30 September, 2020

Lang Lang is an Audiophile?


New York Diary (20-32): Lang Lang is an audiophile?

Note (10-2-20): Thanks to comments by readers, the audio setup is confirmed to be in photographer Hartwig Klappert's studio in Berlin, but he is not the photographer for this album.

I was streaming Lang Lang's new recordings (one studio and one live) of Bach's Goldberg Variations, which has garnered mixed reviews so far. It is the slowest and most romantic on record. Myself? I find it refreshing. Too many recordings are too alike - not this one. I have actually listened to both several times and grow increasingly fond of them.

As usual for DG's marketing, inside the booklet are many superfluous and gratuitous photos of him in various poses. One caught my eyes. Hey, some serious gear there!

Can we name the gears? They seem to be all vintage. The R2R is a Studer/Revox (A77?); the turntable is an iconic Micro Seiki but I am not sure which one. Can someone name the amp?

Basic Repertoire Bach's Goldberg Variations on the piano was made famous by Glenn Gould's fast and exciting (and iconic) performance, which for many is still the reference (he later made a digital remake that is a little slower). Lang Lang's is the slowest and strangest, but undeniably beautiful.


10 comments:

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    1. If it is Hartwig Klappert's system as suggested by Anonymous below, other pictures show a low mass SME arm, probably series III, black version.

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    2. And also Ortofon 2M Blue MM cartridge...

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  2. Looks like Hartwig Klapper's studio in Berlin. Would also like to read something about the tube monobloc amps.

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    1. I think you're right, it must be Klappert's studio see e.g. https://www.ignant.com/2015/07/13/ignant-x-ad-photographer-hartwig-klappert/ more pics but says nothing except "vintage stereo"... And I wonder: where are the speakers?

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    2. Thx for the info guys! I checked the CD booklet and he is not the photographer. They put a Steinway in his studio for pics of Lang Lang. The expenses!

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  3. gould rules, lang lang drools

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  4. The all black speakers are used to display two art pieces in an image on a left wall. Both display sculptures. One appears to be a head, and the other of a head and neck.
    I've admired the studio space, and it has been rented out, although the other images of Lang Lang, could have been shot elsewhere.

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  5. The amplifier looks like a Kebschull 800.

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  6. The R2R is Revox B77 with cassette deck TEAC A400 below it. The turntable is Micro-Seiki RX-1500G with SME III tonearm. The tube amps are Kebschull 150/800 KT88 mono amps.

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