Advances on the original tapes of Martha Argerich's Solo Debut Recital (1965), Il Barbiere di Siviglia (1969) and Birgit Nilsson's Recital (1967).
Magnetic tapes and the sound memory of the Teatro Colón
Since November of last year we have been immersed in a fascinating process of enormous aesthetic responsibility: the restoration and enhancement of the magnetic archives of the Teatro Colón for the series Heritage Collection Live.
Tackling historical live recordings from the 60s and 70s involves confronting not only the passage of time on the physical medium, but also the technical nature of those recordings, seeking to rescue the living memory of the room with absolute timbral fidelity.
The Three Projects in Progress
Martha Argerich – Solo Debut Recital (16/07/1965)
- Repertoire: Works by Beethoven, Bach, Prokofiev and Chopin.
- The challenge: Restoring the timbral richness and natural acoustics of the space. We focused on recovering the sonic transparency of the register and spatiality of the Teatro Colón hall, restoring clarity and body to the piano's lower register.
REFERENCE AUDIO SAMPLE
Chopin: Study Op. 10 No. 4 in C-sharp minor
What to pay attention to: Listen to the transparency achieved in the restoration - recovery of harmonics, the renewed weight of the piano's low register and the spaciousness of the room.
SVR SOUND Restoration 2023 - F. Chopin: Etude Op. 10 No. 4 in C-sharp Minor
Gioachino Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia (08/19/1969)
- Cast: Teresa Berganza, Sesto Bruscantini, Renzo Casellato, Valeria Baleani, Fernando Ganzarolli. Teatro Colón Orchestra conducted by Bruno Bartoletti.
- The challenge: Re-establishing the separation of planes between the orchestral mass in the pit and the agility of the vocal lines on stage, eliminating the opacity to return the characteristic brilliance to bel canto by Berganza and Bruscantini.
REFERENCE AUDIO SAMPLE
Original Source - Largo al factotum - Act I, Scene III (Figaro: Sesto Bruscantini)
SVR SOUND Restoration 2023 - Largo al factotum - Act I, Scene III (Figaro: Sesto Bruscantini)
Birgit Nilsson – Lyrical Recital (24/09/1967) Teatro Colón Resident Orchestra, conducted by Roberto Kinsky
- The challenge: To restore the seismic flow and upper harmonics of the Swedish soprano in passages of high dynamic demand, making the metal of her voice cut through the acoustic space with total transparency.
REFERENCE AUDIO SAMPLE
Puccini: In questa reggia (Turandot, Act II)
What to pay attention to: Notice the recovery of the voice's high harmonics and the clarity with which the orchestra sustains the climax without distortion.
SVR SOUND Restoration 2023: Giacomo Puccini - Turandot In questa reggia Scene 2, Act II
Upcoming Release: These restored titles will become part of the series' catalog Heritage Collection Live, which will be available on all digital platforms at the beginning of December.