Oh, oh, oh! That new DGG/Westminster 10-CD piano set ...

[Lance]

It is finally about to appear. I always said that, before I kick the famous "bucket," I want to own those American Decca recordings made by Benno Moiseiwitsch on compact discs. [I have long treasured all those mono and stereo LPs, however, Decca's pressings were not always first-class.] It is about to happen! But, I'm not ready to kick the "bucket" yet if there is any way around it. It's a wonderful 10-CD set filled with performances by Lewenthal, Arrau, de Larrocha, and others. Some of this material should have been available within the Philips "Great Pianists of the Twentieth Century" CD series. I know for a fact that the Moiseiwitsch WAS scheduled (as Volume 2) in his honour. It never made it. [It would have made a good choice in place of the André Previn set, though I have nothing against Mr Previn.] Now, with Philips past recordings under the Universal umbrella, we can hope for more treasures inasmuch as Universal/DGG holds the rights to all the American Decca/MGM/Westminster original recordings.

[John F]

That Shakespeherian rag...

(Couldn't resist.)

[stenka razin]

Lance, I have been following the fluctuation of price for this eagerly sought box quite avidly. The cost has bounced around from an orginal $75 to $119 and prices in between on Amazon. I think the price will eventually be well uner $100 and then I will obtain this collection of 'golden oldies', my friend. Liszt done in exciting keyboard renditions from artists who really know Liszt.


Regards,
Mel

[fmnewyork]

No need to wait. Just order it from overseas. It's 40.21 British pounds at MDT including shipping to America. At today's exchange rate that comes to $62.

[maestrob]

Done! Thanks, Farhan. Will report on arrival......

[stenka razin]

No need to wait. Just order it from overseas. It's 40.21 British pounds at MDT including shipping to America. At today's exchange rate that comes to $62.

Wow!.........Thank you, m8.


Regards,
Mel

[Lance]

My copy arrived ... and am thrilled to have it. First listening was to the Moiseiwitsch/Schumann disc. A digital flaw appears on track 21 and there is no visible blemish on the disc. [This has been happening to me with Universal-produced budget-boxed CDs, though this isn't the traditional budget box.] Also the sound of Moiseiwitsch's Baldwin concert grand piano has a thinness and rather hollow sound, which the LP issues did not have. Nonetheless these are all the 1961 American Decca recordings made by Moiseiwitsch and the first time they have appeared on CD taken from the original masters.

[fmnewyork]

Got my set today and put on the Moiseiwitsch Schumann CD. I didn't notice any digital flaw on track 21 (finale of Carnaval). Is the flaw something subtle one could easily miss? Perhaps the flaw is not present on all copies.

[gperkins151]

No need to wait. Just order it from overseas. It's 40.21 British pounds at MDT including shipping to America. At today's exchange rate that comes to $62.

It's $8 cheaper from Presto Classical: http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/DG/4779527

I've ordered mine but it hasn't arrived yet. Should be in early this week. Hope my copy doesn't have the defect that Lance mentioned.

[gperkins151]

My copy arrived ... and am thrilled to have it. First listening was to the Moiseiwitsch/Schumann disc. A digital flaw appears on track 21 and there is no visible blemish on the disc.

When does the digital flaw occur? I got my copy of this set today.

[Lance]

So ... what's the consensus on this set, for those who have acquired it? Anybody find any other flaws in the discs ... first off? And what about this collection? Is it everything you expected it to be and well processed. I, of course, am delighted to have the entire set. More thoughts from yours truly on this set as we go along. Listening and re-listening has been great fun!

[gperkins151]

Hi Lance!

I think you missed my question:

My copy arrived ... and am thrilled to have it. First listening was to the Moiseiwitsch/Schumann disc. A digital flaw appears on track 21 and there is no visible blemish on the disc.

When does the digital flaw occur? I got my copy of this set today. I listened to that track a few times and it sounds fine to me.

[Lance]

Hi George ... Yes, sorry I missed your question. The flaw appears on Track 21, the final movement of Schumann's Carnaval (Disk 7). It occurs at 0:16 into 0:17, actually a skip. I have written to see if I can simply obtain a replacement for the one disc rather than sending the whole set back to England. This occurs for me on three different CD players.

The Egon Petri Bach disc I have been listening to closely comparing it to the original Westminster mono LP. Good job in transferring to digital especially maintaining the wonderful bass on Petri's gorgeous Steinway. I have also discovered a more natural sound by reducing the treble on the graphic equalizer or tone control for some folks. One thing DGG consistently does in their remastering is to brighten the high end of the sound spectrum too much, sometimes to the point of hurting the ears.

Hi Lance!

I think you missed my question:

My copy arrived ... and am thrilled to have it. First listening was to the Moiseiwitsch/Schumann disc. A digital flaw appears on track 21 and there is no visible blemish on the disc.

When does the digital flaw occur? I got my copy of this set today. I listened to that track a few times and it sounds fine to me.

[gperkins151]

Hi George ... Yes, sorry I missed your question. The flaw appears on Track 21, the final movement of Schumann's Carnaval (Disk 7). It occurs at 0:16 into 0:17, actually a skip. I have written to see if I can simply obtain a replacement for the one disc rather than sending the whole set back to England. This occurs for me on three different CD players.

Sorry to hear that, Lance. I checked my copy again and do not hear a defect on mine.

The Egon Petri Bach disc I have been listening to closely comparing it to the original Westminster mono LP. Good job in transferring to digital especially maintaining the wonderful bass on Petri's gorgeous Steinway. I have also discovered a more natural sound by reducing the treble on the graphic equalizer or tone control for some folks. One thing DGG consistently does in their remastering is to brighten the high end of the sound spectrum too much, sometimes to the point of hurting the ears.

Interesting. EMI seems to do the opposite in their remasterings.

[Chalkperson]

EMI simply does not bother with Remasterings...

[CharmNewton]

EMI simply does not bother with Remasterings...

It is interesting that when they have several digital masterings to choose from for a particular recording, they do not always choose the most recent one.

Some of their earliest historical CDs were very bright and harsh. It was clear that the mastering work was not being done by the transfer engineer (in many cases this was Keith Hardwick).

John

[gperkins151]

EMI simply does not bother with Remasterings...

I wish they wouldn't, as the earlier ones seem to preserve a bit more of the piano tone than the later ones.