Tchaikovsky: Symphony no. 4; Francesca da Rimini - London Symphony Orchestra; Antal Dorati

A truly rare excellent recording and performance, October 29, 2003
With each additional Living Presence CD I purchase I am more amazed at the sheer technical genius possessed by the Mercury recording engineers. The Tchaikovsy 4th and Prince Igor recordings are among the best recorded works that I have ever heard; the artistic merit is equally high. Fracesca de Rimini is vital from a performance point of view, though the recording quality is less.
To make an editorial statement: I think that this old Mercury recording shows how timeless technique, such as microphone placement, on a 40-year-old recording surpasses today's technical capabilities placed in less-capable hands. These old Mercury recordings bring out the music in a truly "living" way. Many of today's "wide dyanmic range" (ie. you often can't hear 50% of the music) recordings and their creators would be well-advised to learn from these old LP-era masterworks.
In any event Dorati and his orchestras have given the user a truly desert-island, compelling recording that you will reach for over and over again.
By A Customer form Amazon.com