{"product_id":"verdi-falstaff-herbert-von-karajan-philharmonia-orchestra-and-chorus","title":"Verdi Falstaff - Herbert von Karajan - Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFew recordings of Verdi's Falstaff have achieved the legendary status of Herbert von Karajan's 1956 EMI production with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus. Recorded in the warm, natural acoustics of London's Kingsway Hall, this landmark interpretation unites an extraordinary cast led by Tito Gobbi in one of the defining performances of the title role. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Anna Moffo, Fedora Barbieri, Rolando Panerai, and Luigi Alva complete an exceptional ensemble, while Karajan brings elegance, rhythmic vitality, and remarkable orchestral transparency to Verdi's final masterpiece. Produced by Walter Legge and engineered by Christopher Parker, the recording remains one of the great achievements of the golden age of analog sound.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore than seventy years after its creation, this performance continues to be regarded as a benchmark for both musical interpretation and recorded excellence. Karajan's refined approach reveals the sophistication of Verdi's score without sacrificing its infectious humor, while Gobbi's richly characterized Falstaff combines comic brilliance with genuine humanity. The Philharmonia Orchestra responds with virtuosity and warmth, and the superbly balanced recording captures every nuance of Verdi's sparkling orchestration and intricate ensemble writing. This release preserves a classic interpretation that has stood the test of time, offering listeners one of the finest recorded realizations of one of opera's greatest comic masterpieces.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist(s): Conductor – \u003c\/strong\u003eHerbert von Karajan\u003cbr\u003eOrchestra – Philharmonia Orchestra\u003cbr\u003eChorus – Philharmonia Chorus\u003cbr\u003eChorus Master – Roberto Benaglio\u003cbr\u003eBaritone Vocals [Falstaff] – Tito Gobbi\u003cbr\u003eBaritone Vocals [Ford] – Rolando Panerai\u003cbr\u003eBass Vocals [Pistol] – Nicola Zaccaria\u003cbr\u003eMezzo-soprano Vocals [Mistress Page] – Nan Merriman\u003cbr\u003eMezzo-soprano Vocals [Mistress Quickly] – Fedora Barbieri\u003cbr\u003eSoprano Vocals [Mistress Ford] – Elisabeth Schwarzkopf\u003cbr\u003eSoprano Vocals [Nannetta] – Anna Moffo\u003cbr\u003eTenor Vocals [Bardolph] – Renato Ercolani\u003cbr\u003eTenor Vocals [Dr. Caius] – Tomaso Spataro\u003cbr\u003eTenor Vocals [Fenton] – Luigi Alva\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecording Info: \u003c\/strong\u003eRecording: Kingsway Hall, London, June–July 1956\u003cbr\u003eProducer: Walter Legge\u003cbr\u003eBalance Engineer: Christopher Parker\u003cbr\u003eSourced from 2-track tapes\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComponents used for Transfer:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis transfer leverages precision analog playback and mastering-grade digital conversion. \u003cspan\u003eThe signal path begins with a modified Studer A810 with Flux Head\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, fed through a Custom Tape Pre-amp designed by Victor Khomenko of Balanced Audio Technology for accurate NAB equalization.\u003c\/span\u003e The analog signal converts via a Merging Hapi converter, synchronized to an Antelope Audio 10MX atomic clock for temporal accuracy. \u003cspan\u003eSoftware: Merging Pyramix v15.\u003c\/span\u003e All components receive isolated power conditioning through a Shunyata Research Everest 8000 with Shunyata Sigma-X power cords, while grounding infrastructure utilizes Shunyata ALTAIRA hubs to minimize noise floor and preserve sonic detail throughout the transfer chain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1 Act I, Scene 1-15:37\u003cbr\u003e2 Act I, Scene 2 -14:56\u003cbr\u003e3 Act II, Scene 1- 23:40\u003cbr\u003e4 Act II, Scene 2 - 19:31\u003cbr\u003e5 Act III, Scene 1 -16:14\u003cbr\u003e6 Act III, Scene 2 - 28:33\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cimg height=\"98\" width=\"110\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/3319\/files\/dsd256_badge_480x480.png?v=1516987294\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlease Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master\u003cbr\u003ethen the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using\u003cbr\u003eMerging Technologies Album Publishing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDXD (352.8KHz 24\/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCopyright © \u0026amp; ℗ High Definition Tape Transfers 2026, including all compilation, transfer, remastering, and restoration aspects\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable height=\"60\" width=\"664\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/3319\/files\/Verdi_Fallstaff_Karajan_Philharmonia_Booklet.pdf?v=1785586792\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/3319\/files\/download_liner_notes_735eceed-201e-4f62-b888-d1fed8b53db5_medium.jpg?3217511782796413000\" style=\"float: none;\" height=\"65\" width=\"229\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/hdtt-samples.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/Verdi+Fallstaff+Karajan+Philharmonia+-+Sample.flac\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/3319\/files\/download_Sample_24_96_ce2d27c7-5f84-4e02-8a32-ac81bd7164a7_medium.jpg?1320818084609747374\" height=\"65\" width=\"229\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/hdtt-samples.s3.amazonaws.com\/Handel%2BOvertures%2BRichter%2BLPO+sample.flac\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #000000;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlay Sample Tracks\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/hdtt-music-player.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/Verdi+Falstaff+-+Herbert+von+Karajan+-+Philharmonia+Orchestra\/audioplayer.html\" border=\"0\" height=\"341\" width=\"525\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"High Definition Tape Transfers","offers":[{"title":"DSD256 Direct Stream Digital Download","offer_id":52142575190236,"sku":"HDTT24399","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"DSD128 Direct Stream Digital Download","offer_id":52142575223004,"sku":"HDTT24398","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"DSD64 Direct Stream Digital Download","offer_id":52142575255772,"sku":"HDTT24397","price":21.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24\/352.8 DXD PCM Flac Digital Download","offer_id":52142575288540,"sku":"HDTT24396","price":25.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24\/192 PCM Flac Digital Download","offer_id":52142575321308,"sku":"HDTT24395","price":21.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"24\/96 PCM Flac Digital Download","offer_id":52142575354076,"sku":"HDTT24394","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Gold Premium Compact Disc Double album","offer_id":52142575386844,"sku":"HDTT24393","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Regular Premium Compact Disc Double album","offer_id":52142575419612,"sku":"HDTT24392","price":26.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Budget Compact Disc Double album (No Case – Discs Only)","offer_id":52142575452380,"sku":"HDTT24391","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0778\/3319\/files\/Cover_ca8bf0b8-7f2d-4aa7-a88b-4b42a32fce03.jpg?v=1785443854","url":"https:\/\/www.highdeftapetransfers.ca\/de\/products\/verdi-falstaff-herbert-von-karajan-philharmonia-orchestra-and-chorus","provider":"High Definition Tape Transfers","version":"1.0","type":"link"}