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Eiji Oue Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances 200g LP |
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TAS Super LP List! Special Merit: Classical
The Absolute Sound 40th Anniversary Best Sounding Music!
Michael Fremer Rated 10/11 Music, 10/11 Sonics in his March 2012 reviews on www.musicangle.com!
Featured in Michael Fremer's Heavy Rotation in the April 2012 Issue of Stereophile!
Half-Speed Mastered 200-gram Virgin Vinyl!
Pressed at Quality Record Pressings!
2003 Grammy Nominee for Best Engineered Classical Album!
For many years, RR has been searching the world over for the best possible vinyl
mastering, plating and pressing facilities so they could re-enter the LP market.
They now have a production chain that allow them to produce LPs to meet their
high standards and satisfy their customers' demands, who have been waiting for
these LPs for a long time!
Assembling the Team
Disc mastering is done at half-speed to insure maximum accuracy. The lathe
system has custom electronics by Nelson Pass. The simple signal path contains no
compression, equalization or unnecessary circuitry. RR Chief Engineer and
Technical Director, "Prof." Keith Johnson consulted on the design of the system
and helped with the rebuilding of the lathe and electronics, which is owned and
operated by long-time mastering expert Paul Stubblebine. "Prof." Johnson has
pronounced it equal to the challenge of the master tapes!
Once successful results were achieved in disc mastering, Reference Recordings
faced the difficult task of choosing the best plating and pressing facility to
manufacture the discs. Fortunately, the new Quality Record Pressings plant in
Salina, Kansas was coming on line, and they felt that waiting for this plant to
open was well worth it. A crack team of experts was assembled to design and run
the plant, employing many unique techniques and features that clearly set QRP
apart from other pressing plants. The 200-gram deluxe vinyl pressings from QRP
are truly exceptional.
Multiple Configurations for Reference Mastercuts
Depending on program lengths, some releases are cut at 45 rpm, some at 33-1/3
rpm. Some are single discs, some double. All feature deluxe gate-fold jackets
crafted by Stoughton Printing . An unusual feature of new RR masterings is
called the "FDS finish": the end of each side will have a 30-second band of
silent grooves before the "pull-away." No one today uses a record changer, and
the silent grooves allow time to lift the arm before the always-somewhat-noisy
tie-off. (Some 1950s vintage Capitol Full Dimensional Sound pressings sported
this feature.) RR founder, J. Tamblyn (Tam) Henderson deserves special
recognition for identifying the value of this unique production feature and
reintroducing it with the new Mastercuts.
Note: Half-speed Mastering involves a capturing process in which the
original recording master is played back at exactly half of the recorded speed.
A sequenced cutting lathe is then timed at exactly half of the playback speed.
This process allows twice as much time to carve a groove that accurately
represents the sound on the master tape. Half-speed mastering allows for cleaner
reproduction and also permits extended high frequency response, extending into
the ultrasonic region.
Sergei Rachmaninoff was one of the most beloved composers of the twentieth century. His music is redolent of his Russian homeland, and it sings long, lush melodies that define the term "romantic." Everyone who knows and loves his piano concertos will enjoy these lyrical and dynamic works for orchestra. The "Symphonic Dances" in recent years have become one of Rachmaninoff's most-performed scores. "Vocalise" is one of the great classical melodies, and is hummable by everyone. Initial response from renowned reviewers is amazingly positive. Two have said this is the finest orchestral recording Reference Recordings has ever made!
"In any case, this reading is the deepest I've heard on record and while Johnson's recorded perspective is distant, the instrumental balance borders on outright perfection, the harmonic balance is equally so, and the dynamics and bass weight are staggering. If your system has the power reserves and low frequency response necessary to reproduce them, the macro dynamics and bottom end in this recording are sensational but more importantly, the string sound is sensation and the profusion of orchestral colors remarkable. The sense of being in the hall (well back of course) and hearing it live is palpable." - Michael Fremer, www.musicangle.com, Music 10/11, Sound 10/11
Features:
• 200g Vinyl
• Half-speed Mastered by Paul Stubblebine
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings
• Deluxe Stoughton gatefold jacket
Musicians:
Minnesota Orchestra
Eiji Oue, conductor
Selections:
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)
Symphonic Dances
1. Non Allegro
2. Andante Con Moto (Tempe Di Valse)
3. Lento Assai
4. Vocalise
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