Donald Satz wrote:

>I've been unclear for years why a large number don't like the Nimbus
>piano sound.  But, "cavernous" clarifies matters.  I suppose I like that
>cavernous sound, but I don't consider the sound "hollow"; I think it's very
>well focused.  Until very recently, I considered Decca piano sound poorly
>focused.  And the sound supplied for Kovecevich by EMI is in the "we're
>gonna pound you to death" category.

It is a highly variable phenomenon.  Take the Brahms set.  This received
a bad review in the penguin guide because of that sound (piano set to far
back).  Yet I found this artifact most prominet on the first item in the
set and not present at all on some works.  So I wonder if the reviewer
actually listened to the whole set.

I agree it's not perfect and there may be better recordings around.  That
early Brendel must certainly be worth considering.

I see it like this, we all have limited funds but I want to listened to
as wide a repertoire as possible.  This means buying a less than perfect
budget version of something which I will not listen too very often.  By
doing this I save money which enables me to explore lesser known composers
and repertoire.

I calculate that the average price I have paid for a CD is $6.4 (low in the
UK).  If I were purchasing full price CDs all the time my collection would
have to be only 30% of its current size.

Set against such considerations the Nimbus release fit the bill just
nicely.

Bob Draper
[log in to unmask]