Little can be added to the accolades these classic recordings have garnered in their more than 70 years of existence. They’ve been reissued countless times on umpteen labels, including at least two previous CD releases on EMI. Run, don’t walk to your nearest record emporium and buy this latest sonic upgrade. The sound is simply amazing. EMI’s restoration wizards have removed virtually all the surface swish and grunge, without sacrificing one iota of color, dynamic range, and room tone. In fact, you probably hear more detail than the original engineers did back in the days of 78s. And what passionate, ultra-committed music making! Modern ears might wrinkle at Jacques Thibaud’s antiquated slides or Alfred Cortot’s occasional breaking of hands. Yet these devices always have a specific expressive purpose, as do the myriad tempo fluctuations implied but not often indicated by the composers. Let’s hope EMI will effect similarly genius transfers upon the remaining Cortot/Thibaud/Casals legacy. Bravo!
