A couple of entries ago I was yammering on about how much I enjoyed a mono LP of Monteux conducting Debussy's Nocturnes. Since many mono LPs have stereo counterparts I went looking for the stereo version of this record.
Well, it doesn't seem to exist in stereo - at least on vintage RCA vinyl. I did see an open reel tape of just the Nocturnes piece on ebay, but man that ended up selling for way more than I was willing to pay. Plus I couldn't understand why only Nocturnes was featured on the tape - why not La Mer too? That was on the LP. Well, I managed to find a cheaper alternative and a good answer to my question with this:
An early 80s LP on the budget Quintessence label (another RCA imprint for classical reissues). Good pressing and mastering and way more cost effective at $3. The Nocturnes piece was indeed stereo and fascinating, yet the La Mer side was designated as (the dreaded) "electronically processed stereo" - distorted mono, in other words. La Mer was listed with a recording date of 1954 - was that too early for stereo recordings, perhaps? Or maybe at least - just not this one. Nocturnes has a 1955 recording date. This leads me to believe that the stereo Nocturnes never appeared on vinyl until this 1980s LP. The stereo version hitherto only available on that open reel tape (which was expensive in the 50s as well - the equivalent of spending around $100 or so in today's money - thank you inflation calculator!). I'd say the new LP is the way to go!
As it turns out - while the stereo is interesting I think I prefer the mono mix of this recording since it seems to capture the balance a bit better in my opinion. But when a vintage stereo recording is available - especially of a performance I really like - I'm all over that!
Speaking of "all over that" - I've been on the lookout for more recordings by Norwegian conductor Øivin Fjeldstad. He mainly worked with his native Oslo Philharmonic and produced a number of recordings for RCA's Camden label. The Grand Canyon Suite was the first place I heard his work. There is an LP with a cover like this:
But I ended up finding a reasonably priced open reel tape - for whatever reason the artwork didn't make it to the open-reel box:
No matter - it's a good sounding recording of a very spirited performance. So I've been slowly picking up what recordings of Fjelstad I can find. Here are some others that all exhibit the same qualities of the Grand Canyon Suite.
Here's an LP of Fjelstad's interpretation of Franck's Symphony in D-minor. I took to this symphony when I first heard it years ago - which happened to be a Pierre Monteux version if I remember correctly! Here's what the cover of this LP looks like:
Last weekend I found another Fjelstad LP - this was separated from its box set but since it was mint and I didn't have it - I didn't care if the rest of the box was missing. Plus I'm a big fan of Brahms' 3rd. This record is mono. Does a stereo exist? I'll be looking!
Here's a recording Fjelstad did leading the London Symphony Orchestra. Peer Gynt by Grieg has some well known music and this recording is certainly among the better ones I've heard. Rousing stuff! Sounds nice on open reel!
Mostly I've been focused on instrumental music. Classical vocal music - opera, lieder, etc..... - has been less interesting and/or appealing so far. Once in awhile I'll try to stretch my ears with some vocal stuff, but it's a bit rough going for me. But I have a feeling there's going to be more exposure to vocal music on the horizon. Especially since I've been reading about the significance of opera in the development of music.
A few entries ago I wrote about a great book I'd been reading - "All the Rest is Noise". I'm still reading this book - taking my time since it's so good. But there are a LOT of references to opera pieces in there - detailing their significance and the central nature of this form to many composers: Mahler earned his keep as a opera conductor mainly, Strauss wrote quite a few groundbreaking operas, even Shostakovich's meltdown with Stalin was over an opera he wrote. Hard to ignore this stuff. So over the years I've been picking up deals like this:
Some box sets for cheap. As long as the libretto is included and has an English translation I'm pretty much good to go. That open reel of Strauss's "Daphne" cost me next to nothing. Opera is about as in-demand as folk music these days. Good if you're a fan, of course. But I think the best deal I bumped into lately was this:
An entire Wagner Ring Cycle - conducted by James Levine - on VHS tape for.......TWO DOLLARS. It was priced for $4 and it was half-off sale day, so............could I say no? Well, no. Have I gone off the deep end? I haven't managed to dig into this set yet, but I'm hoping to get into it soon. This is all part of the adventure. If I can't take some risks once in awhile, what fun is that? So much music - so little time!
