BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D; Romance No. 1 in G; Romance No. 2 in F – New York Philharmonic/ Anne-Sophie Mutter, v./ Kurt Masur – DGG stereo-only Pure Audio Blu-ray

by | Feb 22, 2014 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61; Romance No. 1 in G, Op. 40; Romance No. 2 in F, Op. 50 – New York Philharmonic/ Anne-Sophie Mutter, violin/ Kurt Masur – DGG 479 1063  Pure Audio Blu-ray (PCM 2.0, DTS MA HD 2.0, Dolby TrueHD, 24 bit/ 96 kHz), 64:02 [Distr. by Universal] ***:

I am referring everyone who reads these new DGG Blu-ray Pure Audio reviews to my review of the Kleiber Beethoven Symphonies 5 & 7 reissue for comments and details on this series in general. Okay, you tell me. Why would anyone want to buy a $20 Blu-ray audio disc which is only in two-channel stereo when they could have a $16 SACD of the same performances in surround sound? And since this was released in 2002 the original recording is in genuine surround. Beats me. Obviously it doesn’t faze the powers that be at Universal, who seem to be clueless about this.

The recording itself is well worth it. Mutter of course has been toying with a number of affectations the last 15 years or so, like vibrato-less passages in certain often curious instances where her logic is not entirely clear. Nevertheless, the gorgeous and silken sound of the revitalized NY Phil under Masur (after years of sloppy and undernourished playing) coupled with the first rate performance of Mutter, who really understands Beethoven, makes for a riveting and insightful listening experience, one of the best Beethoven’s in the last 20 years.

So get this recording, you will love it. Just not in this format as long as the SACD is available.

—Steven Ritter

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