Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Seiji Ozawa, Boston Symphony Orchestra :: "Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 (""Emperor""); Symphony No. 5 "

Good performance, but disappointing sound

Ewald Kacnik | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 01/24/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The sound quality of the concerto was particularly disapponting. The piano seems very distant in the sound stage.This apparently was a 44 khz digital recording done back in the early eightties. I have generally been happy with SACDs made from old analog, tape recordings. But SACD discs upsampled from older digital recordings are proving to be disappointing. I would avoid this disc if you have recently purchased an SACD and are looking to build up your library as I have been."

Oddly I had the opposite experience than previous reviewer

Joshua Knechtel | New York, New York USA | 06/16/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"My wife has a version of the "Emperor" by the LSO and Kovacevich and I had bought this. We did a comparison today. We both loved the Kovacevich version but the recording had a very high noise floor, however the instruments sound very real.



This performance was lethargic, un-engaging and dry, while Kovacevich was the complete opposite. His was emotive and involving and you felt drawn in. I couldn't help but wanting to speed up the performance from the BSO. It was too sticatto, too smooth. The sound was extremely clean and clear. Great seperation of instruments, deep and wide soundstage as though you are rear of mid hall. However, like I said before, completely uninvolving to my wife and I at least.



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