Expert Advice  |  Hokkaido  |  不明  |  25/July/2010

This is one of the great performances of this popular piece. As a performance it is better than the Sokowski performance released on RCA or Testament. However, close comparison reveals that Sir Thomas Beecham, available on EMI, is an even finer performance. Along with Gergiev’s recent performance this Stokowski recording is one of the top 3 recorded so far. However, shame on Japan Decca for not upgrading the sound to 24 bit 96 or 192kHs before stamping it on the new better sounding CD material.At the price they are asking it is very much overpriced! The same performance can be had in 24 bit 96kHz on a regular CD, Cala CACD0536. It is cheaper, includes Tchaikovsky’s Marche Slave and Stokowski in Rehearsal [in English]- 79+ minutes and has very good sound- Cala always does a fine job at remastering. Listen to some of Stokowski NY Philharmonic performances from the 30’s and you won’t believe what they are able to do. Stokokski was himself always interested in the sound quality of his recordings and any reissue of them should be done with care. Japan Decca get your act together with these reissues. Remaster them before putting them on the new high density material and I will start replacing all my copies of the great performances such as this one.