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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?
128x128goofyfoot
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Szell is one of my absolute favs. Dont think I've heard any young Szell performances. That's a very expensive set, I'll look for some of his early work.

I wanted to expand on my thoughts of buying early performances, even if they're remasters. I'm a bit gun shy since buying the quite pricey Horenstein CDs only to find there was a lot of distortion. I'd like to collect more of his work, but not if it is poor quality.

I will however trust the labels you have mentioned. 
No LPs for me right now since my new preamp is linestage only.

goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot OP
1,368 posts
 
lowrider, I forgot to ask, any knowledge about the source of these radio recordings, i.e. the Orfeo Salzburg recordings and how these were recorded? How much reference or hifi from these sources can be reasonably expected given their age and from where they were obtained?
roxy1927
125 posts
 
The major labels have some very good transfers on their earlier recordings.

The Decca Mono box is extraordinary and a must have for any classical enthusiast no matter their stripe. 

DG and EMI have a number of Furtwangler recordings. I find on quite a few of his radio recordings the audience noise too distracting. Especially after the war everybody in Austria and Germany seems to have come down with a terrible collective cold and can't help but cough through Bruckner. 

Another must have is the Toscanini HMV Recordings Icon box set now on Warners.

Plenty of early Von Karajan in Warner box sets recorded by Walter Legge in the 40s and 50s.

And the great Mengelberg has a box set on Decca. 

Another great smaller label is Tahra. Up there with Testament as a very fine private label with some really incredible Furtwangler and Scherchen.

There's a lot of stuff out there.


lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
I dont know how the early Salzburg was recorded. In the 1930s there were no regional radio stations so the live broadcasts were via shortwave.
I dont know how many of these performances were recorded, or if they were recorded.

In the golden age of radio, I'll bet the recordings were of the highest quality for that era. Knowing Germans as I do, it probably was SOTA. Also, the festival was so popular by this time that recording the event would have been of utmost importance.
I'd love to know how the recording setup was implemented.

goofyfoot's avatar
goofyfoot OP
1,368 posts
 
Thanks Roxy, I have been looking at the Decca mono box set for a few months now and am glad that you give it such high praise. With respect to the Tahra label, they are now unfortunately finito. I do own a few CD's on the Tahra label.
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