remasterings Archive
BEETHOVEN 7th Sym.; SCHUBERT 8th Sym.; Encores – Philadelphia Orch./Stokowski (1927) – Pristine
1927 readings of Beethoven and Schubert achieve an ardent, fiery gloss in these remasterings. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 93; SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 in b, D. 759 “Unfinished”; Moment Musical No. 3 in f (arr. Stokowski), D. 780; Rosamunde, D. 797: Ballet Music No. 2: Two Versions – Philadelphia Orch./ Leopold Stoowski – Pristine Audio PASC 483, 74:03 [avail. in sev. formats from www.pristineclassical.com] ****: Producer and editor Mark Obert-Thorn revitalizes a select group of 1927 recordings by Leopold Stokowski (1882-1977) with his Philadelphia Orchestra, at the time an ensemble whose discipline and homogeneity of execution rivaled the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam under Mengelberg, the Boston Symphony under Koussevitzky, and the Halle Orchestra as led by Sir Hamilton Harty. The first of Stokowski’s recorded interpretations of the Beethoven Seventh Symphony (6, 15 and 25 April 1927) projects an enthusiastic energy throughout, although occasionally the vehemence tends to exaggeration. The slow first-movement introduction enjoys a hearty sense of harmonic drama, leisurely in its traversal of three major keys of A, C, and F. The ensuing Vivace carries a restless breadth quite exhilarating. The a minor Allegretto movement rings tragically true, with fine response in the divided […]
“The Return of Lost Noir Classics” = Too Late for Tears, Blu-ray (1949/2016); Woman On the Run, Blu-ray (1950/2016)
Two classic film noir features from around 1950, beautifully restored by the UCLA Film & TV Archive and distributed by Flicker Alley. “The Return of Lost Noir Classics” = Too Late for Tears, Blu-ray (1949/2016) Woman On the Run, Blu-ray (1950/2016) Too Late Cast: Lizabeth Scott, Dan Duryea, Arthur Kennedy Director: Byron Haskin Studio: Republic Pictures/ Streamline Pictures/Flicker Alley FA0046 (5/17/2016) (2 discs) Video: 4:3 Black & White 1080p HD Audio: English, PCM mono Extras: Audio commentary track by writer, historian, and film programmer; “Chance of a Lifetime: The Making of Too Late for Tears,”Tiger Hunt: Restoring Too Late for Tears,” 24-p. printed souvenir booklet Length: 102 min. Rating: ***** Woman on the Run Cast: Ann Sheridan, Dennis O’Keefe Director: Norman Foster Studio: Fidelity Pictures/ Flicker Alley FA0047 (5/17/16) (2 discs) Video: 4:3 Black & White 1080p HD Audio: English, PCM mono Extras: Audio commentary track by author, cinema historian and noirchaeologist Eddie Muller; “Love in a Roller Coaster: Woman On the Run Revisited,” “A Wild Ride: Restoring Woman On the Run” “Woman On the Run Locations: Then & Now,” “Noir City” – SF – doc. on the only film noir film festival; 24-p. printed souvenir booklet Length: 79 min. […]
BEETHOVEN: Three String Trios, Op. 9 – Jascha Heifetz, violin/ William Primrose, viola/ Gregor Piatagorsky, cello – Pristine Audio
The “Million Dollar Trio” in an enhanced audio version of their late ’50s recordings.
Editorial for November 2013
Decca Records has donated three copies of the three-disc BENJAMIN BRITTEN: War Requiem for our November drawing, celebrating the Britten Centenary. One disc is a Blu-ray audio-only version of the 96/24 stereo remastering from the original 1963 tapes of Britten conducting the soloists, Melos Ensemble and London Symphony in his moving work, using poetry of the WWI casualty Wilfred Owen. The latest techniques and extensive comparison with the LPs and later remasterings have been used in the transfer from the originals. The second disc is a CD version and the third is titled “Rehearsing the War Requiem.” (We will also review the album this month.) To be eligible, just register this month via our simple non-intrusive form, and we won’t share your email address. The three winners will be listed in this space next month. Here are the seven lucky winners of last month’s Mack Avenue Records giveaway. Each one will be receiving a different new double-disc audiophile vinyl release by either Christian McBride (2), Gary Burton, Kenny Garrett, Stanley Jordan, Kevin Eubanks or the Yellowjackets: Joy Adams, Jeremiah KY; Chris Harriott, Bloomfield NJ; Michael Lloyd, Plainfield IL; Patricia Cardettino, Schenectady NY; Jim Dukey, Oakland CA; Terry Hirsch, Thompsons Stations […]
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
