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Classical Recordings from the Golden Age

Hello All,After having accidentally damaged Quad 2905 panels in both speakers, I’ve been sending speaker after speaker out for panel replacements. So currently, I am right back in mono mode while having a speaker sent out for said repair. The logical choice in a situation like this would be, to strictly play mono recordings. My CD collection is for the most part made up of stereo recordings however, I should add that many of my favorite CD’s are mono remasters from the golden age on labels like Andate, Orfeo d’Or, Music and Arts of America, Testament and Pearl, Great Pianists of the 20th Century, etc.... And, those that especially stand out as favorites are live recordings, i.e.the Salzburg Festival.One major priority when CD shopping is to look for well done remasters from the original sources. The Andante label was far and above a stand out when it came to digital remastering and I so wish they were still in business. However, Orfeo d’Or is a black belt label and now my primary go to for historical recordings. I should note that the Clara Haskil Salzburg Festival recording is remarkable as is the Irmgard Seefried Recordings 1944-67 box set. The Gerard Souzay disc on Testament is a treasure.I could go on listing my favorites but I’m wondering if others also collect mono remasters and if so, what are your recommendations?
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goofyfoot OP
1,368 posts
 
lowrider, I'm not sure if the RCO anthologies are still in print. However,  prices regarding arcane classical titles always seem to plunge over time.

I only have Toscanini on vinyl, the complete Beethoven and Brahms box sets with the NBC. My thought is that the NBC is extremely idiosyncratic and can become tiresome though the quality of playing is obviously high.
I've always had the same opinion of Emanuel Ax.

Last time we chatted on this subject, we were discussing the early van Karajan Beethoven recordings on DG and found that there was a Japanese reissue of the 7th.The possibility of amazing sounding Japanese reissues keeps me intrigued also.
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lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
I have the Toscanini LvB box set 1951,52 on CD. Very good remasters. What I should have said was the quality of the live 1940s NBC is tough to stay with.

I have Karajan's 1957 BPO Bruckner, which is slow and thoughtful and wonderful...would like to find more like this early reading.  
Is the early Karajan with the Philharmonia?

goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot OP
1,368 posts
 
I believe he DG box set is of the 1963 recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic. As far as the Japanese reissue of the 7th, I can't find it listed but my memory tells me that it comes from the above said collection and that it was the best recording of the whole.

Wasn't there a complete symphony collection from the 50's; I can't find it anywhere.
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lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
I have the 1963 BPO remastered... Fantastisch !!  Sound quality is far superior to the original issue.
https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-Gundula-Janowitz/dp/B0000C03AH/ref=sr_1_18?s=music&i...

The 1950's mono cycle (remastered)
https://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-KARAJAN-PHILHARMONIA-ORCH/dp/B000ZBPQF8

The samples from the mono album sound very good. I like this early interpretation very much.
I checked some timings, this earlier cycle is slightly slower. It's interesting that the timings of the 5th are virtually identical.

goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot OP
1,368 posts
 

Thanks lowrider, I didn't realize the earlier recordings were on EMI.
In my mind, von Karajan stands out as a Beethoven conductor but his Brahms interpretations are also super fantastic but Brahms is close to my heart. These are recommended on the Arkiv page;

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/albumList.jsp?name_id1=1441&name_role1=1&name_id2=56047&...
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