Search - Igor Stravinsky, Charles Mackerras, London Symphony Orchestra :: Stravinsky: Petrouchka; Firebird Suite [Hybrid SACD]

Performance A+, Original Mastering A+, This Remaster D-

Martin Selbrede | The Woodlands, Texas | 04/12/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The right channel on this SACD/CD release has an unacceptable hum in it, which mars an otherwise fantastic performance brilliantly captured by the original engineers. It's too late for me to return it to Amazon, from whom I purchased it, so if you purchase it with the right to refund it if defective, LISTEN to your CD the moment it arrives, and don't leave it in an auditioning stack for a couple of months like I did. If the CD you pick up does NOT have the hum, you've got a 5 STAR in your hands. The pressings with the hum drop the star count by two. I'm reviewing the copy I have, since you have a chance of acquiring the same problems in your CD. Buyer beware: check your CD out, rejoice if it's kosher, act quickly if you've got that hum. This is all the more a pity since this is now my favorite take on Petrouchka, and I own about 15 different versions of the ballet. I'll even listen to it with the hum -- and I'll eventually break down and repurchase this in the hope my next copy is hum-free."