Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra – Beethoven: Symphonies & Overtures (Japan 2018) SACD ISO + FLAC 24bit/96kHz

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.

Tracklist:

DISC ONE:
01. Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 I. Poco sostenuto – Vivace
02. Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 II. Allegretto
03. Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 III. Presto – Presto meno assai
04. Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 IV. Allegro con brio
05. Fidelio, Op. 72: Overture
06. Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 I. Allegro con brio
07. Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 II. Andante con moto
08. Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 III. Scherzo – Allegro (attacca:)
09. Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 IV. Allegro
10. Coriolan Overture, Op. 62

DISC TWO:
01. Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” I. Allegro non troppo
02. Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” II. Andante molto moto
03. Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” III. Allegro (attacca:)
04. Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” IV. Allegro (attacca:)
05. Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” V. Allegretto
06. Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 I. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
07. Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 II. Andante cantabile con moto
08. Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 III. Menuetto. Allegro con moto
09. Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 IV. Finale. Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace

DISC THREE:
01. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
02. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” II. Molto vivace
03. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” III. Adagio molto e cantabile – Andante moderato
04. Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” IV. Finale – Allegro assai – Recitativo: “O Freude, nicht diese Tone ! – Allegro assai

Personnel
Phyllis Curtin – soprano
Florence Kopleff – contralto
John McCollum – tenor
Donald Gramm – bass
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Fritz Reiner – conductor

Recorded between 1955 to 1961 at Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Chicago, IL.
Living Stereo / Sony Music Japan # SICC 10257~9

3x SACD ISO