Vienna

Review of the Stereo DSD layer only (I haven't gotten to the 3 channel yet - enjoying the stereo layer too much) Let me start by saying I'm no classical music expert - far from it. I have 25-30 albums TOTAL in the genre. I initially bought this title and a couple others because I had heard the sonics were amazing and I figured - as good a place to start as any! That and they're FILTHY cheap so binge buying would totally be an option if I dug them - and I have a tendency towards such wehen I really like something. I was literally blown away by the fidelity. When the tympani comes in and you feel not just the impact but exactly where in the orchestra they are positioned - it's completely unreal. Not overpowering - enveloping! There is a hair of LF oscillation you have to get used and a few little bias ticks here and there but it's very very minor and given the age of these recordings - I'm shocked there are not more issues. I'm completely astounded with how great these sound. Very well done. If, like me, you were looking to start a Classical SACD collection I would look NO further. These will absolutely blow you away.

One of the great sets of performances of the works on this disc. Reiner fully understands how to perform these works in the Viennese style. I experienced many of these pieces performed live by Reiner and The CSO. The recording captures the performances faithfully. You will not hear a better executed after-the-beat entrance in any other performance. If you already own these in an earlier release, the sound is sufficiently improved to warrant purchasing this disc. Absolutely terrific performances of the music. Because of Reiner's ability to conduct 7 rhythms simultaneously, there's simply more music here than you will hear from other conductors. I own many performances of this music; these are the ones I play when I want to hear what the composers had in mind. As "echt" as it gets. P.S., the Thunder and Lightening, polka will test the limits of you system.

This recording of Viennese music performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Fritz Reiner is one of the most successful re-releases with RCA's Living Stereo Hybrid SACD series. The selections composed by either Johann or Josef Strauss were taken from an earlier release in the Fritz Reiner Collection (60177-2-RG) and Weber's "Invitation to the Dance is taken from The Reiner Sound. Also included is Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier Waltz Sequence No. 1. The sound is simply unbelievable! I do not exaggerate when I say that it sounds like it was recorded yesterday; it just blows you away! As always, Fritz Reiner sounds like he was born to conduct this music. He has long been known for his success with the music of Strauss and his personal friendship to Richard Strauss.This is a recording you cannot miss! Highly reccommendable and well worth your money!

Reiner's approach to the Strauss Viennese style is somewhat inconsistent. For example he takes the Emperor Waltzes in "straight" 3/4 time and is thus devoid of the traditional anticipated second beat slightly throwing off the snare drum and mars a tradition that gives the Viennese waltz its uniqueness and charm. He also makes in my judgment a serious error in cutting part of the finale coda...a move which knocks out the necessary tension leading to the grand rise of orchestral forces culminating in the final tympani roll. Other tracks do include some very nice idiosyncratic "lite" touches and are delightful. His use of rubato could be a bit more liberally applied. Reiner's tempos are lively and the orchestra responds with polish. The SACD has a fine sound presence in comparison to the analogue CD version.Three stars for interpretation. But for authentic Viennese music making try Karajan, Kempe or Boskovsky.

I PLAY THIS CD IN MY ANALOG CD PLAYER, AND THE SOUND QUALITY IS VERY POOR, BUT IN MY SUPER AUDIO CD PLAYER IS AMAZING.

CD was excellent (reason for 5 stars), but the box was cracked. This has been happening a lot lately (five broken CD boxes within the last few months!

This recording motivates great celebration for its idiomatic interpretations, and for its sonic quality! It has very special merit, and the "Thunder and Lightning" polka is riotous fun!

I have purchased almost 20 of the Living Stereo SACDs, and this one may be the best recording/transfer of the bunch. The turntable is only gathering dust these days. Reiner was born in 1888, and was schooled by people of the 19th century, and listening to this SACD is like taking a time capsule to a Wien from another era.

This disc, very well remastered from recordings made in 1957 and 1959, contains pleasing accounts of this Viennese repertoire and is very well played. The sound has an increased tonal spectrum and depth of aural field and this is especially apparent when played in its SACD surround format. At that point there is a remarkable extension to the depth of field and illusion of reality. This is a very successful remastering.Reiner, with his earlier Viennese connections, is well placed to conduct this music with the CSO. The interpretations are essentially very straightforward and Reiner makes only very limited attempt to replicate the VPO's tradition of delaying the 2nd beats of the bar in their distinctive Viennese way. For that listeners really need to buy the VPO discs. These are available with Boskovsky on CD, or even better on DVD and some Blu-rays in the series of New Year's Day concerts with various conductors. It must also be admitted that the delayed 2nd beat of the bar is not always observed even in those VPO concerts in some of the more recent performances. Perhaps this is becoming less of a distinctive feature than in the past, possibly because of the conductors being chosen, or maybe an evolutionary result of changing orchestral membership. Nevertheless this disc still delivers on its title of 'Vienna' and Reiner's European background still shines through and clearly communicates with his excellent orchestra.This disc can therefore be recommended as another fine example of Reiner's work with the CSO in repertoire that offers lighter fare than many of his other discs. I would suggest that it will be attractive to many potential purchasers attracted to a single disc selection and also as a potential upgrade from previous masterings. This especially applies to those who have SACD playback facility delivering surround sound spread across the front three speakers.

Reiner doing Strauss Waltzes? Always controversial. However, if the foot taps, you get a sudden urge to conduct the music or leap onto the dance floor, then it's probably working. And so it proves here.And then we come to the sound. Tracks 1-6 date from 1957 and the remainder from 1960. Sonically, the earlier session is just plain astonishing, in the top tier of Living Stereo, with all that implies in terms of transparency, musical lucidity, instrumental timbre and hall presence. For some of the tracks, the technology just vanishes and you are just there. You just can't ask for more than that.The remaining tracks don't quite live up to this exalted standard. The mikes are palpably closer in 1960 and - even pulling back the volume correspondingly, the hall and musical coherence dissipates rather. So, a down-grade from 'magical' to merely 'excellent' - although the bass drum thwacks for the 'Thunder and Lighting Polka' - which closes the SACD, will certainly stir you from slumber.A no-brainer purchase if the repertoire appeals or you are interested in high-end sound. And at this crazy price?

Great prices excellent music .

Se trata de un SACD híbrido (es decir, se puede escuchar en cualquier tipo de lector) de duración 78 minutos que, en su toma de sonido, resulta ser una mejora considerable sobre el original CD incluso en la capa CD, con suavidad extra en la capa SACD. El repertorio es poco habitual en la discografía de Fritz Reiner, aunque ya lo dirigía en 1915: Johann STRAUSS hijo, Morning Papers, Op. 279; Emperor Waltz, Op. 437; By the Beautiful Blue Danube, Op. 314 von WEBER Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65 Josef STRAUSS Village Swallows, Op. 164 Richard STRAUSS Waltzes from Der Rosenkavalier arr. Fritz Reiner Johann STRAUSS hijo Vienna Blood, Op. 354; Roses from the South, Op. 388; Treasure Waltz, Op. 418; Thunder and Lightning, Op. 324.Reiner dirige la espléndida y poderosa Chicago Symphony Orchestra y este repertorio fue grabado en Orchestra Hall, Chicago en los años 1957 y 1960. Orquesta y director están en forma y los valses son interpretados con un estilo único muy vienés, excitación y mucha exuberancia, siendo Reiner capaz de adaptar los cambios bruscos de humor de estas piezas con naturalidad. Las piezas de Weber y Richard Strauss reciben interpretaciones de alto refinamiento orquestal. Las tomas de sonido son ejemplares en reproducir la fabulosa sonoridad de la orquesta de Chicago. El libreto reproduce las notas de los LP originales, aunque no cubre todas las obras. Una joya, pero sepa que existe otra reencarnación de este álbum en xrcd 24 JVC (no SACD y sin los rellenos de Weber y R. Strauss) que suena todavía más impactante (pero cuesta un dinerito).

leuke verzameling weense muziek met goede geluidskwaliteit