Verdi Falstaff - Herbert von Karajan - Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus
Few 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.
More 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.
Artist(s): Conductor – Herbert von Karajan
Orchestra – Philharmonia Orchestra
Chorus – Philharmonia Chorus
Chorus Master – Roberto Benaglio
Baritone Vocals [Falstaff] – Tito Gobbi
Baritone Vocals [Ford] – Rolando Panerai
Bass Vocals [Pistol] – Nicola Zaccaria
Mezzo-soprano Vocals [Mistress Page] – Nan Merriman
Mezzo-soprano Vocals [Mistress Quickly] – Fedora Barbieri
Soprano Vocals [Mistress Ford] – Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Soprano Vocals [Nannetta] – Anna Moffo
Tenor Vocals [Bardolph] – Renato Ercolani
Tenor Vocals [Dr. Caius] – Tomaso Spataro
Tenor Vocals [Fenton] – Luigi Alva
Recording Info: Recording: Kingsway Hall, London, June–July 1956
Producer: Walter Legge
Balance Engineer: Christopher Parker
Sourced from 2-track tapes
Components used for Transfer:
This transfer leverages precision analog playback and mastering-grade digital conversion. The signal path begins with a modified Studer A810 with Flux Head, fed through a Custom Tape Pre-amp designed by Victor Khomenko of Balanced Audio Technology for accurate NAB equalization. The analog signal converts via a Merging Hapi converter, synchronized to an Antelope Audio 10MX atomic clock for temporal accuracy. Software: Merging Pyramix v15. 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.
1 Act I, Scene 1-15:37
2 Act I, Scene 2 -14:56
3 Act II, Scene 1- 23:40
4 Act II, Scene 2 - 19:31
5 Act III, Scene 1 -16:14
6 Act III, Scene 2 - 28:33
Please Note: This release was edited in DXD PCM from a DSD256 Master
then the DXD edited master was used to generate the final DSD files using
Merging Technologies Album Publishing.
DXD (352.8KHz 24/32 bit PCM) is one of the best and least destructive formats for post-processing DSD originated digital recordings
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