Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture (Dorati) (vinyl: Ortofon Xpression, Graham Slee, CTC 301)

[@federalisticnewyorkians4470]

Amazing how good music was 211 years ago!

[@markeukers9760]

My father played this record on the first Harmon Kardon stereo amplifier that powered his turntable back in the mid 1950's No other version of 1812 overture is so beautiful as this one. I have heard many.

[@JohnnyT002]

My father also had this back in the early 1960's and played it regularly. I too have not heard any other version as good and beautiful as this one. One of the most recent recordings I listened to by Evgeny Svetlanov, and the USSR State Symphony Orchestra had changed the old Russian Anthem.

[@vueloimaginario]

Mi padre adoraba este disco. La mejor versión de 1812 y stereo.

[@NothingLikeVinyl]

Hey Bob, thank you for uploading this! I've heard nothing but praise toward this version, but didn't have the chance (or simply forgot) to hear it. It's truly great! This is one of my all-time favorite classical music pieces and this recording leaves nothing to be desired. Thank you again!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Hi Alvaro. It's a great record - especially for its time. I also (now - thanks to your tip-off!) have the Telarc 1812 so I might do that at some point. I have another Telarc LP coming live here tomorrow ;o)

[@hectormenchaca474]

I still have both recordings in vinyl in mono and stereo plus in cd Ihave more versions but my favourie after more tha n sixty years is the one with the minneapolis symphony orchestra under the baton of Antal Dorati is one of my treasures

[@SwingBandHeaven]

My first time hearing this version. Excellent one in my view. It does really demonstrate the excellence of vinyl and its ability (or rather the skills of the recoding engineers) to handle the soft, the loud and particularly the extreeme loud bursts of sound. And all in 1958!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

It's great isn't it? Have you heard the commentary that was included on this record telling how the cannons and bells were recorded? It's on my other channel here kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6quk6OCq7B1jJo

[@SwingBandHeaven]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl Yes I saw that one two. It is always interesting to know some of the back story to a recording and I don't know of any other example where this kind of background has been given. I am sure its not unique but I haven't come across them.

[@vinto34]

First heard this as a kid back in 1981 on vinyl. Side 2 had commentary by Deems taylor talking about how they recorded the bells for this piece.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

I put the commentary on my other channel 😀kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6quk6OCq7B1jJo

[@swazifiction]

My mother had this LP, and also the headmaster played the LP to our entire high school.

[@markmiller3713]

Thank you for this delightful little channel. I'm sure most people who post things on KZbin want thousands if not millions, of views, likes, and subscribers, and I can understand that. However, some of my favorites are channels like these and a few others (Authentic Sound, Harpsichord Vinyl Gallery), that few people know about, but have such beautiful content.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comments! I would like more subscribers/views, but I really do it for my own pleasure and for those who are discerning enough to enjoy the music here ;o) My other channel gets far more views and has around 5k subs - I don't know if the music there appeals to you: kzbin.info/door/VRr-dTzRK5TbZJSSSwWs-gvideos

[@BessesothBarnBandChannel]

This has made my year. My dad has told me about how he had a brilliant LP recording of the 1812 overture that he treasured until his first born son (me) somehow destroyed it when a young boy He could only tell me that it was the Minneapolis Orchestra and that it had a narrator talking about the Cannons and the Bells I can now find and buy a copy of the attached and will have a meaningful gift for him I look forward to sitting with him and experiencing at full volume I have played had the privilege of playing the finale of the 1812 at the RAH with the RLPO. My Brass Band, Besses o’ th’ Barn Band were invited to to the Classic FM “make.some noise” concert in 2015 as our MD was Simon Cowen (RLPO Principal Trombone) It was the musical highlight of my life but the electronic Cannon Fire and Bells used were NOTHING compared to this recording

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Hey! i'm really pleased this has hit the spot for you! I hope you can find a copy for your dad! I can only imagine what a thrill it must have been to take part in a performance at the RAH! To my regret I don't have very much band music, but have you come across this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z57Qm5yjZZJop5I from the Grimethorpe Band? I put up a video of military band music (from the WRAC Band) on my other channel a while ago (kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZ-Van-YoqaBm9E ) and I keep meaning to post an album from the RAOC Band.

[@pcallas66]

I have this version and I also have the Telarc version where the needle will jump out of the groove without a good tracking cartridge. This version sounds really good. To tell you the truth, unless you own the CD copy of the Telarc version, I think the recording is ruined with the cannons because of the mixing of the subsonic high amplitude and extremely high frequencies that are going on simultaneously. I don't think the cutting lathe could handle it. In this version, you can hear the higher frequencies of the cannon blast as well. That's a really good turntable too and fantastic cartridge. Thanks for sharing.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comments Paul! I also have the Telarc version on both vinyl and SACD, neither of which I have played much as I prefer Dorati's performance! But I agree the cutting lathe was working on the edge and the LP is something of an "audiophile" curiosity for determining bragging rights over which cartridge can handle it ;o) Musically the 1812 is a bit of pot boiler, really, and Tchaikovsky didn't rate it much himself - but that hasn't stopped it from becoming popular of course! As for my turntable - I can't see myself ever getting rid of this one!

[@rolfgiehmann528]

​@@ClassicsAndVinylan excellent recording the best version for me. All I own many recordings of this. I much prefer this first recording by antal dorati too his later one on the decca label

[@armandorainho9169]

Sensacional

[@markmiller3713]

I have this on CD; it's amazing. I'm so impressed with the quality of the Mercury Living Presence recordings. They are so much better than many contemporary recordings as far as quality. Many (not all of course) recordings these days sound so overly processed and "fake."

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Thanks for your comments Mark. These Mercury recordings were mostly really good. (Sometimes they're a little too dry for my taste.) Along with EMI and Decca's Kingsway Hall recordings they contributed to a "golden age" of orchestral recordings, I think. Modern technology has undoubtedly made recording easier, but it can't always substitute for the artistic skill of microphone placement.

[@notaire2]

Although the performing level of this orchestra is not as high as other major orchestras, the recording level of this LP is amazingly high. The brilliant sound of brass and the explosive sound of percussion are perfectly and precisely reproduced. A typical audiophile LP!

[@pablov1973]

Original Mercury recordings wasn´t made at very high level, in fact, usually sounds quite low because they have a tremendous dynamic range. Specially in the mono era, they were much more realistic than RCA or Columbia.

[@adrianp7475]

@@pablov1973 back to mono..!!!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@adrianp7475 I might do the mono version at some point ;o)

[@shosha1878]

Agreed with the comments, but is not a great orchestra...It's a great Mercury's Recording...

[@adrianp7475]

@@shosha1878 i believe both are great...

[@marinkorzeniowski4514]

I HAVE CD audio, but on vinyl Tune its more high light crispy.. Great!

[@iamspyvspy3077]

Just discovered this channel. Some great stuff here but I daresay good originals will sound better than re-issues.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

I'm pleased you've discovered the channel! Most of my posts aren't recent reissues, though a mint original would probably sound better than new reissue. Having said that I hear some of the new DG reissues are great improvements.

[@nigelmasters8552]

Hi Bob, As soon as I had heard the commentary video I thought hang on a minute I have this in my collection. And yes I do, but it is the Mono version on Mercury MMA 11057. The difference as far as I can tell is the Bells are from the Harkness Memorial Tower, Yale University. Incidentally the Capriccio Italien, Op 45 is also recorded on LP. I think your version is perhaps a little cleaner in sound, probably the Stereo aspect. Good though!

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Hi Nigel. Yes, I think the only significant difference (aside from mono-stereo) is the cannon fire and location of the bells. My stereo copy is bundled with the mono version in a gatefold sleeve that is essentially the two original sleeves joined together. I did consider doing the mono version. I've got a recent LP issue of the Telarc 1812 that I might do at some point though I actually enjoy the Mercury performances slightly more. The 1954 mono issue must have made quite an impact when released!

[@pablov1973]

This was recorded two times but issued with the same cover art, the mono version was made on 1954 and the stereo on 1959. I thaught it was the only example of a recording made on two different years but issued with the same cover.

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@pablov1973 This is true, but the later cover had the red stereo banner across the top and the diagonal "Mercury Living Presence" graphic. As to the main design - why change it? ;o)

[@pablov1973]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl Because it was the same work but in a different recording, imagine that all recording of the work made by the same artists preserves the cover art.

[@AnthonyCatella]

There apparently are two different recordings of the symphony, one is with the bells of the Harkness bell tower at Yale coupled with a cannon shot from a 1761 field piece, the spoken commentary by Mr Taylor is a bit different from that of the recording of the bells from the Riverside Church in New York coupled with a cannon shot from a 1775 field piece and the commentary given by Mr Taylor is also a bit different from the other commentary, I like this commentary better because there is more of the sounds of West Point and I like hearing cadets singing at West Point better than a Yale student whistling, but that's just my own bias. Both are great presentations, there are however these differences which until now I was unaware.

[@notmanatee2445]

Which sounds better and has most bass and depth and you can feel the cannons go off more without overpowering and muffling the treble? Mercury? Or telarc? And i listened to this and it was fun!

[@MrAndreferrari]

11:50

[@madzilla14]

Thank You Dad. (?)...... (!?)....... !! 12:36

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

You're welcome, son 🤣

[@markmiller3713]

Could you talk about the turntable you're using?

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

It's a Garrard 301 design: www.classichifi-shop.co.uk/product/classic-301-hammertone-20/ The main difference over an orignal 301 is that the chassis that is machined rather than cast, and doesn't flex. It uses a 401 motor, and a bearing suitable for the 12Kg brass platter. I also use it with CTC's power supply - which provides speed switching and fine control, having had the eddy disc removed from the motor spindle (which is the usual way of fine tuning the speed). www.classichifi-shop.co.uk/product/classic-301-401-power-supply-unit-psu/ The plinth is from SMD Acoustics: www.peakhifi.co.uk/cgi-bin/ecom.cgi?Command=ShowProduct&db_pid=18

[@leivabernie]

@@ClassicsAndVinyl 👏👏👏👏

[@lachlanc.3509]

Is the version AAA or sources from a digital master?

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

Most likely from a digital master, but I can't be sure.

[@jofa89]

​@@ClassicsAndVinyl At discogs it says it´s cut at Emil berliner studios, they for sure have the ability to cut from tape, but you never know. I would like to have this recording, would you recommend this or should i try to get an original? Im very sceptical finding a great original of this, but for sure it would be AAA :D

[@ClassicsAndVinyl]

@@jofa89 Well, an original would be nice! But good luck finding one - especially in decent condition for a reasonable price. I'm happy with my reissue 😃