Release Date: July 08, 2022
Conductor: Andre Cluytens
Orchestra: Paris Conservatory Orchestra
Tenor: Nicolai Gedda
Soprano: Gianna D'Angelo
Other sopranos: Elisabeth Schwarzkopp, Victoria de los Angeles
Composer: Jacques Offenbach

The latest reproduction of the classic masterpiece conducted by Cluytens, who continues to be widely loved.
The world's first SACD of a masterpiece with beautiful melody.
Reprinted from the home analog master tape, aiming for the best sound quality.
With lyrics translation and new commentary. Limited edition of 800 sets with serial number

Offenbach's last work, The Tales of Hoffmann, is a special work for Cluytens and was recorded twice on the old EMI. This stereo recording, which is a re-recording, is still widely loved as a classic masterpiece. The skill of Cluytens, who spins this work with a beautiful melody together with the traditional Paris Conservatory Orchestra, is wonderful, and the lively liveliness and luster are exquisite. The excellent singers such as Gedda and three unique heroines are also worth listening to. You should also read the manual by Junnobu Kishi, which describes the detailed transition of the work. For this release, we used a master digitized at 192kHz / 24bit from the original analog master tape in our home country, and mastered the SACD layer and CD layer separately. With lyrics translation and new commentary. It is a permanent storage board. Comes with a serial number limited to 800 sets.

This "The Tales of Hoffmann" is also a special work for Cluytens, who left two session recordings on the old EMI label. This second stereo recording is still widely loved as a classic masterpiece. There were twists and turns in this work before and after it was performed, such as the composer's death during the stage rehearsal. After that, a version that reflects new materials has been released several times, such as the discovery of a song that was lost in 1970. This Cluytens edition follows the previous general edition (published in 1907 by the music publisher Schudan as "The Tales of Hoffmann 5th Edition") (the history of this song is on the shore after this). Read the text by Junnobu. The detailed commentary is very interesting). Although these transitions are due to the nature of French opera at that time, it is interesting that the songs of others are added and settled. Nevertheless, the skill of Cluytens, who spins this work with a beautiful melody together with the traditional Paris Conservatory Orchestra, is wonderful, and the lively liveliness and luster can be said to be exquisite. In particular, Gedda's presence and the three unique heroines are all excellent, and the excellent singers such as Dangero's beautiful voice, Schwarzkopp's lustrous skill, and De los Angeles' cuteness are also worth listening to. is. The analog master tape in my home country was well preserved, and the sound quality was vivid and matched to the tune. Based on these comprehensively, we are reprinting with respect for the original while retaining the musical dignity.
(1/2) Tower Records (2022/05/26)

This time, we are doing the latest mastering from the original 2Ch analog master tape in our home country using a flat master digitized at 192kHz / 24bit. The master was generally in good balance and had little secular variation. Therefore, I emphasized the original balance as much as possible and tried to master from a musical point of view. As a result, the perspective of the distance and depth of the instrument is improved, and the localization is improved so that you can enjoy the best performance without stress. In addition, a new sentence by Mr. Junnobu Kishi was posted in the manual.
In this series, the SACD layer aims for a high resolution and rich sound field with a long high range and soft nuances, and the CD layer aims for a realistic tone that is extruded with a cohesive and solid sound. The potential of the CD itself is high, and you can enjoy it as a SACD hybrid disc where you can enjoy the goodness of both. The 46th Definition Series will release a total of 2 titles.


The old EMI label has many opera sound sources, but in the CD era, there were few recurrences other than some famous sound sources, and in the domestic version, the situation where there was no lyrics translation at the time of recurrence continued for a long time. As you know, there are few reprints including imported discs these days. Under such circumstances, I have tried several opera reprints in this Definition series. One of the things that we have learned, including the policy of the old EMI label, is that the preservation and maintenance of the original analog master tape is generally solid, and for items with few recurrences and new remasters, including the LP era, master tape (2ch) It means that there are many things in good condition because the playback frequency of is low. It turned out that there are many sound sources in opera where the CD master was made only once in the early days of digital, especially among the boards with few recurrences. Therefore, when those sound sources are reproduced with the latest version, the sound quality difference from the conventional version becomes clear because the digital conversion process can be reproduced with the best sound quality than the conventional version. In addition, many reprints of operas were recorded at a reasonable cost in terms of recording at that time, and it is a plus factor that the quality can be further utilized by improving the sound quality. There is also the problem of aging of the master tape, but the deterioration of the old EMI sound source was less than that of other major labels. Rather, the difference due to the playback frequency mentioned above seems to be larger. After focusing on how many of the masterpieces that are buried can be brought to the release, we decided on the reprint item this time as well. Based on the above, we will continue to release important recordings of opera.
(2/2) Tower Records (2022/05/26)


* SACD hybrid board. World's first SACD
* Limited to 800 sets. With lyrics translation. Digipak specifications
* With serial number sticker (Since the serial number is affixed to the back of the main unit, it cannot be seen from the outside and cannot be selected. Please note that it will be given at random.)
* 2022 latest mastering sound source used (SACD layer and CD layer are mastered separately after high-definition digitization at 192kHz / 24bit)
* Mastering engineer: Mr. Atsushi Fujita
* Use original jacket design (some other original jacket designs are used in the manual)
* Commentary: Junnobu Kishi (new commentary), 140 pages in total

Contents recorded
Number of components | 2 sheets
Edition | Remaster

[Song] Jacques Offenbach: Opera "The Tales of Hoffmann" (4 acts) (Singing: French)

Act 1
Act 2
Act 3 (halfway)

Act 3 (from the middle)
Act 4

[Performance]
Hoffman: Nicolai Gedda (tenor)
Olympia: Gianna D'Angelo (soprano)
Julietta: Elisabeth Schwarzkopp (soprano)
Antonia: Victoria de los Angeles (soprano)
Mother's voice: Christiane Gello (mezzo-soprano)
Stella & Muse: Rene Foret (Comedienne)
Nicklaus: Jean-Christophe Benoit (baritone)
Lindorff: Nicola Guzerev (bus)
Dr. Coppellius / Miracle: George London (baritone)
Dapeltut: Ernest Blanc (baritone)
Spallanzani: Michel Sénéchal (tenor)
Schlemil & Lutheran: Jean-Pierre Lafarge (baritone)
Crespel: Robert Gay (Bus)
Nathanael: Andre Mallabrera (tenor)
Hermann: Jack Pruveau (baritone)
Andres / Cochenille / Franz / Pitikinaccio: Jack Loro (tenor)
FUNAUTA Second Voice: Jeanine Collard (Mezzo-soprano)
Rene Duclos Chorus (Chorus Conductor: Jean Laforge)
Paris Conservatory Orchestra
Andre Cluytens (conductor)

【recording】
1-5, 9-11, 21-23, IX., 22.X. & 22. XII. 1964, 19.II. 1965, Salle Wagram, Paris & 26, 27. V. 1965, Barcelona
[Original Recordings]
Producer: Rene Challan, Victor Olof, Walter Legge & Peter Andry
Balance Engineer: Robert Gooch
[Master label]
Warner Classics (formerly EMI sound source)

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