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Recommendations for close miked classical recordin

Anyone have any recommendations for excellent sounding close-miked classical recordings? Perhaps I spent too much of my formative years listening to rock and jazz, but what I'm looking for are orchestral works recorded as if one were sitting right in the middle of the orchestra alongside the musicians. So many classical cds I hear sound dull and lifeless, like you're sitting half way back in an empty auditorium. I want it to sound like the conductor is standing right between my speakers! (Of course the performance has to be top-notch too, or else it's a pointless exercise.) I'd appreciate any pointers anyone can provide.
warrensomebody
rnm4
308 posts
 
Stokowski Uraipuru on Everest.
chashmal
605 posts
 
Here are a few:
1. Harnoncourt conducting in 1965 performance of Purcell's "Fantasias for viols"
2. Paul Zukofski playing Morton Feldman's "For John Cage"
3. Arditti Quartet playing Anton Webern's trios and quartets
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" excerpts, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, on cd on Sheffield Lab's "The Sheffield-Leinsdorf Sessions, Volume I." Or on the original 1978 direct-to-disk LP, if you can find it. Both are available at Acoustic Sounds (the LP in pre-owned form).

You will probably never hear a classical recording with greater dynamics. The sound is close-mic'd in the sense of having a first-row tonal balance, with a very bright (but still natural) string sound. It is NOT "close-mic'd" in the sense of excessive multi-mic'ing resulting in artificial-sounding over-emphasis of individual instruments.

This recording will NEVER be accused of sounding "dull and lifeless," and if you don't mind the bright strings it is one of the ultimate classical demo disks.

Regards,
-- Al
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