BERLIOZ Symphonie Fantastique Classic Rec's/Everest 3037 35mm Audiophile SEALED

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BERLIOZ Symphonie Fantastique Op.14
Eurgene Goosens Conducts The London Symphony Orchestra
New & Sealed Audiophile Vinyl Record

Record Label: Classic Records/Everest SDBR 3037 (35mm Film)

"The Classic Records reissue is excellent, with even better sonics..." (Audiophile Audition)

I can’t think of a better entré into orchestral classical music than this nicely packaged, superb sounding Everest reissue from Classic Records. Musically and sonically it’s a treasure you’ll come back to repeatedly. No CD, including Classic’s of this same recording, will get you close to what this LP delivers.

Out of print Classic records reissue of an incredible audiophile rarity. QUIEX SV-P 200 Gram record was cut directly from the original 35mm magnetic film using an all-tube cutting system for maximum quality. 35mm sound has a textural richness that is more realistic than any other tape format.

Highly collectable release from audiophile label, Classic Records. This title was mastered by Classic Records at Half Speed from the original source master tapes. An all-analog, tube amplification process was used at every step. Classic Records used a proprietary vinyl that guaranteed virtually no surface noise and sonically superior dynamics.

Classic Records pride themselves for releasing each album with the original artwork, LP labels and any other materials which were included with original pressings.

Record is new and still sealed in it's original plastic sleeve. Perforation is completely intact. Corners are sharp, colors vibrant and spine is straight. There are no flaws or blemishes. 100% mint.

Review: There are lots of recordings of The Symphonie Fantastique available, of course. Of the SACD options, Charles Munch with the Boston Symphony is considered a standard, recorded in 1954 – four years before stereo LPs came on the scene – but it is unfortunately only two-channels rather than three. (It also includes the Romeo and Juliette dramatic symphony, which is three channels.) While the first three movements are rather tame, the last two colorful ones seem to spring to life. The bells in the Watches’ Sabbath closing movement are more prominent than on any Symphonie Fantastique I’ve ever heard – a real audiophile moment!

This is one of the Classic Records’ remastering of the original 3-channel Everest masters on 35mm mag film. It was done in 2006. Although the 35mm mag film format was far superior to even half-inch recording tape, with five times the oxide thickness, allowing a higher recording level with less hiss and noise, the original films have now begun to deteriorate and some of the premium-priced Classic Records reissues have replicated the wow and dropouts resulting. Not this one – released originally as an Everest LP in 1959 – which is excellent fidelity in the 3-channel 96K/24-bit option.  There is also a 2-channel 192K/24-bit option for those who lack a center channel or their center channel speaker is a poor match for the left and right frontal speakers. Frankly, the difference between 192K and 96 K is minimal (to my ears) – the 24-bit makes more of a difference sonically.

The Everest recordings are legendary, but at the time, were not given the treatment they deserved, suffering from mediocre pressings and cutting that really did not do the recordings justice. The original recording films were rediscovered, abandoned and forgotten, several years ago (by fluke) in a California warehouse, after being assumed lost for several decades. Remarkably, they are for the most in excellent condition, and now Classic are reissuing them on vinyl, courtesy of Bernie Grundman's superb analog/tube setup and special equipment brought in and refurbished to master from 35mm film stock.