One should remember that the quality of a recording is determined by the man at the mixing desk, acting upon the instructions of the recording company's producer. The final result on disk or CD is governed by re-takes, equipment adjustments and (even in some cases) by inserts from other recordings.***
Shipway was an unpleasant bully - particularly when conducting his amateur orchestras. I played for him once, with the Newbury "Philharmonic", as a last minute deputy for a former colleague and was appalled by his behaviour and treatment of those dedicated music lovers.
No wonder that he finished up in South America - "Distance lends enchantment" they say; certainly true in this case!
*** If I appear to be labouring this point, the following (true) story will perhaps reinforce my argument:-
(I quote from my little Xmas stocking filler "Bravo Maestro")
One unfortunate outcome of the technical advances in recording is that many distinguished
artists now refuse point-blank to have their concert performances relayed live on radio. Their fear is that private listeners will `tape' their performances on home, (domestic) recording equipment and will then compare it with commercial recordings by a rival artist -- as if it were also a commercial recording; with the facility to replay over and over again that which the artist only had one go at.
A certain Russian pianist, of moderate reputation, spotted the Recording Manager of a well
known Record Company and ran over to greet him.
“I've just heard my recording of the Greig Piano Concerto” he lisped. “Isn't it wonderful?”
The Recording Manager regarded him with faintly disguised scorn.
“Yes,” he said. “It is rather good. Don't you wish you could play it like that?”
I rest my case!
HS
Shipway was an unpleasant bully - particularly when conducting his amateur orchestras. I played for him once, with the Newbury "Philharmonic", as a last minute deputy for a former colleague and was appalled by his behaviour and treatment of those dedicated music lovers.
No wonder that he finished up in South America - "Distance lends enchantment" they say; certainly true in this case!
*** If I appear to be labouring this point, the following (true) story will perhaps reinforce my argument:-
(I quote from my little Xmas stocking filler "Bravo Maestro")
One unfortunate outcome of the technical advances in recording is that many distinguished
artists now refuse point-blank to have their concert performances relayed live on radio. Their fear is that private listeners will `tape' their performances on home, (domestic) recording equipment and will then compare it with commercial recordings by a rival artist -- as if it were also a commercial recording; with the facility to replay over and over again that which the artist only had one go at.
A certain Russian pianist, of moderate reputation, spotted the Recording Manager of a well
known Record Company and ran over to greet him.
“I've just heard my recording of the Greig Piano Concerto” he lisped. “Isn't it wonderful?”
The Recording Manager regarded him with faintly disguised scorn.
“Yes,” he said. “It is rather good. Don't you wish you could play it like that?”
I rest my case!
HS
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