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RELEASES - DETAILS
| Title: |
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto
3 / Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto 1
|
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| Composer: |
Serge Prokofiev / Serge Rachmaninov |
| Works: |
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No.3 · Toccata
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No.1
Schumann: Variations on a Theme by Clara Wieck, etc. |
| Artists: |
Byron Janis piano / Moscow Philharmonic
Orchestra / Kyril Kondrashin |
| Duration: |
68:56
|
| SACD #: |
475 6607 6 MSA |
 |
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This legendary
recording was made in Moscow in June 1962 when Byron Janis performed
concertos by Prokofiev and Rachmaninov. He had first captured the
hearts of the Russians when he toured there in 1960, and the Moscow
concert prior to this recording was given on 13 May 1962 and was his
first return visit. This was a monumental concert in which Janis played
both the concertos featured in this recording and sandwiched in between
was the Schumann Concerto!
This deservedly acclaimed recording is also famous as being the first
recording to be made in Russia using non-Russian technicians and musical
staff, as well as using equipment brought in specially for the sessions.
Such were the complexities of setting up sessions that initial plans
and discussions had started as early as 1958. The one piece included
here which was recorded in New York City is the Schumann Variations.
As with the great majority of MLP’s stereo releases, the actual
recording was made using three microphones – a stereo pair, plus
a central microphone. The LP (and subsequent CD) stereo releases mixed
the centre channel into the two outer channels. Now – and for
the first time -- SACD’s multi-channel capability enables all
three discrete channels to be present on the disc, allowing the listener
to hear the recording as it was originally taped (and as it was always
intended to be heard, when future technology permitted). Enhancing
this new opportunity is the significant additional fidelity gained
through direct-to-DSD transfers from the original half-inch analogue
masters, via DSD’s much greater resolution, frequency response
and dynamic range.
In addition to this first-time presentation of the three-track original
recording, the SACD also contains a high-resolution DSD stereo soundtrack,
mixed to match as closely as possible the original LP stereo mix.
Finally, as all Mercury Living Presence SACDs will be ‘hybrid’
releases, the SACD also includes a CD stereo soundtrack (Wilma Cozart
Fine's original CD transfer), thus making the disc compatible with
all CD players.
The covers and packaging have been kept within the famous Mercury
Living Presence tradition, maintaining the logo banner, cover art
and, where possible, original liner notes. |
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