3.0 out of 5 stars
(Very) Unpolished "GEMS", June 19, 2011
This review is from: Pavarotti: Rare Gems, Vol. 1 (Audio CD)
Over the years, I've grown quite leery of classical music released on budgetline labels. This Pavarotti collection demonstrates why. The sound quality is just bad on most tracks. They sound, in fact, like they were taped off a radio broadcast--and not from a particularly good radio at that. Pavarotti, of course, made his debut in the 1960s, an era in which recording technology was not quite as advanced as it is now, but it was actually GETTING there. These tracks sound like scratchy old lo-fi recordings from the '30s.
One trick that actually worked for me was to put on the record and leave the room. That sounds sarcastic, I know, but actually listening from a distance made the poor sound quality less irritating. I could pretend that the only obstacle to complete enjoyment was a lack of proximity.
The rather sketchy liner notes and song listing do nothing to elaborate on the wheres and whens of these "rare" recordings. It actually is entirely possible they actually were taped off a radio broadcast, now that I think about it.
Ironically, the only listeners who might actually appreciate this cut-rate recording would be the cognoscenti--and then, only the most completist among them. Die hard Pavarotti fans might be able to compare the performances (in and of themselves, quite good) to other recorded versions and/or live versions they still may recall. The decidely NON-audiophile quality of this collection would likely not bother them for that very reason. They know the stuff by heart already.
But neophytes, enraptured by "Nessun Dorma" and the PBS specials (with or without the two other Tenors), are likely to be bitterly disappointed, despite the low cost.
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