25 Sentimental Favorites

Very good!

As revealed with SONY MDR-7506 Studio Monitor headphones, transfer quality of the contents of VOX's 25 SENTIMENTAL FAVORITES is generally full-range, distortion-free, and with such clarity for example you can hear one musician's regular inhalations on the second cut (BORODIN String Quartet #2). Occasional tracks do reveal their magnetic tape sources, but this white noise is minimal, except for #24 (perhaps it's a multi-generational dub). Only the very last number ('Cavalleria Rusticana') is monaural.Musicianship and editing are another matter, however.Edits:These all obviously fade out before the movement or piece ends: #2, #3, 11 and 18.Technique:The crucial soloist on MASSENET's 'Meditation from Thais' is ever-so slightly sour.On STRAUSS's 'Artist's Life' the orchestra slurs some faster runs.Strings on MOZART's 'Elvira Madigan' render a wooden intro.The anonymous 'My Lady Greensleeves' shows dissonance in left hand chord runs.BORODIN's 'Polovetsian Dance #8' has a few imperfect moments that make you wince.Noteworthies:KREISLER's 'Liebeslied' is positively beautiful as is his 'Schön Rosmarin.'The MOZART Flute and Harp Concerto couldn't be better.TCHAIKOVSKY's 'Waltz of the Flowers' is a standout.Outstandingly captured bass on the MOZART 'Marriage of Figaro' excerpt.The 'Arab Song' from Rimsky-Korsakov shows wonderful spirit.Grieg's 'Wedding Day' has a pleasant airiness.

The recordings are fair at best. The performances poor to better.I will dispose of this one.