Double double.(The Music)

This time around, Tom and I thought it would be fun to compare two recordings of music that was originally written for ballet but has gained fame in concert halls and some notable recordings, Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev. The Telarc label recently released a new recording featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paavo Jarvi (Telarc CD-60597), while the RCA label recently resurrected and remastered a recording featuring Michael Tilson-Thomas leading the San Francisco Symphony (RCA Red Seal 82876-59424-2).

Following our standard protocol, Tom and I have refrained from discussing these two recordings with each other and have done our listening and writing completely independently. Because this is an odd-numbered issue, I will lead off with my findings and then Tom will present things from his perspective.

KWN: Although Tom always complains when I am brief, I just can't help it. This is not music that I find myself listening to with strict attention to the niceties of performance and interpretation; rather, it is music that I simply put on every once in a while to enjoy (and to chuckle as I hear parts that John Williams must have listened to very carefully indeed ...) for the sheer sonic splendor of it all.

And that, folks, means that it was not at all hard to pick a winner. The Telarc recording is clearly better. The sound is more natural in terms of timbre and perspective. The RCA is pretty good, but the Telarc is simply outstanding. Switching back and forth between them, I was impressed that whereas the Telarc recording made me feel as though I were listening to the orchestra, the RCA sounded like a recording, especially in those passage where a particular instrument had a prominent part. On the Telarc recording, that instrument would remain in its proper place, but on the RCA, it would be given an extra prominence in the mix.

Given the quality difference between the two recordings, and my strong preference for the sound of the Telarc, there is not much more that I believe would be of any value to report. Many audiophiles may remember the Sheffield direct disc featuring Erich Leinsdorf conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a wonderful release that introduced many audiophiles to this spectacular score. Given the technical restrictions of cutting direct-to disc, Sheffield was able to present only a small portion of the score, maybe 30 minutes or so. Both these new releases feature more than 70 minutes of music. Hooray for progress!

TL: I feel a little guilty preferring the "standard" CD of Tilson Thomas' version to Jarvi's SACD of ...