On its way from Japan...

[marshanp]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/5031840091

Wyn Morris, a fine conductor and a Mahler specialist, made few recordings - because he was also an awkward case, constantly falling out with orchestras, and an alcoholic. This one might fairly be described as legendary. Not for nothing was he called "the Celtic Furtwangler"...

The LPs are easily obtainable secondhand (and can be heard via YouTube), but if you want it on CD options are more limited. There have been various reissues, most of them failing to do justice to the fine original Bob Auger recording. The Tower Records Vintage Collection version is reputed to be by far the best, but has never been available outside Japan as far as I can see.

I got it a bit less expensively by using a service called Worldshopper. Somebody in Japan goes and buys the item at the local price, then posts it to you (which isn't cheap). Total: about £35.

Anyway, anticipation is part of the pleasure... as is looking forward to Mirga G-T's performance with the CBSO on May 18th. I can hardly wait

 

[marshanp]

It's arrived

It is a single CD (I wasn't entirely sure when I ordered it that it wouldn't run to two). The track timings add up to nearly 85 minutes <gasp!>

I don't know how Tower Records managed that... but dBpoweramp ripped it perfectly happily. Perhaps a mysterious finagling called Eight-to-fourteen modulation (EFM) was used?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-to-fourteen_modulation

Anyway, that's tonight's listening sorted

PS, 19:20... Fire lit, rum to hand... sounds wonderful!

 

[mandryka]

I have the Scribendum transfer of this LP, and indeed the high res version. I've never bothered to hear the hi res version because I've been told the transfer is not so good -- the dynamic range has been changed so that quiet passages are louder. I don't know what you've bought, but if you want the Scribendum PM me.

Mahler, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic Combined Choirs, Eduard Flipse, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Wyn Morris – Symphonies No. 8 & No. 10 (2003, CD) - Discogs

Just for interest sake, here's a comparison of the Scribendum and the Hi Res -- the first movement, Scribendum on the top.

 

[marshanp]

Thanks for the offer, but I am entirely happy with the Tower Records release

 

[Vinny]

For anyone buying anything in Japan - use Zenmarket - costs peanuts and unlike some of their competitors, get rave reviews.

I have used them umpteen times.