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As I pointed when submitting this SACD is DSD mastered from STEREO live analogue broadcast mastertapes. So happily not mono, but dates of recordings are unknown. Haven't heard it yet, received it yesterday, report later.
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Post by Claude July 28, 2012 (2 of 4)
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It was reviewed in the latest Diapason (french classical music magazine). The recordings are from 1961 and 62.
Diapason gave 5 out of 6 stars for the performance and 4 out 5 stars for the sound, but their sound quality ratings are not easy to follow, so this is no guarantee it sounds as good as we usually expect from SACD reissues. They might give a historical recording 4 stars based on the quality of the mastering, although it sounds worse than a new recording which received only 3 stars for sound quality.
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So, Praga engineers achieved here even better results as on Yevgeny Mravinsky in Moscow. Shostakovich's socialist song cycles never sounded better. This recording loses the best modern recordings only in depth of the sound-stage. Recommended without any reservations. Japanese ask for this kind of restorations no less than $50, so hurry before it runs out of production. This is limited edition.
BTW dates of recordings provides in Diapason magazine are taken from booklet and are presumable.
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Post by hiredfox September 5, 2012 (4 of 4)
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I need to tell y'all about this astonishing disc.. the transcription is simply astonishing bearing in mind the source material is 50 year old "broadcast master tapes" of uncertain origin and that they were recorded in the former Soviet Union. Here is one of the most detailed and informative soundscapes one is ever likely to encounter, this is not a case of filling the room with sound more like 100 guys and girls dropped by to give a personal audition.
Whether the quality of the original tapes was world leading - which seems improbable - or this transcription by Praga was inspired. Whatever, this analogue to DSD transfer is among the most successful ever achieved based on listening in HQ Stereo.
It is such an unlikely candidate for "best yet" that it is my fervent hope that one or two souls will feel moved to discover it for themselves. Blame me if you are not as thrilled as we are.
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