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A big-boned, indulgent, rough and ready Mahler 8th that miraculously lifts off the ground in Part I and sails into the sunset by the end of Part II. Compared to the Solti, Morris really stops to smell the roses, the most beautiful of which being the Harp/String/Harmonium interlude in Part II. One issue that might be fatal for some: The 1st Soprano goes horribly flat on her floated high Bb in the final Mystical Chorus. Still, I just really love this performance and think the tempi/tempi relations just perfect. The tape used for DSD transfer sounds excellent, though recording swims a bit. Much better than the rare IMP CD release.
A very good, very early stereo RCA recording, but not one of their ultimate best from the Golden Age: wide soundstage, not very deep, very immediate winds, (a good thing considering the playing) and OK bass, not very much air. The performance itself is a firecracker, listen to the string work in the development of the 1st mov't and finale!. Some might prefer a more measured slow mov't, though I don't mind Monteux's breezy pace. Bottom line, the Bostoner's play the hell out of the piece, the charming wind playing is irresistible, and the higher res transfer is very flattering to all.
After sampling as many of the current performances of the final mov't that I could, (thank you eclassical and youtube), I fell back to my favorite: Karajan's Berlin. IMHO the balance between weight and clarity in the final movt's final pages, (after the trumpet reprise of the Swan Theme) is nigh-on perfect; it's the kind of epic conclusion the symphony needs or otherwise it all feels anti-climactic to my ears. Again, apparently flawless tape and DSD transfer far better than CD.
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I was a bit disappointed in it too - there was a roughness in the string sound that most of those "Originals" re-masterings have managed to avoid. I could have sworn I saw at least a couple of those Karajan DG performances available as hi-rez downloads, and I wonder if those would have been similarly afflicted.
OK, plus shipping.
Maybe.
The Sibelius and Tchaikovsky are safe bets as far as transfers go. I'm assuming you're already familiar with the performances?The Morris is a tough call: stretches of it are transcendent IMHO, (for me at least) but it's not note perfect, even though the pick-up orchestra contained many of London's top players.
It was also recorded in Royal Albert Hall and hardly audiophile quality.
BTW, did you ever receive the Ansermet Petrushka?
Edits: 11/13/16
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