Saturday, November 27th, 2010
I ask all who purchase Klassic Haus Restorations CDs to review the discs, so I may get an impression of their listening experience of the recordings I have restored. Recently, two of my customers/e-mail acquaintances had purchased the Karl Ristenpart-led performances of Beethoven’s ‘Eroica” symphony (with Mozart’s K136 & 137 Divertimenti) on KHCD-2010-041, and Haydn’s “Morning”, “Noon”, and “Night symphonies on KHCD-2010-032. They graciously have allowed me to post their comments:
First, from Louis, in France:
“As promised, here are a few impressions after several listenings to both the CDs you sent me.
First of all, the sound is very clear. No click, pop, hiss, hum or un-needed reverberation. Of course, Ristenpart benefited of some of the best sound engineers of the time. André Charlin , to name but him, engineered quite a few of his recordings. Then, the sound is very dynamic. The dynamic range is wide, nothing muffled here.Every instrument is well placed and can be heard clearly. Obviously, the digital transfer has been made very carefully and respectfully.
Then for the music. Haydn’s symphonies (Morning, Noon, and Evening) are delightful pieces of music. They are played with both grace and strength. Ristenpart loved Haydn’s music, and this is audible in these renditions. Beethoven’s Eroica is something completely different. This is the first time I hear Ristenpart conducting a symphonic orchestra. Yet the subtlety is here, as with his Saar chamber orchestra. Beethoven’s driving force is here too. This record makes me regret even more that Ristenpart never had the opportunity to record his favorite composer, Mahler. Now, I would like to hear his Schubert’s symphonies. Hopefully, this wish might come true some day not too far away. Thanks again for those very welcome additions to my collection.”
Next, from Walter, in Pennsylvania:
“Ristenpart arrived Tuesday and I listened last evening. It is excellent! A nice transfer. This is a vigorous account of the EROICA, lean but not dry, with a nice warm sound in the slow movement. I never heard it before but I had his Beethoven 7th. That’s a fine performance but this EROICA is at a higher level. And Ristenpart in Mozart is something you can never get enough of. KR never feels rushed or nervous. In all his musicmaking, he gives the impression hat he understands the importance of pulse in the music. Too many current practitioners in the music of Mozart and Haydn – well, other composers too – seem to think that tempo equals pulse, when we well know this not to be true. K.136 is so well-known, yet with Ristenpart it sounds so fresh.”
Thanks to both of these gentlemen for their postive comments. It is very gratifying to me to hear good reports on the work I have done in restoring these great performances, and reissuing them to be enjoyed once again.
I have several new CDs I will be releasing in the next week; keep in touch and check out my website for the most recent offerings. Cheers! – Curt