[SACD-R][OF] Jasha Heifetz, Charles Munch, Boston Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven, Mendelssohn-Violin-Concerto - 1955, 1959/2004 (Classical)

Rumour has it that many recording engineers have lost their sleep, after the living presence & living stereo reissues. It is not a small thing after all, to have recordings that sound much better than many modern super-duper DSD multichannel recordings, & we are talking about 3 channel analoque recordings that are 50 years old!. This living stereo combines definitive performances by 2 of the giants of the gramophone & modern classical music. Plus sound quality that has to be heard to be believed. Smooth, velvety strings that glide & soar like the wind, luscious wind that enthrall the listener & a sound stage dimensionality that makes most of the current 5ch SACD’s sound flat & lifeless. Indispensable!
Amazon review: By Erik Aleksander Moe “riddion” (Oslo, Norway):
This review is from: Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto
I love the new medium of SACD & this one certainly didn’t disappoint me. I thought that very confortable sound was one of the best things about this remastering. It is so very clear that the dynamics of SACD had been used when remastering this. I often think that CDs have an edgy sound, especially from a piano, that I just couldn’t shake. This release has none of that edgy sound & everything sounds so natural & great.
The performances itself are 2nd to none. The 2 magnificent artists, Jascha Heifetz & Charles Munch, are great together. The Beethoven concerto is performed with so much artistic finness. It is played quite fast. I am always in awe, when hearing Heifetz, at his apparent ease when playing an extremely difficult piece. The Mendelsohn concerto is even more remarkably played than the Beethoven. Again Heifetz is quite fast but always true to the piece. The end of 1st movement was especially exilerating.
http://www.sa-cd.net/showreviews/2349
SA-CD.net review by Cellophile November 6, 2004:
These reissues are undoubtedly amongst the most treasured recordings of these fine pieces. There must be 50 or more interpretations of the Beethoven currently available, but you must hear Heifetz. No schmaltz. He articulates Beethoven as Beethoven wrote the concerto. The emotion is there…in the music. No extra added flourishes are needed. In fact, they can easily be a negative, so well constructed is this work. The Mendelssohn is also spectacular. Listening to Heifetz makes one wish he were alive in his heyday. It makes you wonder what Paganini really sounded like! The tempi are fast, yet it doesn’t sound rushed at all. Heifetz articulates every note; his technique is incomparable.
As a child, I wore out the grooves on this recording.
The recording quality is remarkable. The Beethoven is in 2ch, even on SACD “multi”, because the original recording was stereo. But the Mendelssohn master is 3ch, & is thus presented. The center channel stabilizes the position of the violin. No “sweet spot” problems…it sounds good from any part of the couch! The clarity is surprisingly good considering a 50+ year old tape. Current recording engineers could learn a thing or 2 from these old gems. The SACD rendering truly gives you the feel of analog, the warmth of the violin, while adding dynamic range & soundstage. The CD layer is also quite good, just a little restricted…only in comparison to the SACD.
After this purchase, I am seriously thinking of buying all the rest of the “Living Stereo” series. And I hope that all those legendary performances get their tapes dusted off, & made into SACDs
soon.
I don’t care how many versions of these concerti you have…If you don’t have a Heifetz recording you are missing out, & this SACD is the one to have. Go buy it now.