Sergei Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto no.3 in D minor, op.30
I: Allegro ma non troppo ~ II: Intermezzo (Adagio) ~ III: Finale (Alla breve)
2 files zip FLAC Mega Download
Gina Bachauer, piano - London Orchestra conducted by Alec Sherman
HMV CLP 1138 First edition 1957 LP/matrices: 2XEA 995 -3N / 2XEA 996 -4N
Recorded: 10 May 1956 - EMI Studio 1, Abbey Road
Rather un-magical orchestral/piano-playing. The overall sound-balance is less than convincing/detailed. However, at least the last movement 'comes alive'...
FEB.2022 slight re-edit/+2dB treble EQ as the sound is murky -right up to about a third of side 2.
NOT ON CD EMG review >>>
Thank you for this Bachauer transfers, I like most of her records, maybe she is not at her best in the first movement but the finale is very good.
ReplyDeleteHer Grieg PC (1960 HMV: RPO/Weldon) has 'similar qualities', inasmuch as she tends towards 'ungainly thumping' of the piano...
DeleteAm also less than enchanted with the sound of this Studio 1 affair; it really is inferior to the Decca/Lympany mentioned in the review (and 'most' of Lympany's discs seem to be 'unavailable' nowadays..).
Was thinking of coupling this with either the Lympany/Khachaturian - or Colin Horsley's CLP of Stravinsky 'Capriccio' - that not on CD - although the Ireland PC is/was..but couldn't be bothered..
Stravinsky works will be always welcome :)
DeleteThe Davis/ECO 'Dumbarton Oaks', etc was recently uploaded by Comrade Boxset from the 1980's Dutch 'rare' reissue (I've the original pressing).
DeleteThe problem with that, as with the Horsley 'Capriccio', is that English Orchestra's of that period don't seem able to play Stravinsky's 'jagged rhythm's' in a convincing manner.
Very few Stravinsky LP's (I think) haven't been reissued on CD...so not much purpose served in uploading any more 'oldies' -though I think the CBS 'Firebird' (Stravinsky/Columbia SO) is superb; the UK issue used US metalwork - rare for CBS UK...also the original Ansermet: Rossignol/Pulcinella stereo matrices.
A beautiful transfer, Tin Ear, and I am greatly enjoying this as I listen to it. I have imported these WAV files into my iTunes but for some reason iTunes won't let me add the very nicely scanned cover art that you have posted on the site. What a shame!
ReplyDeleteNot available elsewhere!
DeleteCan't say I overly like this performance (or the Lympany reissued on Decca ACL) - and transferring 1950's pressings without using 'de-click/noise-reduction' is invariably tricky.
The digital-remastered RCA LP of 1950 Horowitz/Reiner is excellent...but still have a few Rach PC.3 LP's left unplayed (bought the Mercury/Janis in a faded Philips 'Universo' transfer over 40years ago..).