AudioCircle
Music and Media => The Music Circle => Topic started by: John Casler on 30 Sep 2006, 08:20 pm
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I seldom seriously listen to piano recordings anymore because (to be frank) they suck for image presentation.
The Piano just sounds like it is as big as the whole room.
Well this one is different. It sounds like you are seated in the 1st or 2nd row of a "risered" seating center stage performance.
And what a performance it is!
(http://www.yarlungrecords.com/images/tn_cover_dftpec.jpg)
I received this along with the Janaki String Trio CD shown on their website, from a local recording studio at one of the LAOCAS meetings and thought I would listen to it (since it was a gift) but not expect too much.
From now on, it will be my demo Recording for clients who wish to hear piano.
Here is the site for this and the Janaki String Trio is also "beyond" audiophile quality and standards, in every area.
http://www.yarlungrecords.com/ (http://www.yarlungrecords.com/)
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Ordered both of the ones you mentioned today. I'll let you know if I like them too.....
Enjoy,
TIC
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You've cause enough of a spike in sales that the record label sent me an e-mail asking how I heard of the disc. As they have had a recent spike in sales and are curious as to why.
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I got both recommended discs and found the music and recordings to be excellent! Thanks for the recommendation!
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Glad some of you enjoyed it (them).
I am not affiliated with them in any way, but they seem like a small company, and it "IS" tough to find a good PIANO recording that doesn't destroy the sonics and make it sound "unrealistic"
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I see that these were mastered by Steve Hoffman.
Steve's work is of the very highest standards, IMHO.
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I just ordered John's recommendations.
Can't wait to give them a spin.
John, my best three piano recordings are Windham Hill CDs by George Winston:
Autum
December
Linus & Lucy
Do you have any of these, and if so how do they compare?
Thanks,
Jeff
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It's very strange ... being a piano player myself, I have always looked for recordings that portray the perspective that I hear when playing. From the keyboard. This to me has the piano stretching across the soundstage, bass on the left and tinkly notes on the right. It just sounds "right" to me, even though it makes the piano 10 feet wide (well, it almost is that wide anyway).
I don't like the audience perspective where the piano seems distant, on a stage with the lid up. It just sounds non-engaging to me and rolled off usually.
Not saying which is "correct", just giving you my perspective.
Which way does this recording portray the piano?
Enjoy,
Bob
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I received both of the recommended recordings and they are both OUTSTANDING! Too bad everyone doen't record their music in this fashion.
These are both very natural sounding recordings. The perspective is from basically front row at musician height. So, on the piano, the piano doesn't sound as wide as the room, but it does have a proper width perspective IMHO.
BTW, after I ordered, I received an e-mail from the recording engineer Bob Attiyeh asking for feedback. I gave him a resounding "Well done"!
Enjoy,
TIC
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Not the best ever but very good. Recorded with a DAT sitting on a table. Victor Jones "CAFE Trio" with David Kikowski on piano. If you like jazz piano you will love this one.
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I just ordered John's recommendations.
Can't wait to give them a spin.
John, my best three piano recordings are Windham Hill CDs by George Winston:
Autum
December
Linus & Lucy
Do you have any of these, and if so how do they compare?
Thanks,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
No I don't have the George Winston, but do let us know how they compare when your CD arrives.
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Even though it's one of the most recorded solo instruments ever, it probably has the most instances of being poorly recorded, second would probably have to be drums.
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Duetche Grammaphon with Sviatislav Richter playing the Rachmaninoff 2nd Concerto and a group of preludes. Won the Grande Prix award in the '60s. Excellent recording with virtuosity that even Horowitz could only dream of.
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Just got the David Fung and Janaki String Trio recordings, and they are indeed SUPERBLY recorded. The Janaki String Trio sounds very similar to the Kronos Quartet, with similar stellar performances of (mostly) little known works. Thanks for the heads up.
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Anyone gonna update FreeDB with the track info? :-)
Jeff
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Yeah, right! :D Think I'll wait for somebody else to type in those 32 classical entries!
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(http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000GNOS9K.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V62720025_.jpg)
The other live recordings on MaxJazz are also excellent.
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Yeah, right! :D Think I'll wait for somebody else to type in those 32 classical entries!
It is only 8 entries with the multiple tracks for one piece.
http://www.yarlungrecords.com/pdf/tracks_dftpec.pdf
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Thanks to whoever uploaded!
Jeff
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That would be moi! Took a few shortcuts tho.
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Dick Hyman Plays Ellington. --Reference Recordings-- Direct to disk, this is a sweetheart album. The microtonalities of the Bosendorfer Imperial are such that it is a new piano experience. And I play piano. Highly recommended.
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I also loved the David Fund "The Piano--Journey from Hubris to Humility". For both performance quality and reconding quality, this is an amazing CD. Great suggestion! I will certainly will get the companion "Conversations" CD.
Another recent piano piece I really liked is the new two-disc Keith Jarrett "The Carnegie Hall Concert", by ECM. Also a terrific performance in its range of styles, moods, and improvizational virtuosity. And the recording quality is also excellent, as I generally find to be the case with ECM CD's. Unfortunately, the tracks are separated by enthusiastic applause, which consumes over 20 minutes on these two CD's.
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(http://www.elderly.com/images/recordings/12A/JSP7747.jpg)
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Darn! These are not in the Freed DB database, which means that I manually have to enter the data.
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I picked up the other David Fung CD "The Piano-A Journey From Hubris to Humanilty". It arrived today and I must say it sounds great! All 3 of the Yarlung CDs are very good IMHO. The piano, on both of "The Piano" disks, sounds great.
If you like classical piano, get the 2 David Fung CD from Yarlung Records. If you like chamber music, pick up the Janaki String Trio CD.
These are also great for newbies to classical. They are pretty easy to listen to vs. some more complex stuff.
I must also say, "Great Job!", to Bob Attiyeh for the excellent sound on these CDs. I wish all music was recorded this well. I happily paid my hard earned money to this guy and this company for providing such a nice sounding catalog (if you can call 3 records a catalog) of CDs.
Buy them and feel good that you are promoting something worthy of your cash!
Enjoy,
TIC
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Duetche Grammaphon with Sviatislav Richter playing the Rachmaninoff 2nd Concerto and a group of preludes. Won the Grande Prix award in the '60s. Excellent recording with virtuosity that even Horowitz could only dream of.
Are you talking about this recording (http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=2538)? Or are you talking about this recording available at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Rachmaninov-Tchaikovsky-Piano-Concertos-Richter/dp/B000001GQD/sr=8-1/qid=1161973238/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-3278215-4185567?ie=UTF8&s=music)? I'm guessing those two CDs contain the same Rachmaninov recording.
I love Rachmaninov's second piano concerto and currently own SACDs of the RCA Living Stereo and Mercury Living Presence recordings. Now I have this urge to seek out Richter's performance. Thanks. :)
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Well this is the performance with Stanislaw Wislocki conducting but not the recording. My experience is that the cd (mine is a different DG) just doesn't quite raise my goosebumps like the vinyl. Regardless, buy it and listen. It is really hard to beat Richter when he is at his best playing Russian material.
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Oops. I answered without reading thoroughly. I have three copies of the DG vinyl (-absolutely the best) and the cd version offered by Amazon (the Concerto is the same, but the preludes have been replaced- great performance, but just not quite the same sense of presence). The other cd, although it is the same performance, I have not heard- but I would like to :D to see if it captures that sparkle that seems a bit dulled by the other cd. Again, regardless, Richter is Rachmoninoff at his most powerful interpretation.
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I agree concerning Richter.
Thomas Ades, the composer, has a terrific album playing the piano music of other composers. Not sure of the recording quality as I'm listening to it for the first time on my computer, but it is damn fine music.
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Greetings! I finally had the pleasure of meeting the famous John Casler at last weekend's Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society meeting. It was fun to thank him for starting this posting. Naturally I appreciated it!
Since John posted his opinion last September, I have happy news to report. Janaki String Trio made their successful Carnegie debut two weeks ago in Weill Hall, and David Fung will likely be invited to return to the Edinburgh Festival in two seasons. I feel privileged to work with this caliber of musician.
Since the thread of this discussion included your favorite piano recordings, I'd like to mention two. (As a disclaimer, I know neither of these musicians personally, nor have I had I anything to do with these recordings).
One is the EMI release for Argentine pianist Sergio Tiempo. He is apparently a protegee of Martha Argerich, and his playing shows definite similarities. Pictures at an Exhibition may not be your favorite work, as it is not mine, but this performance was riveting. Sergio Tiempo's Chopin is good, and his Gaspar de la nuit is second to none. Very well produced by David Groves in London's Henry Wood Hall.
A second is Keith Johnson's recent release for Joel Fan, titled World Keys. Included on this recording is a Nocturne by Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe. Worth the purchase of the album for this track alone. And Keith's engineering is always Keith's engineering, which means the sound is excellent.
Thanks to all of you,
Bob
Bob Attiyeh
Yarlung Records
www.yarlungrecords.com
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I had the good fortune to meet Martin Perlich, a famous radio host a while back, and we were talking about the Liszt B-Minor piano concerto. He played David Fung's on the air (from his first Yarlung Records release), and after the program shared some of his other favorites with me.
Yundi Li is a performer I have yet to hear live. I missed a concert he gave this past season in Walt Disney Concert Hall, and I'm sorry I couldn't make it. Regardless, he has a new disc available on DGG, and it includes the Liszt B-Minor sonata. Very different from Davids, different from Argerich, Horowitz, and the rest. And yet very good. Refreshing to hear someone so young play so well and maturely.
I recommend this album to any of you looking for another B-Minor sonata for your collection. The album is titled simply "Yundi Li: Liszt."
I realize I should try to find the newer thread. Please forgive me, I'm new to this group.
Bob.
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[quote author=
I love Rachmaninov's second piano concerto and currently own SACDs of the RCA Living Stereo and Mercury Living Presence recordings. Now I have this urge to seek out Richter's performance. Thanks. :)
[/quote]
Got them all(Van Cliburn,Richter and Janis) and my favorit will be
Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
with Byron Janis
Conducted by Antal Dorati
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
Performed by Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra
with Byron Janis
Conducted by Antal Dorati
Prelude for piano No.7 in E flat major, Op. 23/6
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Byron Janis
Prelude for piano No.1 in C sharp minor ("The Bells of Moscow"), Op. 3/2
Composed by Sergey Rachmaninov
with Byron Janis
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Dear Premuda,
I completely understand your love of Byron Janis. It is fun for me to remember that much of what I love about him is the way Wilma Cozart captured his performances on Mercury. It sounds like you have the entire collection!
Bob.
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Greetings to you. Since John Casler brought the fabulous David Fung to Audio Circle's attention, I thought it would be fun to include some of David's fans in an upcoming live recording session for him. We are inviting a few audiophile friends to join us in Los Angeles on the evening of August 31st.
We are not going to start and stop and treat the concert portion like a recording session, so we will be able to enjoy the performance as if it were a concert.
Some of you were able to join us in 2006 when I produced the debut album for Janaki String Trio. This year, I am very much looking forward to working again with David. Australian pianist David Fung has just returned from a series of concerts in the Netherlands, and returns to Europe for more concerts in Scotland and Belgium in a few weeks. I produced David's first two albums in 2005 and 2006.
Yarlung Artists is a 501(c)3 public charity. We support young classical musicians as they begin their international concert careers by creating debut albums and by helping to facilitate management with the finest agents in New York and Europe.
If you are interested, please email me privately, with "David Fung" in the subject line. I will then send directions and further information. Depending on how many people want to participate, you will be sitting on stage with us, not in the hall itself, and I need to know exactly how many chairs to arrange.
I hope to see some of you soon!
Sincerely,
Bob Attiyeh
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For those of you coming to our live recording session on Friday, I wanted to post the anticipated repertoire for the concert:
If you already have David's recordings you will be familiar with the Rachmaninov, Ravel and Scarlatti. Live these are different pieces, of course. David's version of La Valse is his transcription from the full orchestral score. The Four Hands version wasn't complete enough for him!
We'll take a short break in the middle to retune.
Looking forward to seeing you Friday!
D. Scarlatti: Two Sonatas in D minor, KP 32/L 423 and K 141/L 422
Mozart: Rondo in F Major, K. 494
Rachmaninov: Six Preludes, Op. 32/8-13
Messiaen: Ile de Feu 1
Beethoven: Six Bagatelles, Op. 126
Ravel: La Valse
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David Fung has no end of success in his young life, and doubtless this will continue. Since Evening Conversations, which Jon Casler reviewed at the top of this post, David now has four albums with Yarlung Records, two solo albums, and two in collaboration with 'cellist Elinor Frey (Dialoghi and Inner World).
Take a look at this recent review in the Los Angeles Times following his Ravel concerto perfomrnace with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra:
Alicia Kibbey writes in the Los Angeles Times: "David Fung is exceptionally good. After having heard Martha Argerich perform the Ravel Concerto with the Phil last month [this was the Los Angeles Philharmonic], I was sure Fung would appear lackluster to our beloved Martha. Instead, his performance outshone hers in rhythmic excitement, orchestral ensemble (partly due to Carneiro's expressive conducting), and in the nuancing of the solo passages throughout. I must add, however, that Martha had the same youthful exuberance as the 25 year-old. There are few young pianists that have the unassuming charisma, charm and natural talent of Fung, and he will certainly be welcomed back by his audience in Los Angeles."
Bravo David! Please do return for more concerts in Los Angeles soon.
Best wishes,
Bob Attiyeh
www.yarlungrecords.com
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How about a few best piano recording recommendations specifically on VINYL? Jim (HOGG) brought one over to my place a month ago and it was superb, but I didn;t write down what it was (damn).
Thanks,
Bob
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Dear Bob M,
I have an unlikely recommendation for you, from a label not usually associated with great sound, or great piano. This is the Pogorelich recording of Bach's 2nd and 3rd "English Suites" on DGG. Worse yet, this is a digital recording. But this team accomplished something special, at least on a good pressing. The pressings vary, of course. The catalog number is 415 480-1. Pogorelich always pushes the envelope. I would prefer to listen to Orion Weiss play Bach on any day. But the ways in which Pogorelich pushes the envelope often intrigue me.
Happy vinyl hunting!
Bob.
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This CD played by Boris Giltburg is sensational. I know, another Pictures, but this is one is right near the top of available performances. But the recorded sound, is just great, one of EMI's best productions.
Unaccountably, or maybe not given the current state of the recording industry, this is still his only available recital on CD.
http://www.amazon.com/Mussorgsky-Pictures-Exhibition-Scriabin-Prokofiev/dp/B000F5GOJ6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1243982918&sr=8-3
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Dear Randy,
Thank you so much for bringing the Giltburg to our attention. He is not a pianist I have heard, and I've ordered a copy with great anticipation. Thanks also for the handy link. Bless Amazon for small favors, huh?
On our download front, I saw this early today from Stereophile, which is most encouraging. Thank you Stereophile!
http://www.stereophile.com/news/bust_and_booms_on_the_download_front/
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Bob,
Here's a quote from the short review of the Giltburg disc on Amazon. ". . . the final Great Gate of Kiev, so often turned into an exercise in bombast, is here a grand structure whose imposing bulk has the majesty Mussorgsky surely intended." I found that I agreed with this opinion about Giltburg's performance of "Gate" and was very nearly moved to tears by it. Others, perhaps used to more overtly flamboyant versions, might find it a little understated if they can't tune in to Giltburg's interpretation.
I hope you enjoy the disc. I think you'll be surprised by the SQ. EMI doesn't usually do it this good.
Good luck with your Linn association.
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I don't have a lot of piano music. That said, the most realistic piano recording I've heard, which I also own is Monty Alexander Trio Live at the Montreaux Festival on vinyl. Skip the CD, it sucks. The music is a bit cheesy, but the sound of the piano is super realistic.
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The Giltburg hasn't arrived yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
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I recently acquired an album of Bob's (Yarlung Records) titled 'Barefoot" of piano works performed by Joanne Pearce Martin that I have been enjoying very much. Can't say it's the BEST piano recording I've heard, but it is excellent. She performs some standards (Chopin, Mozart) but for me the main interest is in the more obscure works she performs from the likes of John Adams, Kupferman (i am more familiar with his orchestral music), Mark Carlson, and several others. The sound is up close and personal, first rate and very satisfying. Overall, an extremely rewarding release for fans of classical piano.
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Hello, I am new here , and by no means do I claim that these are the best piano recordings I have ever heard , but I would like to share them with fans of piano music. and NEW solo piano composition. These songs were recorded at my home studio, on my 2007 Kohler and Cambell 6'1" millenium grand piano using 2 AKG C1000 mics into a Korg D1600 digital recorder
(with a touch of reverb)
please listen ! >>> http://gatermon.com
i am the composer and pianist on these recordings . many of these pieces have found their way into 2 motion pictures that have just came out , or are comming out in 2009.
One is a John Lennon documentary called "Strawberry Fields"
http://strawberryfields.net
the other film is the new Justin Timberlake movie
"The Open Road" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1007018/
A nice artical about me here >>>
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090528/ARTICLE/905281008
Feel free to listen to my music, and coment if you like ,
Digital downloads are available on my website and on Itunes, Emusic, Amazon, Rhapsody, Napster and Shockhound.
(search for... GATERMON / Wally "Gator" Sirotich)
Thanks Piano Lovers, I hope you like what you hear !
Gatermon / Wally "Gator" Sirotich
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At the top of my list is Stanislav Richter playing Liszt's Piano Concierto No.1 ( LP Phillips) Recorded on optical film by Bob Fine and Wilma Cozart Fine who were on loan from Mercury.
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Dear Jack,
I certainly agree that just about anything Wilma Cozart did, with or without her illustrious husband, was superb. She is one of my idols, and a producer I would love someday to meet. I understand that she is still very much alive, and lives in New York.
Dear Randy,
I have received and very much enjoyed the Giltburg. I agree with you that the sound is very good. But I enjoy Giltburg's playing too. He manages to handle the bravura passages with enormous power, and yet without banging. Some of this is the recording engineer and piano, of course, but most of it is Giltburg himself. I very much enjoy this album, and shall for some time! Thanks for the recommendation.
More soon I hope!
Bob.
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Hi Bob,
I'll be setting up a server soon and can't wait. I'll be making a home brew server though and I still haven't mapped out how exactly to implement it. The Yarlung recordings available through Linn are on my list for sure. Great work you guys are doing to bring new talents to the public eye. I wish there were more groups like yours. Any chance of Yarlung having LP's pressed? That would be great. Many of us here are analog junkies.
Jack
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Premuda,
I love all things Rach. If you don't have this yet, I think it is a must for all collectors. The recording isn't the best but the performance is inspired.
Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 1 to 4
Decca Vladimir Ashkenazy piano, Andre Previn conducting
The London Symphony Orch.
This comes as either a boxed set or 3 separate LPs. They are becoming harder and harder to come by these days so best get a head start.
All the best,
Jack
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Awesome stuff - the major record companies are realizing that they cannot compete with the free, crappy quality, downloads available via the pirate sites, so are focusing on offering better quality to sell their downloads. That's a business model that I can support!
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FWIW, "Nojima plays Liszt", Dr. Keith Johnson's Reference Recordings. Vinyl of course. No piano recording I've heard comes close. (although I pretend no expertise either) Explosive dynamics, spectacular soundstaging, a palpable "you are there" experience.
Don
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Premuda,
I love all things Rach. If you don't have this yet, I think it is a must for all collectors. The recording isn't the best but the performance is inspired.
Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 1 to 4
Decca Vladimir Ashkenazy piano, Andre Previn conducting
The London Symphony Orch.
This comes as either a boxed set or 3 separate LPs. They are becoming harder and harder to come by these days so best get a head start.
All the best,
Jack
Hey, here's a T-shirt for ya:
Rach is how I roll!
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:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Good one! I just might have a few made!
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Dear Jack,
Congratulations on your decision to set up a high resolution server. There are many excellent converters and reclocking devices available now, across the price spectrum, so you should be able to build a wonderful system without breaking the bank.
And as you might have guessed, Yarlung Records plans to begin releasing analog vinyl recordings within a year. We're looking forward to this, because no matter how good digital music at very high resolution has become, analog is still better in my view, at least so far. More like the actual concert experience.
If you like Rachmaninov, you must indeed hear David Fung's Rachmaninov preludes on the album that began this thread oh so long ago. David is a superb artist, and it is an honor to have released his first US recordings.
Cheers and best wishes,
Bob
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Hi,
I found this thread by searching for "best piano recording" - this was the first hit. :)
I have found a recording that I absolutely ADORE: "The Look of Love (A Beautiful Piano Tribute to Burt Bacharach)".
http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/the-look-love-a-beautiful/id315013454
Cheers,
Greg.
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Dear Greg,
I shall order a copy! Looking forward.
The piano sound on our two new releases, Petteri Iivonen: Art of the Violin, and Antonio Lysy at The Broad: Music from Argentina might make you smile as well.
Cheers and best wishes,
Bob Attiyeh
www.yarlungrecords.com
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Dear Greg,
I shall order a copy! Looking forward.
The piano sound on our two new releases, Petteri Iivonen: Art of the Violin, and Antonio Lysy at The Broad: Music from Argentina might make you smile as well.
Cheers and best wishes,
Bob Attiyeh
www.yarlungrecords.com
Hi Bob,
Just a quick note, as you have "struck again" with your above mentioned Antonio Lysy at The Broad: Music from Argentina
I wrote a few words about it "HERE". (http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=83709.msg856948#msg856948)
I found the soundstage and imaging just spectacular. Anyone with an audiophile grade system will appreciate what you do and have done.
I plan to spend more time with Inner Worlds (http://www.yarlungrecords.com/#lefkowitz1) soon. I have already done a cut intro-tour and am looking forward to going deeper.
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Wow. John Casler began this thread some years ago, close to the very beginning of Yarlung Records. Our label is now celebrating its 10th Anniversary! Thank you John, you certainly got us off to a great start.
David Fung, the Australian (now American) pianist who made the recording which John identified so generously as the "best Piano recording [he had] ever heard," has taken the concert world by storm. He made his Cleveland Orchestra debut, and just yesterday performed as the piano soloist in Beijing with the China National Opera Symphony Orchestra at the "Birds Nest" Olympic park in the capital.
All of you contributed to David's success with your appreciation of his recording.
A few years after its initial release (which ran out of its first pressing fairly swiftly), we repackaged David's album:
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=147852)
The fun thing about all of this is that I just last week received a note from a piano enthusiast who had just found this thread and ordered the album. Thank you John for getting the ball rolling!
Three Cheers for David Fung's continuing success, and may the next decade at Yarlung Records be as musically satisfying as our first!
Here are some of David's many links. Enjoy!: http://www.yarlungartists.org/david-fung/
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It's on TIDAL too.
(http://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=147853)
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How does the audio quality of this disc compare to Fung's?
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61mWIeH8RJL._SL500_.jpg)
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Klavierman, thanks for your post in this thread and for your juicy question.
Yarlung's piano albums have a similar approach to the sound because they have the same engineer and producer (me). But the musicians, hall, instrument and microphones change from artist to artist.
In this case, we recorded Orion in the same hall as David's Evening Conversations, using the same microphones (two U47s). David was staying in Los Angeles during the time of the recording with Orion Weiss, so he was actually present with us and did us the huge favor of playing for us the day before Orion arrived from New York. We did our hall and mic setup for Orion with David at the keyboard, and David gave a phenomenal concert that evening for about 40 invited guests.
The piano we used for Orion was glorious. Steinway gave us C&A piano 699, which Orion and David both loved.
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Evening Conversations always sounded so much like what I heard from the keyboard years ago when I had a Steinway (except that David can really play, whereas I simply plinked in comparison). If Orion is anything like it, I'll be ordering a copy soon.
...Just tried to order a cd, but had a problem with shipping! Hopefully I'll hear back soon..
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S Clark, thank you very much for mentioning the shipping problem, which I believe I have fixed in the shipping software. Very grateful you pointed this out to me. Many thanks, Bob
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I'm just seeing this thread and checked out the website. How do the vinyl versions compare to digital? Any LP recommendations?
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I seldom seriously listen to piano recordings anymore because (to be frank) they suck for image presentation.
The Piano just sounds like it is as big as the whole room.
Well this one is different. It sounds like you are seated in the 1st or 2nd row of a "risered" seating center stage performance.
And what a performance it is!
(http://www.yarlungrecords.com/images/tn_cover_dftpec.jpg)
I received this along with the Janaki String Trio CD shown on their website, from a local recording studio at one of the LAOCAS meetings and thought I would listen to it (since it was a gift) but not expect too much.
From now on, it will be my demo Recording for clients who wish to hear piano.
Here is the site for this and the Janaki String Trio is also "beyond" audiophile quality and standards, in every area.
http://www.yarlungrecords.com/ (http://www.yarlungrecords.com/)
Are you referring to David Fung, Evening Conversations? Sorry, I did not see the recording name anywhere.
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Good morning ACHipo!
2016 is Yarlung's 10th Anniversary, and a few important reviewers have decided that this is Yarlung's Year of Vinyl, which has been great fun for us.
Here's one by David Thomson in The Record Collector: http://www.yarlungrecords.com/news/record-collector-news-year-yarlung/
and here is a wonderful follow-up comment by Gary Koh from Genesis Advanced Technologies: http://www.yarlungrecords.com/news/ciaramella-dances/
For people new to Yarlung vinyl, I usually recommend three to start: Smoke & Mirrors, Ciaramella Dances and Te Amo, Argentina. They are all available here: http://yarlungrecords.com/180.html and of course on Amazon, Elusive Disc, Acoustic Sounds, etc.
I think you are asking me how the vinyl releases with piano compare to our digital releases. We haven't had executive producers who have underwritten releases of any of our solo piano albums on vinyl (yet! Do you sense my optimism?) but we do have piano well represented as part of Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet on vinyl with the superb jazz pianist Misha Bigos (http://www.yarlungrecords.com/news/sophisticated-lady-jazz-quartet-new-recordings/), and both of the Antonio Lysy albums, including Te Amo, Argentina mentioned above with incredible Bryan Pezzone at the keyboard.
Your question reminds me that it is high time for us to release more piano on vinyl, and we will work on it. Thanks so much for the nudge. For more about Yarlung and vinyl and our incredible executive producers and underwriters, please see this article in The Absolute Sound: http://www.yarlungrecords.com/news/yarlung-records-audiophile-label-purpose/
Thanks!
Bob
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Are you referring to David Fung, Evening Conversations? Sorry, I did not see the recording name anywhere.
Yes, the original album to which John Casler refers is David Fung's Evening Conversations. In its first pressing, with different artwork, it was titled The Piano: Evening Conversations. In the later European pressing of the CD with new packaging, we shortened the title to just Evening Conversations.
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Just ordered the Orion cd from Yarlung records, and Bob has solved the shipping problems. I'll probably try one of their vinyls soon and report back. If they are anything like the quality of their other recordings, they'll be something special.
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Hi Bob,
Very Happy to see this thread has again developed legs.
Also, that you continue to engineer and produce such INCREDIBLE Product.
Keep it UP. :thumb:
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Hi Bob,
Very Happy to see this thread has again developed legs.
Also, that you continue to engineer and produce such INCREDIBLE Product.
Keep it UP. :thumb:
Thanks so much John, not only for your comment just now but for starting this thread so many years ago! The meeting in upland with the Los Angeles and Orange County Audio Society (where you picked up that fateful copy of David's Evening Conversations) was my first visit to any LAOCAS event. I was there as the guest of Les Noriel.
We were lucky you were there! From that beginning to the Audio Society Gala last December has been a remarkable journey. Robert Harley put my speech in TAS, which we reproduced in the link above in my response to ACHipo.
It has been a great decade. Thanks for getting us off to such a good start John.
Bob
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Klavierman, thanks for your post in this thread and for your juicy question.
Yarlung's piano albums have a similar approach to the sound because they have the same engineer and producer (me). But the musicians, hall, instrument and microphones change from artist to artist.
In this case, we recorded Orion in the same hall as David's Evening Conversations, using the same microphones (two U47s). David was staying in Los Angeles during the time of the recording with Orion Weiss, so he was actually present with us and did us the huge favor of playing for us the day before Orion arrived from New York. We did our hall and mic setup for Orion with David at the keyboard, and David gave a phenomenal concert that evening for about 40 invited guests.
The piano we used for Orion was glorious. Steinway gave us C&A piano 699, which Orion and David both loved.
Hi Bob. Thank you for the information. I used to be a recording engineer, so I'm always interested in the equipment used for recordings. In those days (1978-1990), I used B&K (now called DPA) and Schoeps mics. I ordered a copy. Sorry, but I had to get a used copy since I recently retired and my wife gave me a CD/LP "allowance"! :(
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I had to get a used copy since I recently retired and my wife gave me a CD/LP "allowance"! :(
Hey! Used copies sound just like new ones if they're not scratched! Many thanks for your note.
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Good morning ACHipo!
2016 is Yarlung's 10th Anniversary, and a few important reviewers have decided that this is Yarlung's Year of Vinyl, which has been great fun for us.
Here's one by David Thomson in The Record Collector: http://www.yarlungrecords.com/news/record-collector-news-year-yarlung/
and here is a wonderful follow-up comment by Gary Koh from Genesis Advanced Technologies: http://www.yarlungrecords.com/news/ciaramella-dances/
For people new to Yarlung vinyl, I usually recommend three to start: Smoke & Mirrors, Ciaramella Dances and Te Amo, Argentina. They are all available here: http://yarlungrecords.com/180.html and of course on Amazon, Elusive Disc, Acoustic Sounds, etc.
I think you are asking me how the vinyl releases with piano compare to our digital releases. We haven't had executive producers who have underwritten releases of any of our solo piano albums on vinyl (yet! Do you sense my optimism?) but we do have piano well represented as part of Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet on vinyl with the superb jazz pianist Misha Bigos (http://www.yarlungrecords.com/news/sophisticated-lady-jazz-quartet-new-recordings/), and both of the Antonio Lysy albums, including Te Amo, Argentina mentioned above with incredible Bryan Pezzone at the keyboard.
Your question reminds me that it is high time for us to release more piano on vinyl, and we will work on it. Thanks so much for the nudge. For more about Yarlung and vinyl and our incredible executive producers and underwriters, please see this article in The Absolute Sound: http://www.yarlungrecords.com/news/yarlung-records-audiophile-label-purpose/
Thanks!
Bob
Bob,
I ordered your vinyl catalog after reading the reviews. Looking forward to listening!
Best,
AC
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Thanks AC. Please let me (and let us on this thread) know what you think of the LPs. If you like what you hear, maybe I can use that enthusiasm to try to encourage an underwriter for more vinyl. That would be a fabulous gift.
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In keeping with the original post, I just came across this YouTube recording of an all analog piano recording? I've only heard it on my iPad so far, but seems pretty good. Will listen more closely tomorrow.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T78FdYLejPc
By the way I purchased the high-rez Fung recording this morning. I listened to it this evening and it is brilliant.
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This may not be news to some, but it was a surprise to me when I discovered it earlier this year.
This 72 year old stereo recording of pianist Walter Gieseking in Berlin has become a reference to me for orchestral string sound as well as balance of piano and orchestra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPSSx4jYEmg
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This may not be news to some, but it was a surprise to me when I discovered it earlier this year.
This 72 year old stereo recording of pianist Walter Gieseking in Berlin has become a reference to me for orchestral string sound as well as balance of piano and orchestra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPSSx4jYEmg
Russell, thanks for mentioning the Gieseking. I love this recording and I'm glad there's now been this online version. Gieseking remains one of my favorite pianists of all time. And the juicy wonderful irony is that several reviewers have mentioned Gieseking in connection with David Fung, especially when David plays French repertoire or Mozart concertos.
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These recordings are stunning! Excellent stereo in 1944 Germany... wow. Are these commercially available, and if so, where?
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These recordings are stunning! Excellent stereo in 1944 Germany... wow. Are these commercially available, and if so, where?
+1 I was just thinking the same thing. To state the obvious--there was a lot of stuff going on in Germany in 1944, so it's absolutely incredible that these recordings exist. Really nice stuff (and I'm only listening on my mono computer speaker).
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Earlier today I found another of these on youtube under "Beethoven 1944". In this one you could hear antiaircraft artillery firing during some of the quiet passages. A fascinating bit of history...
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There is some discussion in the Youtube comments about available recordings. I also found this site: https://www.pristineclassical.com/pasc390.html
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There is some discussion in the Youtube comments about available recordings. I also found this site: https://www.pristineclassical.com/pasc390.html
I found the sound on these re-mastered recordings hugely inferior to the recording I linked to which apparently was untouched, just converted to digital without processing. I wonder if this is the recording that Andrew Rose, the mastering engineer at Pristine was working from. What I hear resembles a lot of contemporary orchestral recorded sound—way too sibilant and brash—as if the engineer had forgotten what a real orchestra sounds like in a real hall. Fatiguing.
I remember reading of one incident where a few recording engineers were attending a live orchestral performance. One turned to another and was heard to say "where's the tweeter?".
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Yarlung Records , a real pleasure to deal with ,..Thank You Bob Attyeh
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I found the sound on these re-mastered recordings hugely inferior to the recording I linked to which apparently was untouched, just converted to digital without processing. I wonder if this is the recording that Andrew Rose, the mastering engineer at Pristine was working from. What I hear resembles a lot of contemporary orchestral recorded sound—way too sibilant and brash—as if the engineer had forgotten what a real orchestra sounds like in a real hall. Fatiguing.
I remember reading of one incident where a few recording engineers were attending a live orchestral performance. One turned to another and was heard to say "where's the tweeter?".
Good to know, Russell. I couldn't tell much playing the sample over my iMac speakers.
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How does the audio quality of this disc compare to Fung's?
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61mWIeH8RJL._SL500_.jpg)
My copy arrived today--it sounds great! I'm used to a bit more hall sound, but you clearly captured the piano and it's not completely airless. Orion's playing is fantastic!
I also enjoyed both sets of booklet notes, especially the session notes. Both sound as if they were written by a real person, not some ivory tower pseudo-intellectual!
A question: I see that it was recorded at 172kHz/24 bit, and since you are in the enviable position to compare the master to a CD copy, how much quality does one lose with the down conversion to redbook standards? It's a pity this isn't an SACD so the full resolution would be preserved.
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I'm eager for my copy to arrive- was hoping it would be in today's mail :(
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I just posted a preliminary review of Yarlung's LP titles here:
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=145173.msg1552836#msg1552836
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I ran across Clara Ponty a few months back.
She is exciting and does not just hit all the notes perfectly.
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I found Fung's Evening Conversations on EBay for 3.19 plus shipping. It showed up this week and looks brand new.
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I am a classical guy. If I was heading to a desserted island with one CD, it would be Sviatoslav Richter's Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto with Leinsdorf. The remastering technology came a long way, the most recent ones are just superb!
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I found Fung's Evening Conversations on EBay for 3.19 plus shipping. It showed up this week and looks brand new.
Congrats! You did well. Curious what you think.
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David Fung , Evening Conversations ,...Just recently added AC conditioner including new AC cords to my digital components ,.Was I missing out on this great performance and "especially the recording" ,.Wow ,.what tone , what dynamics , Just beautiful !