Author: Anton Stepichev

I.S. Bach – Goldberg Variations, Glenn Gould – 1959 LP mono

Accord, Bach Johann, Classical, Gould Glenn, LP Remastering, Piano
Anton Stepichev

Reissue on the 1955s USSR Accord, the quality varies from track to track, the sound is sometimes not fully disclosed, but magical honey notes, expressive and caressing the ear, arise here and there. Gould is certainly a wizard!

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J.S.Bach – Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 – Glenn Gould, LP mono Rip ‎

Bach Johann, Classical, Columbia, Gould Glenn, LP Remastering, Piano
Anton Stepichev


From the 3-lp set only the first (1968) and the third (1972) records have been found, from each one I took three most successfully recorded tracks. The result was an example of how the thoughtless replacement of recording equipment with a more modern one leads to the degradation of sound, in this case – the loss of natural timbres of the piano on the record of 1972 (tracks 4, 5, 6). In general, the sound of the entire second book of the WTC makes worse impression than the first (1965).

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J.S.Bach – Glenn Gould, 1960th USSR LP mono

Accord, Bach Johann, Classical, Columbia, Gould Glenn, LP Remastering, Piano
Anton Stepichev

On tour in the USSR Gould was recorded several times, including a live performance of the Three-Voice Inventions (1960) and a partita #2 (1962) with a well good LO-FI sound. Inventions convey the magic of the piano Gould better than studio recordings, we can only guess how great it sounded live. Rondo and sarabande from the second partita recorded somewhat tougher, there are noticeable detonations in the saraband. At the end of the list there are two finest Columbia 1964 studio recordings of inventions. The magic there is noticeably less.

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J.S.Bach – Well Tempered Clavier, Book I, F.Gulda – 1972 LP mono Rip

Bach Johann, Basf, Classical, Gulda Friedrich, LP Remastering, Piano
Anton Stepichev

The German LP MPS-Basf 1972, in general recorded and mixed poorly – there are many preludes with a level of -10db, and subsequent overloaded fugues, most tracks sound disembodied and cold. F. Gould, to my taste, plays WTC too monotonous and rigid, especially it concerns fugues, but a couple of well-recorded preludes clearly demonstrate that at the piano the master of his craft.

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Tchaikovsky – Violin Concerto, N. Shkolnikova – 1950th LP mono

Aprelevsky Zavod, Classical, LP Remastering, Shkolnikova Nelli, Tchaikovsky Piotr, Violin
Anton Stepichev

Kirill Kondrashin conducts the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, violin solo by Nelly Shkolnikova. The D-02176 GOST 5289-56, recorded in the first half of the 1950s, was reissued after 1956 from the original matrix (without re-recording on a newer equipment, as it was commonly practiced in the late 1950s in USSR). The recording bears all the signs of early soviet LPs of the TU-1kl – on the one hand the magnificent sound of the soloist, on the other – the unimportantly recorded orchestra. This performance is without a doubt one of the best interpretations of Tchaikovsky's concerto and a perfect example of violin recording.

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Khachaturian – Violin Concerto, L. Kogan 1952 mono lp rip

Classical, Khachaturian Aram, Kogan Leonid, LP Remastering, TU-1kl-33, Violin
Anton Stepichev


The magnificent version of the concert is conducted by the author, soloed by Leonid Kogan. The orchestra, as on all records TU-1kl 33, recorded dynamically, but roughly, the violin sounds perfect – clear and expressive.

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Vladimir Sofronitsky, 1960th mono vinyl rip

Accord, Classical, LP Remastering, Piano, Sofronitsky Vladimir
Anton Stepichev


Among more than a dozen long-playing records of Sofronitsky turned out to be only a few good-sounding tracks, it is a pity that a pianist of this high level was recorded with such disregard.

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Gilberto & Jobim, 1964 mono lp rip

Bossa Nova, Capitol, Gilberto Joao, Jobim Tom, LP Remastering, Odeon
Anton Stepichev

Tracks from two LPs of Bossa Nova – a reissue of Capitol with somewhat blurred HF and Odeon that sounds clearer, but with strong overload. On Odeon only one normal track without distortion has been found – Bolinha De Papel.

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Stan Getz – Joao Gilberto #2, 1964 LP mono

Bossa Nova, Gilberto Joao, LP Remastering, Verve
Anton Stepichev


Live recording at Carnegie Hall. Gilberto’s voice is plastic and clear, double bass sounds deaf, the drummer – slurred, but the quality of vocals still makes the record a good example of 1960s live recordings.

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Stan Getz – Joao Gilberto, 1964 LP mono

Bossa Nova, Getz Stan, Gilberto Joao, Jobim Tom, LP Remastering, Verve
Anton Stepichev


The cult hi-fi Bossa Nova album, sound is not as beautiful as the previous one – it is colder and sharper, with distorted sibilants. In annotation he is praised as the best-sounding album, the master tape is recorded at a speed of 30 inches per second instead of the usual fifteen. The author of the annotation admires the sound of the piano, I confess, I can not understand why.

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