David Oistrakh - Oistrakh & Richter: Live Recordings 1968-69 - Japan SACD Hybrid Limited Edition

Credits:

David Oistrakh

Description:

A miraculous feast featuring two musical giants. Presented in the original recording order from the initial release—now available for the first time on a single CD! The “Live Recordings” from 1968–69 with D. Oistrakh are released on SACD for the first time! The ultimate 20th-century collection for permanent preservation. Mastered using analog master tapes from the Victor Archives! Includes a new foreword and commentary by Yoshiko Ikuma. A state-of-the-art reissue supervised by Tomoo Nojima—the director who worked extensively with Richter at the time—dedicated to preserving the authentic sound. “The Oistrakh–Richters duo gets to the very heart of the composer’s soul; their live performances convey that spirit, allowing listeners to discover new facets of the works and hear the composer’s ‘voice’ itself”—from the new foreword by Yoshiko Ikuma Under the supervision of Tomio Nojima, the director at the time, Victor FLAIR Mastering Works carried out the latest mastering process, starting with a complete review of the power supply and cabling. The goal was to create a meticulous sound that makes Richter’s expressiveness clearer and his intricate technique more distinct. Richters’ breathtaking performances fill us with an indescribable excitement. This SACD reissue series features recordings for which Victor holds the master rights or distribution rights. The compilation adheres closely to the original recording locations and sequence, bringing together the tracks from each album. Although Richter left behind numerous recordings—including live performances—across various labels, he appears to have been quite selective regarding their release. It appears there are many recordings that were made but never actually released because he was not satisfied with the performance; according to Mr. Tomoo Nojima, mentioned earlier, there are many unreleased recordings and takes even among those recorded at Victor. It is said that he always maintained a high level of dedication and awareness, sometimes even starting a performance from the beginning again for re-recording after a live concert had ended. He is widely recognized as a perfectionist, and the strong impression he leaves—overwhelming listeners with his exceptionally polished performances, delivered with rare concentration and intensity—is truly the essence of Richter himself. His attitude of pursuing perfection until he was satisfied is also an indispensable element when discussing Richter. The surviving recordings all bring to life a style of piano playing that only Richter could achieve, and every one of them is sure to satisfy the listener. This “Oistrakh–Richter Live Recordings” marks the first reissue from Victor in approximately 30 years and is the world’s first release on SACD. Furthermore, the recording of Shostakovich’s Violin Sonata from the May 3–4, 1969, concert is a rare recording of the world premiere. For this release, three tracks—which, since their original LP release, had been issued on multiple CDs (including the 1972 “Last Recordings” compilation and subsequent BMG reissues)—are now included on a single disc in their original order for the first time on a Japanese CD release. (1/3)