Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
These CD is a transfer of a mono LP (Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring”) and a selection of Russian concert favorites in stereo, both Capitol LPs I found during last year’s trip to Denver, CO (still working through that stack!) The following are the comments I posted on Klassic Haus Restorations:
KHCD-2011-026 (MONO/STEREO) – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (1953 mono); Moussorgsky: Night on Bare Mountain; Tchaikovsky: Marche Slav; Glinka: Kamarinskaya; Borodin: Dance of the Polovetsian Maidens (1958 stereo) – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra/William Steinberg – The Pittsburgh Symphony recorded for Capitol Records from 1952 to 1959 in the Syrian Mosque auditorium, a building once known for its superior acoustics (it was razed in the ’90s). This collection consisting of mono and stereo recordings capture the PSO with its music director William Steinberg in compelling traversals of Stravinsky’s “Rite” and a Russian concert program, derived from a green label/gold print Capitol mono and a side-logo rainbow circle stereo LP, both in very good condition.
Both the mono and stereo recordings on this Klassic Haus CD are prime examples of Capitol’s excellent classical recordings with the Pittsburgh Symphony. EMI issued CDs in the 90’s of some of the recordings made by Capitol between 1952 and 1959, but, as is the case with EMI from time immemorial, they were soon deleted from the catalogue. PLease check out my site and listen to the sample MP3; I think you may enjoy what you hear!
Thanks for checking in! – Curt Timmons