Credits:

Paul Paray

Description:

The second collection of Mercury recordings by Paley and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, a 22-CD boxed set. Its distinctive sound was ideal for recording "Mercury Living Presence," especially in stereo. The stereo recordings here cover Paray and the Detroit Symphony from 1958 through 1962, Paray's last season as music director of Mercury. They include Dvořák's "From the New World," Sibelius' Symphony No. 2, and an album of overtures by Suppé. Paray was friends with French composers such as Ravel, Jacques Ibert, and Florent Schmidt, whose works are performed here. The Naked Carmen, a rock opera conceived and arranged by John Corigliano and David A. Hess from a score by Bizet, also includes modern instruments such as guitar and rhythm sessions. First CD release. Ravel's piano concerto, the only recording made for Deutsche Grammophon, was recorded in Paris with Monique Arth.Newly remastered from original sources by Wilma Cozart Fine, Mercury's music producer, and Thomas Fine, son of Robert Fine, chief engineer. In the original jacket, the recordings are arranged in the order of their initial release. The booklet includes an essay by Thomas Fine on the recording sessions. Universal Music/IMS