. Georg solti’s reading of ‘parsifal’ is among the most thrilling experiences of this opera on record, moving from becalmed to frenzied. The evenness and strength of the cast is balanced with the brilliance of the Wiener Philharmoniker; with productions given the revered Decca touch, and recorded with the renowned Decca clarity and richness.
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Wagner: Tannhäuser3 CD/Blu-ray
From the outset of decca’s recording project with Solti there was no doubt that this would be the version used, though under the umbrella-title of “Paris version” several choices still have to be made. Getting the sound right at the recording session has always been a hallmark of the Decca Sound. Tannhauser Presented in 5.
1 surround sound on one blu-ray audio disc and mastered at 24-bit/96khz from the never-before released 1970 experimental quadraphonic tapes • 3CDs + High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray disc containing the complete opera in 24-bit audio Deluxe hard-back edition with original cover• Includes libretto, German and French translations• Mastering from original analogue sources by former Decca engineer, and synopsis both with English, Paschal Byrne.
Tannhauser – the paris editionthough popularity for wagner’s tannhauser in its original Dresden 1845 version spread rapidly, Wagner frequently felt drawn to make minor alterations to the score. The evenness and strength of the cast is balanced with the brilliance of the Wiener Philharmoniker and recorded with the renowned Decca clarity and richness.
In the autumn of 1969, decca began to experiment with quadraphonic sound, quietly and behind the scenes, first in its Hampstead studios, and the next spring in the Sofiensaal recording the Vienna Philharmonic, where the new miking techniques were employed to create a sense of movement in the different arrivals and departures of the Pilgrims.
Decca was to make the sound marketing decision not to issue any “quad” recordings – quadraphonic releases were a commercial failure due to the high production costs and the costs of the playback equipment, coupled with the technical limitations of cutting the extremely high frequencies into vinyl as well as tracking these without distortion.
Strauss: Salome 2 CD/Blu-ray Audio
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Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana/Leoncavallo: Pagliacci 2 CD/Blu-ray Audio Combo
His graphic handling of orchestral texture brings the world of "Cavalleria" to life, with every nuance of light and color brought into focus in the playing of La Scala's orchestra. The forces of la scala, Milan respond wholeheartedly and the 1965 recording sounds well. Gramophone Shrink-wrapped. Bbc music magazine“conviction and insight instill this Pagliacci with excitement and real drama.
Here she sings with exquisite pathos and dramatic intensity. The illustration of real love, life and hatred is portrayed in the interplay of Tonio, Silvio, Nedda and her husband Canio. Bergonzi brings instead an elegance that captures something of Turiddu's duplicitous charm. Shrink-wrapped.
Birgit Nilsson: The Great Live Recordings
Despite her legendary battles with star tenor Franco Corelli, Birgit Nilsson was one of a very few singers to be respected by all her colleagues, by conductors and directors and managers. Fortunately, there are many live recordings which show the real thing a phenomenal, larger-than-life voice. Unfortunately, there were seldom recording engineers around who had the expertise to do her voice justice, so it was mostly reduced to a normal size in the studio.
Shrink-wrapped. Not even the loudest orchestra could drown her powerful voice. Theres nobody like her, no other singer I heard in my life, said Plácido Domingo who partnered her in several performances of Turandot. This centenary edition showcases nilsson in roles where she set a new vocal standard turandot, leonard bernstein, conducted by herbert von karajan, Karl Böhm, Salome and Elektra in exciting performances, Jon Vickers, Brünnhilde, Jess Thomas, Ramón Vinay, Isolde, and alongside other great singers like Anna Moffo, Astrid Varnay, Leopold Stokowski, Wolfgang Windgassen, Leonie Rysanek, Regina Resnik, Franco Corelli, Wolfgang Sawallisch and Eugen Jochum, Régine Crespin, Theo Adam and Martti Talvela.
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Strauss: Elektra 2 CD/Blu-ray Audio
Gramophone magazine wrote: 'Undoubtedly one of the greatest performances ever on record'. Shrink-wrapped. This 2 cd + pure audio blu-ray disc presents this benchmark recording in re-mastered 96kHz/24-bit audio.
Holst: The Planets/R.Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra CD/Blu-Ray Audio Combo
Musicweb International Shrink-wrapped. Shrink-wrapped. Shrink-wrapped. Shrink-wrapped. Deutsche grammophon was one of a few labels who embraced this new technology. Continuing our rediscovery of dg’s 1970s quadrophonic ambitions before anyone had even heard of surround sound, comes William Steinberg’s famous readings of Strauss’ “Also sprach Zarathustra” and Holst’s “The Planets”, remastered at 24-bit/192kHz from the original 4-track tapes and presented on Blu-ray Audio in 4.
0 surround + CD new stereo remastering. The booklet includes notes on the original concept and remasters – have a read of this great story. A new 4-channel mixing console design was used for making recordings and special omnidirectional microphones captured the ambient sound on additional channels. Indeed, following the original issue of steinberg’s and the BSO’s “The Planets”, Stereo Review was to comment that it “heralded a new era in recorded sound.
Though quadrophonic releases were a commercial failure at the time they were issued – due to the high production costs and the costs of the playback equipment, coupled with the technical limitations of cutting the extremely high frequencies into vinyl as well as tracking these without distortion – present-day technology allows us to return to the original tapes and use the Blu-ray Audio format to present these recordings in high definition surround.
Developed in the 1970s, Quadraphonic audio was the earliest consumer product recorded and presented in surround sound.
Shostakovich Under Stalin's Shadow- Sym Nos. 6 & 7 2 CD
5, 9 from 2016, 8, and the overbearing vividness The Guardian of the most recent SYMPHONIES NOS. Shrink-wrapped. 10 in 2015, the sheer expressive beauty Gramophone Magazine of SYMPHONIES NOS.
Verdi: Aida 2 CD/Blu-ray AudioDeluxe Edition
Shrink-wrapped. Shrink-wrapped. Shrink-wrapped. Remastered in ultra-high quality 96kHz/24-bit audio from original analogue sources by former Decca Engineer Paschal Byrne. Presented on 2cds + high fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray disc containing the complete opera in 24-bit audio.
Mahler: 10 Symphonies 10 CD + Blu-ray Audio
This was the first Mahler cycle to be performed and recorded by a German orchestra. Now dg is making these recordings available for the first time on Blu-ray audio in 24 bit / 96 kHz, and om 10 CDs. Shrink-wrapped. An original jacket collection.
Tristan Und Isolde 3 CD/Blu-RayDeluxe Edition
Shrink-wrapped. The 3cds are presented alongside a High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray disc containing the complete opera in 24-bit audio. Shrink-wrapped. Shrink-wrapped.