Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter - Bruckner: Symphony Nr.9 (2013)

Bruno Walter made three studio recordings of music by Bruckner: the 4th, 7th and 9th Symphonies. Each was recorded during the very last years of his life, with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra (generally believed to consist largely of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) in stereo. As with the two Mahler recordings of the same provenance, released earlier this year as Pristine PASC376, these recordings were well made but - to modern ears at least - have something of a sonic veil over them. This may indeed not be apparent - until one compares the Sony/Columbia releases with these new 32-bit XR-remastered transfers. Suddenly one discovers an immediacy, a fullness of tone, the rasp of the brass, the rumble of the deep bass, the sheer vitality of Walter's orchestra and performance conveyed as never before. The recordings were of course taped, and I've managed to correct some minor pitch drifts throughout the recording, as well as reduce some of the hiss inherent in any analogue recording. But what will impact most on the listener here will be the massive, three-dimensional impact of the performance, the precise detail in Walter's direction, and an unprecedented clarity of sound.