Sonically, the recordings are excellent, easily bettering my original. With a natural tonal warmth and perspective, the soundstage is deep and transparent, with good instrumental separation, dimensionality and location. The brass, so critical to these works, is both beautifully controlled by Davis and recorded. Dynamics are crisper and wider than the original pressing, the bass more powerful, tighter, with better pitch definition and air around the timps. There really is little to criticise here and if the rest of the series can match the standard of these discs, in terms of recording, cutting and pressing, it’s going to be impressive indeed. The sister Original Source Series from DGG has suffered some pressing variation, so it will be interesting to see if UMG stick with Pallas for the Decca releases – and if the German pressing plant can maintain this standard. But on the basis of this release and the available titles, the future looks exciting to say the least.
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