RCA's Golden Age was a scant period, roughly from 1958 to 1963, the beginning of the Stereo era. Pure vacuum tube amplification helped produce recordings demonstrating unparalleled fidelity and warmth, lifelike presence and midband illumination. Analogue Productions RCA Living Stereo Reissue Series Part 2, with 25 newly remastered mainstay classical albums, will delight and astound your ears!

• Limited Edition
• 33rpm 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
• Cut from Original Analog Master Tapes
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings QRP USA
• Lacquers plated by Gary Salstrom
• Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound
• Deluxe "tip-on" Cover by Stoughton Printing

RCA's "golden age" was more like a "golden minute" - in a scant period, roughly from 1958 to 1963, the beginning of the stereo era - pure vacuum tube amplification helped produce recordings demonstrating unparalleled fidelity and warmth, lifelike presence and midband illumination.

Analogue Productions' RCA Living Stereo Reissue Series No. 2, with 25 newly remastered mainstay classical albums, will delight and astound your ears with their clarity and warm, rich tone. As with our first highly-regarded LSC series, shortcomings of previous editions have been improved upon — from the mastering, to the LP pressing, to the sharp-looking glossy heavyweight Stoughton Printing tip-on jackets that faithfully duplicate the original artwork, "Living Stereo" logo, "Shaded Dog" label and all!

Mastered by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound from the original 2-track master tapes, cut at 33 1/3, and plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings — makers of the world's finest-sounding vinyl LPs, — no other editions match these for the quietest 180-gram platters available. Note that we've also expanded this reissue to include a Stoughton Printing tip-on gatefold jacket with additional photos - a luxurious upgrade from the original single pocket jacket.

"These records are definitive." — Michael Fremer, Analog Planet

"These are the best vinyl releases of RCA LPs I've yet heard." — Jonathan Valin, executive editor, The Absolute Sound

Julian Bream was born in London in 1933. He made his first recital appearance in 1947 and a year later made his London debut. He became prominent in Britain's musical life through his recitals, tours for the Arts Council, and television and radio appearances. Mauro Giuliani was one of several composers who succeeded in establishing the guitar concerto as an accepted musical convention. This is the first genuinely "virtuoso" concerto written for the instrument. Malcolm Arnold is a composer of pathos and deep instensity. His concertos, written mainly for virtuoso friends, includes the Guitar Concerto, written for Bream and recorded here with Arnold conducting.

Fully aware that Spain is the "spiritual" home of the guitar, Arnold has deliberately decided here to give the instrument a more universal character. He has circumvented the Spanish overtones of the instrument by subtle use of modal melodic material.

Musicians:

Julian Bream, guitar
Melos Ensemble

Track Listing:

Side A
Mauro Giuliani (1780-1840)
Concerto For Guitar And Strings
1. First Movement: Allegro Maestoso
2. Second Movement: Andantino Siciliano
3. Third Movement: Alla Polacca

Side B
Malcolm Arnold (1921-2006)
Guitar Concerto, Op. 67
1. First Movement: Allegro
2. Second Movement: Lento
3. Third Movement: Con Brio

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫