Schumann - Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 & Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"
Van Cliburn, piano - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Fritz Reiner, conductor
SACD rip via PS3 to iso | 3 channel and stereo

iso checksum: 
04b0bf42de3d0fd9a94629177394cce2 *Schumann Piano Concerto in A.iso

stereo folder checksum:
a0840d82c14282905f46f74cf5ff3be5 *01  Allegro affettuoso.flac
92ed60fca262d95290877f65802d91c6 *02  Intermezzo Andantino grazioso.flac
6b6094feb91e597e7d01563c2cc1d397 *03  Allegro vivace.flac
7ff4c69f401675544b41d45a6d8b60fb *04  Allegro.flac
3600123abef19c66b54c60dd65f0a559 *05  Adagio un poco mosso.flac
adf260764f695dac2eb4c183725c8268 *06  Rondo Allegro.flac
97eb3aab9766b23b6a05991dffdabd53 *back.jpg
978a94553fca033cd64da5a7ea9b667d *cover.jpg
34b9039bd2458aaeafce004171dc856e *disc.jpg
766253d856adafb4224faee4d8f77e4b *foo_dr.txt
484098ee0dec9ce560ecc6f1948b4e52 *Front.jpg
cfb757ca7fa9e5a48f6d519659fbb099 *Schumann Piano concerto in A.fpl


These Living Stereo Super Audio CDs are newly remastered in DSD (Direct Stream Digital) from original source tape by the award-winning Soundmirror engineering team headed by John Newton. The reissue series features legendary performances from RCA Red Seal's greatest artists including Arthur Rubinstein, Van Cliburn, Charles Munch, Fritz Reiner & more! Original cover art is updated with a contemporary new look.

At the very peak of his youthful power, pianist Van Cliburn collaborates with Fritz Reiner & the Chicago Symphony in richly contrasting piano concertos of Beethoven & Schumann coupled for the 1st time in the Living Stereo series.

"RCA on Super Audio CD - a reason to celebrate."
 ~The Absolute Sound

"Overall, the 1st 10 released in BMG's RCA Living Stereo Super Audio CD series are overwhelming successes. I eagerly await the next 10!"  ~Stereophile

"The idea behind this project is to bring us closer to the master tapes than has ever before been possible. These Super Audio CDs are far superior to all previous CD versions in every conceivable way, but especially in their retrieval of hall sound & the overtone structure of the various instruments."
 ~The Absolute Sound

Features:
• Newly remastered DSD
• Plays on both CD and SACD players
• Original liner notes
• 3.0 Multi-channel SACD

Musicians:
Van Cliburn, piano
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Fritz Reiner, conductor

Selections:
Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
1.-3. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
4.-6. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 "Emperor"

Tracks:

1. Allegro affettuoso
2. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso
3. Allegro vivace
4. Allegro
5. Adagio un poco mosso
6. Rondo: Allegro

Recorded in 1960 and 1961.

Review:

Another of the five new Living Stereo SACD reissues, & the 1st time this particular coupling has been offered on disc. The original 3-track recordings were made in 1960 & 1961, after Cliburn has made his initial splash with his exciting & top-selling LP of the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto. It was also made right after the young pianist’s public appearances as guest soloist with the Chicago Symphony & Reiner.

Both of these concertos are cornerstones of the piano concerto repertory & full of the grand gesture, which both Cliburn & Reiner & his players never fail to deliver 100%.  The fire & excitement of the performances makes the works sound not at all overly-familiar.  I’m not sure what the complaint of some audiophile reviewers about the “graininess” of the Living Stereo reissues’ sonics is all about. Yes, they may not have quite the transparency & detail of the very best multichannel digital recordings of today, but I’m not hearing “grain” in these gorgeous SACD remasterings.

What I am hearing is the sizeable enhancement provided by the discrete center channel.  This is especially useful on piano concertos.  First, it places the instrument much more realistically in front of the orchestra & provides a more filled-out sonic image of the center portion of the orchestra. Second, it images the piano as normally-sized & not 40 feet wide as with most piano recordings in stereo.

- John Sunier
Total Time: 68:59