Otto Klemperer: The Remastered Edition

[pastoralguy]

On the basis of a straightforward A/B comparison of the first Klemperer CD that came to hand (Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream) with the CD in the box, the remastering (24/192) has been very well done. It has really opened out the sound - the orchestra can be heard in much more of its glory than in the earlier CD transfer, congested tutti begone. The triangle in the March of the Fairies tings out splendidly.

I've sometimes been slightly doubtful about a few Art et Son Studio, Annecy, efforts for Warners in the past but definitely not here. A bit of a triumph, really. I'll try some Mozart symphonies next as I particularly like them in the hands of OK.

So tempting…

[HighlandDougie]

So tempting…

You won't regret it!

[pastoralguy]

You won't regret it!

Finger hovering over keyboard…

[Petrushka]

On the basis of a straightforward A/B comparison of the first Klemperer CD that came to hand (Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream) with the CD in the box, the remastering (24/192) has been very well done. It has really opened out the sound - the orchestra can be heard in much more of its glory than in the earlier CD transfer, congested tutti begone. The triangle in the March of the Fairies tings out splendidly.

I've sometimes been slightly doubtful about a few Art et Son Studio, Annecy, efforts for Warners in the past but definitely not here. A bit of a triumph, really. I'll try some Mozart symphonies next as I particularly like them in the hands of OK.

So glad that you come out with the same opinion as I do! I do tend to worry sometimes if I haven't got carried away with my enthusiasm or that my ears might have got it all wrong so sigh of relief! For me, it's the glorious woodwind sound that now emerges with incredible beauty of tone, ditto strings. I hope that this box will prompt a total reappraisal of Klemperer's art for both critics and listeners alike.

[Dave2002]

This would be a set of too many duplications for me I think.

There even appear to be duplications [at least] within the box. I already have some of these a few times over, including some of the SACD ones. Do the new ones sound better than those?

[Bryn]

There even appear to be duplications [at least] within the box. I already have some of these a few times over, including some of the SACD ones. Do the new ones sound better than those?

The remastering for the SACD of the Cello Concerto and Sea Pictures is from 2012. I would assume remastering technology has advanced considerably since then, even if the end result is restricted to the 44.1 kHz, 16-bit CD standard.

[Dave2002]

The remastering for the SACD of the Cello Concerto and Sea Pictures is from 2012. I would assume remastering technology has advanced considerably since then, even if the end result is restricted to the 44.1 kHz, 16-bit CD standard.

I think it depends what is meant by remastering. I have been surprised by how much it’s possible to modify [arguably improve …] the sounds of recordings, particularly of multi-track ones - using a DAW and other tools. The question then arises “how much is then the creation of the original artists and performers and how much is due to the audio tinkerer?”

[smittims]

This has, I understand, become a vexed question in recent times, now that it is possible to correct the faulty intonation of a single note. In his book 'Performing music in the age of recording' Robert Philip gives several examples of record producers being asked, and in some cases refusing, to make changes which they feel would alter the original peformance unethically.

[Barbirollians]

The remastering for the SACD of the Cello Concerto and Sea Pictures is from 2012. I would assume remastering technology has advanced considerably since then, even if the end result is restricted to the 44.1 kHz, 16-bit CD standard.

I assume you are referring to the Barbirolli box - considering how Klemperer even refused to conduct the Enigma Variations !

[Petrushka]

The remastering for the SACD of the Cello Concerto and Sea Pictures is from 2012. I would assume remastering technology has advanced considerably since then, even if the end result is restricted to the 44.1 kHz, 16-bit CD standard.

Are you thinking of Barbirolli?

To answer Dave2002's question. Klemperer recorded some pieces with the Philharmonia more than once, particularly certain Mozart and Beethoven symphonies which were set down first in mono in the 1950s and then again a decade later in stereo. The set also includes recordings made in the late 1920s of pieces he did later. There are also a small number of recordings made with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra including Mahler's 'Resurrection' made live in 1965. Also included is the 1957 live Beethoven 9 originally released on Testament.

The bulk of the present box was previously released by EMI and, at taken over by Warner, in remasterings done in 2012/13 and issued in multiple boxes. Remastering has moved on in 10 years and the present box has been completely redone - and to tremendous effect.

To anyone who thinks that spending £200 or so on recordings already bought is a waste of money all I can say is that the result more than justifies it. The miraculous transformation of the sound over those 2012 remasterings is a thing of wonder.

[HighlandDougie]

There even appear to be duplications [at least] within the box. I already have some of these a few times over, including some of the SACD ones. Do the new ones sound better than those?

Emphatically yes in relation to the Mozart 'Last Six Symphonies' And Mendelssohn/Schumann SACDs. I can do no better than quote Petrushka, "(providing) plenty of air around the sound". As Bryn implies, the art of remastering has reached greater heights than the 2012 SACDs, good as those are. The new remastering(s) would seem to provide clear evidence of the progress which has been made. Unlike Andrew Rose and his "Ambient Stereo", as tasteful and effective as the results of that might be, the use of the master tapes seems to have steered the remastering studio in the direction of 'cleaning up' the recordings, rather than anything more.

As to duplications, yes of some repertoire where stereo remakes were recorded. Otherwise, and Petrushka can keep me right, not that I can see.

[Bryn]

Are you thinking of Barbirolli?

To answer Dave2002's question. Klemperer recorded some pieces with the Philharmonia more than once, particularly certain Mozart and Beethoven symphonies which were set down first in mono in the 1950s and then again a decade later in stereo. The set also includes recordings made in the late 1920s of pieces he did later. There are also a small number of recordings made with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra including Mahler's 'Resurrection' made live in 1965. Also included is the 1957 live Beethoven 9 originally released on Testament.

The bulk of the present box was previously released by EMI and, at taken over by Warner, in remasterings done in 2012/13 and issued in multiple boxes. Remastering has moved on in 10 years and the present box has been completely redone - and to tremendous effect.

To anyone who thinks that spending £200 or so on recordings already bought is a waste of money all I can say is that the result more than justifies it. The miraculous transformation of the sound over those 2012 remasterings is a thing of wonder.

Yes. I had been thinking of both big boxes and got them mixed up. I don't think I have any Klemeper SACDs. Do you know when the Klemperer SACDs were remastered?

[Wolfram]

On the basis of a straightforward A/B comparison of the first Klemperer CD that came to hand (Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream) with the CD in the box, the remastering (24/192) has been very well done. It has really opened out the sound - the orchestra can be heard in much more of its glory than in the earlier CD transfer, congested tutti begone. The triangle in the March of the Fairies tings out splendidly.

I've sometimes been slightly doubtful about a few Art et Son Studio, Annecy, efforts for Warners in the past but definitely not here. A bit of a triumph, really. I'll try some Mozart symphonies next as I particularly like them in the hands of OK.

Oh dear! I’m a big fan of OK, and have many, many of these recordings on their original cd issues. Reading the comments on this thread about the improvements in sound quality over the original cd releases has made me look covetously at this box, and then at the price…..

[Bryn]

Oh dear! I’m a big fan of OK, and have many, many of these recordings on their original cd issues. Reading the comments on this thread about the improvements in sound quality over the original cd releases has made me look covetously at this box, and then at the price…..

In the order of £1.85 per CD.

[richardfinegold]

Amazon here continues to list it at $359, although they offer free shipping, but not until August. Presto has it for $200 (they currently have a Warner sale) and even with shipping it is only $233, which puts it on a par with the Walter box, which is less CDs. I wish that I lived next to Petrushka or HD and could audition a few to see if this is as good as noted. The OK Brahms was my first cycle, and same with his Mozart Symphonies. Outside of the Bruckner box that would be it for duplication and yes, I am really curious about the sonics. HD touched on Pristine Audio. which not only has their "Ambient Stereo" but also tends to introduce some "air" into the recordings which does seem to eliminate the boxy effect. I've been listening to the Warner remastering of the Kempe/Strauss box and oh my, do they sound wonderful. And then there is the fact that at least with some companies, such as Sony, once these reissue boxes go in the initial run, that's it. That realization made me purchase the Walter box Not sure Warner is doing this as well.

Still don't know where I would store the damn thing..my listening room already looks like a CD warehouse...

I just checked the Presto site to see if the kempe/Strauss is still available, and it is, at a ridiculously low price to boot. That would lead to some encouragement that perhaps Warner isn't as trigger happy with their deletion of these big boxes as Sony or Decca, for those of us on the fence...