Search - Modest Mussorgsky, Camille Saint-Saens, Edo de Waart :: Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3 ("Organ"); Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition [Hybrid SACD]

Astonishing sound from the days of quad

Stephen J. Swellander | San Antonio, Texas USA | 07/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I owned this Saint-Saens recording back in the LP days. It was my first imported classical purchase and was originally paired with the short piano and orchestra piece, "Wedding Cake." I was impressed by the Phillips recording quality then, but had no idea that this was originally designed for four channel playback. Fast forward about thirty years, and now we can experience this wonderful recording in the multichannel splendor for which it was intended.



If you are used to loud, almost over-the-top renditions of Saint-Saen's third symphony like those of Munch and Martinon, you may find this one somewhat restrained; however, that is what I like about it. Especially in the famous final movement, the kettle drum is unusually recessed (I'm not sure if it is the miking or the playing). The developing tension is slow and subtle, so that when Daniel Chorzempa brings forth the organ, the effect is truly startling. From there on out, there is plenty of orchestral technicolor served up in stunning, enveloping multichannel sound. Edo De Waart's 70s Rotterdam recordings always had gorgeous sound, and these multichannel versions more fully capture the warm acoustics of the De Doelen venue. De Waart's coupling, Moussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," sounds just as good, and is a polished, quite exhilarating performance.



In most classical CD collections, both of these works are likely to show up in several recorded versions, so if you already have Charles Munch and Jean Martinon for Saint-Saens and Fritz Reiner for Moussorgsky, don't hesitate to buy this version, especially if you have multichannel playback. Pentatone is releasing the Phillips "Quadro" series in the original 4.0 format (no center channel or discrete subwoofer channel). These releases demonstrate what all the excitement was all about over quadrophonic sound. Unfortunately, quad didn't last long enough for most of us to hear it. Pentatone and other SACD companies are correcting that.



Speaking of Jean Martinon, I believe that several of his EMI recordings of the Saint-Saens symphonies were quadraphonic. Angel-EMI used to label their quad LPs with a logo in which the Angel was situated inside a double circle. I hope that someone releases those recordings in four channel sound, along with several of the legendary Rudolf Kempe recordings of Richard Strauss tone poems. Some of these recordings were initially maligned by audiophiles who had only heard them in stereo. True remastered quad might change their minds. The performances, of course, recommend themselves."

Saint-Saens: Sym #3 ("Organ")

mbw | Rockville, MD USA | 07/16/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Very clear, quite background, great soundstage, lower registers practically nonexistant. This piece should be a showcase for the organ sections but sadly, it isn't. I am Still looking fot the perfect recording/mastering of this incredible, symphonic masterpiece. Same/Same for Pictures at an Exhibition."