Ed Presson
2019-08-19 15:30:08 UTC
Soler: 6 Concertos for 2 Organs. Jürgen Essl & Jeremy Joseph, organists.
Cybele SACD 031802
In my mind was an ideal performance: I wanted it to be rollicking and
joyous. I collected a number of LPs decades ago that, in moments, suggested
that such a performance was possible. My LP favorites back then were the
Biggs & Pinkham (Columbia) and the Newman & Payne (Turnabout). In my
opinion, the most disappointing LP at the time was Gilbert & Pinnock; to me
they sounded like two constipated Puritans that totally missed all the joy
in the music.
Since the advent of CDs, I had accumulated six CDs of these works, but never
found a commercial release of my two favorites from the LP days. None of
the CDs equaled those.
In a recent Fanfare magazine, I read a rave review by James Altena, whose
view of the music seemed to match mine. So, I took a deep breath and
ordered this SACD.
I have been relishing the Essl and Joseph performances for the past two
weeks. The recording was made on two historical organs in a Mexico City
cathedral in splendid SACD sound.
This is, by far, my favorite performance. I love the imagination and wit in
their choice of organ registers (if that's the right term) as well as the
bubbling tempos. The two performers seem to be having a really great time,
and so am I. No stodgy HIP playing this.
I was totally surprised when after the first 12 SACD 2-channel bands (I
don't have surround sound), a voice announced that a binaural version would
follow. I got to hear the whole program again in different sound! Sheer
joy.
Of course, YMMV.
Ed Presson
Cybele SACD 031802
In my mind was an ideal performance: I wanted it to be rollicking and
joyous. I collected a number of LPs decades ago that, in moments, suggested
that such a performance was possible. My LP favorites back then were the
Biggs & Pinkham (Columbia) and the Newman & Payne (Turnabout). In my
opinion, the most disappointing LP at the time was Gilbert & Pinnock; to me
they sounded like two constipated Puritans that totally missed all the joy
in the music.
Since the advent of CDs, I had accumulated six CDs of these works, but never
found a commercial release of my two favorites from the LP days. None of
the CDs equaled those.
In a recent Fanfare magazine, I read a rave review by James Altena, whose
view of the music seemed to match mine. So, I took a deep breath and
ordered this SACD.
I have been relishing the Essl and Joseph performances for the past two
weeks. The recording was made on two historical organs in a Mexico City
cathedral in splendid SACD sound.
This is, by far, my favorite performance. I love the imagination and wit in
their choice of organ registers (if that's the right term) as well as the
bubbling tempos. The two performers seem to be having a really great time,
and so am I. No stodgy HIP playing this.
I was totally surprised when after the first 12 SACD 2-channel bands (I
don't have surround sound), a voice announced that a binaural version would
follow. I got to hear the whole program again in different sound! Sheer
joy.
Of course, YMMV.
Ed Presson