BEETHOVEN: Triple Concerto in C Op. 56; BRAHMS: Violin Concerto in D Op. 77; Double Concerto in a Op. 102 – David Oistrakh, violin/ Mstislav Rostropovich, cello/ Sviatoslav Richter, piano/Berlin Philharmonic/ Herbert von Karajan (BEETHOVEN)/Cleveland Orch./ George Szell (BRAHMS) – EMI Classics stereo-only SACD 9 55978 2 (2 discs) 36:29, 74:14 *****:
The first of the magnificent new nine-album EMI Classics Signature Collection historical reissue SACDs features three violin concertos with David Oistrakh. Four engineers at London’s Abbey Road Studios remastered these stereo tapes from 1969, and others in the series involved going back to the 78 rpm masters, disc masters and other historic materials. The tapes were carefully played on Studer A80 quarter-inch tape machines, and using the latest digital remastering tools a transfer was made to digital at 96K/24-bit. When hiss and other noise was determined to be too intrusive on any masters CEDAR audio restoration technology was judiciously used. They even added some ambience between movements when there was total silence on the tapes. This is the first time these classic recordings have been released in a hi-res format. I suspect EMI doesn’t expect all the sales to be to SACD fans, since these are of course hybrid CDs and the careful remastering and lavish packaging is a good part of its appeal. Perhaps they are just preparing for real financial success by offering the recordings as hi-res downloads online, noting the recent expansion of online sites doing that.
The packaging is something like a hardback book, with the two discs in sleeves affixed to the front inside and inside back covers. (This did remind me of the possibly-damaging design of the first JVC xrcd albums, due to the abrasive quality of the cardboard which the SACDs slide past. JVC later added soft sleeves around the discs.) The notes are lavishly illustrated in color and the original LP covers and notes are included. Details on the mastering process are also a part of the package.
The Beethoven stands as a unique work in the standard repertory. It is the only piece for this combination by a major composer, and this performance – bringing together the four towering men of music plus the Berlin Philharmonic – immediately took its place as the standard recording for the work. Its themes may seem a bit short and rather dry, but Beethoven didn’t want lengthy emotional themes to be stated over and over by the three instruments. He also had a challenge with bring out the sound of the quieter cello, which he solved by using mostly it’s highest string. The whole piece partakes of the grand manner and this is a magnificent performance and recording of it. The two Brahms concertos on the second SACD are equally impressive – the second one having Rostropovich joining Oistrakh as the double soloists. This concerto recording has had the strongest recommendation in the Penguin Guide for years. We haven’t heard these recordings with such clarity, detail and smoothness before – even with super high end equipment. I found the Klemperer Mozart Symphonies SACD set a bit harsh in the high end, but there is none of that on this set.
—John Sunier
Joni Mitchell – Archives, Volume 4 Highlights: The Asylum Years – Rhino Entertainment
This is a vibrant 4-LP vinyl set of previously unreleased material that chronicles Joni Mitchell’s unique foray into jazz.
