What recording can you always tell who is playing ?

[Lordgeous]

This leads to something I've been pondering over recently: does anyone get more enjoyment from a live concert being able to see what's going on rather than just listening? Obvious example being the Proms. I know I do. Historically of course the only way one got to hear music was to see it as well. Only in relatively recent times, with the invention of sound recording, has one been able to just listen. Somehow I don't feel the same about sound recordings, of which I have a large collection.

[Bryn]

This leads to something I've been pondering over recently: does anyone get more enjoyment from a live concert being able to see what's going on rather than just listening? Obvious example being the Proms. I know I do. Historically of course the only way one got to hear music was to see it as well. Only in relatively recent times, with the invention of sound recording, has one been able to just listen. Somehow I don't feel the same about sound recordings, of which I have a large collection.

What about Wagnber's hiding of the orchestra at Bayreuth?

[Lordgeous]

Never been a Wagnerite, but opera is different, surely?

[Bryn]

Never been a Wagnerite, but opera is different, surely?

"opera"? I thought Wagner composed "music-dramas".

[gradus]

I agree that older recordings of both orchestras and soloists, primarily pianists, sound more distinctive. Claudio Arrau and Anne Fisher had very distinctive sonorities. The Philadelphia Orchestra under Stokie or Ormandy sounded very different in the pre Muti era. Golden Age Violinists were more individual sounding. Even the Auer pupils were very individualistic. No one would ever confuse Heifetz with Milstein, for example

Re violinists Nigel Kennedy has made the same point; the loss of individuality that seems to go with the teaching at some leading conservatories.

[smittims]

I think if you're not used to listening to sound-only, or if you're learning about classical music, it does help concentration and appreciation if you see the performaers as well as hear them. But thinking about what you say in the context of the recordings I've just been listening to, I wish there'd been a camera at those sessions . We sometimes see still-photos of studio sessions (Eric Auerbach was a master at these ) but they only whet my appetite for seeing what actually went on.

[MickyD]

In the 1970s and 80s, I could always identify recordings made by the Academy of Ancient Music under Christopher Hogwood compared to other period bands. They had such a distinctive sound.

[JasonPalmer]

I sometimes recognise certain violinists, they can have very distinctive playing.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Listening to R3 earlier to a superb performance of The William Tell overture with truly wonderful string playing. I thought this is one of the great orchestras . The Berlin Phil , LSO ? Then I thought maybe a really good opera orchestra like the Royal Opera House - they’ve really got this music in their bones. Turned out to be the Academy Of St Martin In the Fields under Sir Neville . They were one of the greatest …

[Wolfram]

I can think of five singers who you would never, ever mistake for another; Jon Vickers, Peter Pears, Peter Schreirer, DF-D and Hans Hotter.

[Lordgeous]

I can think of five singers who you would never, ever mistake for another; Jon Vickers, Peter Pears, Peter Schreirer, DF-D and Hans Hotter.

Ah singers. Easier. Bjorling & Patzak & probably Baker.

[Lordgeous]

How about French Horn players? Can one always recognise the great Denis Brain? And organists must be virtually impossible!

[Ein Heldenleben]

Ah singers. Easier. Bjorling & Patzak & probablyh Baker.

Also instantly distinguishable-Pavarotti, Domingo, Ferrier , Schwarzkopf , Callas, Caruso , Sutherland , V de L A, etc etc .

[pastoralguy]

I can usually identify Jascha Heifetz, Yehudi Menuhin, Ida Haendel and Igor Oistrakh.

[smittims]

I always listen out for Dennis Brain; it's always a treat to hear him play a solo in an orchestral work. But I disagree about organists. Schweitzer is pretty easy to spot, and many experienced listeners find Helmut Walcha had his own touch.