Beethoven: The Symphonies
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Performer: Martti TalvelaComposer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Composer: Spoken Word
Conductor: Georg Solti
Performer: Yvonne Minton
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Performer: Pilar Lorengar
Performer: Stuart Burrows
Edition: Music CD
Format: Box set, Collector's Edition
CD Release Date: 2007-09-11
Music Label: Decca
Free Music Notes for Beethoven: The Symphonies
Free Music Review: DECCA IS LYING! There has been no remastering! Nothing but false advertising!
Hit: 1 Stars
In honor of the 10th anniversary of Solti's death, the company for which he recorded for decades decides to do something special for him. They re-release his Chicago Beethoven cycle from the 1970s. It is a strong, traditional cycle but not as perceptive as many were in that day, primarily the great Karajan.
I've always liked the 9th by Solti in this cycle, obviously modeled on Furtwangler but without the spiritual rapture of that conductor. I already owned this Solti set in an earlier incarnation and now it's advertised as being remastered with newly improved sound! Yeah, great!
So I buy it since I'm an audiophile always of search of perfection and what do I hear when I compare this "remastering" to the prior release which has been around for nearly two decades? Absolutely no difference whatsoever. Trust me on this, I have a great ear for this kind of thing. I listen on headphones in great detail. The sound is absolutely the same.
Looking through the liner notes, there is no mention of a date for the new remastering, there is no mention of a new technological method used, like 24-bit for instance. There is nothing. It is the same release, dressed up and slapped with a cover sticker on it that says "newly remastered with improved sound". BALONEY!
If you're never owned this cycle before and want to hear Solti in Beethoven, this boxed set is your ticket. These are good, not great performances, except for the 9th which is very, very good. The sound was always fine but I purchased this with the expectation that it would be improved because there is plenty of room for improvement. The people at Decca are liars and false advertisers. This product gets one star as a consumer warning. As for the performances, it's a three star cycle.
P.S. An extra CD in the box has Solti in a 50 minute interview about the symphonies. It's worth listening to once, not worth the purchase price of this unremastered cycle. Go to hell, DECCA!
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