Artist(s): Conductor – André Cluytens
Orchestra – Paris Conservatoire Orchestra
Chorus – Chorus Of The National Opera Of Sofia
Bass Vocals – Boris Christoff
Chorus Master – Luben Kondov
Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Ana Alexieva
Soprano Vocals – Evelyn Lear
Tenor Vocals – Dimitr Ouzounov, John Lanigan
Recording Info: Released by EMI 1963
Engineer - Robert Gooch
Producer - René Challan
1 Coronation Scene (Prologue Scene 2) 10:53
2 Pimen's Monologue (Act 1, Scene 1) 5:49
3 Varlaam's Song (Act 1, Scene 2) 2:30
4 Monologue Of Boris (Act II) 6:08
5 Clock (Act II) 6:08
6 Love Duet (Act III) 3:52
7 Pimen's Monologue: Farewell And Death Of Boris (Act IV, Scene 2) 17:33
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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A Happy Man!
This was one of my first opera recording. The Rimsky-Korsakov arrangement may be considered old-fashioned, but without it the opera might not have survived at all. I have long considered this the best recording of the RK version, but have long wished the rather murky sound, criticized even at the time, could be opened up. HDTT has done this brilliantly. The bells in the coronation scene now sound like bells, and their foreboding of the gloom to come is all the more chillingly felt. The greatness of Christoff and Cluytens' performance can now be fully appreciated. I wish they had done the whole opera, but the excerpts are well-chosen and make the case. Thank you to everyone involved.

Russian Splendor
So good to hear such a golden recording restored beautifully here. The Coronation scene alone is stunning. Set aside any quibbles about casting and revel in vintage singing and sonics.


This release is a treasure
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I queued this up to play, but I am pleasantly surprised. The sound is very open, clear, and detailed. There is good bass impact and definition. High frequencies simply sparkle with life (if you know the music, you'll know this is important for all the bells and chimes Mussorgsky employs). Vocals from bass Boris Christoff are superb--just a delight to hear. Most importantly, Cluytens' performance is very very nice: crisp, clean, somewhat brisk. Prime Cluytens. And all with a gloriously powerful mixed voices chorus. EMI recording engineer has captured all of this sumptuously in his usual reliable manner. (But there is lacking that last bit of transparency, particularly on orchestral and choral climaxes, that Decca of this era was still able to eke out.) And HDTT has done their usual very nice transfer. If you like the music (and I do), this release is a treasure.
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