Boulez Mahler #8 on Deutsche Grammophon CD BUZZCUT! I'm shocked..

Sounds like our host needs to do a little "regifting".

 

The SACD sounds quite different from the Originals CD. Warmer and more transparent.

But it's certainly not a reference recording in terms of sound quality. Labels like Decca or Philips made much better sounding recordings in the 70's.

http://www.sa-cd.net/showreviews/280

 

My fault...

I didn't know it was recommended by Absolute Sounds

http://store.acousticsounds.com/absolutesound.cfm?start=41 &id=1

 

The SACD is better than the reissues. And the WG pressings are not bad.

I do agree regarding the performances.
And 'great performance with bad sonics' is the common practice for DG.

 

C. Kleiber SACD

Isn't the redbook layer the same as The Originals reissue? Are you referring to the CD layer or the SACD layer?

 

Boulez, who was notorious for being a provocateur in his youth...when classical music was far more 'politicized' than it is today.

Boulez, who today is widely considered, by musicians and listeners alike, to be one of the finest conductors we have.

I recently saw him conduct the Stravy/Carter/Varese program with the Chicago SO at Carnegie Hall. It was fantastic, especially the Varese, which was practically heavy metal.

 

IIRC the Kleiber Beethoven SACD is a stereo remix as well as remaster (as well as a multichannel remix). Very nice presentation of these classic performances on all counts; it's the definitive performance for the 5th, though I prefer Bruno Walter's 7th on Columbia/Sony.

 

It's a good bet, though , that a live Mahler 8th has a dynamic range at a 'prime' listening seat that's in excess of what the KSA LP -- or any LP -- has.