If You Own A SACD Player, Buy This Hybrid SACD. If You Have
dv_forever | Michigan, USA | 11/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hey there, fans of Strauss and Reiner, this is a phenomenal recording no doubt, but I have to warn people that this Hybrid SACD doesn't sound as good in a standard CD player as the earlier version of this recording.
Of course if you have a SACD player, you should buy this thing, but if you are like most people who have standard stereos, the original release will sound superior in your normal CD player than the Hybrid SACD. Trust me on this one, I am a perfectionist and an audiophile."
Hair raising Strauss!!
A. Vetter | NY | 08/05/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great issue in this SACD series. Borkh has just the right sound for Elektra and Salome. Reiner backs her up perfectly. The CSO is in top form. Listen to the brass and you can be in heaven or hell.(Depends on your taste for his operas.)
Absolutely outstanding. The DSD remastering is phenominal!!"
Barnstorming in the Concert Hall!
Doug - Haydn Fan | California | 12/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These performances are amazing! The soundstage simply disappears out both sidedoors of the auditorium. If you don't like singing the Dance of the Seven Veils is so good it justifies the cost. One of the great performances of all time!"
Beyond belief...jaw-dropping
W. B. Spencer | Maryland, USA | 03/07/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Some folks may say, "I don't want just excerpts of these operas." They will be missing some absolutely hair-raising music-making. The first time I heard these performances, on a Gold Seal LP reissue, I sat there with my mouth hanging open the whole time. This is just riveting stuff, intense, passionate, superbly controlled, and spectacularly recorded. Elektra was probably never done this well before and may never be done this well again. Not to be missed."
Sound problem
Canzone | California | 08/04/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I agree with an earlier reviewer about the SACD sound being a problem on convetional CD players. I've had problems with other RCA/BMG SACD releases as well. If you have a conventional CD player, you may want to play it safe and get the regular version (assuming it's still around). But do try and find it, as these are among the best Strauss vocal recordings ever made. For many of us, Reiner and Borkh "owned" this music, and my only regret is that they didn't get a chance to record the complete operas commercially. A true classic."