Author: Anton Stepichev

Beethoven – Kreutzer Sonata, Polyakin – Diakov, 1938 shellac Rip

Aprelevsky Zavod, Beethoven Ludwig, Classical, Diakov Abram, Polyakin Miron, Remastering from shellac records, Violin
Anton Stepichev


A set of five 78 records, reissue of the 1950s: gorgeous version of the sonata, there is a lot of lovely nuances in the playing of both, Polyakin and Diakov. The connoisseurs of the subtleties of violin sound will be excited.

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Soviet stage of the 1960s, 78rpm shellac Rip

Pop, Remastering from shellac records, Soviet estrada
Anton Stepichev


Sound examples of 78 Soviet records, vocal. I wonder how the impressions change when listening to tracks on different sound systems. In headphones on the computer, according to the sum of the pros and cons, hi-fi Brodskaya from 1960s sounds better, and when listening through the ER, the remaining tracks of 1950s are revealed and Brodskaya moves to the end of the list.

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Soviet stage of the 1960s, 78rpm shellac Rip

Pop, Remastering from shellac records, Soviet estrada
Anton Stepichev


Examples of soviet 78 records of the 1960s, instrumental music. At that time all recordings were issued on both LP and 78 disks. In comparison with vinyl, 78 records always sounded denser and more natural although it was noisy and technically worse.

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Yuri Nikulin – Old Clown, 1970s flexible LP Rip

LP Remastering, Melodia, Nikulin Yuri, Pop, Soviet estrada
Anton Stepichev


Flexible record. It's a beautiful record of a great artist.

Flexible Records of Krugozor magazine, 1970s LP Rip

Krugozor, LP Remastering, Mondrus Larisa, Pop, Soviet estrada, Vedishcheva Aida
Anton Stepichev


Krugozor's records were made on relatively simple, monophonic equipment, so among them there were unusually pure in the musical sense variety recordings, reminiscent of the sound of tape recorders of the 1970s. For example, the “Pesenka o medvediah” of Vedishcheva recorded technically worse, but palpably more musical than on the hard vinyl disc of Melodia. This is a common situation – in a modern studio with lots of sophisticated equipment music always loses more than it finds, there are mass of examples of it.

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Prokofiev violin concerto №1 – Szigeti-Beecham, 1935 Shellac Rip

Beecham Thomas, Classical, Columbia, Prokofiev Sergey, Remastering from shellac records, Szigeti Joseph, Violin
Anton Stepichev

Argentine Columbia, a 1940s reissue. A great version of the concert, the sound is soft, expressive though somewhat muffled and smoothed. Shigeti plays impeccably.

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Prokofiev – f-ing concert No.3, Gilels – Kondrashin, 1953 LP Rip

Aprelevsky Zavod, Classical, Kondrashin Kirill, LP Remastering, Piano, Prokofiev Sergey, TU-1kl-33
Anton Stepichev


The TU-1kl 33 album, Gilels sounds much more interesting than its later editions on Melody. The orchestra looks weaker in the background of the piano.

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Prokofiev Violin Concerto №2 – Szering, 1966 vinyl Rip

Classical, LP Remastering, Melodia, Prokofiev Sergey, Rojdestvensky Gennay, Schering Henrick
Anton Stepichev

Excellent for 1966 solid, musically balanced record. The impression of Henryk Szeryng with Rojdestvenskiy is very good. For some reason the LP recorded a tone above the key and the pitch had to be re-tuned with a tuning fork. Quite strange.

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Prokofiev Violin Concerto №2 – Heifetz, 1938 – Shellac Rip

Classical, Heifetz Yasha, Kusevitsky Sergey, Prokofiev Sergey, Remastering from shellac records, Violin
Anton Stepichev


1945 re-issue, the sound is intelligible, dense but sharp in the upper middle and somewhat clamped. The violin sings even on the reissue, Heifetz is in vain reproached in coldness.

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Prokofiev Violin Sonatas – J. Szigeti, 1950 LP Rip

Classical, Columbia, LP Remastering, Prokofiev Sergey, Szigeti Joseph, Violin
Anton Stepichev

Audiophile Lo-Fi! Szigeti differs from his colleagues by unusual, harsh sound production and broken, accented phrasing, and it is always interesting to listen to him. The sonatas are recorded with surprising musicality, the first one is better balanced, the second sounds more clear and sharp. The andante of the second sonata stands out with its melodic sound, it seems that you can look directly into the soul of Szigeti, or maybe Prokofiev, who knows…

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