Friday, April 29th, 2011
This CD is the 100th release on Klassic Haus Restorations!
KHCD-2011-041 (STEREO) – Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in e minor, Op. 64 – Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam/Wolfgang Sawallisch; Rachmaninoff: Three Russian Folk Songs, Op. 41; Spring – Cantata, Op. 20 – John Shaw, bass-baritone; Cathedral Choir of St. Ambrose; New Philharmonia Orchestra/Igor Buketoff – 100th CD RELEASE – Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony is given a fresh, no nonsense and decisive reading by Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra, from a promo white label domestic Philips release, mastered by Mercury in 1964 with an RFR matrix. The LP was a bit bass-shy (typical of domestically released Philips discs), so I have added some depth to the soundscape, revealing a satisfying, subtle bass response. The Rachmaninoff choral pieces, seldom recorded, were not released on CD when the companion 1812 Overture was reissued on a budget CD by BMG in the 1990s. Both the Three Russian Folks Songs and the expansive Spring cantata are given authoritative readings by Rachmaninoff expert Igor Buketoff and the New Philharmonia Orchestra, in a warm late 60s RCA recording engineered by Robert Auger.
I have other CDs I have not posted comments on, that have been released on Klassic Haus. I will rectify that in my next posts here; I will also be posting a new catalogue with all the titles currently available on the site up to April 2011. Please keep checking! – Cheers – Curt Timmons