Search - Mozart, Brahms, Walter :: Brahms:Symphony No.1;Mozart Piano Concerto No.20

Superb transfers, faithful to the 78s

Adam M. Dubin | Chicago, IL USA | 01/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Opus Kura is a recently introduced independent Japanese CD label devoted to faithful transfers of 78-rpm-era historical recordings. I had just finished the new biography of Bruno Walter (by Ryding and Pechefsky), and my mouth watered to hear these two performances with the pre-Anschluss Vienna Philharmonic, the Mozart in particular, which was a specialty of Walter's to direct from the keyboard. These transfers are ideal, like I would do them myself (if I had the capability to do good side-joins, which is the case here). There is enough shellac "hiss" to know that the original sound is not being overfiltered, yet it is not obtrusive to those used to playing 78s, and will likely be easily disregarded by those who are not. The richness of sound obtained from the original discs cannot be disregarded. Exemplary. And the performances are incomparable."