Gabriele Santini、Orchestra del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma、Victoria de los Angeles、Jussi Björling - Madama Butterfly Victoria De Los Angeles Jussi Björling - Japan 2 SACD Hybrid Digipak Limited Edition

Credits:

Gabriele Santini、Rooma Opera Orchestra、Victoria de los Angeles、Yusshi Byorurinku

Description:

The first-ever SACD release of classic early stereo recordings by Los Angeles, Björling, and others! A historic, richly lyrical performance conducted by Santini. Newly remastered at 192kHz/24-bit from the original analog master tapes specifically for this release. Includes new liner notes and song lyrics with English translations. Limited edition of 800 sets with serial numbers Recorded in September and October 1959, this historic early stereo masterpiece won the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 1962 and is renowned for its exceptional sound quality. Santini’s straightforward conducting, which brings out the charm of Puccini’s lyrical melodies, combined with the delicate expressiveness and theatricality of the talented cast, is a major attraction. It is truly an ideal album where both the performance and the recording are in perfect harmony. In particular, De los Angeles’s elegant interpretation and Björling’s clear, powerful voice—recorded the year before his death—elevate the refinement of this work. For this release, we present a reissue that traces back to the original Italian master and has undergone the latest mastering as the final version of the package. For this release, we used a master digitized at 192kHz/24-bit from the original Italian analog master tape, with the SACD and CD layers mastered separately. Includes new liner notes and a song-by-song translation of the lyrics. This is a collector’s edition. Demand for *Madama Butterfly* has been high since the LP era, and numerous classic recordings have emerged even after the transition to stereo. Los Angeles recorded with the Rome Opera Orchestra under the baton of Gavazzeni for EMI in 1954, and this recording with Santini follows that release. While the decision to re-record with the same lead cast just a few years later was likely driven largely by the shift to stereo, the content differs significantly. While the overall performance under Gavazzeni’s baton featured a smooth flow and meticulous expression, the major difference and defining characteristic of this 1959 recording is that Los Angeles delivers a more dynamic and expressive vocal performance within a slightly slower tempo. Los Angeles’s singing, now richer in expressiveness and more emotionally resonant, is truly magnificent. Furthermore, Björling in the role of Pinkerton is also worth noting. Björling, who passed away at the young age of 49 about a year after this recording, displays his beautiful voice in full force here; his performance is so superb that it is hard to believe he was suffering from poor health both before and after the recording sessions. Björling’s robust and beautiful voice is captivating, elevating the quality of the production—including that of Los Angeles—to a higher level. Furthermore, the new liner notes by Noboru Kawase provide detailed information on Björling from 1959 until his death, offering a clear understanding of the circumstances of this period. This recording won the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording in 1962. Although there were likely many competing recordings at the time, the source material was already of excellent quality, making it a recording well-suited for remastering. In this latest reissue, which marks the first major remastering in a long time, the sound quality has improved significantly compared to previous CDs, just as with our other opera reissues in this series. Please look forward not only to the performance but also to the sound quality. (1/2)