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I have the Martzy sets

Posted by banpuku (A) on October 30, 2015 at 11:35:25

In Reply to: Love records stores with "no room for Classical." But Grumiaux's Bach.... posted by jdaniel@jps.net on October 29, 2015 at 18:53:42:

JD, I have both the Martzy LP sets from Coup d'Archet. Here is what I wrote on my website about the sets:

MARTZY - EMI RECORDINGS
I bought this box set based upon my prior experience with the magical L'Archer d'Or box sets (all three of them) produced by Coup d'Archet. This re-issue in mono is chalk full of musical excellence and sonic delight. The pressings are absolutely dead silent. Easily the most quite LP surfaces I know. The LPs are flat, centric and void of any defects.

These mono recordings are so full of depth and dimension, you forget you are listening to a mono LP. Rather, you are wrapped in harmonic delight. The strings just sing and make you relax. The piano appears better than all other mono piano recordings I know. In the end, dynamics and transients win the day.

While I am not a big violin solo fan, I have come to appreciate (to the extent a non-musical expert can) the nuance in Martzy's technique and the musical scores, in particular Bach BWV 1003. I can feel the intent of the music and forget that I am listening to a recording. In the end, I feel as though the music is communicating its essence. Martzy's wonderful playing and the recording all add to the realism of this fantastic 10 LP box set.

MARTZY - RADIO RECORDINGS

The Martzy Radio Recordings contain many of the same sonic characteristics of the Martzy EMI Recordings. Wonderful mono sound that lets you forget you are listening to mono. Tonality that is first rate. Dynamics, etc. But after listening to LP #4 Beehtoven's sonatas Op. 47 and Op. 30 No. 3, I get the keen sense that the Radio Recordings set themselves apart with more lifelike sound. The piano weight, size, air, dimension, and tonality on the Radio Recordings appears to be "live" more so than not only the EMI Recordings, but also all other mono recordings I have heard to date. Rather than sound like a boxed in piano with it's lid down, this piano rendition is life sized, with authority and smoothness. The tonality (top to bottom) has an openness that gives the listener a sense of presence, not recorded.

Also, there is a 3 dimensionality to the entire recording that I have not heard on any other mono LPs to date. It really is wonderful and eye opening to think that such beautiful sound is monophonic.
Martzy's violin playing seems to be more lyrical and free spirited on these sonatas than prior works. Maybe the radio venue put her at ease? We can only guess, but she appears to add a dimension of emotion that is not as readily apparent on the EMI recordings. I may be just nitpicking here, but it feels right to me.
The violin's tonality is also the finest, with harmonics add warmth and sweetness. Very lifelike. A three dimensional space around the violin is easily discerned. Also, the radio recording venue can be heard with good depth and width (yes, on mono believe it or not). This is fun stuff.

So, once again, I must highly recommend the purchase of another Coup d'Archet LP set. Just sell the table saw, jet skis, pool table or avoid another set of amplifiers and fund this purchase. Its worth it.

Hope this helps,
Pat

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