Tbf, the Barbirolli Mahler 5 is a polarizing recording and if one searches out critical commentary it has been sine its release. Some think it’s revelatory. Others like myself think it’s world weary in the extreme, an old man’s interpretation. It’s always interesting how performances impact listeners
Haitink Mahler 5 on DECCA Pure Analog
Almost bought this but figured I ask if anyone has heard this reissue.
From product notes…
For this release Rainer Maillard at Emil Berliner Studios has used the original, four-track quadraphonic master tape to make a new stereo mix sent directly to the cutter head. This preserves a pure analogue path throughout. The Philips engineers of the 1970s would similarly have mixed the four front and rear channels before cutting but this downmix would have resulted in a two-track stereo copy for mastering, whereas here the lacquer is cut directly from a ’live’ mix into stereo from the four Quad channels.
Any feedback on the quality of recording and vinyl?
- ...
- 47 posts total
@richardbrand when it comes to Shostakovich, my preference is towards Soviet conductors of the same era. There’s a lot he was saying with his music and to interpret it and deliver as much of the message as possible is a very big undertaking for a conductor. There are exceptions to every rule though and there are excellent versions out there by conductors from around the world. My favorite Shostakovich 5th is Rostropovich on LSO. |
My copy of this arrived a few hours ago. Right now I'm listening the Strauss Alpensinfonie Solti/SOBR on Decca, also from the Decca Pure Analogue series. I have an OG of the Haitink/RCO Mahler 5 on Philips and bought the new reissue. I plan to play it this afternoon. Philips recordings from the era tend to sound pretty good. I'll see how this remaster came out. |
I would agree they were biassed towards British hifi hardware, but I thought they were very even-handed when it came to judging performances. They treated all the great Hungarian conductors living in the USA with much the same respect as the great USA conductors living in Europe! It is very odd that the British, at least until Elgar, had so few significant composers but by far the biggest concentration of orchestras, particularly in London. |
- 47 posts total