Customer Reviews

The Virtual Haydn: Complete Works for Solo Keyboard (Blu Ray Audio & Blu Ray DVD)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Tom Beghin and his colleagues from McGill University have created a meticulously produced panorama of the keyboard works of Haydn. Obsessive attention to detail, voluminous notes and video documentaries, and superb recording quality of the seven replica historic instruments and nine historically informed, digitally recreated acoustic environments allow the listener to immersively enter into Haydn's rapidly evolving world. But none of this would matter without Beghin's sensitive, intelligent, and highly musical performances. His point is not merely to present the quaint and esoteric sounds of his highly specific period instruments, but to explore the musical implications of those sounds for the composer and his listeners. The idiosyncrasies of each of the instruments (clavichord, two harpsichords, and four pianos) become inextricable from Haydn's musical text and Beghin's interpretation.

The decision to release the 17 hours of material on Blu-ray makes for a much more compact package and allows the use of 5.1 surround audio, and video features and documentaries. But it also limits the ability to enjoy the music beyond the confines of a home entertainment center. The Blu-ray load time gets old fast if one wants to listen to one or two cuts. Many of us would like to be able to live with the music in the car or the iPod as well. And a great many people who would savor this work simply do not possess the technology.

The is a beautiful set of recordings in full surround sound. For those with a home theatre system up to the task of playing full surround music you will literally "feel like you are there." The instruments used are authentic for the period and the rooms are "virtual" recreations of actual rooms from the period. So, you will hear the music exactly as it was intended to be heard by the composer. If your surround speakers are not up to the task but you have good stereo main speakers, use the two-channel LPCM mixes though just your stereo speakers for the best possible stereo sound.

The previous reviewer mentions that there are times that he would like to be able to listen without waiting for the Blu-Ray to load the menus. While he is correct you will have to wait for the menu, there are no copyright notices etc. like with movies so the wait isn't too bad. And that's a small price to pay for full HD surround sound. And the advantage of the menu is you can call it up while the music is playing to see exactly what is playing; or to easily navigate to another piece.

The previous reviewer also mentions he would like two-channel versions for playing with an iPod etc. As mentioned above, the disc does include two-channel LPCM mixes of all pieces on the disc so one could easily use "audio capture" software (not "ripping") on their computer to capture the two-channel mix to play on their iPod.

When one buys a blu-ray recording, he expects to have a recording containing quality sound. On my playback system (with a range of 14Hz to 20 kHerz), all of the four discs' lower registers sounded muddy and distracting.. The reason for this lack of quality is due to the harpsichord and clavichord screechy performance range--high and etched with no bass sound. In other words by default this recording's lower audio registers were left blank--having no signal, only noise. A 5.1 recording can benefit from a variety of audio experiences if they're available to record.

Another disappointment came when watching the various recitals. No performer was filmed. It was like three audio disc without any visible action. The fourth disc consisted of a discussion among several people of where to record, one notable example, so that the ambient sound might match the actual solons (rooms) where Haydn performed. All talk and no filmed performance. Just my opinion, but still I cannot recommend this collection.

Haydn's music can be performed on the pianoforte nowadays, a rather remarkable instrument with a reputable range, and not a series of unattractive, historical instruments conjured up from long, long ago.