Tag: Fritz Reiner

Title: Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven: Symphonies & Overtures [Japan 3xSACD] (2018)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Fritz Reiner, the famous Hungarian conductor who as the music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra brought the 1st golden age to the Symphony. Its achievements have dramatically improved the standards of orchestra performance in the 20th century. These outstanding performances were recorded by RCA’s state-of-the-art recording technology of “Living Stereo” & still retain the overwhelming freshness.

This SACD is a compilation of all the stereo recordings of Beethoven’s symphony that Reiner released with the Chicago Symphony. Reiner took up all the Beethoven symphonies during the Chicago era, but only 6 of them were recorded, & here there are 5 except for the monophonic recording No. 3 “Hero” in almost the chronological order… The rigid & supple Beethoven interpretation that emerges from the extremely small & precise command has established its own position even in the middle of the 20th century when the masters of individuality emerged. The 1st & 9th are remixes & remasters for the 1st time in almost 20 years; the 5th, 6th, & 7th are remixes & remasters for the 1st time in 15 years and the world’s firstst SACD release.

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Title: Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 “New World” and other orchestral masterworks (2005)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This performance exemplifies the magic that occurs when a perfect symbiosis is achieved between a music director and orchestra. Nothing sounds forced or contrived, and when Reiner takes some slightly unusual tempo liberties in the Largo the performers seem to innately understand his intent and everything flows and makes perfect sense. Reiner emphasizes the minor/major key changes in the Scherzo to brilliant effect, and the 4th movement dazzles with energy and virtuosity. The Carnival Overture, Smettena and Weinberger are lovely surprise ornaments to a must-have Symphony No. 9. The multitrack transfer reflects the 3-mike original recording (left, center and right channels only) and does not add engineering to a splendid recording. This disc is like a time machine bringing the listener back to a main floor center seat a Orchestra Hall. The strings reveal their wooden resonance, and you can hear the buzz of string on frets during the bass pizzicato passages. That said, we are talking about 1950’s recording technology and I have heard more detailed SACDs. Still, the difference between the CD and SACD multichannel layers is not subtle. I’ve known and loved the Solti/CSO “New World” recording for years; it is now relegated to the re-gifting pile. If you are a Dvorak fan, buy this disc. ~sa-cd.net

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