This SACD presents a new three-channel mix–something that was not offered by the disc’s original producer–of these 1956-’59 Mercury Living Presence recordings. The two-channel version (also included on the disc) brings a noticeable improvement in clarity and presence over previous issues, as if a layer of gauze had been removed from the speakers, and it interestingly remains a more natural listening experience than the three-channel alternative. The slightly (artificially?) increased dynamic range adds to the illusion of realism while also exposing the limitations of the 40-something-year-old tapes–mainly high-frequency saturation at the percussion-drenched opening of Capriccio espagnol.
The primary concern however, remains the music, and Antal Dorati’s vibrant, colorful performances, with stunning playing from the London Symphony Orchestra (the sweetly swooning strings in Le Coq d’Or; the brazen brass in the Russian Easter Overture; the gorgeous woodwinds in the Polovtsian Dances) should be reason enough to purchase this disc.
