The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the legendary French conductor Paul Paray, brings a unique French elegance and high-octane energy to the spirited overtures of Franz von Suppé. Recorded on November 29, 1959, at Detroit’s Cass Technical High School, this session captures Paray at the height of his powers. Known for his "Gallic" approach, characterized by lean textures, brisk tempos, and incredible rhythmic bite, Paray elevates these popular Viennese-style showpieces into a masterclass of orchestral precision and wit.
This recording serves as a definitive example of the golden era of Mercury Living Presence, a period defined by the visionary production team of C.R. Fine and Wilma Cozart. Utilizing the iconic three-microphone technique to capture a 3-track master, the engineers achieved a level of depth, presence, and staggering dynamic range that remains a benchmark for audiophiles today. By eschewing artificial spotlighting in favor of the hall’s natural acoustics, this release preserves the authentic "Detroit Sound", a transparent, wide-screen sonic stage that places the listener directly in the front row of one of the 20th century’s most formidable recording venues.
Artist(s): Conductor – Paul Paray
Orchestra – Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Recording Info: Engineer C. R. Fine
Producer Wilma Cozart
Co-producer Harold Lawrence
Recording Location: Cass Technical High School, Detroit, 29 November 1959
Sourced from a 4-track tape
Components used for Transfer:
This transfer leverages precision analog playback and mastering-grade digital conversion. The signal path begins with a modified Nagra 4SJ with Flux Heads, fed through a Merrill Audio Master MX Tape Head Preamp. The analog signal converts via a Merging Hapi converter, synchronized to an Antelope Audio 10MX atomic clock for temporal accuracy. 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.
2 Pique Dame 7:26
3 Light Cavalry 6:24
4 Poet And Peasant 9:24
5 Morning, Noon And Night In Vienna 7:30
6 Boccaccio 6:43

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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Gold Premium Compact Disc 300+ years longevity - The recording layer resists UV and heat better than other discs. Includes Complete Jewel case and Liner Notes
Regular Premium Compact Disc Includes Complete Jewel case and Liner Notes Budget Compact Disc contains only the disc without jewel case or liner notes
Please Note: The Gold CD is not offered in the Budget line Some titles do not offer the Budget option
Please allow 7-10 days for CD production time.


