Otto Klemperer and The Philharmonia Orchestra - Klemperer Conducts Wagner Vol.3 (1963) 24-bit/96kHz

It remains a matter of infinite regret that EMI did not record more complete Wagner operas, or even more whole Acts; they did however record a series of orchestral excerpts. All are given superbly lucid performances in recordings which allow both the depth of the orchestra’s tone and the complexity of the orchestration to be fully displayed. They are over half a century old but I would doubt whether anyone interested in these discs primarily for the music-making on them would have any concerns about the quality of the recording. In particular, improvements in the last fifty years have not always matched the care for balance we find here.

The brief but interesting notes on the performances by John Lucas rightly draw attention to Klemperer’s long experience of conducting Wagner, right from his first Lohengrins when he was only 24 and including all the mature operas before he was 30. This certainly shows in his immense care and understanding over pacing, phrasing and balance. Despite his reputation these performances in general are not unusually slow but the speeds chosen always allow sufficient time to articulate the music and to balance its various musical strands properly. Klemperer was not one of those conductors who tried to obtain always a thoroughly blended sound in the wood wind and brass; on the contrary he encouraged the individuality of the instruments to appear.These are recordings that should be on the shelves of any admirer of the composer. John Sheppard, Musicweb-international.com

Track listing:

01. "Das Rheingold": Entry of the Gods into Valhalla
02. "Die Walküre": Ride of the Valkyries (Act 3)
03. "Siegfried": Forest Murmurs (Act 2)
04. "Die Götterdämmerung": Siegfried's Rhine Journey
05. "Tannhäuser": Prelude, Act 3
06. "Parsifal": Prelude, Act 1

Technicals:

Knosti RCM.
Michell GyroDec full version.
Funk Firm FXR II Tonearm.
Audio Technica AT33PTG/II MC Cartridge.
Harman Kardon HK990 Integrated Amplifier.
Gold Interconnects. E-MU 0204 Audio Interface.
Recording, split and manual de-click with Adobe Audition 3.0.1
Click Repair 3.9.1
Vinyl transfer by son-of-albion, September 2013