Peter McGrath Recordings

[markmck79]

I have consistently read show and dealer event reports covering Wilson products that also discuss Peter McGrath's incredible recordings. I've searched many threads and the Internet, but have not been able to find a comprehensive discography. I own the Correli concertos and the Mahler 1st symphony recordings on HM. What else is commercially available? What are the other standouts?

[Masterlu]

Although I can't help you on that one, rest assured others here will.

[Tonepub]

Why not just email him at Wilson Audio?

[AudioNut]

Peter McGrath made several "great" recordings on Harmonia Mundi in the late 1980's. I actually played two of them yesterday. Both were LP's but are also available on CD. They were both recordings of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra conducted by Nicholas McGegan. These recordings were made in 1987 and 1988 in the Lone Mountain College Chapel in San Francisco.

Harmonia Mundi HMU 7010 - Handel Watermusick



and Harmonia Mundi HMU 7014 - Corelli Concerti Grossi, Op.6 Nos.1-6



Another of my favorite McGrath recordings is Harmonia Mundi HMC 5193

Vivaldi: Flute Concertos--McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque



If you will enter Peter McGrath recordings or Peter McGrath Harmonia Mundi, in Google, a number of responses will come up.

I think that McGrath plays tapes of his recordings when he sets speakers up but the LP's and CD's that he recorded are spectacular.

I once saw Peter McGrath set up a pair of speakers in his (former) Coral Gables audio store and the guy is unbelievable in his precision at doing this task.

[markmck79]

Thank you, jprice. I will look into those recordings.

Tonepub: I was unable to locate Peter's email on the Wilson site. Would you be helpful and provide it? You can PM me, if you don't want to publish on the forum.

Thanks again. I'm always on the lookout for great, well-recorded music.

[f1 fan]

Originally Posted by jprice

Peter McGrath made several "great" recordings on Harmonia Mundi in the late 1980's. I actually played two of them yesterday. Both were LP's but are also available on CD. They were both recordings of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra conducted by Nicholas McGegan. These recordings were made in 1987 and 1988 in the Lone Mountain College Chapel in San Francisco.

Harmonia Mundi HMU 7010 - Handel Watermusick


and Harmonia Mundi HMU 7014 - Corelli Concerti Grossi, Op.6 Nos.1-6

Another of my favorite McGrath recordings is Harmonia Mundi HMC 5193

Vivaldi: Flute Concertos--McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque

If you will enter Peter McGrath recordings or Peter McGrath Harmonia Mundi, in Google, a number of responses will come up.

I think that McGrath plays tapes of his recordings when he sets speakers up but the LP's and CD's that he recorded are spectacular.

I once saw Peter McGrath set up a pair of speakers in his (former) Coral Gables audio store and the guy is unbelievable in his precision at doing this task.

Julian...I've got some of his recordings. I agree they're are wonderful sounding. He used to visit Nicholson's Hi Fi in Nashville and is a perfectionist at tweaking a system.

Dave

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[metaphacts]

Peter's been recording live music in all kinds of venues since the 70s. If memory serves correctly, it began with taping the Florida Philharmonic for FM broadcast and quickly expanded from there. Changing those Stellavox SP7 10-1/2" reels on the fly could get quite interesting if the conductor didn't pause between movements quite long enough! We often used masters (the ones for which there was permission granted) as demo material in the store back then.

Peter's own label is Audiofon which includes recordings by Leonard Shure, Earl Wild, David Bar-Illan among others. Audiofon is/was truly a music lover's label.

"A labor of love for former high-end retailer and current Wilson Audio guru Peter McGrath, Audiofon Records specializes in creating near spooky “you-are-there” recordings of classical chamber and orchestral music. McGrath has a true ear for music, and frequently records some of the world’s finest instrumentalists, as well as the Florida Philharmonic. McGrath is also a pioneer of stunningly real-sounding multichannel recordings." (from TAS 197)

He is also known, as Julian pointed out, as the engineer for a many great Harmonia Mundi recordings. One that received critical acclaim that I hadn't seen mentioned yet is the McGegan/Philharmonia Messiah.



Many of the recordings Peter will play for you at events are things he has made recently that are not available, or in some cases, available yet. Peter's recordings were special from the very start but through the years continue to get better and better. He is constantly pushing the envelope technology wise, but it is his absolute commitment to capturing a special musical event, not a special recording of an event, that sets him apart.

[metaphacts]

Originally Posted by markmck79

Thank you, jprice. I will look into those recordings.

Tonepub: I was unable to locate Peter's email on the Wilson site. Would you be helpful and provide it? You can PM me, if you don't want to publish on the forum.

Thanks again. I'm always on the lookout for great, well-recorded music.

For all his recording prowess I am not sure Peter has ever located the reply button on an email. I am told, as recently as last week, that he likely never will.

[Tonepub]

Ha! No one at Wilson ever returns phone calls or email....

[Doug Lax]

Originally Posted by jprice

Peter McGrath made several "great" recordings on Harmonia Mundi in the late 1980's. I actually played two of them yesterday. Both were LP's but are also available on CD. They were both recordings of the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra conducted by Nicholas McGegan. These recordings were made in 1987 and 1988 in the Lone Mountain College Chapel in San Francisco.

Harmonia Mundi HMU 7010 - Handel Watermusick



and Harmonia Mundi HMU 7014 - Corelli Concerti Grossi, Op.6 Nos.1-6



Another of my favorite McGrath recordings is Harmonia Mundi HMC 5193

Vivaldi: Flute Concertos--McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque



If you will enter Peter McGrath recordings or Peter McGrath Harmonia Mundi, in Google, a number of responses will come up.

I think that McGrath plays tapes of his recordings when he sets speakers up but the LP's and CD's that he recorded are spectacular.

I once saw Peter McGrath set up a pair of speakers in his (former) Coral Gables audio store and the guy is unbelievable in his precision at doing this task.

Julian,
I have two of those three recordings and have had them for 15+ years they are great