BACH Mass in B Minor, BWV 232 (1961) / Karl Richter | Deutsche Grammophon

Marking the centenary of Karl Richter’s birth, DG announces the upcoming release of his legendary 1961 recording of Bach’s Mass in B Minor as part of the Original Source Series.  

DG and Emil Berliner Studios return to the original 2-track stereo master tapes for the first ever pure analogue release of this benchmark recording. Impressing with its cohesive sound, clear interpretation and outstanding soloists, Richter’s 1961 recording of the B Minor Mass with the Munich Bach Choir and Orchestra is still regarded today as a legendary reference recording. 

The audiophile vinyl series The Original Source presents outstanding recordings in an entirely new level of sound quality. For this purpose, the renowned Emil Berliner Studios have remastered and cut the original multi-track tapes in 100% analogue quality (AAA), using technologies specially developed for the production of this series. The sonic differences compared to the original releases are substantial: greater clarity, more detail, and improvements across the frequency range, combined with reduced background noise, distortion, and compression, create an audiophile listening experience like never before.   

Presented as a numbered, limited edition, the deluxe 3-LP box set includes three 180g virgin vinyl records in polylined inner sleeves, a 20-page booklet with original liner notes, lyrics and facsimiles of the original recording logs, a facsimile reproduction of the original Archiv Produktion insert, as well as a certificate featuring a text by Rainer Maillard and Sidney C. Meyer on the Original Source Series alongside a facsimile of the original tape box.  

The edition will be released on 9 October and is now available for exclusive pre-order in the DG Store.