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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?

audphile1
richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand
1,428 posts
 

@audphile1 

The one DECCA recording I would get on pure analog is Stravinsky Le Sacre Du Printemps: Solti: Decca Pure Analogue (180g 45RPM Vinyl LP)

I was going to suggest Klaus Makela with the Orchestre du Paris, recorded live in 2022. I bought the vinyl and CD in the same order, but the vinyl was so badly damaged by Decca’s new inner liners that I complained, got my money back and promised to scrap the vinyl.  Now it looks as if the vinyl has been deleted from the catalogue - maybe while Decca gets less destructive liners.

Universal Music Group strikes again

richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand
1,428 posts
 

@audphile1 

There is a recent alpha Mahler 5 (on vinyl as well as digital) which has won international awards.  The BBC Magazine review included

I'll go for broke and say I don’t know a better Mahler Fifth than this one, since in addition to Järvi’s care over every dynamic, there’s a sense of live electric charge which makes the ends of the Scherzo and Finale above all hair-raisingly brilliant.

Did you end up buying Mahler 7 from alpha?

audphile1's avatar
audphile1 OP
8,078 posts
 

@richardbrand no not yet. I have it on my list to listen in its entirety 

pinwa
341 posts
 

I own an exceptionally quiet version of the original Philips Mahler 5th box set and now the same performance remastered on the Decca Pure Analogue I strongly prefer the original mastering.  The Decca is all dynamics, and bluster but seems much less musical and engaging to me.  Bigger isn't always better.

stievus's avatar
stievus
126 posts
 

Inspired by this thread, yesterday I listened to Mahler 5 by Haitink. I have a first pressing from 1971 and it sounds wonderful. A combination of a great performance, great recording and great pressing (Philips Red Label). By the way, what a relief to discuss records and recordings instead of which cable, streamer, dac, sounds... As said it inspired me to listen to Mahler again after a very long time. Thanks for that! 

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