“Reformation” – Boston Symphony Orchestra/Charles Munch – RCA Living
Stereo/JVC xrcd JM-XR24028, 53:52 ****:
These two most-played symphonies of Mendelssohn were recorded in
Boston’s Symphony Hall in l958 and 1957 respectively. Both are
outstanding examples of the resplendent sonics RCA captured in their
Living Stereo series of the 50s and early 60s. Fine details in the
individual instruments and sections are heard with a clarity not
present on previous RCA CD reissues, and the deep bass has notably more
support. The efforts of JVC’s perfectionistic reissue project are
clearly audible, and the better your standard CD player, the more
benefit you will gain from those efforts. The higher cost is also a
factor to consider, but then most new audiophile vinyl is also going
for $30 each, so these last-word-on-44.1K-reproduction efforts are not
out of line. [Note that this was before the introduction of the K2HD process…Ed]
