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Mercury Living Presence Boxed Set CD33 van55
Suppé: Overtures; Auber: The Bronze Horse; Etc. 
Detroit Symphony Orchestra olv. Paul Paray

Since these came out in a couple of stunning albums in the late 50s, early 60s, just about every other conductor has stayed out of this Paray territory, knowing there is no way anyone could have acheived such superior results with material of not the highest inspiration. Paray's control over the orchestra is almost rhapsodic: there's a unity and confident virtuosity that can go anywhere, do anything, and make unapproachable classics of everything. The sound Paray elicits from the Detroit strings is lean and luminous, like a ray of bright light shining through an open cathedral window. Wilma Cozart got some of her best sound in Detroit Cass High School auditorium for at least part of this presentation. She re-presents it on CD with all the excitement and polish intact. An outstanding reissue from Mercury here that continues to rule the field.