Thread: Karajan hi res downloads avalanche from Warner.

Posts: 6

Post by Chris July 18, 2014 (1 of 6)
It seems that Warner's taking over the EMI's classical vaults,is possibly turning out to become a blessing in disquise.
At least for those interested in Karjan's recorded legacy at EMI.
Instead of only being offered as ridiculously overpriced SACDs from Esoteric and others some are now gradually being offered as hi res downloads.
I just checked Highresaudio this morning and found no less than 20 new titles, (a lot more if one counts Beethoven symphonies individually,)for sale either as 24/44.1 for the oldest early 50s,presumably mono titles, and 24/96 for the rest.
With an indication of more Karajan/EMI recordings all the way up to 1984 to become available this year if I read the info correctly.

Suffice to say that there was indeed some tempting stuff already there.

Anybody here who is familiar with his early to mid fifties Philharmonia Beethoven set?

With both my 70s Otello and Salome on now a bit worn down LPs,I will definitely go for those two if and when they become available.And maybe a couple of the early Philharmonia recordings too.
I played Salome last week on LP,and it is imho even better than the classic Solti Birgit Nilsson DECCA set.
And although the recent Muti/CSO Live Otello has its good points Muti's singers are no match at all to Karajan's Glossop and Freni and Vickers imo.
I am just keeping my fingers crossed that the 24/96 transfers will be at least on par with the original LPs,minus surface noise and clicks.

Post by nucaleena July 18, 2014 (2 of 6)
Chris said:

I just checked Highresaudio this morning and found no less than 20 new titles, (a lot more if one counts Beethoven symphonies individually,)for sale either as 24/44.1 for the oldest early 50s,presumably mono titles, and 24/96 for the rest.

Chris, any idea whether the original tapes were used for these or if they just took them from the cd remasters ?

Post by Claude July 18, 2014 (3 of 6)
I haven't compared the entire list of downloads and japanese SACDs with Karajan EMI recordings, but there are some duplications at least.

So I presume that these files and the SACDs come from the transfers that were made recently at the Abbey Road Studios, as with previous EMI downloads and SACDs.

/search/karajan

Post by Chris July 18, 2014 (4 of 6)
nucaleena said:

Chris, any idea whether the original tapes were used for these or if they just took them from the cd remasters ?

Highresaudio calls them "official remasters" whatever that means?

But I think one can safely assume that they have been made at Abbey Road judging from information related to this posted elsewhere. And the fact that some of Karajan's DECCA opera recordings from the 70s are also beginning to appear as 24/96 hi res downloads remastered at Abbey Road.
I have not heard any of the earlier Abbey Road remasters that appeared as budget priced SACD sets. But it sure seems that some really like them,while others loathe them.

I will test-download something and compare it with my orginal LP version,hoping that it will be closer to the master in the same way some Pentatone SACD releases of orginal Philips quadro recordings seem to be,even in plain stereo.
But those are of course basically straight transfers from analogue mastertape to DSD.

Post by nickc July 18, 2014 (5 of 6)
Chris said:

Highresaudio calls them "official remasters" whatever that means?

But I think one can safely assume that they have been made at Abbey Road judging from information related to this posted elsewhere. And the fact that some of Karajan's DECCA opera recordings from the 70s are also beginning to appear as 24/96 hi res downloads remastered at Abbey Road.
I have not heard any of the earlier Abbey Road remasters that appeared as budget priced SACD sets. But it sure seems that some really like them,while others loathe them.

I will test-download something and compare it with my orginal LP version,hoping that it will be closer to the master in the same way some Pentatone SACD releases of orginal Philips quadro recordings seem to be,even in plain stereo.
But those are of course basically straight transfers from analogue mastertape to DSD.

I've got his early 70s Madama Butterfly on pre-order, it is the video performance with Domingo and Freni directed by Ponnelle.
My old VHS had a pretty washed out picture, this is Blu-ray and I'm more interested in the sound, I hope/assume it is one of the 24/96 remasters Universal have been slowly releasing as you have noted.
Nick
PS Although EMI not DG I would love it if they also released the Karajan Otello video on Blu-ray with Jon Vickers, perhaps my favourite opera movie...

Post by Chris July 19, 2014 (6 of 6)
nickc said:

I've got his early 70s Madama Butterfly on pre-order, it is the video performance with Domingo and Freni directed by Ponnelle.
My old VHS had a pretty washed out picture, this is Blu-ray and I'm more interested in the sound, I hope/assume it is one of the 24/96 remasters Universal have been slowly releasing as you have noted.
Nick
PS Although EMI not DG I would love it if they also released the Karajan Otello video on Blu-ray with Jon Vickers, perhaps my favourite opera movie...

Both may seem a bit dated by some today,when most often an opera is staged in as much contrast to, and as far away from the original intentions of composer and librettist as possible.
But yes I agree,both are great imo too.Butterfly has got all the exotism one can ask for and Otello is almost like a Hollywood blockbuster movie set in exactly the time and space Verdi wanted.
And as in Carmen Karajan plays Hitchkock here and there and appears in some of the more crowded scenes there too.
But Vickers with dark "shoe-paste" smeared unaturally on his face,is at least to me a bit over the top in real close up shots.And there are many of those!
And sq-wise my DVDs are not even close to the original LPs.
I have higher hopes for the hi res downloads in that respect.
One thing is sure though imo,possibly the best Otello ever recorded.
And Butterfly is not far behind although the competition there is a bit stronger imo.
As far as Otello is concerned in my book the only real competition there is Karajan against Karajan.
He had both the best Verdi voices of the early 60s in his cast for the Decca set.
And then the same again a decade later and in SQ that is still fantastic .
Hard to beat.

Closed