{"product_id":"paray-conducts-german-music-195355-pasc241","title":"PARAY conducts German Music (1953\/55) - PASC241","description":"overviewfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp class=\"bodysmallarial\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eBRAHMS \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eSymphony No. 4\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eWAGNER \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eOrchestral Excerpts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eRecorded 1953 \u0026amp; 1955\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12px;\"\u003eTotal duration: 78:39 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"bodysmallarial\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003eThe Detroit Symphony Orchestra\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003econducted by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\u003ePaul Paray\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_titlefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFanfare Review578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_quotefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fTruly one of the most exceptional performances of Brahms’s Fourth Symphony I’ve heard578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_bodyfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003eParay’s Brahms Fourth is a performance to sit up\nand take notice of. I auditioned it just after reviewing a recording of\nthe symphony led by Carl Schuricht, and the difference was night and\nday. If Schuricht emphasizes the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TIMESi\"\u003enon troppo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003e\nside of Brahms’s Allegro, Paray practically ignores it. His tempo is\nfleet and his textures transparent. There is tremendous tension and\ndrama in Paray’s reading, in part due to the cumulative power he\nachieves through a driving forward momentum, but also in large part due\nto the eruptive volcanic energy he unleashes in the swelling crescendos\nand clashing cross-rhythms. The early climactic passage beginning at\naround the one-minute mark is a good example. There’s a calculated\ncruelty to Paray’s reading that lends the first movement a more menacing\ncharacter than usual, a dire foretelling of the finale to come. \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"B\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003eThe French-born Paray (1886–1979) is often\ncompared to his approximately contemporaneous French compatriot Charles\nMunch (1891–1968), but I’m not aware that Brahms’s Fourth was high on\nMunch’s list of favorites. His only recording of the work I’m familiar\nwith is the 1959 stereo RCA pressing (LSC-2297) with the Boston Symphony\nOrchestra, a recording I have on LP, and his reading of the symphony\nreveals a rather kinder, gentler Brahms than Paray portrays. The brass\nand winds at the outset of the second movement get the funereal tread\njust right, but Paray’s Detroit strings can’t quite match the fullness\nand luminosity of the BSO’s strings when they make their entrance at\n2:46. The vise-like grip Paray exerts over the third movement, however—a\nstudy in controlled hysteria—once again screws up the tension for the\nawful dénouement about to play itself out in the last movement, which is\nannounced here with one of the most shocking entrances I’ve ever heard.\n\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"B\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003eThe brass blasts out the passacaglia progression\nlike a pronouncement from Hell. Paray’s vision of this symphony is more\nthan one with a devastatingly tragic ending; it’s one that is pitiless\nin its implacable headlong rush to unsparing collective judgment. There\nis no underworld god here to yield to the flute’s pleading in the\ncentral episode, as the Furies yield in Gluck’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TIMESi\"\u003eOrfeo ed Euridice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003e\nto the strains of Orfeo’s lyre and allow the lovers to reunite.\nPunishingly, the brass passacaglia cuts the penitents off and casts them\nback into the maelstrom. From here to the end, there’s no looking back;\nit’s a one-way roller-coaster ride to Hades. \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"Br\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"TIMES\"\u003eThis is truly one of the most exceptional\nperformances of Brahms’s Fourth Symphony I’ve heard. Even if there were\nnothing else on the disc, the price would be worth it just for that. But\nthere is more on the disc, a lot more: a bouquet of the most popular\novertures, preludes, and orchestral music from Wagner’s operas, all\nsuperbly well played and magnificently remastered on the Pristine Audio\nCD. I urge you to acquire this release without delay. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp class=\"Br\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan class=\"TIMESb\"\u003eJerry Dubins \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis article originally appeared in Issue 34:3 (Jan\/Feb 2011) of Fanfare Magazine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9main_samplefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fsamples\/PASC241.mp3578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fProducer's Note578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 24px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ePaul Paray conducts Brahms and Wagner in Detroit\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp align=\"center\"\u003e\u003cem class=\"bodymid\"\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eSuperb Mercury Living Presence recordings, newly remastered\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003eBoth of these albums were recorded in the mid-1950s using Mercury's famous single-microphone 'Living Presence' technique, which they were always keen to promote on their LP sleeves:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"body\" style=\"margin-left: 25px;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eFor Paul Paray this recorded performance of the Brahms Fourth Symphony with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the organization he has molded into a great body of musicians, has special significance; for with this disc, and those of the works of Wagner (Mercury MG50044, MG50021) and Beethoven (MG50045, MG50022), Mr. Paray feels he has achieved some proper representation on discs of his work as interpreter of the great classics of the German repertoire. Already critics and public in the U.S.A. and overseas have widely acclaimed Mr. Paray's immensely warm and vital readings of Beethoven and Wagner released earlier. The Mercury recording staff for its part has brought to bear every resource of its Living Presence single microphone recording technique in an effort to achieve a definitive realization of Mr. Paray's interpretive intent and the composer's music. The recording took place in Orchestra Hall, the original home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, on March 26, 1955, a single Tele-funken microphone being maintained in set position throughout with the orchestra seated in normal concert arrangement. Advance preparations were such that re-takes were kept to a minimum, thus insuring the maximum continuity of line throughout the whole of the music in its final recorded form. The entire gigantic finale is heard on this disc as one uninterrupted and unedited performance.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003eFor those particularly interested in the sonic realization of this music through the medium of Living Presence recording, we call particular attention to the final pages of the slow movement beginning with the return of the secondary theme in the massed strings, as well as to the whole of the final movement in which brazen wind sonorities are placed in violent opposition to brilliant violin figuration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003eIt's interesting to note that, as with many other Mercury Living Presence LPs, the Brahms 'benefits' from a mild lift in the treble, peaking at around 3.5kHz. The fact that this is heard in badly exaggerated form on another Mercury Paray disc from the era leads me to conclude that this is a deliberate 'sweetening' of the sound by the recording engineers rather than a natural characteristic of the recording or the microphone used.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003eIt is interesting that the earlier of the two LPs from which this release is derived shows no sign of either this lift nor the slight dip at about 1.25kHz that also seems to characterise something of the 'Living Presence' sound. Indeed the Wagner has a much more realistic tonal profile than any of the other LPs from which both this and our \u003cem\u003ePaul Paray Conducts French Music\u003c\/em\u003e (PASC240) release were drawn.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003eHowever, the 1953 recordings have slightly more tape hiss than the 1955 Brahms which, following XR remastering, turns out to be a remarkably clean and very well-balanced recording. Together with the Wagner they represent an excellent collection of recordings which have been unduly neglected by th e company which recorded them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAndrew Rose\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFull Track Listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5ftrack_listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \u003cb\u003eBRAHMS\u003c\/b\u003e Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98\u003cbr\u003e    Recorded 26th March 1955\u003cbr\u003e    Issued as Mercury LP MG 50057\u003cbr\u003e    NB. This was Paray's only Mercury recording of any of Brahms's symphonies\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    \u003cb\u003eWAGNER \u003c\/b\u003eTannhäuser Overture\u003cbr\u003e    \u003cb\u003eWAGNER \u003c\/b\u003eRide of the Valkyries \u003cbr\u003e    \u003cb\u003eWAGNER \u003c\/b\u003eThe Mastersingers Overture \u003cbr\u003e    \u003cb\u003eWAGNER \u003c\/b\u003eLohengrin - Preludes to Acts 1 \u0026amp; 3\u003cbr\u003e    Recorded 13-20th February 1953\u003cbr\u003e    Issued as Mercury LP MG 50021\u003cbr\u003e    NB. These were Paray's only Mercury recordings of these works\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Detroit Symphony Orchestra\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003econducted by \u003cb\u003ePaul Paray\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTransfers by Edward Johnson from his private collection\u003cbr\u003eXR remastering by Andrew Rose at Pristine Audio, August 2010\u003cbr\u003eCover artwork based on a photograph of Paul Paray\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTotal duration: 78:39 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fCover Art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcover_art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/thumbs\/PASC241.jpg578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers\/PASC241.pdf578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f","brand":"Pristine Classical","offers":[{"title":"Mono 24-bit FLAC","offer_id":55010056012142,"sku":"ied1789305669665","price":13.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ambient Stereo 16-bit FLAC","offer_id":55010056044910,"sku":"hli1789305669666","price":8.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Mono 16-bit FLAC","offer_id":55010056077678,"sku":"bih1789305669667","price":9.57,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"320kbps Mono MP3","offer_id":55010056110446,"sku":"wir1789305669668","price":7.73,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0915\/3986\/5966\/files\/paray-conducts-german-music-195355---pasc241_1.jpg?v=1789305676","url":"https:\/\/www.harborviewgoods.shop\/products\/paray-conducts-german-music-195355-pasc241","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}