Antal Doráti Antal Doráti in London. The Mercury Masters Vol. 1 (remastered) (2025)

Limited Edition. Covering recordings from July 1956 to July 1961, here are early stereo spectaculars on Mercury, under the inspired baton of Antal Doráti: classic albums of Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and many more in a new 'Original Jackets'. Eloquence has been making a systematic and critically acclaimed survey of the Mercury legacy of recordings made by the Hungarian conductor Antal Doráti. Boxes of his complete recordings with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Hungarica have revived albums from the 1950s and 60s which set new standards for lifelike sound and intensely engaged performances in the recording studio. Volume 1 of Doráti's London recordings covers sessions from July 1956 to July 1961. Conductor and orchestra met for an intensive fortnight each year after the end of the concert season. Both the conductor and the Mercury engineers were demanding in their pursuit of perfection, in terms of orchestral attack, ensemble, balance, colour and all the disparate elements which contribute towards the kind of repeatability that made these albums such artistic and commercial successes.

Limited Edition. Covering recordings from July 1956 to July 1961, here are early stereo spectaculars on Mercury, under the inspired baton of Antal Doráti: classic albums of Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and many more in a new 'Original Jackets'. Eloquence has been making a systematic and critically acclaimed survey of the Mercury legacy of recordings made by the Hungarian conductor Antal Doráti. Boxes of his complete recordings with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Hungarica have revived albums from the 1950s and 60s which set new standards for lifelike sound and intensely engaged performances in the recording studio. Volume 1 of Doráti's London recordings covers sessions from July 1956 to July 1961. Conductor and orchestra met for an intensive fortnight each year after the end of the concert season. Both the conductor and the Mercury engineers were demanding in their pursuit of perfection, in terms of orchestral attack, ensemble, balance, colour and all the disparate elements which contribute towards the kind of repeatability that made these albums such artistic and commercial successes.

Volume 2 of Antal Doráti's London recordings for Mercury covers sessions between June 1960 (Tchaikovsky's Pathétique Symphony) and August 1966 (Tchaikovsky's Orchestral Suites). By way of a bonus, the set concludes with a rarity issued on Philips and scarcely seen since, an album of neoclassical works by Julian Orbón (Cantigas del Rey, sung by Heather Harper) and Manuel de Falla (the Harpsichord Concerto, with Rafael Puyana). Dorati's ear for color, his rhythmic discipline and knife-edged attack were complemented by the high-definition, pin-point detail of Mercury's 35mm stereo engineering. Works by Doráti's countryman Bartók came to life on record as never before. The versions of the Concerto for Orchestra, Divertimento for Strings and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta have scarcely been equalled since for atmosphere and accuracy. No less valuably, the box brings together the Mercury/Doráti versions of Bartók's principal works for the stage, Bluebeard's Castle (now with the spoken introduction included on CD for the first time) and The Miraculous Mandarin, as well as a definitive recording of The Wooden Prince.

Volume 2 of Antal Doráti's London recordings for Mercury covers sessions between June 1960 (Tchaikovsky's Pathétique Symphony) and August 1966 (Tchaikovsky's Orchestral Suites). By way of a bonus, the set concludes with a rarity issued on Philips and scarcely seen since, an album of neoclassical works by Julian Orbón (Cantigas del Rey, sung by Heather Harper) and Manuel de Falla (the Harpsichord Concerto, with Rafael Puyana). Dorati's ear for color, his rhythmic discipline and knife-edged attack were complemented by the high-definition, pin-point detail of Mercury's 35mm stereo engineering. Works by Doráti's countryman Bartók came to life on record as never before. The versions of the Concerto for Orchestra, Divertimento for Strings and Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta have scarcely been equalled since for atmosphere and accuracy. No less valuably, the box brings together the Mercury/Doráti versions of Bartók's principal works for the stage, Bluebeard's Castle (now with the spoken introduction included on CD for the first time) and The Miraculous Mandarin, as well as a definitive recording of The Wooden Prince.

Universal Music presents the first volume of The Mercury Masters, featuring Byron Janis' rendition of Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 2" and "Two Preludes". Newly remastered, this collection comprehensively documents a golden era in American classical recording and many of these vividly characterized recordings are appearing in digital formats for the first time.

David Louis Bartholomew (December 24, 1918 – June 23, 2019) was an American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer.

David Louis Bartholomew (December 24, 1918 – June 23, 2019) was an American musician, bandleader, composer, arranger, and record producer.

Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians.

Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923 – April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. He was among the most influential early bebop musicians.

Universal Music presents the second volume of The Mercury Masters, featuring Byron Janis' rendition of Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1". Newly remastered, this collection comprehensively documents a golden era in American classical recording and many of these vividly characterized recordings are appearing in digital formats for the first time.