, just a little brighter tone overall and a somewhat less rolled off sound on the crescendos of the 45, but not a big gain for all the cons like price, flipping and break of musical flow.
Hi Leon, I hope to get mostly 180s from this series, because I think they generally come out quieter. I had no noise al all on this. Was like a tape. I like the Chesky records but more so for the Readers Digest material. The RCA stuff is good but yeah the cover art is just terrible. Especially the typography!
The 45 is spectacular in climaxes. That forth side is jaw dropping, but I prefer this on 33 due to continuity and this AP is just as enjoyable. I am really curious about their 45, but I want to pick up more titles from the 33 series first m, especially those not done by Classic. Thanks for watching as always, and for the great comment!
even though you reviewed this 11 months ago, just now caught it. Nice review. Concur with comments. There are two comments I would add. 1. the RCA .5 series was labeled to indicate 1/2 speed mastering as you noted. But many audiophiles said it was called .5 series because this version left half the music out. 2. There was a pressing version in between the white dog and the dynaflex versions. This version used the red label with the white RCA lettering of to the side but was pressed on 140 gram vinyl. This era was a transition point for RCA. The WD era was over and RCA was still pressing classical titles. These early thick red label pressings can sound quite good. They were all cut with early transistor electronics so do not have the nice string tone of the Shaded Dog but can be more dynamic with better bass response. The WD is also good if a person can find an early INDY pressing. This title sold tons and tons of copies for RCA back in the day so believe all 4 pressing RCA plants were making this. Pass on the Hollywood pressings; Rockaway pressings can be ok but are usually 2nd fiddle to Indy pressings.
Great comment! Yes, I remember the seeing the original comment about the .5 Series in an issue of TAS. It was very influential and probably put a big damper on the .5 Series. Do you expect there was a digital step in that series? I always wondered about that. I have half a dozen of them, and I look forward to revisiting a few in future shootouts. .
That transitional period did occasionally produce really nice records. I would always check out an Indy pressing from that period. Agree with all your points on the pressing plants. Such a fascinating label to collect!
Have you determined your favorite pressing of this record?
@@ThePressingMatters The digital transition is a good Q. I do not know for sure one way or the other if a digital master was used on the .5 series or not. I do know RCA was experimenting with early digital transfers at that time. as far as my fav pressing would have to say the AP 45 RPM set. Its a true demo record. This piece of music was recorded by so many labels and orchestras. The Reiner CSO is probably the best reading. Sonically there are others that are excellent. The Metha / LA phil version Decca recorded is good and was re-issued by King Records on their laboratory series. The King pressing has sonics that are blockbuster; just excellent. This King version has SQ that can go toe to toe with the AP 45 RPM Reiner version. Toshiba-EMI also released a 45 RPM version cut on two discs for the Japan DAM club. Hayes Middlesex cut the lacquers and Toshiba pressed it on super quiet vinyl. Its also a demo type record. The US Mercury recording is nice but does not have the excellent reading the Reiner version has. There are many more but those are the versions that come to mind.
I can only imagine side 4 of the 45, if it's anything like the Classic 45. Whenever I spin that my jaw is on the floor and I want to jump up and applaud lol.
Im curious if you have ever found a .5 you thought was an improvement on came before.
@@ThePressingMatters yes, quite so on the AP 45. Do not know how all of the RCA .5 series compared to the originals. I originally had 5 or 6 of the .5 series. All of these I tried were inferior to the SD originals, WD and RCA red label issues. After batting zero out of 6 I quit buying any more. All of the .5 series are all long gone now. They hit the trade pile many moons ago.
@@mcgjohn22 I hung on to them and it's fun for me to include them now in these shootouts. Eventually I'll be thinning out all these lesser duplicate versions and keeping one original and the best reissue.
The .5s I have from memory are The Reiner Strauss, Scheherazade, and Mussorgsky, the Van Cliburn, The Rubinstein Rachmaninoff, and Munch Debussy and Saint Saens.
Hi, thanks for the wonderful review. I am new to your videos and I have just subscribed. I want to buy this lp this but I want to make sure I purchase the right one. Was this pressing from 2013 or more recent. 2023 ? I know it is from analogue productions. Thanks in advance for taking the time to answer.
I can't wait to start watching more of your reviews etc.
Kind regards,
John
Hi John!
Welcome to the channel and thank you for your kind words. I bought my copy a month before that video was done. So it's the most recent 180gm pressing. It's a beauty. Do you have any other or would this be your first vinyl pressing of the album?
This would be my first on vinyl. Thanks so much for getting back to me.
John,
You can be confident that the currently available pressing is the same as the one reviewed here. If you do end up getting it please get back to me with your impressions. I'd love to hear your reaction!
Thank you Scott. I will let you know.
Best,
John
Many thanks for this!
FYI, I believe Reiner recorded Scheherezade with Chicago twice, in 1954 and 1960. If memory serves, Reiner had changed string seating between the two, as well. In 1954, Reiner had 1st and 2nd violins on opposite sides of the stage, etc. They should sound very distinctly different, and not just in terms of sound quality.
Anyway, it would be really helpful if you could include specific references, e.g., unique catalog numbers. Thanks again.
Hi, and thank you for your comments!
I do recall hearing about an unusual string section layout, but the earlier recording is in mono, so I'm not sure how that comes across or if it's even detectable. I've not heard that version.
I will be more specific on catalog numbers and matrix information going forward. Great suggestion!
@@ThePressingMatters There were early RCA Living Presence recordings of Reiner and the CSO in stereo, going all the way back to 1954. Anyway, the earlier seating method, with 1st and 2nd violins on opposite sides of the stage was not at all unusual at the time. Recording was the reason for the change, in fact. Recording requires greater attention to perfection than live performance and it's easier for the violins to be in tune and bowing with each other when 1st and 2nd are grouped in closer proximity. They were traditionally seated on opposite sides until the advent of the recording era.
@spodvoll That's right, many appeared on two track tape before the advent of the stereo disc. I am not aware of another Reiner Scheherazade in stereo though. Is there one?
@@ThePressingMatters I have a dim recollection of an earlier stereo version but could be mistaken. Reiner’s first stereo recordings were in 1954 I think.
@@spodvoll I think one of the early ones that made it to stereo disc was LSC 1806 Richard Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra. That was a two track recording that was available earlier on stereo two track tape. There were a few other too from this period. I believe they were recording stereo in the years leading up to the introduction of stereo disc technology and some of these came out on tape first. They had a nice backlog of stereo recordings to make a splash with the announcement of the Living Stereo line. Such a fascinating history. If you've never seen them, check out TH-cam for some of the early promotional films the did pre stereo and with the introduction of stereo. Really fun stuff!
I ordered the AP 45rpm version that came out lately. I'm curious how it compares to the AP 33 1/3 version.
Hi Anthony, I'm curious too, please let me know what you think once you've heard it. Thanks for watching!
@@ThePressingMatters I can only say that the AP 45rpm version sounds phenomenal!
@@AnthonyCandaele if it's anything like the Classic 45, side 4 should have your jaw dropping!
@@ThePressingMatters actually I’m listening to side 4 right now and my jaw is dropping 🙂
@@AnthonyCandaele Yeah just when you think you've heard it all, that last series of climaxes knocks you off your listening chair!
Thanks for another great videos, Scott. Oddly, I bought the AP 45 before buying the AP 33. Both are superb-the AP is the only one I’ve heard that does the incredible CSO brass section justice, particularly tubist Arnold Jacobs. Just amazing!
The slight edge in sound quality of the 45 is, for me, offset by the opportunity to luxuriate in two movements at a time before having to flip the side.
As for that fourth movement, it is doubly stunning to consider that it was recorded in one take!
Thanks Steven,
Now that I didn't know. That is amazing. One take. I'm sure Reiner whipped them into shape!
Careful I've been badmouthed on TH-cam for preferring represses over OG's
Lol, I know and I don't care what they say. I just go case by case and report what I hear on my system.
@@ThePressingMatters Probably kids that didn't grow up with them like I did. My stereo back in the day when I was a poor college kid living on blood donations and food stamps was piss poor compared to mine today. My current turntable cost more than that whole system. Everything sounded the same on that system. I still have my old Technics belt drive and use it occasionally at another location. Luckily it has a speed strobe so I can keep the speed relatively correct with frequent corrections