Pioneer CS 44 Alnico speakers

Just found a nice set of vintage Pioneer CS 44, 8 ohms speakers in original and very good condition and at a very good price too!

Initial testing sounded great for vocal! Will ran in the speakers for a couple of days...

Top 20 most performed Operas: Opera America

1.		Madama Butterfly
2.		La bohème
3.		La traviata
4.		Carmen
5.		The Barber of Seville
6.		The Marriage of Figaro
7.		Don Giovanni
8.		Tosca
9.		Rigoletto
10.		The Magic Flute
11.		La Cenerentola
12.		Turandot
13.		Lucia di Lammermoor
14.		Pagliacci
15.		Cosî fan tutte
16.		Aida
17.		Il trovatore
18.		Faust
19.		Die Fledermaus
20.		The Elixir of Love

Mozart 莫扎特 - Le Nozze Di Figaro 费加罗的婚礼

Recently, I have been listening to Mozart and I have just placed an order for Mozart 莫扎特 - Le Nozze Di Figaro 费加罗的婚礼 conducted by my favourite conductor Solti.

Mozart Early symphonies and Symphonies 21-41

Mozrt : father & Son

This is a very nice Mozart father and son CD. L Mozart Toy symphony and the very famous Eine Kleine Nactmusik.. Great recording by Marriner

One bonus from the CD is the very nice Pachebel Canon! Lovely music for the quiet night...

Stokowski

After much searching, I have finally found the first edition Japanese pressed Cd. For those who have not heard the CD, this is a must have!

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Andrew Lloyd Webber:
1. Phantom of the Opera
2. Sunset Blvd
3. Starlight Express

Verdi Requiem - Robert Shaw

This is a superb CD.

 *Penguin 企鵝三星推介。 CD 碟刻有 DADC Austria 是SONY 在欧洲音樂之都奥地利設厂压片。 音樂頗具動態 dynamics，更適合大型音響發揮，一盒兩張CD。Susan Dunn - 女高音, Diane Curry - 次女高音, Jerry Hadley - 男高音, Paul Plishka - 男低音, Shaw 罗勃萧 - 指挥, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra 亚特兰大交响乐团, 羅伯特o肖（Robert Shaw）與亞特蘭大交響樂團（Atlanta Symphony Orchestra）的威爾第（Verdi）《安魂曲》（Requiem）出色的錄音具有火一般的熱情，步速恰如其分，他的演出獲得了推動力和感染力，音響宏偉壯觀，平衡極為出色和激情，演繹有許多絕妙之處，尤其是合唱振奮人心，獨唱始終如一，加上一個出色的和令人滿意的詮釋，5首威爾第的《歌劇合唱》（Operatic Choruses）的補充有聲有色，這是一個出色的版本！
For review, please see a review by:

By	"quia-nihil-sum" (Inverness,Scotland.) - See all my reviews

For me this has always been the benchmark recording of Verdi's immortal setting of the Requiem mass,against which I have judged all others that have arrived to challenge it in the 13 years since it was first issued.However,not one has even come close to dislodging it from that lofty pinnacle upon which it has dwelt in splendid isolation for so long now. It is the finest memorial that the late great Robert Shaw could possibly have and it just goes to show what a wonderful conductor and choir-master the world has lost in him.
The breathless anticipatory hush before the first pianissimo chords of the introit is a unique feature of this masterpiece,and the ASO manage this so well that we almost feel the music in our subconscious before actually picking anything up with our ears!A word of warning though:you will be tempted to crank up the volume on your amplifier during this bit,and the lovely Kyrie that follows, but resist the temptation,because the "Dies irae" which ensues with it's astonishing explosive detonations on the bass drum will not only damage your speakers,it may even cause structural damage to your house!
So once the initial storms have died away,and you have rounded up any pets that were panicked into a stampede,you can settle down to some truly glorious music-making.
The splendid Tuba mirum really shows just how wide-ranging the Telarc recording is,and I would dare to bet that Gabriel himself will be asking the members of the brass section for some pointers on how to go about sounding that last trumpet!
The magisterial bass Paul Plishka brings great gravitas and due fearfulness to the "Mors stupebit" and the mezzo-soprano Diane Curry opens the Judgement book with a matching sense of awful foreboding,as is evident in her peerless performance.Again the brass distinguish themselves around the phrase "Judex ergo cum sedebit",and indeed the orchestral playing throughout this recording is hardly short of miraculous.Surely the ladies and gentlemen of the ASO&Chorus were possessed by angels when they committed this work to disc.
Certainly an angel in soprano form is Ms Susan Dunn.Her voice is one of heavenly purity,without a trace of strain or artifice in her topline.Just listen to her in the "Quid sum miser..." here and in the exposed,lonely "Salva me",that could be called the eye of the storm that is the "Rex tremendae".Quite astonishing how she sustains that often unforgiving phrase,and I count it as one of my most favourite moments in all music
What a balm and benediction is the gorgeous "Recordare",coming as it does immediately after we have been so deliciously battered and bruised by the apocalyptic forces of the "Salva me fons pietatis".Ms Dunn and Ms Curry mingle and weave their voices with consumate skill,and this passage must count as one of the greatest things that Verdi produced in his entire career.
The tenor Jerry Hadley eschews the kind of histrionics that someone like Pavarotti would bring to the "Ingemisco",and within the scale and tone of the reading his unfussy approach works really well.In fact he makes a damn fine sheep(!) in the "Inter oves locum praesta" and with his forceful "Statuens in parte dextra",I'm sure God will be scurrying to clear some space for him on that eponymous right hand!
Paul Plishka strides back into centre stage with his "Confutatis maledictus" and what a marvellous contrast between the initial turmoil of the damned been confounded and charred,and the supplicatory serenity of his "Voca me cum benedictus" and subsequent entreaty for pity.
The "Lacrimosa" re-unites all four soloists and special mention once more for Ms Dunn's ethereal "Huic ergo parce".Magical. Also,how about that glorious sonority of the bass voices in "Pie Jesu Domine".I'm sure my windows rattle under the sympathetic resonance generated here!
The "Offertory" is a veritable treasure chest of aural jewels.Just witness the magical combination of the string section with our soprano around the phrase "Sed signifier sanctus Michael". Then there is possibly my favourite piece in the entire mass -the "Hostias".It's a deceptively simple long-breathed theme,which is initiated by the tenor and then developed by the other voices.I can't really explain why but it's one of those tunes that penetrate deep into your psyche and has a habit of bobbing to the surface when you least expect it.It shares this quality with Handel's, "I know that my Redeemer liveth", which always seems to ambush me when I'm out walking in the hills."Hostias",on the other hand sneaks up on me while I,m in the bathtub,and though my family might violently disagree,I think it comes across very well in that acoustic!
The choir cover themselves in glory once more with the storming "Sanctus" and thus we come to the end of the first disc.Now it's at this point that I must register a complaint-but don't worry,it's nothing to do with the music-it concerns the way this tremendous performance is awkwardly spread over 2CDS.Now,as much as I love the filler item of the operatic choruses(chorii?);especially "Va pensiero" and "Gloria all'Egitto",I would willingly forego them in order that the Requiem might be confined to a single disc,and then I wouldn't have my carefully nurtured reverie dissipated by having to laboriously change the discs over.By my reckoning the timing would work out at just over 84 minutes:surely thats not outside the capacity of a single CD-is it? Oh, and while I'm in moan-mode Telarc;could you address the problem of the missing text from the booklet i.e. the words "Fac eas, Domine,de morte transire ad vitam" (make them,Lord,cross from death to life).If you are following the libretto as you listen,it's most disconcerting to feel you have lost the plot all of a sudden.I remember the first time it happened to me,I absurdly checked the floor around my feet, as if that particular line had somehow fallen of the page!
Anyway,that's my griping over with and I'll come (reluctantly!) to the second disc which contains the severed "Agnus Dei","Communion" and concluding "Libera me". The "Agnus Dei" is another gorgeous duet for our female soloists,and with the "Communion" seems to pave the way for an ending full of sweetness and light,but the "Libera me" with it's anxious fearful setting and the re-visitation of the dreadful "Dies irae" remind us that unlike say Faure,Verdi did not envisage death as an untroubled,serene passing over,but rather as a tortured uncertain transistion with eternal damnation a very real possibility.
So,if you want a Requiem to provide the ultimate in late-night balm and benediction,opt for Faure,Victoria and Campra,but if you are up for an emotional roller-coaster of a death-mass, choose Verdi and remember just as in his famous aria,"Nessun Dorma",while this brilliant CD is playing,"NONE SHALL SLEEP!"-Least of all you!

Donny & Marie Osmond CD

I am currently on business trip in Taiwan. After work, I went down to a second hand CD shop and I came across the Donny & Marie Osmond CD..

Donny & Marie Osmond songs brought back fond memories of the 1970s when every Saturday evening, I will be sitting by the TV and watch the Donny & MArie Osmond shows with songs like A little Bit Country, A little bit Rock 'N' roll, deep purple etc..

This Cd will certainly bring back many of the happy memories where I sing along with the singers!

MUSIUES DE FILMS

Today is Labour day, a holiday in Hong Kong!

I have managed to listen to this CD again, and I particularly was touched by Barber Adagio, a theme song used in the movie Platoon..

Barber Adagio has certainly adds a fine touch to a fine movie...

Suppe overtures Charles Dutoit

I have just placed an order for the Suppe Overtures conducted by Charles Dutoit! Waiting for it to arrive...

Zen

As you know, I have been letting go much of my beloved hi-fi gears recently as I began to wonder why the need for so many set of system ?

Found this article from a web ...very inspiring!

The following is a photo was taken by Diana Walker and it shows Steve Jobs in his house in 1982

Jobs said about it:

This was a very typical time. I was single.
All you needed was a cup of tea, a light, and your stereo,
you know, and that’s what I had.

•Bare in mind• the fact that in 1982 Jobs was already 27 years old, 2 years after he was already worth more than hundred million dollars, and yet, he kept that elegant minimalism principle.

http://evalinux.wordpress.com/2008/01/13/the-zen-of-steve-jobs/

Music for relaxation

I have not been very active in acquiring any new hifi gears for the past few months. In fact, I have been reducing my gear to just 2 set (one for HK and one for use in Singapore).

Nevertheless, my hunts for first edition print CDs especially for classical music continues as good source = good sound!

With the economic recession, prices for hifi items may have fallen. So get ready you cash for some hunting session!

Tsai Chin again and again and again!

There are a new release of the older Tsai Chin Cds from the Hai Sun era..a must for all Tsai Chin's fans..

1982年11月 《藍色的夢》海山
1983年11月《世界名曲專輯》海山

The world of classicl music

Just came back from Taipei with several of nice classical Cds.The Mozart CDs are very nice and easy listening..

CD shopping in Zurich

I have managed to find many first edition Cds in Zurich. Even though the weather is snowing in Zurich, the CD hunting trip has been a very fruitful one!

David Zinman Beethoven 9

Just returned from Switzerland and I have managed to find this new Bareureiter version of Beethoven 9 conducted by David Zinman-Tonhalle Zurich Orchestra

Some review of the CDs by http://avmagazine.com/06/beethoven_symphony1n2.html

音乐学者Jonathan Del Mar是贝多芬权威之一，经多年的研究与考证，在贝多芬九首交响曲的原稿上挖掘了不少新发现，再加以更正与补遗，他这多年心血的成果终于得到 Barenreiter出版社的支持并加以发行，D. Zinman和苏黎世乐团便是首位采用此一新Barenreiter版的演奏者，果然是不一样的贝多芬。

如果Del Mar的这个新考证版正确的话，那么百多年来人们所演奏、所欣赏的贝多芬的所有交响曲岂不是完全都不准确了吗？伤脑筋的事我们最好别去操心，但这个新版本 实在能够令人一听就心动，深切地感受到贝多芬作品里的另外一份内涵。 Zinman在这里不单展现崭新的风貌，且尽量采用接近贝多芬原本标示的速度，即是每首交响曲的每一乐章都采取偏快的速度（比以往所有的录音版本都快）， 每一首交响曲为配合乐曲的风貌而采取不同编制的乐队人数来达臻理想效果。

我们还可以在不同乐段里找到别于以往的一些细节，诸如音乐句法的修正，音符的修改、增删，表情符号的改动，重复记号的修正、增删，旋律线的变动等等，这些留待各位自己去领略吧。

Zinman驾驭乐队的本事不同凡响，Orchestra的表现也超越一流水平，这是一个充满生命力、精神抖擞的贝多芬，快板乐章让人的感觉是快而不急 促、不粗糙，慢板乐章则是慢而不烦闷、冗长，听觉上一片爽朗舒畅，可以让你一口气连听三首贝氏交响而不感疲累的，唯有这套演奏了。顺理成章，这套贝九全集 成为我的千禧年新宠了。

个人断言，ARTE NOVA这套珍品将为贝多芬的九首交响乐竖立起另一里程碑，David Zinman也成为二十世纪最后一位演绎贝多芬九大交响曲的权威大师。

JBL L65

I was hoping to sell my JBL L65 after moving apartment as my new apartment's living room is not able to accommodate the size of the speakers. The overall condition of the speakers is almost perfect with all original alnico drivers. Cosmetic wise, with the exception of a small dented corners, which by the way has been fixed, it was also very nice. However, the offers that I have received were so rediculous that I doubt the sincereity of those buyers who I suspect are second hand dealers, who were hoping to pick up "dead chicken" haha!

Anyway since I am not in need of cash, I have decided to keep them and perhaps ship them back to Singapore where space is not an issue. HK$9000 can really see the true charaters of many "buyers"....

Interesting hifi hobby! : ) Enjoy music

The decline of the vintage hifi trade

Last weekend, I was passing by Mongkok Tak Fak building, the place where most HK audiophiles visit. There were more Hifi shops closing down and General Lee's shop will also be closing soon soon. Look like the hifi trade is one of the sunset industry being replaced by the cheaper and easily available MP3..

If the trend continues, the number of audiophiles will be getting less and less and many would choose the easy mini combo or even using the PC laptop as gears for music.

Hang in there diehard audiophiles!!

Mravinsky Tchaikovsky

Mravinsky 穆拉文斯基 - 指挥, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchstra 列寧格勒愛樂樂團, 1960年，穆拉文斯基（Mravinsky）率領列寧格勒愛樂（Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra）造訪英國，趁隙錄下了柴可夫斯基（Tchaikovsky）《最後三首交響曲》（Symphonies NO.4,5,6）。雖然同樣的曲目，穆拉文斯基在前蘇聯也曾數次留下錄音，但卻都略嫌寒冷堅硬，未能達到這個倫敦錄音的成就，這是柴可夫斯基交響曲的一 種典范，相信再過百年也不會改變。穆拉文斯基的指揮風格細致而嚴謹，他具有隨心所欲地操縱樂隊的能力，准確地把握住作品的風格，並且恰到好處地加進自己的 精闢而獨到的見解。本片獲獎無數，曾經同時登上日本究極100、日本名曲300、企鵝三星戴花與留聲機百大這四份權威榜單，這張就是其中之一。同時這套唱 片還曾獲得1988年愛迪生唱片大獎！

Walton

This is another great English work that I like where the recording is excellent!

Adam Cheng

This is on of the best recording cantonese CDs with very familiar theme songs from the TV series..

Taiwanese Singers

I just returned from Taiwan bring back some first edition Cds.

Flamenco/ espana

For those who love Espana / Flamenco music, you can try to these CDs..

Economic recession and music

With the recent economic crisis, one can see a severe decline in the audio forum R33 participation as I guess many will be busy with their work.

I have slowed down my hifi but streamlining most of my excess gears. Nevertheless, searching for first edition and sound recording CD continues to be my priority. I still could not decide whether to move into SACD as it will mean a complete transformation of my CDs collection.

My new hobby of learning Wing Chun has helped me to build a fitter body with those rigorous exercises! Have learning the basic Part 1 & 2 of the Siew Lim Tou and hoping to be able to learn Cham Kue soon..

Authographed Cds

These are the Cds given to me by the various singers..hope they all succeed in their singing career!

Richard Strauss Metamorphosen & Mahler 3

Richard Strauss Metamorphosen conducted by Karajan is considered as one of the best!

See comments:

By	Michael A Pahre (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

Most lovers of Mahler---be they devoted or fleeting---find his Symphonies No 1, 4, or 5 to be the most accessible. The Symphony No 8 is rarely heard because of the large number of performers required, while the 2nd is heard fairly often despite nearly similar requirements. Lost among this list is the 'Great' Symphony No 3: a vast sea of music and emotion that is rarely tackled in the present day probably due to its sheer length (more than 100 minutes in most performances).

The 3rd symphony is a unique piece of classical music in that virtually every human emotion can be found among its six movements and many pages. While Mahler later discounted his programmatic descriptions of the movements, they genuinely provide insight into this work. The first movement, as long as anything Bruckner ever wrote, describes the awakening of the world and begins with a glorious horn soli that can be found nowhere else than in Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony. The work passes by the animals and flowers, finally arriving in the wisdom of children and love in the 5th and 6th movements, respectively. The finale ends with one of the most beautiful yet dramatic passages in all of late German Romanticism.

Jascha Horenstein is not a marquee name conductor, but this one recording from the early 1970s vaulted him to exalted status among aficionados of the Mahler symphonies. He draws a top-notch performance from an orchestra which is not among the world's best. The horn section plays with remarkable sound and intonation, the trombone, posthorn, and violin solos are all among the best to be found in any recording, and the pace of the entire work is careful laid out to the listener. I first purchased the LP two decades ago, and it has remained among my most treasured recordings. While Bernstein's recording with the New York Philharmonic in the 1960s is thought by many to be the most exciting or definitive, or the recording by Levine with the Chicago Symphony as having the greatest overall sound, the Horenstein recording attains the best overall performances and unity of expression.

ChiYi

For those who love mandarin music cannot missed Chi Yi Cds..

Tsai Chin again and again!

My love for Chi Chin music continues with this 2001 CDs. Many of the songs were unique with use of ethnic Indian influence..

年份 專輯 發行商
1982年9月 《一千個春天》四海
1982年9月 《再愛我一次》海山
1982年11月 藍色的夢》海山
1983年3月 《不了情》海山
1983年5月 《昨夜之燈》海山
1983年11月《世界名曲專輯》海山
1984年4月 《此情可待》

1985年7月 《癡癡的等》 蔡琴老歌 - 癡癡的等 飛碟唱片

1986年 蔡琴個人演唱會精選》

1983年10月14日-10月16日香港大專會堂演唱會片段

1986年3月 《傷心小站》(HEARTBREAK STATION)
1986年10月 人生就是戲》(LIFE IS A SHOW) 飛碟唱片
1986年12月 《飛向未來》飛碟唱片
1987年9月 《第一種聲音》飛碟唱片
1987年11月 《時間的河》飛碟唱片
1987年12月 《美就是心中有愛》飛碟唱片 中華民國小姐選拔特別專輯
1988年6月 《火舞》(DANCE OF FIRE) 飛碟唱片
1989年10月 《談心》(ABOUNT HEARTS) 飛碟唱片
1990年12月 《回到未來》~國語懷念老歌 飛碟唱片
1990年12月 《回到未來》~台語懷念老歌 飛碟唱片
1991年12月 《太陽出來了》飛碟唱片
1992年7月 《你不要那樣看著我的眼睛》波麗佳音
1993年9月 《一曲成名-輝煌時代》飛碟唱片
1994年1月 《新感情舊回憶》點將唱片
1995年7月 《午夜場》點將唱片
1996年1月 《民歌蔡琴》點將唱片
1996年2月 《情歌蔡琴》
1996年6月 《飄浪之女》台語專輯 點將唱片
1997年7月 《心太急》點將唱片
1998年2月 《答案》滾石 與萬芳合唱單曲
1998年9月 《原聲帶》華納唱片
1999年2月 《音樂大世紀-歌癮十五年》飛碟唱片 飛碟群星合輯
1999年9月 《精選蔡琴》EMI
1999年9月 《沒有男人的房子不算家》華納唱片 【天使不夜城】歌舞劇原聲帶
2000年3月 《機遇》果陀劇場 【淡水小鎮】原聲帶
2000年6月 《遇見》常喜
2000年9月 《花天走地》環球
2001年2月 金片子【壹】- 天涯歌女 常喜
2001年2月 金片子【貳】- 魂縈舊夢 常喜
2001年7月 《橘子紅了》常喜
2001年9月 《繼續》常喜
2002年1月 《蔡琴一起走來香港演唱會Live》倍特
2002年8月 《意亂琴迷》蔡琴懷舊精選 華納唱片
2003年9月 《情盡夜上海回憶錄》果陀劇場 【情盡夜上海】雋永老歌歌舞劇
2004年2月 《最動聽的蔡琴》華納唱片
2004年3月 《抒琴時間》華納唱片
2004年7月 《銀色月光下》廣州天藝
2005年5月 《一千個春天》【經典復刻版】五四三音樂站
2007年4月 《不了情2007經典歌曲香港演唱會》環球唱片
2007年10月 蔡琴《金聲演奏廳》環球唱片
2008 No Regret

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I have just returned from Taipei business trip! After a long day of meeting, I have managed to go to my usual CD shop CD Republic to source for my CDs. I have managed to find two first edition Mandarin Cds..

Good bye Rogers LS3/5a Gold badge

This evening, my Rogers LS3/5a Gold Tag has left my place and going into a better home..

The feeling was mixed as I was feeling a bit sad as it has taken me much time to find the pir of nice condition gold badge. However, since the speakers have been left untouched for so long, it may be better for other who can take good care o them. How many set of speakers can one listen at any one time right?

3 set perhaps ... Tannoy Cantebury, 755a, JBL L65, German fullrange?

Leak TL12.1 revisited

My pair of leak TL12.1 were almost sold just before Chinese new year. Luckily, the buyer has changed his mind : )...

I have received many offers for the Leak 12.1. In addition, I have also received many friends (KY, Alan, etc) who have asked me not to sell my pair of 12.1. This evening, I have taken another look at my leak TL12.1 and was really impressed with the overall condition and the nice internal capacitors. I think it will be hard to find another set of 220v 12.1 in such condition. I have remembered the long process of getting these set (It all started with a set of closed frame 12.1, later bought one set of 110v Leak 12.1, and finally bought one unit of 220v Leak 12.1 and finally matching it with a same period 220v Leak TL12.1. I have also replaced all the capacitors with super metal packs as well as found the two metal plate for the leak as well.

I shall be returning to HK on Wednesday and the Leak TL 12.1 and Marantz 7 will be left behind in Singapore for good... : )

No sales is good!

Happy Chinese New Year 2009 Year of the Ox

I have not been very active in updating my blog lately as I was busy traveling for work as well as learning my new hobby : Wing Tsun martial art 詠春拳every night after work from 7pm till 10pm. The need for exercise has become critical as I have been spending hours using PC everyday and night causing backache and back pain.

With the new exercise, I can feel fitter and have more energy for work as well. My listening time for hifi has been drastically reduced but I have been trying to balance work, exercise and music.

With the Chinese new year, I did some spring cleaning by listing out the items that I plan to cut down as I feel much contentment without the need for so many vintage gears... I have decided to keep only the WE124b, Western Electric 755a, Tannoy Cantebury and JBL L65.. Less is more..

: )

Busy busy

I have been rather bust lately owing to the need for constant business trips and the moving of apartment. My apartment is now almost 90% ready (still have a few more unopened boxes) but the move has forced me to clear away some unwanted items and some excess items as well. Chinese New Year is coming...good time to do some spring cleaning!