If you’re a Nathan Milstein fan (and how can you not be), you probably either own or are aware of Disc 1’s contents by way of reissues on labels such as Pearl and Biddulph. Imagine their vibrant, basically non-interventionist transfers smoothed out and smothered with an overkill of noise reduction at the expense of overtones and studio ambience. That’s what you get here. The same October 7, 1946 Library of Congress recital with Joseph Blatt painstakingly restored at not inconsiderable expense by Bridge mysteriously occupies Disc 2. Here it sounds as though the source material has been further reprocessed by an unrepentant noise reduction addict. Unfortunately, shady products such as these continue to lurk in the historic CD bins waiting for unsuspecting customers to fork over their moohlah, and I don’t mean “Monopoly” money! Notwithstanding the amazing fiddle playing, consider yourself exploited if you spring for this set.
