CLASSICAL Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Beethoven: Piano Concertos (Nos. 1, 3, and 5 Emperor), Piano Sonata No. 4 |Japan made SACD Hybrid

Factory-sealed, new Obi strip, everything included-Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and Carlo Maria Giulini: Beethoven: Piano Concertos (Nos. 1, 3, and 5 "Emperor"), Piano Sonata No. 4.

PART NUMBER: PROC-2070

SKU: 4988031228432

LABEL: TOWER RECORDS VINTAGE SACD COLLECTION

RELEASE DATE: 7/12/2017

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*Limited edition. World's first SA-CD release (3,4)
*SA-CD hybrid disc
*Uses the latest 2017 mastering (WAV data digitally converted at 192kHz/24bit from the original analog master tapes in Germany was mastered at Emil Berliner Studios and then converted to DSD for the SA-CD layer. The analog master tapes underwent thorough restoration work to the extent possible, depending on their age and storage condition, before the conversion work was carried out)
*Uses the original jacket design (some other jackets are also included in the booklet)
*Standard jewel case packaging
*Disc printing surface: green
*Commentary: by Shigeo Hamada and others, 20 pages total in the commentary booklet

This collection brings together three Beethoven concertos recorded with Giulini in Vienna in 1979. These once-in-a-lifetime performances are revived on SA-CD with rich scale! Disc 2 is the world's first SA-CD release!
All tracks have been newly mastered in Vienna from the original analog masters.

These three concerto recordings, realized in Vienna in 1979 as a special concert for television broadcast, hold a special place among Michelangeli's relatively few official recordings. Given the extremely limited number of concerto recordings, and the fact that this is a live performance, the sense of presence and the atmosphere of the audience are brilliantly captured by DG's excellent analog recording techniques from the late period. You will be particularly surprised by the realism of the live feel in this SA-CD release. Such live performances are even more easily conveyed to the listener in DSD audio sources, which excel in reproducing rich harmonics and soundstage. For this reissue, the first-generation 16-channel multi-track recordings were newly mixed and then remixed into 2-channel audio. This product has been released after high-quality digitalization and meticulous mastering. In the past, only the first and third concertos were released as commercially available SA-CD single layers, so only the two tracks on DISC 2 are making their world debut on SA-CD, but DISC 1 has also been completely newly produced for this reissue. The three concertos and the 1971 session recording of Piano Sonata No. 4, which was previously released separately, are coupled together on two discs. First of all, Giulini's meticulous support is superb, and his optimal accompaniment, which fully understands Michelangeli's intentions, further enhances the artistic perfection of these performances. The beautiful resonance after each touch of the piano that rises to every corner of the hall, the rich reverberation of the Musikverein, and the atmosphere of the breathtaking audience are all reproduced together on the speakers in a breathtaking way, making this a sound source that I would recommend to many audiophiles. For this release, the original analog master tapes from the country of origin underwent physical maintenance and restoration before being digitized to high-quality PCM. A dedicated engineer from the label in the country of origin then meticulously and painstakingly mastered the recordings specifically for this series. The SA-CD layer allows you to enjoy the highly detailed master sound. The CD layer has also been digitized and mastered with the latest technology, resulting in a sound quality that is a cut above previous releases. This series features the original jacket design and includes a new introductory commentary by Shigeo Hamada. This sixth installment of the "Vintage SA-CD Collection" will release a total of three titles.
(Added June 22) In addition, this reissue faithfully reproduces the applause before and after the concert, as well as the lingering sounds between movements, which were originally recorded on the analog master tapes.