Tag: Karl Böhm

Title: Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm – Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 [2 SACDs] (1970-1973/2021)
Genre: Classical
Format: MCH SACD ISO

A project commemorating the 40th anniversary of Karl Böhm’s death. This collection brings together two Bruckner symphonies recorded by the Vienna Philharmonic and DECCA. The Third Symphony is being released on SA-CD for the first time worldwide. Experience Böhm’s mature-period masterpiece in high-quality sound with this latest reissue! Including Symphony No. 4, newly remastered in Austria from the original analog master tapes. Karl Böhm (1894-1981), who had been performing Bruckner since his youth, finally recorded Symphony No. 3 in stereo with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1970, and this release pairs it with the renowned 1973 recording of Symphony No. 4, considered one of the definitive interpretations of the work. The Symphony No. 4 was previously released on a single-layer SA-CD in 2004, and the same digitalized source was used for subsequent SA-CD hybrid editions. However, for this reissue, the master source has been digitally remastered from the original analog master tapes in the country of origin, resulting in a different master source than previous editions. Additionally, this is the first time the Symphony No. 3 has been released on SA-CD. Furthermore, in this series, the Symphony No. 7 and No. 8, recorded with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under DG after these DECCA recordings (released in September 2019 as PROC2224), have already been reissued on SA-CD hybrid discs. Böhm had already recorded Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 during the early years of his tenure as Music Director of the Staatskapelle Dresden in 1934, and frequently featured Bruckner in his concerts. However, unlike Jochum and Karajan, he did not have many opportunities to record, and few session recordings remain. Although this DECCA recording is part of the label’s complete set of Bruckner symphonies with the Vienna Philharmonic, the two pieces conducted by Böhm are far superior to those conducted by other conductors. In particular, the Fourth Symphony, combining the strength of the Vienna Philharmonic at the time, Böhm’s mature period, and the peak of DECCA’s analog recording technology, stands out as a rare masterpiece of performance and recording, earning a reputation among many Bruckner recordings. The “Third Symphony,” based on the 1890 final draft of the Novak edition, is a masterpiece that truly showcases Böhm’s unique qualities, with the beauty of the second movement in this draft being particularly exquisite. Böhm’s inherent robustness and the Vienna Philharmonic’s flexible expression strike a chord with the listener. This is an unforgettable performance that has never been released on SA-CD, and this “Third Symphony” is undoubtedly one of the few masterpieces that helped drive the early Bruckner boom.

For this reissue, the list was traced back to the original analog master tape in the home country and digitized in high quality. Not only for this release, but also for the highest-quality flat master, we were able to achieve an excellent presence. The texture and spatial positioning are remarkably clear and precise, and the benefits of DSD conversion have been added to create an unprecedented level of sound quality. During production, the original analog master tapes from the UK were physically maintained and restored by former DECCA engineers at CLASSIC SOUND, followed by direct DSD conversion. The mastering process was carried out with meticulous care and attention to detail specifically for this series. On the SA-CD layer, you can enjoy high-resolution master sound. The CD layer has also been digitally remastered using the latest technology, resulting in sound quality that stands apart from previous editions. This series features the original jacket design and includes a new introductory essay by Daisuke Hirose. The 26th installment of the “Vintage SA-CD Collection” will release a total of three titles.

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