BEETHOVEN: Fifth Symphony; SCHUBERT: “Unfinished” Symphony – Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch – RCA Living Stereo/JVC xrcd

by | Aug 15, 2005 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews | 0 comments

BEETHOVEN: Fifth Symphony; SCHUBERT: “Unfinished” Symphony –
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch – RCA Living Stereo/JVC xrcd
JM-XR24027, 55:59 ****:

Originally taped in Boston’s Symphony Hall back in l955, these powerful
performances have been available in many different forms for 55 years
now.  Munch and the BSO made a winning combination, and thru the
efforts of recording engineer Lewis Layton, these early stereo
recordings hold up very well this much after the fact.  The fine
acoustics of Symphony Hall also were a strong factor in the successful
project. Aside from the original LPs, this disc is probably the best
possible representation to date of these two orchestral favorites, and
if you’re not set up for or don’t plan to include SACD playback in your
system anytime soon, this xrcd is the one for you.
JVC is gving us longer playing times on their xrcds lately, for which
thanks is due.  However, eight pages of notes in Japanese and none
in English is still a problem which needs addressing.

– John Sunier

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