FALLA - The Three - Cornered Hat (45rpm - edition) (Sealed) (2LP)

Among Classic Records' highlight accomplishments was unlocking the audio majesty of the Everest 35mm magnetic film recordings on a groundbreaking reissue series. Everest LPs through the early 1960s were recorded on 3-channel 35mm magnetic film recording equipment. 35mm magnetic film yielded greater fidelity and less noise than standard 1/4" recording tape. The Westrex Corporation built special equipment to Everest's specifications to accomplish these advantages. Fast forward to today: Analogue Productions is resurrecting this collection through an initial 10-title reissue series. Bernie Grundman cut the Classic Records reissues at both 33 and 45 RPM — the 45 RPM versions have never been reissued! Each 2LP set comes with a Stoughton Printing tip-on original jacket and an Everest Records branded jacket showing photos of each reissue title. The two LPs are packaged in a protective clear sleeve. Many a great work of music has gotten off to a bad start because it has been belittled or rejected by a press or public who have failed to understand or appreciate it. In the case of Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, however, it was the composer himself who underestimated its musical and artistic value. Manuel de Falla's famed "Three Cornered Hat" is a hard piece to perform with the Latin sense of flair and excitement necessary to convey the wonder of the composition. Fiedler on RCA (LSC 2744) tries with some success to get the flair but is no equal for Argenta on London/Decca (CS 6050). The Jorda read with the London Symphony is electric from the first vocal burst! To say that Jorda owns this piece would not be an overstatement — it is exciting and largely festive in the way de Falla intended it to be! Add to a fantastic performance the Bert Whyte / Everest 35mm recording at London's famed Walthamstow Assembly Hall and you have a desert island disc! The 35mm sonics make instruments so critical to this piece seem 'in the room' with a never before achieved reality — just listen to the tambourine at the introduction if you want to experience shocking reality in playback at home.