Today SonyBMG Masterworks is continuing the popular series of RCA Living Stereo catalog releases in Super Audio CD with the release of five more SACDs in the series. This brings the total number of SACDs in the series to 49.
The RCA Living Stereo Reissue SACD Series releases started in 2004 and feature the use of original two track and three track analog master tapes from some of the label’s most famous Classical Music recordings. The master tapes are transferred to Direct Stream Digital (DSD) by Soundmirror in Boston and then issued as Hybrid Multichannel Super Audio CDs.
The use of the Super Audio CD Multichannel layer allows Living Stereo performances originally recorded in 3 Channel Stereo to be heard that way for the first time in many cases. In the case of the reissues made from 2 Channel master tapes, the Multichannel SACD layer plays these back in the Right and Left Channel only – the Center Channel is not used. (More information on the source material for each album is found on the back of each Living Stereo SACD).
5 Living Stereo SACD Releases This Month
For the sixth set of Living Stereo SACD Reissues, SonyBMG Masterworks has selected performances by guitarist Julian Bream, Violinist Jascha Heifetz, Soprano Leontyne Price, Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Charles Munch conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Here is the list of the five Living Stereo SACD Releases:
3 Channel (SACD Surround Sound)/2 Channel Stereo (SACD Stereo)/2 Channel CD (CD Audio)
2 Channel Stereo (SACD Surround Sound)/2 Channel Stereo (SACD Stereo)/2 Channel CD (CD Audio)
Rave Reviews for Sixth Living Stereo SACD Set From Classical Music Fans
The RCA Living Stereo SACD Reissue series have received very positive reviews from Classical Music fans and this set is no exception.
In a review from the Acoustic Sounds web site on the five Living Stereo SACDs released this week, a fan named Jeff calls the releases a “worthy continuation of a great reissue series” and says that “As SACDs, these are the best incarnation yet of these outstanding performances. I have the original shaded dog LPs of all except the Bream and am a long time LP fanatic. But I have to admit that these equal (Spain, Heifetz discs) or surpass (Schubert, Strauss) the sound of those wonderful first issues. Throughout the series, in general, it seems the ones with lesser sound on the original issues are helped the most by this modern treatment. So don’t hesitate to sample some that had a reputation for fine performance but so-so sonics. You will probably be pleasantly surprised. And at the price, what can you lose?”
Availability and Price
The five RCA Living Stereo SACDs in Set 6 of the Reissues are now available in music stores and on web sites that carry Super Audio CDs. This includes Acoustic Sounds, CD Universe, Elusive Disc, Music Direct, Amazon.Com and TowerRecords.Com. The Living Stereo SACDs carry a list price of $11.98 – but you can find them at some of the web sites that carry them for even less. So they are a good buy indeed.
Popular Classics for Spanish Guitar by Julian Bream (Living Stereo 88697-04606-2) and Spain with Leontyne Price and Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Living Stereo 88697-04607-2)