This famous Alexander Gibson/New Symphony Orchestra of London collection from 1958 debuted at the dawn of the RCA Living Stereo era. It became one of the most sought-after Living Stereos with music by Arnold, Liszt and Mussorgsky amongst others, all with a spooky, witchy theme. The performances remain today as characterful and incisive as they were then. We've taken this classic and given it the full Analogue Productions reissue treatment, featuring a remaster by Germany's Willem Makkee from the original analog tapes, and plating and 200-gram pressing by Quality Record Pressings. Toping it off is a thick cardboard Stoughton Printing tip-on jacket. If such music didn't cast the right sort of spell, so many listeners wouldn't be returning to it on so many occasions, somehow feeling constantly refreshed.

"Witches' Brew" Modest Moussorgsky: "Gomus from "Pictures Of An Exhibition", "A Night On Bare Mountain" / Camille Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre / Franz Liszt: Mephisto Waltz / a.o. - New Symphony Orchestra Of London | Alexander Gibson

Widely regarded as one of the great RCAs. Alexander Gibson conducts the Royal Opera House Orchestra, Covent Garden, performing ballet music from Charles Gounod's "Faust" and Georges Bizet's "Carmen"-Suite. Featuring orchestral highlights from Faust and Carmen, the later selections on Side 2 are nothing short of spectacular. Outstanding clarity and stereo stage.

Charles Gounod: Balletmusic from the opera "Faust" / Georges Bizet: "Carmen"-Suite - The Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden conducted by Alexander Gibson

In the hearts of thousands, No. 1 on the Top RCA list. While the bulk of Ansermet's recordings were made with L'Orchestre de la Susise Romande, there were a few with the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra and the very occasional foray into recordings with London orchestras, one of these being with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in 1959. Audiophilia Online Magazine wrote: »This is the stuff of which dreams are made. "The Royal Ballet Gala" is one of the finest RCAs recorded in London's Kingsway Hall. The chunks of great ballet music are well served by orchestra, conductor and engineer. Performances are executed to a very high standard - the Royal Opera House Orchestra, both then and now, rank as one of the finest of opera orchestras. Conductor Ansermet keeps the pace moving, giving the listener the impression of a dance event rather than a dramatic concert hall reading. With the exception of some of the Tchaikovsky scenes, the music is light and remains so under Ansermet's gentle touch. Each ballet is given full attention by the players, something not always attained at Covent Garden during long ballet nights! The threat of eternity does have it's merits. The recorded sound is simply amazing! Lustrous is one word that comes to mind, accurate is another. Tonally, Messrs. Williamson and Wilkinson have used their considerable talents to capture the orchestra superbly. Woodwind and strings glow and resonate, transporting this listener to a time when simpler recording was better. Brass ring out thrillingly and percussion effects are very musical. Be it a bang, swish, rattle, crack or snap, each percussionist is situated perfectly within the beautiful Kingsway soundstage. Even the difficult-to-record sound of the celeste is captured in it's purely mechanical form. It's delicate sound is heard to great effect during the "Nutcracker" - originating stage left, the sound decays across the stage of Kingsway with sparkling beauty. Wonderful.«

Description :

Double LP with book. Mastered by Bernie Grundman. In the hearts of thousands, N° 1 on the Top RCA list. While the bulk of Ansermet's recordings were made with L'Orchestre de la Susise Romande.

Tracks :

Side A :

1. Tchaikovsky : From The Nutcracker Suite

2. Rossini-Respighi : From La Boutique Fantastique

Side B :

1. Delibes : From Coppélia

2. Adam : From Giselle

Side C :

1. Tchaikovsky : From Swan Lake

2. Schumann : From Carnaval

Side D :

1. Tchaikovsky : From The Sleeping Beauty

2. Chopin : From Les Sylphides

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=royal+ballet+ansermet

Maestro Stokowski is at the podium and Bob Simpson is at the 3-track Ampex recorder to capture the Rhapsodies from Liszt, Enesco and Smetana that give this issue its title. This is titanic sound that will sink most speakers and amps for that matter. A must. The original 3-track session tapes were used in mastering for LPs and SACDS.

"Rhapsodies" Franz Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies / George Enesco: Roumanian Rhapsody No.1 - RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra | Leopold Stokowski

One of the best U.K. Living Stereos with very good dynamics. A Kingsway Hall recording. Jean Martinon conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Borodin's Symphony No. 2. Also features Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnole and March from "The Tale of Tsar Saltan". This record is notable for its fine, lively performances. Midband transparency, detail, dynamics and texture are very good, especially in the first two movements of the Borodin.

Aleksandr Bordin: Symphony No. 2 / Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol op. 34, March From "Tsar Saltan"

The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jean Martinon

program:

Daphnis And Chloe - Ballet In One Act

Side A

1. Part 1

Side B

2. Concluded

Analogue Productions' RCA Living Stereo Reissue Series No. 2, with 25 newly remastered mainstay classical albums, will delight and astound your ears with their clarity and warm, rich tone. As with our first highly-regarded LSC series, shortcomings of previous editions have been improved upon — from the mastering, to the LP pressing, to the sharp-looking glossy heavyweight Stoughton Printing tip-on jackets that faithfully duplicate the original artwork, "Living Stereo" logo, "Shaded Dog" label and all! Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from the original 2-track master tapes, cut at 33 1/3, and plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings — makers of the world's finest-sounding vinyl LPs, — no other editions match these for the quietest 200-gram platters available. Violinist Jascha Heifetz, playing with the New Symphony Orchestra of London, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent. Heifetz was the leading figure among the extraordinary group of Russian Jews who dominated violin playing in the second and third quarters of the 20th century. As a technician he had no superior, and, of all the artists of his time and later, only two or three could even offer a challenge to his electrifying precision of execution. His diamond-point tone and quick vibrato afforded his playing a clarity of line that some felt was almost too perfect, even cold. Most conductors and other violinists — and audiences — felt differently and a Heifetz concert inevitably drew sell-out crowds.

Analogue Productions' RCA Living Stereo Reissue Series No. 2, with 25 newly remastered mainstay classical albums, will delight and astound your ears with their clarity and warm, rich tone. As with our first highly-regarded LSC series, shortcomings of previous editions have been improved upon - from the mastering, to the LP pressing, to the sharp-looking glossy heavyweight Stoughton Printing tip-on jackets that faithfully duplicate the original artwork, "Living Stereo" logo, "Shaded Dog" label and all! Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from the original 2-track master tapes, cut at 33 1/3, and plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings - makers of the world's finest-sounding vinyl LPs, - no other editions match these for the quietest 200-gram platters available. Julian Bream was born in London in 1933. He made his first recital appearance in 1947 and a year later made his London debut. He became prominent in Britain's musical life through his recitals, tours for the Arts Council, and television and radio appearances. Mauro Giuliani was one of several composers who succeeded in establishing the guitar concerto as an accepted musical convention. This is the first genuinely "virtuoso" concerto written for the instrument. Malcolm Arnold is a composer of pathos and deep instensity. His concertos, written mainly for virtuoso friends, includes the Guitar Concerto, written for Bream and recorded here with Arnold conducting. Fully aware that Spain is the 'spiritual' home of the guitar, Arnold has deliberately decided here to give the instrument a more universal character. He has circumvented the Spanish overtones of the instrument by subtle use of modal melodic material.

program:

Side A

Mauro Giuliani: Concerto For Guitar And Strings

1. First Movement: Allegro Maestoso

2. Second Movement: Andantino Siciliano

3. Third Movement: Alla Polacca

Side B

Malcolm Arnold: Guitar Concerto, Op. 67

1. First Movement: Allegro

2. Second Movement: Lento

3. Third Movement: Con Brio

Analogue Productions' RCA Living Stereo Reissue Series No. 2, with 25 newly remastered mainstay classical albums, will delight and astound your ears with their clarity and warm, rich tone. As with our first highly-regarded LSC series, shortcomings of previous editions have been improved upon — from the mastering, to the LP pressing, to the sharp-looking glossy heavyweight Stoughton Printing tip-on jackets that faithfully duplicate the original artwork, "Living Stereo" logo, "Shaded Dog" label and all! Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from the original 2-track master tapes, cut at 33 1/3, and plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings — makers of the world's finest-sounding vinyl LPs, — no other editions match these for the quietest 200-gram platters available. Original 1958 'Shaded Dog' stereo release. The legendary Reiner 1812 that was only available as a 1S pressing having been deleted soon after the Mercury 1812 featuring live cannon shots was released. The performance on this reissue is mind bending and features the incomparable Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass section.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: "1812 Overture" op. 49; Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: "Fingal's Cave" op. 26 ("The Hebrides Overture") - The Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Fritz Reiner