MERCURY LIVING PRESENCE: THE COLLECTOR’S EDITION, VOLUME 3 (53 CDS) Decca

This landmark release marks the point at which the entire Mercury Living Presence catalogue, as remastered by original recording producers in the 1990s, is available in physical form. That alone is a major triumph for all concerned, since the remasters are regarded as definitive. However, Decca are also proud to present, in this concluding cube, no fewer than 10 albums that have never before been on CD, mixed down, restored and remastered from fragile tapes, to allow the fullest possible ever appreciation of a landmark label in the history of classical recorded music. Furthermore, the booklet is a model of its kind, setting out in the fullest possible detail everything about the recording, from the engineers and producers to the microphones, tapes, dates and locations.

EACH & EVERY MLP REMASTER NOW AVAILABLE
The project is complete. Together with MLP #1 & MLP # 2, this landmark issue means almost every single album ever made and released under the Mercury Living Presence label is now available.

NEVER BEFORE ON CD….
Working with Wilma Cozart Fine s son, Thomas Fine, and Andrew Walter at London s Abbey Road Studios, we are proud to present 10 new albums, never before on CD, mixed down from the original tapes, restored and remastered.
The ten albums are:
CD15: Frederick Fennell conducts Victor Herbert [NEW TO CD]
CD38: Ginastera: Variaciones Concertantes; Britten: The Young Person’s Guide To The Orchestra [Mono recording]
CD39: Copland: Symphony No.3 [Mono recording]
CD40: Respighi: Church Windows; Roman Festivals [Mono recording]
CD43: Beethoven: Symphony No.3 in E Flat – “Eroica”
CD48: World Of Flamenco
CD49: Baroque Concertos For Recorders & Strings
CD50: Hindemith: Symphony in B Flat; Schoenberg: Theme & Variations; Stravinsky: Symphonies for Wind
CD52: Tchaikovsky: Overture 1912; Capriccio Italien [Mono recording]
CD53: Shostakovich: String Quartets Nos. 4 & 8

EXCEPTIONAL DOCUMENTATION
Illustrated with contemporaneous photographs, the booklet offers an exceptional level of detail. This includes a paragraph on each and every recording, setting out the location, the dates, the tapes, the microphones, the engineer, the producer in fact everything the collector loves to read. Clarification is also given regarding the original catalogue numbers this of course is important in cases where two albums have been reduced down to a single CD. The history of the label in its later years is also told with refreshing insight and honesty.

TECHNICAL NOTE
The technologies of analogue tape playback and digital remastering have advanced since Wilma Cozart Fine produced the 122 Mercury Living Presence CDs in the 1990s. Tapes that were not viable at the time can now be transferred and mastered with exciting results. Tape transfers are now done at a higher resolution than the CD sampling rate of the 1990s. Abbey Road Studios mastering engineer Andrew Walter has transferred tapes at 96kHz / 24-bit, and worked in that format throughout the mastering process.

Walter also had at his disposal the full array of digital tools to repair issues like rumble and hum and to smooth out sonic differences between tapes. In the case of the mono material, this greatly improves the audibility of the full orchestra and bring the sonic character more in line with the later stereo recordings on the label.

Sevillanas
Malaguena
Saetas y Seguiriyas
Alegrias por Rosa
Rumba
Bulerias
Zapateado
Alegrias
Bulerias al golpo
Soleares de Cadiz
Tanguillos
Farrucas
Petenera
Caracoles (Alegrias de Madrid)
Milonga
Sevillanas
Commentary to the 1812 Overture
Adam:
Giselle
Si j’étais roi – Overture
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Arensky:
Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky, Op. 35a
Barraud:
Offrande à une Ombre
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Beethoven:
The Ruins of Athens: Turkish March
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-5 (complete)
Mstislav Rostropovich (piano), Sviatoslav Richter (piano)

Benjamin, A:
Cotillon
Berlioz:
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24: Rákóczi March
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Marche troyenne (from Les Troyens)
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Le Corsaire Overture, Op. 21
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Le carnaval romain Overture, Op. 9
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Bloch, E:
Concerto Grosso No. 1, for string orchestra & piano
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson
Concerto Grosso No. 2, for string orchestra & string quartet
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson

Schelomo
Georges Miquelle (cello)
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson

Boieldieu:
La Dame blanche : Overture
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Bolzoni:
Menuetto
Borodin:
Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances
Prince Igor: Polovtsian March
Brahms:
Symphonies Nos. 1-4 (Complete)
London Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Britten:
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Chausson:
Symphony in B flat major, Op. 20
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Copland:
Symphony No. 3
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Dohnányi:
Wedding Waltz, Op. 18 No. 4 (from The Veil Of Pierrette)
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Dvorak:
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 ‘From the New World’
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Franck, C:
Symphony in D minor
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

German:
Henry VIII – Incidental music
Gershwin:
I Got Rhythm (from Girl Crazy & An American in Paris)
Frederick Fennell
Of Thee I Sing: Love is Sweeping the Country
Frederick Fennell
Love Walked In
Frederick Fennell
‘s Wonderful
Frederick Fennell
Bidin’ my time (Girl Crazy)
Frederick Fennell
Oh, Lady Be Good!
Frederick Fennell
Fascinatin’ Rhythm
Frederick Fennell
Liza
Frederick Fennell
Embraceable You
Frederick Fennell
The Man I Love
Frederick Fennell
Someone to Watch over Me
Frederick Fennell
But Not for Me
Frederick Fennell
Piano Concerto in F major
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson
Rhapsody in Blue
Eugene List (piano)
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson

Ginastera:
Variaciones concertantes Op. 23
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Glière:
Russian Sailors’ Dance from The Red Poppy
Glinka:
Spanish Overture No. 1 ‘Capriccio brillante on the Jota Aragonese’
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Gounod:
Faust – Ballet Music
Funeral March of a Marionette
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Grieg:
Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56 No. 3
Handel:
Water Music Suite
arr. Harty
London Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Music for the Royal Fireworks Suite
arr. Harty
London Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Organ Concerto No. 5 in F major, HWV293, Op. 4 No. 5
arr. For recorder
Concerto Grosso Op. 3 No. 3 in G major, HWV314

Hanson, H:
The 4 Orchestral Colors
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson
Merry Mount, Op. 31: Suite
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson
Mosaics
Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson
For the First Time
Eastman Philharmonia, Howard Hanson

Haydn:
Symphony No. 96 in D major ‘Miracle’
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Herbert, V:
The Streets of New York
Frederick Fennell
Habanera
Frederick Fennell
I’m Falling In Love With Someone (from Naughty Marietta)
Frederick Fennell
The March of the Toys from Babes in Toyland
Frederick Fennell
Sweethearts
Frederick Fennell
Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life (Johnson Young)
Frederick Fennell
Italian Street Song (from Naughty Marietta)
Frederick Fennell
The Irish have a great day tonight (from Eileen)
Frederick Fennell
A Kiss in the Dark
Frederick Fennell
Romany Life from The Fortune Teller
Frederick Fennell
Eileen: Thine Alone
Frederick Fennell
Kiss me again (from Mademoiselle Modiste)
Frederick Fennell

Hindemith:
Symphony in B flat major for Concert Band

Kalman:
Die Csárdásfürstin: Waltz
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Lalo:
Le Roi d’Ys: Overture
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Namouda – Suite No. 1
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Lanner:
Die Schönbrunner Waltzer, Op. 200
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Lehár:
Die Lustige Witwe: Waltz
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Liszt:
Les Préludes, symphonic poem No. 3, S97
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, S124
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin
Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S125
Sviatoslav Richter (piano)
London Symphony Orchestra, Kirill Kondrashin

Massenet:
Le Cid – Ballet music: excerpts

Mendelssohn:
Hebrides Overture, Op. 26
Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 ‘Scottish’
Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ‘Italian’
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – incidental music, Op. 61
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Symphony No. 5 in D major, Op. 107 ‘Reformation’
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Meyerbeer:
Le prophète: Coronation March
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Le prophète: Coronation March
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Mozart:
Serenade No. 13 in G major, K525 ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’
Marches (2) in D major, K335
Symphony No. 51 in D major, K121/196: Allegro
March in D, K249
Minuet in C major, K409 (K383f)
German Dance, K605 No. 3 ‘Die Schlittenfahrt’

Mussorgsky:
Songs and Dances of Death
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Mstislav Rostropovich (piano)

Nicolai, C O:
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor overture
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras

Offenbach:
Gaîté Parisienne
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Orphée aux Enfers Overture
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Can-Can (from Orpheus in the Underworld)
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
La Belle Helene Overture
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Orphée aux Enfers Overture
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Suite
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Porter, C:
Blow, Gabriel, blow
Frederick Fennell
So in Love
Frederick Fennell
It’s Alright With Me
Frederick Fennell
Ridin’ High
Frederick Fennell
In the Still of the Night
Frederick Fennell
Begin the beguine
Frederick Fennell
Night and Day
Frederick Fennell
My heart belongs to Daddy
Frederick Fennell
Anything Goes
Frederick Fennell
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Frederick Fennell
It’s Delovely
Frederick Fennell
You’d Be So Nice to Come Home to
Frederick Fennell

Prokofiev:
Five Poems of Anna Akhmatova, Op. 27
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Mstislav Rostropovich (piano)

Rachmaninov:
Prelude Op. 23 No. 5 in G minor
Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Respighi:
La Boutique Fantasque, PP120: suite
Roman Festivals
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Vetrate di chiesa
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Rimsky Korsakov:
Scheherazade, Op. 35
Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34
Le Coq d’Or Suite
Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36
Snegurochka: Dance of the Tumblers
Mlada: Procession of the Nobles

Rodgers, R:
The Carousel Waltz

Romero, C:
Taconeo Punteado
Improvisation On Guajiras

Rossini:
La gazza ladra Overture
La scala di seta Overture
La Cenerentola Overture
Il barbiere di Siviglia Overture
L’Italiana in Algeri Overture
Il Signor Bruschino Overture
Guglielmo Tell: Passo a sei
Guillaume Tell Overture
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Rouget de Lisle:
La Marseillaise
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Saint-Saëns:
Suite algérienne, Op. 60
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Schoenberg:
Theme and Variations, Op. 43a

Schubert:
Marche Militaire, D733 No. 1
Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D485
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 ‘Unfinished’
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Incidental music to Rosamunde, D797: excerpts
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Symphony No. 9 in C major, D944 ‘The Great’
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Symphony No. 6 in C major, D589
London Symphony Orchestra, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

Schumann:
Symphonies Nos. 1-4 (complete)
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Manfred Overture, Op. 115
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Shostakovich:
String Quartet No. 4 in D major, Op. 83
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110

Sibelius:
Valse Triste, Op. 44 No. 1
Karelia Suite, Op. 11: Alla marcia
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Smetana:
Má Vlast: Vltava
Antal Doráti
The Bartered Bride: Skocná – Dance of the Comedians
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras

Soler, A:
Sonatas (selection)
Concerto No. 3 in G major for two keyboards
Strauss, E:
Doktrinen, Op. 79
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Strauss, J, I:
Radetsky March, Op. 228
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras

Strauss, J, II:
Frühlingsstimmen Walzer Op. 410
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Graduation Ball
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Strauss, Josef:
Dorfschwalben aus Österreich – waltz, Op. 164
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Aquarellen – Waltzer, Op. 258
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti

Strauss, R:
Don Juan, Op. 20
Tod und Verklärung, Op. 24
Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
Der Rosenkavalier – Suite

Stravinsky:
Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Sullivan, A:
Pineapple Poll Suite
Suppe:
Die Banditenstreiche Overture
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras

Tchaikovsky:
Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13 ‘Winter Daydreams’
Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17 ‘Little Russian’
Symphony No. 3 in D major, Op. 29 ‘Polish’
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
Marche slave, Op. 31
Polonaise (from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24)
Waltz from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24
Cossack Dance (Hopak/Gopak) from Mazeppa
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras

Suites Nos. 1-4
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Antal Doráti
None but the lonely heart, Op. 6 No. 6
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Mstislav Rostropovich (piano)
Ni slova, o drug moy (Not a word, O my friend), Op. 6 No. 2
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Mstislav Rostropovich (piano)
Do not believe, my friend Op. 6 No. 1
Galina Vishnevskaya (soprano), Mstislav Rostropovich (piano)
1812 Overture, Op. 49
Capriccio italien, Op. 45

Telemann:
Concerto TWV 51:C1 in C major for recorder, strings & b.c.
Thomas, Ambroise:
Mignon Overture
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras

Verdi:
La Forza del Destino: Sinfonia
Nabucco Overture
I vespri siciliani Overture
La traviata: Prelude to Act 1
La traviata: Prelude to Act 3
Vivaldi:
Piccolo Concerto in A minor, RV 445
Wagner:
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Overture
Parsifal: Good Friday Music
Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 1
Tannhäuser: Overture and Venusberg Music
Tristan und Isolde: Prelude & Liebestod
Bridal Chorus ‘Treulich geführt’ (from Lohengrin)
arr. for wind ensemble
Gesegnet soll sie schreiten (from Lohengrin)
arr. for wind ensemble
Das Rheingold: Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla
arr. for wind ensemble
Tannhäuser: Grand March
Rienzi Overture
Parsifal: Good Friday Music
Der fliegende Holländer: Overture
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Suite from Act 3
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Leb wohl…Loge, hör! ‘Wotan’s Farewell & Magic Fire Music’ (from Die Walküre)
concert version
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Rienzi Overture
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Götterdämmerung: Dawn and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Siegfried Idyll
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Tristan und Isolde: Prelude to Act 3
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Paul Paray
Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 3
Waldteufel:
Les Patineurs – Valse, Op. 183
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Walton:
Orb and Sceptre
Weber:
Abu Hassan Overture
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65
London Symphony Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Weinberger, J:
Schwanda the Bagpiper: Polka & Fugue