A Stereo Spectacular - Saint Saens - Symphony No 3 - Boston Symphony - Munch

Publisher: Analogue Productions, RRAP 0019

Playing time: 35 min

Specifications: half track ¼", stereo, 2 metal reels, CCIR, 38 cm/s

Reel(s):               2 standard metal reels, printed

Packaging:        2 deluxe cardboard boxes, 1 cardboard slipcase, printed, with spine labeling

Inserts:                2 insert sheets with 3 pages

Homepage: https://store.acousticsounds.com/

Translation of the German review:

For me, it is always a fascination to see what technology, skilled personnel and musicians were capable of in the days of analog "awakening", as here in 1959, and in what high quality they were able to leave an interference-free musical recording to posterity. Considering the waning of interest in tape (including the compact cassette) and the long-playing record, as well as the rise of digital media beginning in the 1980s, it is nothing short of a miracle that in 2022, tape enthusiasts can still participate at the highest level in the achievements that now date back 63 years. It is the company Acoustic Sounds from the USA that works continuously to bring historically valuable sound documents to the market on a regular basis. These are small editions in stable and specially printed cardboard slipcases. The tape material is new and on metal reels. The recording is done by hand on machines that are constantly checked and serviced. If one adds up these expenses, it becomes clear that 450 dollars (460 euros) can be quite reasonably calculated. The logistics and the tax "eat up" another unavoidable 130 euros if you want to have this music from the USA. On the other hand, one can be glad that the shipping expert FedEx takes care of all formalities and saves the trip to the customs office. It is also pleasing that after the "check out" in the shopping cart of Acoustic Sounds usually only a few working days pass until the logistician rings the doorbell and hands over the well-packed goods.

With a well-maintained studio tape machine, like here with my Telefunken M15 from 1973, the master tape copy is played back with the correct musical weighting. The sound of the orchestra is presented physically in the room. There is no limitation in terms of maximum level. All sounds come in the right balance. It must have been the case that conductor Charles Munch led the musicians very directly, but also with great composure. For only in this way is it possible to achieve the full body of sound with that exact timing. If the first two movements are still restrained, as the composition would have it, the dynamics explode from the third movement onwards, in keeping with the album title "A Stereo Spectacular". I must admit, however, that I listen to this work more for the spectacular recording and less for the music, because it shows little development over long stretches, especially in the first two movements.

At this point, I cannot avoid illuminating the dark sides of this production. As much as all this fascinates me, I become critical in the overall context of listening. The work is already over after just under 35 minutes. I marvel at the sheer luxury of spreading so little musical material over two reels of tape, which comes with disadvantages: you have to stand up and rewind minutes of unplayed tape and the second reel, being correctly tail out wound, before playing. This can take a good five minutes, during which the enjoyment of the music is interrupted. This production uses about twice the amount of tape material than necessary, plus a second metal reel in another folding carton. This results in an oversized, space-consuming cardboard slipcase on the shelf. Can this consumption of resources be justified? Viewed over all, each minute of this music material costs 16.80 euros, which corresponds to 28 cents per second. From this point of view, this production is not reasonable. Under the aforementioned circumstances, I don't urgently need to call this edition my own.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)