A unique recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto was made on August 8, 2020, during a live performance at the Musikverein in Vienna. Recorded in 24-bit 96K Hz resolution, the concerto was played by the period instrument ensemble Orchester Wiener Akademie, founded in 1985 by conductor Martin Haselbock. Soloist Benjamain Schmid, in an unconventional move, tuned his violin from the widely adopted convention frequency of 440 Hz down to 430 Hz. So followed the players.
According to Wikipedia, “A tuning fork that belonged to Ludwig van Beethoven around 1800, now in the British Library, is pitched at A = 455.4 Hz, well over a half-tone higher.” So, this is the first instance we get to experience the seminal work via a new sound, and it is a delightful experience. But what makes this live recording really stand out is the very faithful dynamic balance rendition of the lone violin against the ensemble backdrop.
All other recordings of the Violin Concerto increase the output of the violin so that it dominates over the orchestra; this live recording by record label Aparte preserved the exact dynamics of all instruments relative to each other, and the violin solo sounds fragile and delicate decidedly. And it is a very good thing.
For the first time we get to hear how, in an actual concert performance preserved faithfully, the members of the ensemble under the direction of the conductor pampered the violin, refraining from overwhelming the violin in one part and blossoming in full strength in the other. The key to enjoying this precious recording is to set the volume in the beginning introduction so that the ensemble is reproduced in full strength. Once set, the sound of the violin solo will emerge in its most natural space, both in the physique and the dynamics. This recording makes all preceding performances sound like the orchestras were recorded in isolation from the violin solo, oblivious, and the volume of the violin amplified to levels comparable to a cello.
Schmid knows his craft, and he coerces beautiful sound out of the instrument. Relish the alluring tone rendered in high resolution and the intense, precision playing. Experience how naturally a violin sounds for the first time in your system.
For the violin that Benjamin Schmid played was a 1718 Stradivarius, “ex Viotti-Rosé”.
Review System:
Acoustic Sciences Corporation TubeTraps
Audience AV frontROW cable system
Audio Reference Technology Sensor Haute Couture spade speaker cables
Audio Reference Technology Analysts EVO RCA
Audio Reference Technology Analysts SE interconnects, power cables
Audio Reference Technology Super SE interconnects, power cables
Stage III Concepts Ckahron XLR interconnects
Audio Reference Technology Distributor X
Aurender N200 high-performance digital output network transport
Aurender AP20 DAC (amplifier bypassed)
Atma-Sphere MP-1 3.3 tube balanced preamplification system
Pass Laboratories XA200.8 pure class A monoblocks
Sound Lab Majestic 945 electrostatic panels
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