RACHMANINOFF Plays RACHMANINOFF – Zenph Re-Performance – [TrackList below] RCA Red Seal 88697-48971-2 ***** [Release date: Sept. 22, 09]:
This is the third and latest effort in the almost science-fiction Zenph Re-Performance projects, which previously have brought us hi-res, surround sound and binaural recreations of original sonically-compromised recordings by Glenn Gould (2007 release) and Art Tatum (2008 release). The Zenph process uses special computer software to extract every musical performance nuance from a scratchy, distorted historical recording, and stores the data in a hi-res digital file. Every note of piano performances is captured in great detail, including volume, phrasing and pedal actions. But without the surface noise, hiss, or speed inconsistencies of the original recordings. These re-performance files are then played back on a real acoustic grand piano with sophisticated computers and hardware so that the original performance can be recorded afresh, using the latest audio recording gear, including stereo, binaural and surround sound.
This latest release celebrates the 100th anniversary of Rachmaninoff’s U.S. recital debut, which took place at Smith College in Northampton, MA. The program of 13 tracks comes from his 78 rpm recordings of 1921 to 1942 – the very first track coming from the acoustic era and the rest from the slightly better fidelity electrical era. (Because of the Zenph process one hears hardly any difference between them.) Five of the pieces are his own compositions, and the rest short encore-type selections that were popular at the time and also fit well on the short playing time of a 78 rpm side. Fellow Russians Rimsky-Korsakoff and Tchaikovsky are represented, and there are three movements of Bach’s Violin Partita No. 3 which Rachmaninoff himself transcribed. The technical mastery and power of his playing come thru beautifully, without any distractions connected with the historic 78s. Also, instead of playing back the digital files on the Yamaha Disklavier Pro computerized grand piano, as was done with the first two Zenph releases, this time the production team selected and customized a 1909 nine-foot Steinway D grand piano on which Rachmaninoff likely played during his lifetime.
As with the earlier two releases, the program is presented twice on this disc, in this case making a total of 26 tracks. The first 13 tracks are standard 44.1K stereo. Tracks 14-26 were recorded binaurally, with a Neumann “dummy head” mike system positioned exactly where Rachmaninoff’s head would have been when he performed for the recordings. The head preserves most of the natural phase and frequency information on the two channels of the recording, and if you play it back wearing stereo headphones you will hear the performances as if you were seated at Rachmaninoff’s piano yourself – the treble notes up on the right and the bass off to your left. No special decoding is required – just headphones.
Speaking of special decoding, these are recordings of much higher than standard 44.1K/16-bit PCM, as well as in both stereo and multichannel. The first two Zenph discs were released as hybrid stereo and multichannel SACDs. However, due to Sony/BMG Music no longer releasing any SACDs in the U.S. – although European and Japanese labels as well as a few U.S. labels release dozens of SACDs every month – this third release has been limited to standard CD only. Since Sony’s offices in other countries do their own pressing and marketing independently, one of them may later issue this album as an SACD. There might also be a Blu-ray version.
These are masterful performances which take us back to a different era of piano virtuosity. Rachmaninoff was known for keeping very high standards for his recordings – both his playing and their sound. His biographer claimed that the pianist used a hammer to smash 78s that failed to meet his requirements. That sounds to me like an unlikely expense for RCA Victor at the time – it would mean they had to make masters and stampers and press the shellac 78s before he could break them – the original recordings were on wax – hard to break with a hammer!
The binaural recordings are quite amazing to hear on good headphones, and fortunately the compromised fidelity of the standard CD doesn’t destroy the uncanny binaural effect for most listeners; binaural even comes thru well on MP3 files.
TrackList:
1. Liebesleid
2. Prelude, Op. 3, No. 2 in C-Sharp Minor
3. The Flight Of The Bumblebee
4. Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
5. Etude Tableau, Op. 33, No. 2 in C Major
6. Etude Tableau, Op. 33, No. 7 in E-Flat Major
7. Moment Musical, Op. 16, No. 2 in E-Flat Minor
8. Daisies, Op. 38, No. 3
9. Lullaby, Op. 16, No. 1
10. Violin Partita No. 3, BWV 1006; Prelude
11. Violin Partita No. 3, BWV 1006; Gavotte
12. Violin Partita No. 3, BWV 1006; Gigue
13. Liebesfreud
– John Sunier
