Organi Symphony Munch

Sony Classical presents a new reissue of all the recordings that Charles Munch, one of the most dynamic and charismatic conductors of the 20th century, made for RCA Victor while in Boston conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Munch turned the BSO into arguably the greatest French orchestra in the world while preserving its sovereignty in the American, Austro-German, central European and Russian repertoires. An 86-CD box set, The Complete Album Collection marks the first time that this cornerstone of the classical catalogue has been available in a single box with 16 works new to CD and 29 works newly remastered from the original analogue tapes. The new set also contain Munch s 1963 French-music compilation with the Philadelphia Orchestra for American Columbia.

There is an enormous amount to admire in Munch’s reading of Saint-Saëns’ ‘Organ’ symphony, right from the glowing strings of the opening through to the truly superbly articulated first-movement climax. Munch gets real delicacy from his Bostonians in the Poco adagio, and the organ’s entry in the finale is certainly highly impressive. Perhaps the Scherzo could be more on-the-ball, though. This remains one of the top recommendations for this piece.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6
Boston Symphony Orchestra - Charles Munch
SACD ISO (Stereo): 1,16 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,26 GB | Full Artwork
Label/Cat#: RCA "Living Stereo" # 82876-67898-2 | Country/Year: Europe 2005 | 5% Recovery Info
Genre: Classical | Style: Viennese School

"Originally recorded May (C Minor) and August (Pastoral) 1955 in two-track stereo, remastering supervisor John Newton, along with DSD engineer Dirk Sobotka, has revitalized two of the Charles Munch Beethoven symphonies with astonishing results. (…) The same Living Stereo recording of the Fifth — though not the Sixth — was also on a recent xrcd reissue which we reviewed Here. A/B comparison of the two formats showed the SACD to be sonically superior." ~Audiophile-Audition

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6
Boston Symphony Orchestra - Charles Munch
SACD ISO (Stereo): 1,16 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,26 GB | Full Artwork
Label/Cat#: RCA "Living Stereo" # 82876-67898-2 | Country/Year: Europe 2005 | 5% Recovery Info
Genre: Classical | Style: Viennese School

"Originally recorded May (C Minor) and August (Pastoral) 1955 in two-track stereo, remastering supervisor John Newton, along with DSD engineer Dirk Sobotka, has revitalized two of the Charles Munch Beethoven symphonies with astonishing results. (…) The same Living Stereo recording of the Fifth — though not the Sixth — was also on a recent xrcd reissue which we reviewed Here. A/B comparison of the two formats showed the SACD to be sonically superior." ~Audiophile-Audition

Hector Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique
Boston Symphony Orchestra / Charles Munch
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 2,20 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,14 GB | NO Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: RCA "Living Stereo" # 8287667899 2 | Country/Year: Europe 2006, 1954
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic

…His overwhelming natural affinity for French music made Charles Munch an ideal conductor for Berlioz’s swirling tour de force Symphonie Fantastique. Perfectly capturing the drama, romance & philosophical angst in which this masterpiece is marinated, Munch takes the Boston Symphony Orchestra on an epic journey of proportions only possible in the human heart & mind. A classic, reborn in vivid Living Stereo.

Hector Berlioz – Symphonie Fantastique
Boston Symphony Orchestra / Charles Munch
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 2,20 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,14 GB | NO Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: RCA "Living Stereo" # 8287667899 2 | Country/Year: Europe 2006, 1954
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic

…His overwhelming natural affinity for French music made Charles Munch an ideal conductor for Berlioz’s swirling tour de force Symphonie Fantastique. Perfectly capturing the drama, romance & philosophical angst in which this masterpiece is marinated, Munch takes the Boston Symphony Orchestra on an epic journey of proportions only possible in the human heart & mind. A classic, reborn in vivid Living Stereo.

Franz Schubert - Symphonies No. 8 & No. 9
Charles Munch / Boston Symphony Orchestra
SACD ISO (2.0/MCH): 2,59 GB | 24B/88,2kHz Stereo FLAC: 1,20 GB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: RCA Red Seal "Living Stereo" # 82876-66374-2 | Country/Year: Europe 2006, 1955 & 1958
Genre: Classical | Style: Viennese School

"…Recorded in 1955 and 1958, respectively, these performances with the phenomenal Boston Symphony Orchestra sound magnificent with the spacious separation and the close simulation of a real orchestral environment made possible by DSD and multichannel remastering. Beyond the superb audio quality, these recordings are fascinating documents of Münch's elegant interpretations of Schubert…."