I've been in full nerd mode listening to 78 transfers from the Nimbus Records Prima Voce series.
I've been listening to them with the Audio Note (UK) CD 5.1x Red Book CD player, and it just amazes me how transcendental the CD 5.1x, 45 EVO SET amp, and Westminster Royal SE loudspeakers combination is for this music.
If you want to hear music recorded with the highest fidelity, then stereo magnetic era recordings are typically at the top of the heap.
If you want to hear music recorded with the highest level of musical engagement, then recordings from the 78 era are at the top of my heap.
Great Singers at The Opera Houses of Europe, 3 CD Prima Voce set from Nimbus records.
The box set above covers the early recording history at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden; La Scala, Milan; and the Berlin State Opera.
I'm listening to the Berlin State Opera disc as I write this. It's awesome! You can read more about it at the Nimbus Records website HERE.
78 transfers are a good test of an audio system's tonal voicing. If a system's tonal voicing isn't dialed in 78s can sound iffy. If a system is well sorted 78 transfers can be mind blowing.
There's just something very engaging, very direct, and vibrant emotionally, that these 78 transfers do that always leaves me amazed and edified.
I'm not sure why those 78 transfers are so musically engaging. Those of you who have spent a lot of time listening to 78s probably can describe why they are so musically engaging better than I can.
Is it that they are direct-to-disc recordings? Is it that the 78 rpm recording speed puts more musical information on the disc? Whatever it is I can't get enough of 78 transfers!
Prima Voce Treasury of Opera Vol 1 & 2.
I've now listened to all 11 discs of the Prima Voce Treasury of Opera 1906 to 1942 Vol 1 & 2. Just extraordinary musical performances!
If you haven't read the description of how Nimbus Records does their 78 transfers, just click on the link, it's fascinating.
These discs have that 'time travel' vibe in spades.
Testament 1955 Joseph Keilberth Wagner Ring 19-LP stereo box set.
I've also been been spending more time listening to both the 19-LP box set and 14-CD box set of the Testament (Decca) recordings of the Joseph Keilberth Richard Wagner Complete Ring Cycle from the 1955 Bayreuth Festival.
These are early stereo magnetic era recordings, and they are superb performances. They are spendy but worth every penny.
I bought the CD box set because I was curious how the CDs would fare played through the CD 5.1x against the LPs played on my turntable. Very well indeed!
I've probably alienated half of you by now talking about 78 era transfers and opera.
I didn't think I liked opera. Then I heard these Testament (Decca) recordings of the Joseph Keilberth's Complete Ring Cycle from the 1955 Bayreuth Festival that my buddy Doc Leo brought by, and I changed my mind.
Then I heard the 78 transfers of opera and I was hooked.
Even if you think you don't like recordings of opera I encourage you to give some of these recordings a try, they just might change your mind and expand your listening repertoire.
In the not too distant future I'll be telling you about the Audio Note (UK) Tomei 211 SET 20 watt per channel integrated amplifier and Audio Note (UK) M3 phono preamplifier.
Peter Qvortrup mentioned they should be winging their way towards me in the November timeframe.
Stay tuned for more!
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
