Seiji Ozawa / Boston Symphony Orchestra – Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique [Stereo] (The Original Source Series Edition)

(AAA) — Lacquers cut from the original analog master tapes by Sidney Meyer at Emil Berliner Studios.

On its 125th birthday, Deutsche Grammophon releases legendary recordings in the highest sound culture: The new audiophile vinyl series The Original Source presents outstanding recordings from the 1970s in a completely new sound quality. For this purpose, the renowned Emil Berliner Studios remastered and edited the original four-track tapes using technologies developed specifically for the production of the series in 100% analog quality (AAA). The tonal differences from the original releases are considerable: greater clarity, more subtleties and improvements in frequency response, as well as less background noise, distortion and compression enable an audiophile listening experience like never before.

On 180g vinyl records and in a deluxe gatefold edition with original covers and lyrics, copies of this series are released limited and numbered. They are accompanied by additional photos and facsimiles of the recording protocols and tape boxes, and an article also explains the exact technical background.

Seiji Ozawa's era as principal conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra lasted an impressive 29 years – a period of musical excellence unparalleled. Even before officially taking office, Ozawa and his orchestra created a multifaceted recording of Berlioz's ‘ Symphonie fantastique at Deutsche Grammophon, which was praised by the New York Times as particularly „light and mercury“ (light and mercurial)

Tracklist:

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14, H. 48
1. Reveries. Passions (Largo - Allegro agitato ed appassionato assai)
2. Un bal (Valse: Allegro non troppo)
3. Scene aux champs (Adagio)
4. Marche au supplice (Allegretto non troppo)
5. Songe d'une nuit du Sabbat (Larghetto - Allegro - Ronde du Sabbat: Poco meno mosso)

(Above description from DeutscheGrammophon.com)