{"product_id":"4573686060638","title":"Oskar Fried - Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Tchaikovsky The Nutcracker Suite - Import CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eCredits:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOskar Fried\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDescription:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the most extraordinary performances in history by Oscar Fried,\nreissued in the best possible condition!\nBerlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique” \u0026amp;\nTchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” Suite,\naccompanied by an exceptionally comprehensive and insightful booklet!\n\n■From the Producer\nOscar Fried (1871–1941) was a conductor born in Berlin who was active primarily in Germany but later sought asylum in the former Soviet Union, where he met a mysterious death. He was close friends with Mahler and is famous for making the first-ever recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection.”\nDuring the era of trumpet-driven recordings, Fried recorded not only “Resurrection” but also major works such as R. Strauss’s “Alpine Symphony” and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7. However, among his recorded legacy, Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” and Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” Suite stand out as particularly remarkable.\nThe *Symphonie fantastique*, reportedly recorded on optical film in Moscow in 1937, is filled with a haunting, ghostly dread, as symbolized by the opening of the first movement. The tempo suddenly wavers, and the sound grows dark and somber. Particularly striking are the shuffling, dragging rhythms of the fourth movement and the eerie tolling of the bells in the fifth movement.\nThis performance was first reissued in June 2007 as part of CDR’s “Serenade” series and, despite being a CDR, became a smash hit (SEDR-5000). At that time, it was an LP reissue (an Oirodisk LP), but this time, we used two tracks of 38-centimeter open-reel tape to achieve the best possible sound.\nThe Tchaikovsky recording is a 78 rpm reissue. It features a striking contrast between leisurely, slow pieces and frenzied, lightning-fast ones. For example, the “March” is played at a speed where the trumpet’s tonguing can barely keep up. And the “Trepak” is played at a super-fast, almost “trepanic” pace—and to top it off, it accelerates right at the end, making for a truly outrageous performance. The “Waltz of the Flowers” also foreshadows what’s to come with the lingering harp at the beginning; as the piece progresses, the intensity rises, creating an eerie atmosphere. Incidentally, Fleet recorded the *Nutcracker* Suite in 1927 with the Berlin State Opera Orchestra (German Polydor), but that performance is quite standard.\nThe booklet is packed with text, photos, and other information (12 pages, including the cover). You’ll find plenty to enjoy alongside this performance, which ranks among the most eerie in history. (Naoya Hirabayashi)\nKing International\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grand Slam","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53595611201825,"sku":"4573686060638","price":3090.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0568\/8482\/2076\/files\/4573686060638.jpg?v=1790481917","url":"https:\/\/cdsvinyljapan.com\/products\/4573686060638","provider":"CDs Vinyl Japan Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}