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morris_minor
Moderator Group Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 6017 |
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Bob
Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
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Kory
Senior Member Joined: 01 Jan 2018 Location: Utah Status: Offline Points: 133 |
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I finally acquired the celebrated Solti/London Phil recording of The Planets last week. I spent considerable time comparing my top versions, the Previn/LSO, Mehta/Los Angeles Phil, and this new Solti. All three are highly recommended in several prominent "best recordings" lists and it was a blast listening. As I posted previously, my feeling about "best" recordings fall into two categories: best sounding and best performance. If a recording hits both, then Nirvana, but it often seems not to be the case. The Planets, for me, is a perfect example. The Mehta/LA recording on 45 rpm from ORG to my ears is far and away the best sounding recording of this piece. It's just stunning. The breadth of the soundstage, the separation and placement of the instruments, and the location of the listening position is what I find utterly satisfying. The other recordings have a more distant listening position, and narrower soundstage. More blended instrument position, at least to my ears, and just can't quite match the impact of the Mehta.
In terms of performance, however, I think after listening back and forth with these other two, that my favorite performance overall is the Previn. But individual movements by Solti are better in some cases. My best of each movement list is: Mars-Previn (quite terrifying intensity), Venus-Solti (crystalline playing and colors), Mercury-Solti (again brilliant and stone-cold clarity), Jupiter-Mehta (can't get over the vast soundscape of the recording), Saturn-Previn (impressive balance of mystery and power), Uranus-Previn (spooky and dynamic), Uranus-Mehta (great soundscape matches the ethereal effects, and chorus had great intonation). So that is my ranking. I know so much is just personal preference, and some of the great fun is to compare and not have to choose or eliminate.
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Kory
Hana ML, Zu/Denon 103 Mk. II, Ortofon 2M Black, Accession MM/Elevator EXP/PSU-1 Enigma/Lautus interconnects, Apogee Duet II, SOTA Nova, CJ 17LS2, Adcom 7805, VTL MB 300 Deluxe, Infinity IRS Beta |
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PaulRS
Regular Joined: 25 Jun 2019 Location: Malaysia Status: Offline Points: 90 |
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Thanks! I am getting into organ sound again after a 50 or so year break so this will be added to my list of Planets must haves!
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No Music, No Life!
Paul |
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PaulRS
Regular Joined: 25 Jun 2019 Location: Malaysia Status: Offline Points: 90 |
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Kory, thanks for your shoot out notes. I love the adjectives people use and can certainly agree on the Previn comments. I have to wait a while before i can compare the others.
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No Music, No Life!
Paul |
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morris_minor
Moderator Group Joined: 27 Mar 2012 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 6017 |
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Thanks for your insights, Kory!
It might be worth getting a Spotify playlist together with movements from different recordings to make a "super" Planets!
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Bob
Majestic DAC/pre-amp Accession MC/Enigma, Accession MM, Reflex M, Elevator EXP, Era Gold V Solo ULDE, Novo, Lautus USB and digital, Libran balanced, CuSat50 2 x Proprius + Spatia/Spatia Links |
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RichW
Senior Member Joined: 21 Jan 2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 1471 |
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Thanks for the very interesting comments on The Planets.
Holst's name is so closely associated with that wonderful work. Eager to discover more of his music, I recently bought a Naxos CD containing various works including his Somerset Rhapsody, a wonderful piece of music which reminds of Vaughan Williams. They were close friends & VW was a great influence on Holst. Edited by RichW - 16 Aug 2019 at 9:55am |
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Majestic/Enigma, Accession MM & MC.
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Fatmangolf
Moderator Group Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 8989 |
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I have a cd of Mehta's planets from a Decca boxset. I played it after reading your review Kory, it is dynamic and front row. Today I picked up a Decca reissue of it on vinyl for one pound! It is in excellent condition and will be getting an ultrasonic wash before being played tonight. I am delighted.
Edited by Fatmangolf - 20 Aug 2019 at 4:18pm |
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Jon
Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
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