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Recommendations for close miked classical recordin

Anyone have any recommendations for excellent sounding close-miked classical recordings? Perhaps I spent too much of my formative years listening to rock and jazz, but what I'm looking for are orchestral works recorded as if one were sitting right in the middle of the orchestra alongside the musicians. So many classical cds I hear sound dull and lifeless, like you're sitting half way back in an empty auditorium. I want it to sound like the conductor is standing right between my speakers! (Of course the performance has to be top-notch too, or else it's a pointless exercise.) I'd appreciate any pointers anyone can provide.
warrensomebody
rnm4
308 posts
 
Stokowski Uraipuru on Everest.
chashmal
605 posts
 
Here are a few:
1. Harnoncourt conducting in 1965 performance of Purcell's "Fantasias for viols"
2. Paul Zukofski playing Morton Feldman's "For John Cage"
3. Arditti Quartet playing Anton Webern's trios and quartets
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" excerpts, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, on cd on Sheffield Lab's "The Sheffield-Leinsdorf Sessions, Volume I." Or on the original 1978 direct-to-disk LP, if you can find it. Both are available at Acoustic Sounds (the LP in pre-owned form).

You will probably never hear a classical recording with greater dynamics. The sound is close-mic'd in the sense of having a first-row tonal balance, with a very bright (but still natural) string sound. It is NOT "close-mic'd" in the sense of excessive multi-mic'ing resulting in artificial-sounding over-emphasis of individual instruments.

This recording will NEVER be accused of sounding "dull and lifeless," and if you don't mind the bright strings it is one of the ultimate classical demo disks.

Regards,
-- Al
rushton's avatar
rushton
2,445 posts
 
Of orchestral recordings that still maintain a perspective of listening from the audience, the Mercury label recordings consistently offered a more front row, up-front, presentation than many other classical labels.

Decca, EMI, Chandos, BIS and many others leaned more to a mid-hall perspective. I have heard one or two more recent digital recordings that are done in surround sound where the perspective is that of a performer seated in the orchestra, but I can't give any suggestions because this is not something I'm inclined to listen to. But, there are some out there and perhaps others can offer specific suggestions.

The Sheffield recording Al mentions above is an excellent LP, but it may still have very much of a mid-hall perspective to your tastes, I suspect.

Try something like the Mercury recording of the Stravinsky "Firebird Ballet," Dorati/LSO, Mercury SR 90226, or the Prokofiev "Scythian Suite" on Mercury SR 90531, and see if that front of hall perspective gives you more satisfaction.

If you're still looking for greater immediacy, then you are probably headed for some recordings that toss out natural soundstaging, which Al and I value, but go for close multi-miking of the individual instruments and sections. For that, some of the later Deutsche Grammophon recordings may be what you need to try.
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