Tchaikovsky Swan Lake (Highlights)/Concertgebouw Orchestra/Fistoulari—Esoteric Mastering vinyl reissue 2023

This is the second new vinyl release from Japan’s famous ESOTERIC. ESOTERIC makes super high-end HiFi gear and produces the very best SACD remasterings on the market (they sell out almost immediately). They released a few vinyl albums 13 years ago, but it’s been all SACDs since then. Until now.

The original famous Decca comes from the engineering and producing minds of Kenneth Wilkinson and Ray Minshull and was recorded in the world-famous acoustics of the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam by its equally famous eponymous orchestra. Whether the original 1961 Decca or its cheaper but still wonderful London ”Blueback” counterpart, there are few for sale. So, fortunate for us, Esoteric blessed us with a new “Esoteric Mastering” vinyl 2023 release. Please read my Dvořák New World Esoteric vinyl release for all the analogue v digital discussion and results. The results are very similar to this magnificent LP of scenes from Tchaikovsky’s superb ballet score, Swan Lake.

Here is part of my Dvořák review:

Companies such as Analogue Productions, Craft Recordings, Blue Note Tone Poet Series, Impex Records, DG The Original Source and other leading companies proudly display the pure AAA chops on the front and centre hype sticker. And unlike other companies, they don’t obfuscate.

Esoteric is another company that lays it all out there. But, to my eyes, it’s a little confusing. Here’s the updated, 2023 “Esoteric Mastering” definition from their site:

The analog vinyl records of the "Masterpiece Collection", have been reissued by re-mastering the original master tapes, exclusive for the vinyl records. The mastering process employs the newly established "Esoteric Mastering" system, including ESOTERIC's top-of-the-line equipment "Master Sound Discrete DAC" and "Master Sound Discrete Clock". In addition, the MEXCEL cables are sparingly employed to achieve a flawless high-quality sound as the master data.

You can check out all the information here.

So, what do you think? Although camouflaged somewhat, I feel there is digital in the chain.

I did reach out to Esoteric for clarification. I did not receive an answer.

But the proof’s in the pudding. If it sounds great and echoes what we love about vinyl sound, then what the hell? Just enjoy.

So how does it sound?

Like all well-mannered “Japanese Pressings”, the Esoteric releases ship with the ubiquitous “OBI” strip.

Much like the Esoteric Dvořák release, splendid. Even though a different engineer, hall, conductor and orchestra, the Decca “house” sound is retained—beautifully balanced with excellent bass (improved on this new vinyl), glorious midrange with wide and deep soundstage with pinpoint imaging and an ethereal treble. Experienced listeners will recognize the classic Decca sound immediately and how the great Kenneth Wilkinson (“Wilky” to audiophiles) manages to balance the quite reverberant sound of an empty Concertgebouw; a hall, which like most great halls, sounds very different empty.

The 1961 Concertgebouw Orchestra was in great shape from top to bottom with very strong players in the secondary roles. Here’s where the 1961 Vienna Phil and the Amsterdam band differ. No matter as in 1961, 2023 includes both orchestras in the Top 5 of outstanding orchestras.

The Tchaikovsky “Scenes” (Highlights) from his ballet masterpiece Swan Lake give the listener satisfying chunks of the famous scenes played with great virtuosity and tonal splendour. Unlike the Esoteric Dvořák, where I heard only a fleeting moment of congestion in the very loud sections of the opening movement, I heard none of that here. My only digital flinch, yes, I flinch, was a very slight edge to the trumpets a few bars in band 1. If it was the LSO playing, they use what they call “front” on the leading edge of trumpet notes, but the more mellow rotary valve German trumpets the Concertgebouw players use do not echo the LSO style. So, maybe a little digital sound on a few notes. Nothing bothersome and the only giveaway to experienced ears there may be digital in the chain. And nothing to stop this from being an Audiophilia Dream List © candidate.

Always a perfect Esoteric pressing. My copy was flawless with silent vinyl. The sleeve is superb, too.

Whither Anatole Fistoulari? Mahler’s son-in-law was always admired by musicians, but the Ukranian/British conductor is having a grand old time displaying his gifts on masterful recuts of his work on Analogue Productions and other leading reissue companies. He was renowned as a ballet conductor and fine orchestral accompanist. Here, you have beautiful interpretive touches of someone intimate with the world of dance. Perfect, danceable tempos. So many conductors who have never set foot in a ballet pit go for speed and effects. Try that in the theatre and the conductor and ballet master will be having a chat.

The timbre of solo instruments is very realistic and scurrying, virtuosic violins are very effective. In “Danse Des Coupes” listen out for the flute section’s virtuosity and later a cute two-piccolo solo with bobbing eighth notes—here’s where the clarity of the recut and vinyl quality show very well; the piccs don’t quite agree on the pitch. It’s very subtle and Fistoulari would not have thrown his baton at them, but heard clearly on this pressing, nonetheless. Also, a brief violin section passage is played on the G string. Marvellous differentiated sound. There are many different subtle analogue tells like that. As such, the entire orchestra tuttis and solo instruments (including the Royal Philharmonic’s Canadian superstar violinist Steven Staryk as Leader) sound straight from the analogue tape with no digital “corruption”.

So, Esoteric is two for two. Highly recommendable vinyl reissues/recuts of two masterful Deccas. I’m hoping for more and will bring them to the Audiophilia audience. In the meantime, purchase with confidence.

The Esoteric distributor provided me with press copies for evaluation and review. But I’ve linked her site here if you’d like to enquire about a purchase (No direct Esoteric financial affiliation).

Further information: Esoteric Japan

Anatole Fistoulari.