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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?
goofyfoot
roxy1927
124 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
5,411 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 OP
1,354 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.
goofyfoot OP
1,354 posts
 
lowrider, are you aware of these RCO radio recordings?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000UAZD2/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=A28JFWC28I1EU7&psc=1
roxy1927
124 posts
 
Yes Tahra is gone but sometimes their recordings can still be found on Amazon.
Music and Arts another excellent historical label I think is still in business. They have a great Furtwangler Brahms cycle.
BMG has a Toscanini Philadelphia set which many think in terms of sound has been greatly improved and better sound than his NBC recordings.
Any classical enthusiast must get the Mitropoulos Mahler 1st on Masterworks Heritage.

For vocal works despite the compromised sound the Callas/DiStefano  '51 Tosca from Mexico City is beyond belief it is so harrowing.
Pearl despite the noise has wonderful Schipa, Pinza, Leider, Tenors From the Bolshoi and so many others.
Ferrier has the great box set on Decca and there is the early mono Schwarzkopf box set on Warners.
One cannot do without Toscanini's Falstaff and Otello. Karajan's Cosi, the Sawallisch Capriccio.

Lipatti, Neveu, Kapell, Rabin, Cantelli...the list goes on.
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