Rounding out this important release are several virtuoso showpieces by Sarasate and Paganini, performed by violinist Ossy Renardy. In addition to expert 20-bit remastering from original sources, this imported limited edition includes rare archival photos and fascinating notes by violin scholar Eric Wen.

From the incredible remastered sound to the packaging design, the critical acclaim is unanimous for Sony Classical's pace-setting reissue series, Masterworks Heritage. Encompassing acoustic-era gems from as far back as the 1903 Grand Opera Series as well as landmark mono- and stereo-era performances from the 1920s to the pre-digital 1970s, this series continues with five important releases. Delighted collectors are reintroducing themselves to a treasure trove of legendary performances by their favorite artists of the past, meticulously remastered and presented in special, stylishly designed imported packaging.

In this, the eighth installment of Masterworks Heritage, historic recordings of Wagner sung by Lauritz Melchior and Helen Traubel, as well as stereo recordings of Bartók and Prokofiev under George Szell and his Cleveland Orchestra, highlight the latest releases, which also include this first CD release of the debut recordings of violinists Michael Rabin and Ossy Renardy, a collection of twentieth-century American vocal works, and another installment of Lotte Lenya's authoritative renditions of Kurt Weill's songs. Some of these recordings are being issued on CD for the first time, having been unavailable for decades.