Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Philharmonia Orchestra – Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Haydn – Piano Concertos [2 SACDs] (1957-1975/2021) [SACD / Warner Classics – TDSA-215/6]

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Philharmonia Orchestra - Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Haydn - Piano Concertos [2 SACDs] (1957-1975/2021)

Title: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Philharmonia Orchestra – Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Haydn – Piano Concertos [2 SACDs] (1957-1975/2021)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO

This super-premium album features Michelangeli’s masterful renditions of Ravel and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4, alongside two Haydn concertos from 1975, now remastered in SACD for the first time. Aimed at supreme sound quality, the recordings were digitized from original analog master tapes at 192kHz/24bit. Michelangeli’s beloved Ravel Piano Concerto, a pinnacle of his technical and musical peak, is a legendary performance and a treasured gem. His Rachmaninoff, personally selected by the artist, stands as one of the finest interpretations of the piece. The lesser-known Haydn concertos, recorded in 1975, reveal the true essence of the works through Michelangeli’s remarkable skill. These Haydn pieces, previously unreleased on SACD, shine with beautiful piano tone and exceptional recording quality. Mastered separately for SACD and CD layers, the release uses a flat master digitized from the original 2-channel analog tapes. The well-preserved master tapes allowed for a focus on original balance, enhancing instrument depth, positioning, and clarity. This permanent collection piece includes new commentary by Hiro Aiba. Part of the Definition Series (Vol. 42), the SACD layer offers rich soundscapes and high resolution, while the CD layer delivers solid, realistic tones—perfect for enjoying both formats.

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2 min read

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Wiener Symphoniker, Carlo Maria Giulini – Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1, 3 & 5 (Japan 2017) [SACD / Deutsche Grammophon – PROC-2070/1]

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Wiener Symphoniker, Carlo Maria Giulini - Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1, 3 & 5 (Japan 2017)

Title: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Wiener Symphoniker, Carlo Maria Giulini – Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1, 3 & 5 (Japan 2017)
Genre: Classical
Format: SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

This Japanese double-disc SACD compilation revives the artistry of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, considered one of the twentieth century’s greatest pianists, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1, 3, and 5 with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under Carlo Maria Giulini, alongside his 1972 session recording of Piano Sonata No. 4. Recorded live in Vienna in 1979 for a TV broadcast, the rare concerto performances capture the vivid presence and audience atmosphere, enhanced by DG’s superb analog recording and remixed from a new 16-channel multi-track into two channels for this release. Newly mastered from the original analog tapes with high-quality DSD and PCM digitization, this SACD—featuring the world’s first SACD conversion for two tracks on Disc 2—delivers rich overtones, a realistic sound field, and the Musikvereinsaal’s beautiful reverberation, complete with applause and afterglow. Michelangeli’s precise, poetic touch, perfectly complemented by Giulini’s sensitive conducting, creates a masterpiece of artistic perfection, making this a highly recommended audiophile treasure.

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1 min read