Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ančerl – Orchestral Favorites [2 SACDs] (2019) [SACD / Columbia x Tower Records TWSA-1056/7 ]

Title: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ančerl – Orchestral Favorites [2 SACDs] (1958-1965/2019)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

The 2-SACD hybrid set, Karel Ančerl Orchestral Favorites (Tower Records TWSA-1056/7, 2019), reissues thirteen stereo recordings by Karel Ančerl and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, originally made between 1958 and 1965. Newly mastered from original analog tapes in the Czech Republic with direct DSD conversion in Japan, this release offers exceptional clarity and warmth, enhancing the orchestra’s lustrous strings, vibrant woodwinds, and rich brass. Disc 1 features five Russian works, including Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmila Overture, alongside Smetana’s The Bartered Bride Overture, showcasing precise tempos and exuberant charm. Disc 2 includes Western European masterpieces like Mozart’s The Magic Flute Overture and Wagner’s Lohengrin Prelude Act I, highlighting profound string tones and delicate textures. Ančerl’s meticulous score-reading and the orchestra’s disciplined yet expressive playing shine throughout, with standout performances in Smetana’s overture and Wagner’s prelude. The SACD’s high-resolution audio reveals subtle overtones and realistic instrument timbres, surpassing earlier CD releases. The CD layer, also DSD-mastered, improves on prior digital versions. This collection, unifying previously separate discs, captures the Czech Philharmonic’s golden era under Ančerl, blending Russian vigor with European elegance. Critics praise the remastering’s fidelity, though some note minor shrillness in high frequencies compared to vinyl originals. A must-have for collectors, this release reaffirms Ančerl’s legacy as a master conductor.

hraudio | tower.jp

Tracklist:

Disc 1
Glinka – Ruslan and Ludmila
01. Overture (5:04)
Borodin – In the Steppes of Central Asia, musical picture
02. In the Steppes of Central Asia(7:23)
Rimsky-Korsakov – Capriccio Espagnol
03. Capriccio Espagnol (15:16)
Tchaikovsky – Capriccio Italien
04. Capriccio Italien (14:18)
Tchaikovsky – 1812, overture solennelle
05. Overture solennelle (15:12)
Smetana – The Bartered Bride
06. Overture (6:23)
Disc 2
Mozart – Die Zauberflote
01. Overture (6:32)
Berlioz – Le carnaval romain,
02. Overture (8:28)
Weber/Berlioz – Invitation to the Dance
03. Invitation to the Dance (9:06)
Liszt – Les Preludes,symphonic poem
04. Les Preludes (16:38)
Rossini – Giullaume Tell
05. Overture (11:09)
R. Strauss – Till Eurenspiegels lustige Streiche, symphonic poem
06. Till Eurenspiegels lustige Streiche (14:44)
Wagner – Lohengrin
07. Prelude to Act 1 (8:09)

Personnel:

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Karel Ančerl, conductor

Note:

(1-1)-(1-2), (1-4)-(1-5) Recorded at the Rudolfinum, Prague in I.1965
(1-3), (2-2)-(2-4) Recorded at the Rudolfinum, Prague in XXI.1964
(1-6) Recorded at the Rudolfinum, Prague in IX.1958
(2-1), (2-5) Recorded at the Rudolfinum, Prague in VI.1960
(2-6) Recorded at the Rudolfinum, Prague in VIII.1962
(2-7) Recorded at the Rudolfinum, Prague in XII.1962

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