Discussion with Thomas Mowrey

Lute · May 1, 2015

Thomas Mowrey said:
I never heard this Rossini Overtures record. It certainly sounds exciting. My own favorite of these pieces was a London disc from the 60s conducted by Piero Gamba (sometimes called "Pierino"). If you get a chance, listen to Semiramide on that. Look at the reviews of it on Amazon, here: http://www.amazon.com/Rossini-Overt...=8-1&keywords=pierino+gamba+rossini+overtures

That Semiramide is one of the most exciting recordings I've ever heard.

And no, unfortunately, Al Amedola never recovered his hearing in that ear. As you (and the MGM Lion) said, Ars gratis artis!

Thank you so much! I just ordered it. If I had to choose only one Rossini overture, it would be Semiramide. And with your recommendation and since I've not heard this performance yet, this is an absolute must for me.

Actually, I wanted to start the post with a friendly joke and say...
"Just what I needed...another Rossini - Overture recording! LOL!"
But, I didn't want you to misread that. I am truly happy to hear your recommendation of that recording.

I was just listening to your recording of Symphonie Fantastique. What a wonderful listening experience and the ending is... Spectacular! Thanks again, Thomas!

I was wondering if you were involved in or know anything about the above Quad recording. It is very discrete. The rears channels are very active and actually have separate information than the fronts. This one also is a true 360 degree surround recording. Michel Bernard is listed as the producer. Recording venue is St. Paul, Strasbourg, France 5/1972. It also says "Licensed from Decca Music Group Ltd." I remember you saying the British recording companies were more open to discrete Quad.

Franklin · May 1, 2015

Thomas Mowrey said:
My own favorite of these pieces was a London disc from the 60s conducted by Piero Gamba (sometimes called "Pierino"). If you get a chance, listen to Semiramide on that.

What are the chances? As a very casual classical listener, I only picked this up a year or two back for the William Tell Overture.

Thomas Mowrey · May 1, 2015

Mike the Fish said:
What are the chances? As a very casual classical listener, I only picked this up a year or two back for the William Tell Overture.

That's amazing, Mike. I know that that recording exhibits all the characteristics of "the Decca sound", lending even more excitement to performances (especially Semiramide) which are simply electric. I was just wondering about Gamba and why his career never reached sustained heights, and I read on Wikipedia that he "currently lives in New York City, pursuing his career and teaching orchestra conducting." For all I know he's my neighbor! At one point when I was producing with Boston and Ozawa, we started a Rossini Overtures record by recording Semiramide, but I don't think the record was ever finished and released. Anyhow, in preparation for that, I bought and listened to about ten recordings of Semiramide —*everybody from Toscanini to Karajan. Gamba's stood head and shoulders above all of them.

Franklin · May 1, 2015

I might have to give that a spin later

stormchaser · May 1, 2015

FWIW, this thread has me starting to pick up a few discs. I just got in the Ozawa Berlioz. I'm not a classical expert by any means, but I like to dabble.

Thomas Mowrey · May 1, 2015

stormchaser said:
FWIW, this thread has me starting to pick up a few discs. I just got in the Ozawa Berlioz. I'm not a classical expert by any means, but I like to dabble.

If you're just getting into classical music, I suggest that you start with movements 4 and 5 of the Symphonie Fantastique. They'll get you hooked, and then you can go back and start at the beginning!

stormchaser · May 1, 2015

Thomas Mowrey said:
If you're just getting into classical music, I suggest that you start with movements 4 and 5 of the Symphonie Fantastique. They'll get you hooked, and then you can go back and start at the beginning!

Appreciate the guidance. I do have most of the RCA Living Stereo SACD series and a few others (Telarcs, etc). I'm always looking to pick a few choice discs, particularly one's with either quad/surround used to immerse the listener in the performance or the venue. So, I am enjoying this thread, particularly with someone who helped create them providing input!

Clint Eastwood · May 1, 2015

Thomas Mowrey said:
If you're just getting into classical music, I suggest that you start with movements 4 and 5 of the Symphonie Fantastique. They'll get you hooked, and then you can go back and start at the beginning!

I'm also considering a few classical titles and recent posts by Lute and now your contributions are bringing that feeling closer to reality. I want to thank you for posting on this forum

Thomas Mowrey · May 1, 2015

stormchaser said:
Appreciate the guidance. I do have most of the RCA Living Stereo SACD series and a few others (Telarcs, etc). I'm always looking to pick a few choice discs, particularly one's with either quad/surround used to immerse the listener in the performance or the venue. So, I am enjoying this thread, particularly with someone who helped create them providing input!

Well, I think that (to quote W) I misunderestimated your acquaintance with classical music. Obviously you're no toddler on this ground, so you might want to disregard my suggestion above and start with movement 1 of Fantastique!

DuncanS · May 1, 2015

My father listened to my Emerson, Lake, & Palmer with me as a teenager (there is a bit that seems to be borrowed from Sinfonietta on one album), and said have a listen to this, it was Janacek's Sinfonietta. So my introduction to classical music was Janacek & Debussy. Do you know of any good 'discrete' quad/5.1 of those composers, or of Handel's Messiah (another piece he introduced me to)?

Thomas Mowrey · May 1, 2015

DuncanS said:
My father listened to my Emerson, Lake, & Palmer with me as a teenager (there is a bit that seems to be borrowed from Sinfonietta on one album), and said have a listen to this, it was Janacek's Sinfonietta. So my introduction to classical music was Janacek & Debussy. Do you know of any good 'discrete' quad/5.1 of those composers, or of Handel's Messiah (another piece he introduced me to)?

Unfortunately I don't, Duncan. That's not to say that they mightn't exist — just that I don't know of them.

DuncanS · May 1, 2015

Thomas Mowrey said:
Unfortunately I don't, Duncan. That's not to say that they mightn't exist — just that I don't know of them.

Thanks, I'll keep hunting

0tto · May 1, 2015

mr. Mowrey i'm wondering if you're familiar with predecessor of quadraphonic format, Phase 4 Stereo?
it isn't quad but all LPs, i have, sounds very immersive and full when been played thru matrixed decoder and even PLII.
so far i have seen such only on London label (mainly) and few on DECCA.

Lute · May 2, 2015

DuncanS said:
My father listened to my Emerson, Lake, & Palmer with me as a teenager (there is a bit that seems to be borrowed from Sinfonietta on one album), and said have a listen to this, it was Janacek's Sinfonietta. So my introduction to classical music was Janacek & Debussy. Do you know of any good 'discrete' quad/5.1 of those composers, or of Handel's Messiah (another piece he introduced me to)?

You might want to try one of these. Both have gotten good reviews performance & sound quality wise. I just ordered the Naxos Bluray of Wit's performance. If you can wait a little, I'll be the guinea pig and let you know how the surrounds are.

Here are 2 reviews ...http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Jan12/Janacek_Glagolitic_NBD0026.htm

http://www.sa-cd.net/showtitle/10050

I am listening to John Butt's performance of the Messiah as I write. While the rear channels are mostly ambient, their sound is relatively full and effectively opens up this excellent performance. Among the multichannel SACD versions this one stands out. Jacobs's, and McCreesh's rear channels are quieter.

So, I recommend John Butt/Dunedin Consort & Players recording on SACD.

Here's a review... http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Jan07/Handel_Messiah_CKD285.htm

Thomas Mowrey · May 2, 2015

0tto said:
mr. Mowrey i'm wondering if you're familiar with predecessor of quadraphonic format, Phase 4 Stereo?
it isn't quad but all LPs, i have, sounds very immersive and full when been played thru matrixed decoder and even PLII.
so far i have seen such only on London label (mainly) and few on DECCA.

Yes, I am very famiiar with Phase 4, and have always been a fan. When I moved to London to produce for Decca in 1978, Decca had just stopped making new Phase 4 recordings, and the guy who had been the main moving force behind the series, Tony D'Amato, had just left London and moved back to New York, I believe. I got his office and his desk, and his secretary, Joyce, worked for me for a while, so I heard lots about Phase 4 and Tony from her, although I never met him.

There's a Wikipedia page which succinctly explains why Phase 4 recordings sound immersive when played through matrix decoders, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_4_Stereo

But now here's really good news: Universal has recently brought out a 41-CD package of Phase 4 recordings for about $145. You can order them and read a lot about them here:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4786769

... and you can also order them from Amazon, here:

http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Concert-Series-Limited-Edition/dp/B00LP298NC

Franklin · May 2, 2015

Hi Thomas

For fun, I collect different recordings of the 1812 Overture on vinyl (CD, etc. would be too easy). Aside from the recording you produced, do you have a favourite performance, and is that different from your favourite recording?

- Mike

Franklin · May 2, 2015

Thomas Mowrey said:
There's a Wikipedia page which succinctly explains why Phase 4 recordings sound immersive when played through matrix decoders, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_4_Stereo

The above page has a link to this fascinating site:
http://www.endlessgroove.com/issue4/lp4s.htm

- it turns out that there was a Les Paul album on Phase 4!

Thomas Mowrey · May 2, 2015

Mike the Fish said:
Hi Thomas

For fun, I collect different recordings of the 1812 Overture on vinyl (CD, etc. would be too easy). Aside from the recording you produced, do you have a favourite performance, and is that different from your favourite recording?

- Mike

I think there are lots of great ones, Mike, but I don't have most of them! One classic is the 1958 Mercury recording with Antal Dorati and the Minneapolis Symphony. The whole thing can be heard on YouTube, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spWBkQj7HGA The overall sound is pretty dry, but that was not atypical of Mercury, and the cannons at the end sound positively lethal (which, I guess, is what cannons are supposed to be!).

0tto · May 2, 2015

appears that DG did lone quad print of Ozawa & Boston Sym. Orchestra-Symphonie Fantastique on CD4 as a test pressing (cat.# CD4 VP-338)
we do have here member Mark Anderson, who's for decades doing research and compiles the list of quadraphonic recordings ever been produced/issued.
mr. Mowrey, i believe you with your knowledge base and first hand information could be able to do very valuable additional contribution into his work.

so far it's most complete list which can be found in open public domain.

http://www.surrounddiscography.com/quaddisc/quadindx.htm

Franklin · May 2, 2015

Thomas Mowrey said:
One classic is the 1958 Mercury recording with Antal Dorati and the Minneapolis Symphony.

Ah, yes. I have that one. I believe some, if not all, editions have a track explaining the recording of the cannons.

My favourite for several years was a 1958 release on Decca conducted by Kenneth Alwyn (http://www.discogs.com/Tchaikovsky-...-Capriccio-Italien-Marche-Slave/master/574057), although there appears to be some valve/limiter saturation towards the end of the recording. Later I was impressed with Riccardo Muti's reading (with some gusto) on EMI from 1981 (http://www.discogs.com/Tchaikovsky-...ure-1812-Serenade-For-Strings/release/4024435) but most recently my favourite could be André Previn's reading on EMI released in 1973: http://www.discogs.com/London-Symph...vin-Tchaikovsky-1812-Overture/release/3714606, which I have just discovered was also released in quad!

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