EMI Signature SACDs

[Dave2002]

I notice that EMI is getting into SACDs as well as doing their thing for iTunes. The SACDs appear mostly to be older recordings. Are these reissues any good sonically? Presumably they're mostly 2 channel, so the appeal, if there is one, will be the potential for better audio quality. Against that the prices are now rather high for recordings which have been available more cheaply on CDs.

Are these also available as downloads? I'm prepared to believe that the sound quality could be better, even from analogue recordings. I have heard analogue master tape recordings in the past which sounded extremely good on good equipment, which makes me wonder indeed how the record companies managed to lose that quality in transfers to LP and also to CD. How convenient for them that now they've decided to try to provide a higher level of quality, though I hope they didn't leave it so late that the master tapes deteriorated, which seems possible.

Also, if they can issue older recordings in SACD, then why not also new ones? Is it just marketing?

If there's an improvement in sound I might try one or two, though which to go for? I already have Klemperer playing Mozart, and the Brahms double concerto conducted by Szell.

Are there any other recordings from EMI which others would like to see sonically improved if possible?

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

I suspect mahlerei will be reviewing some of these transfers to SACD in time. EMI has been quite active in SACD... in Japan! They've released plenty of material from their back catalogue, but exclusively in the Far East, so I'm intrigued about the change of heart re the UK/ US market.

Are there any other recordings from EMI which others would like to see sonically improved if possible?

Oh yes! If there's a single recording I'd love to have 'sonically improved' from the EMI stable, it would be their Don Carlo recording where Herbert von Karajan was let loose on the knobs, with the result that the balance favours the orchestra to a ridiculous extent. A rebalancing act would be most gratefully received in these quarters!

[mathias broucek]

Was the Jochum Brahms cycle done in Quad? This seems to be out of the catalogue and expensive 2nd hand so a (compatable) SACD release would be nice!

[jayne lee wilson]

Was the Jochum Brahms cycle done in Quad? This seems to be out of the catalogue and expensive 2nd hand so a (compatable) SACD release would be nice!

The Toshiba-Emi remasters of the LPO/Brahms cycle are excellent (in comparison to the already-good Forte issue), don't know if they're still around at HMV Japan...

[PJPJ]

A tranche of EMI's modern recordings, all with the BPO/Rattle, have been issued on SACD in Japan. This was followed up by some Argerich releases, including the Chopin concertos with Dutoit in Montreal, not very recent but certainly digital.

[mathias broucek]

The Toshiba-Emi remasters of the LPO/Brahms cycle are excellent (in comparison to the already-good Forte issue), don't know if they're still around at HMV Japan...

Last time I checked they had 1 and 4. But since I have the LPO cycle on LP I instead ordered some live Jochum Brahms (BRSO, Dresden, VPO, Deutsches SO).

[Dave2002]

Was the Jochum Brahms cycle done in Quad? This seems to be out of the catalogue and expensive 2nd hand so a (compatable) SACD release would be nice!

I think it was. I was at the RFH performance of the 1st - one of the most stunning concerts I have ever heard. I think the recording was made shortly afterwards. It was during the time when companies were trying out matrix systems, such as QS, SQ and one company produced 4 channels by using high frequency subcarriers on the LPs. Wasn't there a Bernstein recording which put the listener in the middle of the orchestra? May have been Bartok's concerto for orchestra.

[Tony Halstead]

I played on the Bernstein Quad recording of 'Le Sacre du Printemps' in which he conducted from the middle of the orchestra!
I don't know if it sounds as if the listener is in the middle of the orchestra as I've never heard it ( apart from at the time, when it was so raucously noisy that I wasn't listening all that much anyway!)

[Dave2002]

Could have been that one, though not sure. I remember seeing an LP cover with the layout of instruments surrounding the listener! Maybe someone here can find the details and provide links to the LP cover(s).

Odd that he had to conduct from the middle of the orchestra though - surely it was only necessary to put the microphones in the middle for quad.

Presumably that was also in the days when you didn't have to wear ear defenders for health and safety reasons!

[PJPJ]

Could have been that one, though not sure. I remember seeing an LP cover with the layout of instruments surrounding the listener! Maybe someone here can find the details and provide links to the LP cover(s).

http://www.stereosociety.com/QuadBernsteinRite.shtml

[Petrushka]

Could have been that one, though not sure. I remember seeing an LP cover with the layout of instruments surrounding the listener! Maybe someone here can find the details and provide links to the LP cover(s).

Odd that he had to conduct from the middle of the orchestra though - surely it was only necessary to put the microphones in the middle for quad.

Presumably that was also in the days when you didn't have to wear ear defenders for health and safety reasons!

I had a memory that this was a CBS recording of Boulez conducting the Bartok Concerto of Orchestra and the Gramophone carried an illustration of the orchestral layout. Can't remember which issue but think it was in 1974.

[Mahlerei]

Here's the lowdown on these issues, written by one of our esteemed MBers:

http://audaud.com/2012/04/emis-new-sacd-remasters/

[Bryn]

Here's the lowdown on these issues, written by one of our esteemed MBers:

http://audaud.com/2012/04/emis-new-sacd-remasters/

A little strange that Simon Gibson refers to EMI not (yet) opting to issue quadraphonic recordings in SACD format, yet omits to mention that they have already issued at least one (and I think others) in DVD Audio format:

[HighlandDougie]

Having pre-ordered two of the series from Amazon UK (OK, I know that MDT is a bit cheaper but I have to factor in postage to France), I now discover that Amazon France has lower prices than either. Having several Sony 2-channel SACD remasterings of 1950s and 1960s recordings which sound as if they were recorded yesterday, small amounts of tape-hiss apart, I'm tempted to buy pretty much all of the EMI series.

[HighlandDougie]

Only du Pré has arrived so far - and my SACD players are in Scotland rather than here in France - but the sound even in re-mastered CD is that much warmer/clearer than the previous version which I have to hand of the Elgar (the Barbirolli/Elgar box). It doesn't hide the fact that the recording is almost 50 years old but, oh, just a wonderful listening experience, warts and all. Janet Baker - que bella voce! Delius tomorrow (and, I hope, the arrival of Oistrakh/Richer/Rostropovich etc) but I now really am tempted to buy all of them. Maybe if they sell well EMI might be tempted to issue more of them.