Václav Neumann , Czech Philharmonic Orchestra - Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Chorus" (1976/12/3 live at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)(ORT mastered in 2023) - Japan SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Václav Neumann , Czech Philharmonic Orchestra

Description:

The world's first digital recording of the Ninth Symphony, recorded live in Tokyo in 1976, is the world's first SACD release in high-resolution format using ORT mastering. This is the world's first SACD release in high-resolution format using ORT mastering, bringing back to life the latest mastering of a great recording and a great performance! Neumann and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra performed in Tokyo. Four of the Czech Republic's finest soloists and the outstanding chorus of the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra united in a masterful performance. This is the world's first digital recording of the same piece. This is the first SACD release with high-resolution recording using ORT mastering technology originally developed by Nippon Columbia. The CD layer also uses this mastered sound source. This recording was made live at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan on December 3, 1976, and was the talk of the town at the time as a performance of the Ninth in Japan by an all-Czech vocal ensemble and chorus. It was also the first digital recording of the Ninth for Nippon Columbia, which had perfected its own digital recording system.There are few Beethoven recordings by Neumann, and the main ones are "No. 5" recorded at Setagaya Kumin Kaikan by Nippon Columbia on his first visit to Japan in 1969 (reissued as TWSA1088 on SACD hybrid disc as a Tower project disc in 2020) when he had been appointed chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic in the previous year. The other two recordings are "Overtures" recorded in Exton in his last year of life. The aforementioned "No. 5" is an excellent analog recording made in Japan at the time, despite the limitations of the recording location, and it captures the powerful performance of the orchestra's first visit to Japan. The subsequent recording of the "Ninth" is a digital recording, and it is interesting to note that it is a very detailed recording, and unlike the session recording of "No. 5," the fact that it is a live performance has a very positive effect on the passion of the performance. The Prague Philharmonic Choir, which accompanied the orchestra, is especially important, and in addition to their ability, they responded well to Neumann's requests, resulting in a performance in which the chorus has a strong impact.When overseas orchestras visit Japan, they are often joined by Japanese choirs, and their regular collaborations with the orchestra and conductor help them to breathe and balance well with each other, which is a big plus for the performance. The preface commentary by Kyoichi Kuroda, who listened to the performance on the day it was first published, has been republished here, so you can read a realistic report of the atmosphere and the performance. As for the digital recording, the ORT mastering has made the technical standard of the time even more remarkable. In addition to the characteristics of the digital recording, which is detailed in every detail, the reverberations and atmosphere of the time can be felt even more because it is a live recording. The recording is in the best condition among the three titles to be reissued this time, in terms of sound quality and timbre. This reissue is the most significant reissue of the latest ORT reissue. (1/2)