Robert Witrak, the owner of High Definition Tape Transfers (HDTT)

http://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/

does CD transfers form older analog tapes. The transfers generally better then commercially available CD, and despite of the restricted and in a way pop-classical repertoire the High Definition Tape Transfers is a prospective door to knock. It is slightly objectionable that the celebrated cretin who adopted by “Bound for Sound” Martin DeWulf finds the HDTT “interesting” (in the company site’s Endorsement Section) as whatever that idiot likes should be use not in CD playback but spin in a heavy duty garbage disposal. Still, perhaps if some of you have interesting analog tapes then perhaps you might deal with Robert and as result, the more divert interesting performances might become available. I juts wish HDTT do not “press” the casual “sonic blockbuster suspects” but hit the storages of FM classical stations. You would never believe how much phenomenal and never know publicly performances live on their reels. Meanwhile he is the current HDTT catalog:

STOKOWSKI CONDUCTS HANDEL•WATER MUSICK & ROYAL FIREWORKS MUSICK Big band Handel at it's best. Stokowski conducts with a much lighter touch than his interpretations of Bach, the recording is very wide and has a nice sense of hall sound, vintage RCA Living Stereo Sound.

DVORAK VIOLIN CONCERTO EDITH PEINEMANN, VIOLIN CZECH. PHIL. COND. BY PETER MAAG This recording is extremely natural sounding with the soloist perspective very natural and laid back, also Peinemann enhances the recording with a sweet tone.

WORKS OF LILI BOULANGER CONDUCTED BY IGOR MARKEVITCH COND. ORCH. LAMOUREUX Lili Boulanger died in 1918 at the age of 24 always frail and often very ill, she still managed to compose music of great beauty, strength and originality.This a rare release and the recording is excellent, originally released on the Everest label.

STRAVINSKY-RITE OF SPRING CONDUCTED BY PIERRE MONTEUX - PARIS CONSERVATOIRE ORCH. Monteux conducted the premier of the Rite and it shows with this great performance also a great recording sonically, it is truly a audiophile delight.

STRAVINSKY-L'HISTOIRE du SOLDAT CONDUCTED BY ROBERT MANDELL - ARS NOVA These transfers come from a 2-track Westminster tape, one of Stravinsky's more eclectic works,incredible sonics!!!! A must have to show off your system.

MONTEUX CONDUCTS DEBUSSY & RAVEL - LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DEBUSSY-PRELUDE A L’APRES MIDI D’UN FAUNE - NOCTURNES NUAGES FETES • RAVEL-PAVANE POUR UNE INFANTE DEFUNTE-RHAPSODIE ESPAGNOLE Transferred from a London 4-track tape and conducted by one of the French masters, this very natural recording has wonderful atmosphere that suits the music perfectly. Amazingly, this performance is not available on cd anywhere else, so if you like modern French music conducted by a true master and served up with the great early London Blue Back sound, this is for you.

RICHARD STRAUSS CONDUCTED BY OTTO KLEMPERER - PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA DON JUAN • DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS FROM “SALOME” • TILL EULENSPIEGEL Like his Beethoven & Brahms, Klemperer's reading of these great standards is masterful and authoritative. Overall, the sound is very natural and slightly laid back, but with strong dynamics which serve the music well. Another great performance that seems to have been ignored until now!

ERICK FRIEDMAN PLAYS VIOLIN SHOWPIECES CONDUCTED BY MALCOLM SARGENT -LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CHAUSSON-POEME • SARASTE-ZIGEUNERWEISEN • SAINT SAENS-HAVANAISE • RAVEL-TZIGANE • WIENIAWSKI-LEGENDE A rare recording being made available for what may be the first time on CD. Friedman's amazing virtuosity is served up with "front & center" violin sound and a natural orchestral backdrop.

DEBUSSY CONDUCTED BY MANUEL ROSENTHAL ORCHESTRE DU THEATRE NATIONAL DE L'OPERA DE PARIS - LA MER AND IBERIA Rosenthal is a French born composer and conductor was very well regarded with his interpretations of the French masters, this recording comes from a Westminster early 1960's 4-track tape, you will be surprised with these interpretations from a forgotten French master also the sonics are very good and serve the music extremely well.

DUKAS -THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE• SAINT-SAENS - DANSE MACABRE• MANUEL de FALLA -THE RITUAL FIRE DANCE CONDUCTED BY HERMANN SCHERCHEN -VIENNA STATE OPERA ORCHESTRA Both offerings on this release are incredible sonically and interperatively you will be astonished with the dynamics, both deriive from Westminster 2-track tapes . Scherchen pumps new energy in these war horses he doesn't disappoint again ,a must have release!!

RIMSKY KORSAKOV-SCHEHERAZADE CONDUCTED BY HERMANN SCHERCHEN -VIENNA STATE OPERA ORCHESTRA This transfer comes from a mint 2-track Westminster tape issued in 1957. The sound as well as the performance is outstanding. In my opinion, Scherchen is one of the most underrated conductors ever! While perhaps not quite the equal of Reiner's Sheherazade, this performance is nevertheless very, very good.

BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY #5 CONDUCTED BY FELIX PROHASKA -VIENNA STATE OPERA ORCHESTRA HAYDN “TOY SYMPHONY”CONDUCTED BY ANTONIO JANIGRO - I SOLISTI DI ZAGREB These transfers come from 2-track Vanguard tapes issued in 1956. Both are excellent sounding recordings with presence galore, and you will be pleasantly surprised with the performances as well as the excellent width & depth of the soundstage.

The site located at: http://www.highdeftapetransfers.com/

Rgs,
Romy the Cat

Antonio J. wrote:

Their price is not exactly "budget". The description sounds interesting, but I'd like to know if you have listened to any yourself and can recommend some for being an interesting performance worth a listen.

Price-wise I would not consider them too much off the wall if a performance is worthy. I know many-many CDs for witch I would pay (and I did pay) much more then HDTT charges.

Rgs,
Romy the Cat

DVORAK NEW WORLD SYMPHONY Antal Dorati The New Philharmonia Orchestra transferred from a London Phase Four 4-track tape, Dorati gives a dynamic performance, also the recording has a much more natural sound then majority of the Phase Four releases which were very closely miked.

SAINT-SAENS SYMPHONY No. 3 The Paris Conservatoire Orchestra Maurice Durufle Organ • conducted by Georges Pretre

FRENCH OVERTURES Offenbach-La Belle Helene,-Auber-Fra Diavolo, Offenbach-Orpheus in the Underworld Ernest Ansermet • L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
The Saint-Saens has a huge big sound which is perfect for this symphony, the recording also has great deep bass, great when the organ comes in.

RACHMANINOV SYMPHONY No. 2 Recorded by the long gone Command Classics label, this interpretation of the 2nd is extremely well played by the Pittsburgh Symphony, a long forgotten classic that is being issued for the first time on CD  William Steinberg Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

GARY GRAFFMAN PLAYS BEETHOVEN & CHOPIN
Graffman puts in stellar performances with these two concerto's.
Both recordings are very rare, both (I believe) have never been released by RCA on CD, the Beethoven is Conducted by Walter Hendl who was a replacement for Fritz Reiner, you can hear the influence that Reiner had on the Chicago Sym. Orch. the players put in a very strong performance, the Chopin is also a well played and and a great job (as usual) by Munch and the Boston Sym, Orch.

BERLIOZ SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE CONDUCTED BY ANDRE VANDERNOOT
Another surprise by the long gone Command label Vandernoot puts in a stellar performance with plenty of energy and excitement, you are front row center, you will not miss every detail of Berlioz's great complex score, I guarantee you will be surprised with this recording a real "sleeper".

RAVEL: DAPHNIS ET CHLOE Charles Munch Boston Sym. Orch. (1961 Recording)
The other" Daphnis recording by Munch and the BSO, this the 1961 recording, this recording holds it's own sonically and interpretatively against the famous 1955 recording, a mystery why RCA never released this version, now you can compare and you be the judge it might just surprise you.
Also included is the Pavane pour une infante defunte recorded by Munch for Angel with the Orchestre de Paris.

All all HDTT releases are available in Redbook CD and 24/96 DVD

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Please visit HDTT website at www.highdeftapetransfers.com

The Cat

• MOZART SYMPHONIES JUPITER · HAFFNER Eugen Jochum The Concertgebouw Orchestra
• PURCELL DIDO AND AENEAS Oriana Concert Choir Alfred Deller Conductor
• RIMSKY-KORSAKOFF SCHEHERAZADE VSOO  Scherchen LE COQ D'OR SUITE Leinsdorf BSO    
• Beethoven Christ On The Mount Of Olives Herman Scherchen Conducting  The Vienna State Opera Orch.                     
• Great Arias From Russian Operas Sung By Soprano Netania Davrath                        
• Schubert Sym.#2 Munch BSO #8 Rodzinski Phil. Sym.Orch. Of London
  

Mahler Symphony No.2
Hermann Scherchen Conducting
Vienna State Opera Orchestra
Vienna State Academy Chamber Choir

Mahler Symphony No. 5
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Erich Leinsdorf Conducting

More at  www.highdeftapetransfers.net