Lorin Maazel & The Cleveland Orchestra Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition / Night on Bald Mountain 180g LP

Hailed as "one of the best recordings Telarc has ever done" by Stereophile, the 1980 recording of Moussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, performed by The Cleveland Orchestra and conducted by the legendary Lorin Maazel, cemented Telarc's status as the preeminent classical audiophile recording label. This reissue was mastered from the original Soundstream tapes by Paul Blakemore, cut by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Optimal.

Classical music fans are the ultimate early adopters, jumping feet first into the world of new audio technology as soon as it is available. All the better to hear their favorite pieces and performances in the highest fidelity possible. That's why the announcement of a major reissue campaign by Telarc, a mainstay of the classical music world since 1977, that includes new vinyl pressings feels almost regressive. The imprint hasn't entirely given up on the format, having sparingly released new LPs over the past two decades. But I do wonder how many folks will be lining up to grab the first two albums from this series. The good news is that they won't be disappointed if they do. Both pressings are spotless thanks to the work of engineer Paul Blackmore, who mastered both discs using high-end digital files, and Sterling Sound's Ryan Smith, who cut the lacquers. The performances of two Modest Mussorgsky pieces by the Cleveland Orchestra, originally recorded 1978, sound particularly alive as composer Lorin Maazel draws out the tension and beauty of each work.