Such life-affirming videos. One thing that doesn't seem to get mentioned much is what a marvelously fluent speaker you are; a continuous stream of information without umms and ahhs for 35 minutes. Great stuff!
Totally agree David. I have to do online lectures at the moment (and watch them after to check) and your lack of the uns and ers is striking, but a model to eventually approximate!
1. Opéra baroque (39 x CD; Harmonia Mundi) 2. Haydn: The Complete Symphonies (33 x CD; 1996; Decca) 3. C.P.E. Bach Edition (54 x CD; 2016; Haenssler Classics) 4. Stravinsky: The Complete Columbia Album Collection (56 x CD; 2015; Sony Classical) 5. Maria Callas: The Complete Studio Recordings (69 x CD; 2014; Warner Classics) 6. Zuzana Růžičková: Bach - The Complete Keyboard Works (20 x CD; 2016; Erato) 7. Leslie Howard: Liszt - The Complete Piano Music (98 x CD; 2011; Hyperion) 8. Claudio Arrau: The Complete Philips Recordings (80 x CD; 2018; Decca) 9. Jean Martinon: The Late Years (14 x CD; 2015; Erato) 10. Cluytens: The Complete Orchestral & Concerto Recordings (65 x CD; 2017; Erato) 11. Munch: The Complete RCA Recordings (86 x CD; 2016, RCA Red Seal) 12. The George Szell Edition (106 x CD; 2018; Sony Classical) SUGGESTIONS: 13. The Complete Mozart Edition (180 x CD; 1991; Philips Classics) 14. Beethoven: The Symphonies (5 x CD; 1994; Philips Classics) 15. Mozart 225: The New Complete Edition (200 x CD; 2016; Decca/Deutsche Grammophon/Philips)
My quick thoughts - what and why: 1 - Beethoven Symphonies - Karajan/BPO 1963 - perhaps it may have been more of a marketing accomplishment, but certainly whetted the appetite of collectors for "Complete" collections of this or that. 2 - Mahler Symphonies - Bernstein/NYPO - accelerated the trajectory of Mahler from odd crank to central fixture of the repertoire. 3 - Haydn Symphonies - Dorati/PH - For all the reasons you mentioned and more 4 - Wagner Ring Cycle - Solti/VPO - Still the measuring stick and likely to remain so 5 - Bach Keyboard Works - Glenn Gould - Love him or hate him, he still looms large over the repertory 6 - Mozart Piano Concertos - Perahia/ECO - Another benchmark that is still a reference in this area 7 - Shostakovich String Quartets - Borodin Quartet - One of the most important modern works, again in recordings that set the standard 8 - Complete Mozart Edition - Philips Recordings - The first "Complete" essay to capture the attention of the public in a noticeable way 9 - Mercury Living Presence Box - I recall how collectors used to thumb through crates of LPs looking for these very recordings and the temptation to finally have so many of them at one's fingertips is too tempting to resist 10 - Mozart Sonatas - Uchida - Again a set of recordings that will likely be a benchmark for years to come While I confess not all of these are my favorites, I think they're all collections that at some point you have to reckon with. Whatever you ultimately purchase, you at some point probably thought "well, how does this compare to (one of the recordings above)?" Also, I think it matters that many of these projects shaped the conversation about classical music and contributed to the appreciation and understanding of it in a meaningful way.
Excellent selection, and for exactly the reasons you cite (even if I'm not a fan of the Solti Ring!). If I had one reservation--and it's a tiny one that I put forth cautiously--I'd agree with you on the Gould from the perspective of the history of recording, but from the perspective of interpretation and performance, I wonder if in Eastern Europe, where Růžičková has been far better known and for longer than in Western Europe and the Anglosphere, if the Gould would have made the same impression. In favor of Gould, though, Sony's reproduction of the covers alone demonstrate a recognition of a significant and too often underestimated aspect of recording history--packaging!--that the Warner's packaging of the Růžičková does not. But both represent monumental achievements, and I'd be happy with any list that contained either collection.
Wonderful selection. I'm happy to own the Solti, Bernstein and Perahia. And Gould. For Shostakovich quartets, I own the first incomplete Borodin Qt set and I'm thinking of going with the Pacifica on Cedille for a modern edition.
Definitely agree with the Karajan Beethoven, Borodin Shostakovich, Gould Bach, and Mercury Living Presence. Aside from the Wagner, it seems we have similar tastes, great list! Like VoceCorale, I too have been wondering about a modern set of the Shostakovich Quartets to upgrade the sonics. Multichannel SACD would be nice. I love Shostakovich, and for me his Operas and String Quartets are tops, but those seem to be the least-often performed and recorded in comparison with his symphonies and concertos.
The Uchida box set is included in the Complete Mozart Edition by Philips. The Karajan/BPO Beethoven Symphonies are included in the Beethoven Complete Edition box set by DG and i'd put it on this list along with the Bach 2000 box set by Teldec.
Old video…BUT I finally found the Dorati Haydn Symphonies box set…for a very reasonable price. And I’m loving it! Again, Dave, your recommendation was SPOT ON!!
My favorite boxed sets are Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau's box of all Schubert songs, some 475 of them, composed for the male voice; about $2/disc. Then there's the Bach Cantatas box by Rilling. About 75 discs for barely more than $1 each. I know, price isn't everything; but when you can get such fantastic music at such a ridiculously low price, you have to give it some serious thought. This was a great video.
The Szell box is available again, I ordered it and I got it last week. I listen to it disc by disc from start to end. Now I am still at the mono era but I listened to some of the stereo recordings also. The sound quality is quite good, even the mono recordings sound good. There are little faults in the remastering but usually it is very satisfying. When I got the box, one of the first performance I listened to was the stereo Till. I was completely impressed. That perfection, that musicality, that transparency and sound! Unbeliveable. I know that not every recording will match my taste (especially the big band Mozart/Haydn with supressed timpani) but I think this box was one of my greatest buy, thank you for the suggestion!
This has been the first year I’ve really embraced a journey with classical music after passively enjoying concerts and performances for several years, I feel so lucky to have found your channel and this treasure trove of seasoned information. These videos work really well as a North Star for understanding what is often an intimidating canon with artistic and publishing history. Thank you so much.
@@DavesClassicalGuidewow quick reply! I found the CPE Bach box set for $50 at a Half Priced Books and it’s a complete delight! I look forward to reading your book. 😊
I have now been listening to Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach for a couple of hours and you were right. The music is great! Thank you for showing us this underrated composer.
I one million percent agree with the Zuzana Ruzickova choice. She has such an affinity for making Bach come alive like no other artist I have ever heard. I actually love the coloring you get with her harpsichord and wish they would make a comeback. She makes even the most pedantic Bach piece exciting and thrilling to listen to. It's such a shame she wasn't well known during her time, but I'm sure she will get the recognition she truly deserves with this set.
Hello David: I like the continued aura of 'having fun' ...that is what this is all about...often leading one down the "rabbit hole' to discover new performances and repertoire .. There is still much for ALL of us to discover ( coming from one, who had tens of thousands of lps,cds) Discovering something new is always exciting! Your box selections make sense, but as you surely know, it would require at least a handcart for a more 'complete selection' .. I approve of selecting Cluytens. I have been a fan of his work...He did most things very well and what is also worthy of note is that many of the recordings posses some of the best sonics , of a truly French orchestra. With the disappearance of cds, what about the disappearance of records, which would lead to a long discussion of the virtues and pitfalls of those mediums....how far we have drifted from the live performance to cylinders, 78's, records , cds... It seems we are adrift in a sea of convenience with a frequent loss of quality.....sort of like fast food...you receive it quickly, but start loosing flavor and gustatory pleasure....a subject for much discussion and thought
Your love of Haydn warms my heart, David. I grew up with these Dorati symphony recordings as a teenager, and while I find some of the tempi too slow, especially the minuets, I wouldn't be without it. You're also right about CPE Bach....I'll look out for your book. I especially love the keyboard concertos.
Dear Mr Hurwitz! I would like to thank you for this talk. I think it is one of your most important yet. It says a lot about your taste and I feel I know you better after this talk. I now wonder if you had made a talk about Dvorak's Cello concerto? If not I think it is high time. Best wishes!
Loved, loved, loved this "documentary" - I felt like I was hearing another soul who "gets it" on my wavelength. Thanks David! (You had me at the "whole Megillah"!)
This was so much fun. I felt like cheering when some of my favorites came up. You included one box of harpsichord music, but I'd like to add another one ... the set of complete Scarlatti sonatas by Scott Ross. At the time, I think it was the largest recording project by a single artist. It's an amazing achievement, even more so given his declining health. I wonder what a Scott Ross Box would look like today if we hadn't lost him so soon.
That was on my list too, but I want to do a separate talk about it later, so I decided to save it. You are totally right, though--a tremendous achievement.
I've been thinking about getting that set for years now... I must really make a resolution and start the long journey across Scarlatti's sonatas before it's too late. A colossal achievement indeed.
@@novagerio9244 Yes it did occur to me and all I can say is pity Bach and his audiences having to listen to that appalling plonking. But you go ahead and listen to it that way if you like lacerating your eyedrums. Me? I'll stick to a forte or a grand. Do you think Bach would be playing on a harpsichord if he were alive today? Of course not!
@@rossappleby Both are valid approaches. A harpsichord makes the counterpoint clearer, but a piano allows far more room for expression of the music. I have seen the rap for "sewing-machine" playing of the harpsichord. It has gotten better. Obviously Bach sounds better on piano than Chopin does on harpsichord.
Greetings from sunny Malta ! what a wealth of information and very well explained video, can you advise where I can purchase the Zuzanna Ruzickova as I did not find it as yet, thanks and keep up the good work
I keep coming back to this video. everything is there. I thank your mother for giving birth to you. Beyond a list, there are so many inspiring things. I go back to watch this video from time to time and I will continue to do so. THANKS! a bit strange though to hear about pipo. how can i have an attachment ?
I've completely switched to digital music with roon+tidal+qobuz but these videos have been instrumental in compiling my library! Keep m coming good sir!
Same here, though I have a large library of discs. I've made some Spotify playlists of David's recommendations that can be moved to Qobuz or Tidal via Soundiz, listed under "Hurwitz" and a few of them are now in Qobuz.
Glad to see you recommend the Ruzickova Bach box. A brilliant and unique set. Beautifully played and interpreted. I have many boxes of Bach keyboard works on piano and harpsichord but this one is the most beautiful and heartfelt.
I'm a very recent listener/watcher/subscriber. The boxset episode caught my notice, in particular. I love them for so many reasons (the often comprehensive booklets, the graphics, the positioning of the pieces, etc.) My taste runs to mostly 20th-century music, and there is one set that tops them all for me. The "if-I-could-only-take-one" for me would be the old EMI set of RVW's works, culled under the title "The Collector's Edition", issued in 2008. I had several collections of his symphonies, but nothing much else. This set introduced me to every facet of his music. I believe no other label had (or even was capable of providing) such a gathering of artists and compositions from this maestro. He taught me to love choral music, as well as English opera. What I'm saying, I guess, is that this particular boxset completely changed my musical landscape. But I would also like to mention another fine boxset. Being a poor elderly retiree with little spare cash, I try not to look at those big bigbucks boxsets, but the recent release of the Warner (nee EMI) complete Barbirolli recordings made me go for my wallet. Very few conductors (none that I can think of from his generation) brought such warmth to even the most dynamic music as did Sir John. What a treasure trove, containing as it does his final recordings, those of the Sibelius cycle, my personal favorites. Keep these elucidations forthcoming!
Thanks Dave. As always, entertaining and informative. My favourite boxed sets: Mozart: The Concertos for Piano & Orchestra, Murray Perahia, English Chamber Orchestra (CBS Masterworks) and (it's a tie) Mozart the Complete Piano Sonatas, Mitsuko Uchida (Philips). I'm now going to find the CPE Bach set on Apple/Spotify and start my Ana-Marija Markovina.
Awesome box set episode. If only you were made of money. I would totally get'em all if i only could afford it. Still, an awesome watch. Thanks Dave! 🎼🎶🎶🎶🎻🎻🎻
Dave - greetings from the Penal Colonies. Yes it was a great idea from your friend. Here is my list , where subjectivity is king: (1) Complete Mozart Edition (2) Karajan 60 70 80s (3) Karajan’s Bruckner which is a separate entry in its own right. (4) Karajan Warner Edition. (5) Schubert Sonatas - Kempff (6) Haydn Piano Trios - Beaux Arts Trios (7) Beethoven Sonatas - Gilels.
(8) Haydn Symphonies - Dorati. (9) Mozart Symphonies - Böhm & Berlin Phil. (10) Dvorak Symphonies - Kubelik & Berlin Phil. (11) Schubert Lieder - Dietrich Fischer Dieskau. Not my favourite singer by a mile but it was a milestone in the genre. (12) Haydn String Quartets - Kodaly, where the only weakness is the Sun Quartets. Best wishes, B
As someone who was "getting back" into classical music about a dozen years ago, I'd find it difficult not to include some of the boxed sets devoted to specific labels that came out around that time, as they gave a huge cross section of the repertoire in one well-priced package. There was the DG111, and the couple of Phillips boxes (which devoted more space to chamber music than the other label boxes seemed to), and the Decca Sound boxes - particularly the mono one, which very effectively shows us just how much the core repertoire has changed during the last seventy years or so. There's lots of slightly left-field choices on that one. These boxes came out, of course, before Decca started screwing up every boxed set it seemed to release! I also would include the first two Living Stereo boxes - the third one was a bit of a mopping up exercise, but the first two are superb. I'd also include the 40CD "Romantic Piano Concertos" box from Brilliant Classics, which brings together a truckload of obscure repertoire from Turnabout LPs. And I'm very fond of the "200 Ans de Musique a Versailles" box of 20 discs of French baroque and early classical recordings. And then there's the Szell Columbia megabox and the two Ormandy megaboxes. And, finally, the Glenn Gould complete albums box. Just an absolutely gorgeous set. Sony presents this stuff so well.
Since it started, this channel has been putting major expansion pressure on my collection, but this is getting ridiculous! In truth, I’m a music lover who finds these big boxes more daunting than alluring. I feel the pressure of mortality when I look at them, and I have nowhere to put them. That said, I have three of your ten in my collection: Liszt/Howard, Stravinsky/Stravinsky, and Haydn/Dorati. Some other boxes that I treasure: the Hyperion Schubert edition, which I think someone else mentioned, the Byrd Edition from the Cardinall’s Musick (also on Hyperion, which is a label that seems to specialize in producing interesting and enterprising boxes, or box-able things), the Rubinstein “Chopin Collection” box, and the “Britten Conducts Britten” box from Decca. A very stimulating talk, once again. Many thanks.
I share your feelings... the Hyperion Schubert Edition is surely another great achievement in the field of recorded music. I own and cherish the Byrd/Cardinall’s Musick recordings; I started buying them when they were first released on ASV. I don't think they were ever re-released as a box set, though, which is a shame - it would certainly have more manageable proportions than the boxes mentioned in the video! Speaking of "box-able things" on Hyperion: I'd be happy if they chose to reissue the complete organ works by Petr Eben in a single box at special price. They're all out-of-print and, although I have an interest in modern organ music, and Eben's in particular, I don't feel like going on a hunt for used copies in this case (it could be expensive, too). And I do hope they release together in a single set all the individual volumes in the Orlando Consort's complete Machaut series, once it's done.
A fun presentation, indeed, David and thanks for creating it. Was hoping you'd feature the "Mozart 225" as that album ain't too bad for a complete box set. Glad you included Leslie Howard's complete Liszt piano music (98 CDs, no less!). I have both that and the Claudio Arrau set. Couldn't agree more on those. And thanks for suggesting the Harmonia Mundi Baroque Opera set.
Thank you for leading me to Zuzana Ruzickova. After nearly 70 years learning and listening to music, I've never come across her. Better late than not at all.
I just discovered you on TH-cam. Great stuff!! I just want to add my two cents. My favorite box which I listen to constantly is the Solti Chicago box. Muscular classical. I also have to give a shout out to the RCA Heifetz Piatigorski box. Beautiful chamber music keeps me sane
Hello David! I had never heard of the Baroque Opera box. I have recently become somewhat obsessed with that period of opera, so I will probably try to find a set for a good price. Thanks for the great video! And I'm looking forward to a Handel opera video, if you haven't already recorded one.
From early Mozart Symphonies I went to the Zinman box of JC Bach Symphonies and thence to CPE Bach. You are right. A major composer completely overlooked.
Apologies for being late to the party here. I’m a long-time listener to selected classical music but I’m a new enthusiast looking to expand my collection and knowledge. I’m looking for a boxed set I can buy to provide me with the best variety of popular repertory pieces and fabulous performances. Can anyone recommend a set? I’d like it to be 75-100 discs, in stereo, preferably, and under $250. I’m looking at the Warner Previn set, the Warner Muti set, the Columbia Szell and the Columbia Ormandy. I almost bought the Ormandy, but it’s in mono. I still might go for it, but I’d prefer stereo recordings. Any preference amongst these 4? Or is there a better assortment in a different boxed set that anyone here can recommend? I love Dave’s videos and have watched quite a few…but the options are overwhelming and I’m still undecided. Thanks for any guidance.
Ha ha you went there about the D and A Love it. I wanted to buy your CPE Bach book but it’s out of stock on Amazon! Get some to them quick. Also i’ll take this chance to say I’m still loving your genuine enthusiasm and lack of pompousness. Still finding great recordings on your recommendation to accompany me on my covid dog walks. If you can do something on Janacek soon that would be great as he’s always been a sticking point with me and I know it’s my fault not his. He just sounds so random and unstructured and hysterical and there’s always some older woman screaming at some younger woman in a cottage! Anyway keep up the good work
Amazon everywhere seems to be a huge mess, and Amadeus Press just switched publishing groups, but you can get the book direct from the publisher, Rowman and Littlefield, usually at a much better price too: rowman.com/ISBN/9781574674675/C-P-E-A-Listener's-Guide-to-the-Other-Bach
I keep coming back to this video in order to salivate. That Szell box alone is going for $1700 now. For that reason, I mortgaged my son’s college education to order the Ormandy box from Amazon Germany for 168 euros, which seems like both a steal and an investment. That was three weeks ago, and it is finally due to arrive on Monday! I’m really looking forward to the luxury experience! Meanwhile, I have had the Cluytens, Martinon and Silvestri boxes for quite some time, and I picked up a copy of the lovely Skrowaczewski 90th Birthday box about six weeks ago, which has all his Bruckner, so I am not doing so badly. But I also thought of a little mini-box I adore: the Klemperer/Wiener Phil Live Broadcast Performances box on Testament! Uniformly exciting performances and astonishingly good sound for 1950s live Klemp. And Testament boxes always have this silky feel to them, so they are good for stroking and petting and loving ....
Great David. I agree about Liszt, he basically met and played all the great composers of the 19th century. A lovely man (read the letters he exchanged with Wagner), a virtuoso who, like Glenn Gould, left the stage with his amazing piano performances to dedicate himself to making great music (which here and there he even managed to make). But just because I consider him a wonderful person, I will certainly never listen this box with all his piano work. It must be the most boring thing ever done.
The older I get the more that old chestnut, “Ars longa, vita brevis est”, rings true. Take a box with 80 CDs. As each CD lasts over an hour, if you were to listen each day for four hours solid, you would spend approximately a month at that one box without even repeating your favourites. For that reason I’m reluctant to consider those big boxes. However I have followed your advice and purchased Igor Levit’s Beethoven sonatas and Paul Kletzki’s Beethoven symphonies both of which I enjoy immensely.
Fair enough, and I take your point. I like having the boxes because for those with large collections they can consolidate a lot of individual discs, and they are like libraries--you're not going to play all of it, but it's there if you want it, and eventually, you just might. That's reason enough for me.
I have to say YES! to the Dorati box set of the Haydn Symphonies. I’d been listening to these on TH-cam for a while now since I decided to join the Crusade. I’m up to 41 now. Amazing! I think Haydn turned a corner at #40. 41 should be called “the Trumpet”. Or the “Restless Trumpet”. And the Adante is superb. David, I can’t thank you enough for getting me into Haydn. I’ve already listened to the London and Paris. But Haydn already broke major ground with these 40 on Symphonies. I can’t wait to hear 42, 43, 44 …. . One caveat: the provider on TH-cam accompanies them with some weird space age revolving videos. I just cover it up on my iPad and enjoy! I
This is one of your best videos, but it’s also officially the end of my efforts to keep up with you. The Baroque opera box and the complete Bach keyboard works especially jump out, though. I’ll probably get the complete Bach keyboard works and at least sample some of the Baroque operas.
A few weeks ago, when I started getting out driving to stuff (caving trips, hiking trips, etc) more (that is, letting the pandemic freeze go a bit), I started bringing the Dorati Haydn box with me and have been going through it. What a glorious way to enliven mostly-boring interstate driving!
I confess I never heard before about Zuzana Ruzickova and will always be grateful for this. A world on itself... Unbelievable. Talking about harpsichord, unless I missed it but I'm surprised not having seen any mention on Scott Ross' complete Scarlatti sonatas. Thanks again for your good work.
Great varied choices. The Munch, Martinon and Cluytens boxes are tremendous. Your comment that Britten was less important than Stravinsky made me think you should do another talk about 'specific boxes'. There are some amazing box sets covering specific but obscure corners of the repertoire, or the work of less well known but interesting artists. Examples would be the BIS box of Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras and Choros complete, or for artists: the Morton Gould Chicago Symphony box on RCA and Warners' Constantin Silvestri Icon box.
Already did Villa-Lobos. Silvestri is great but that's the whole talk: "It's great." Please have a look through the channel. You will find an entire playlist devoted to boxed sets: 44 videos so far. th-cam.com/play/PLAjIX596BriHBJNP1UPnuaSR443qKB3lR.html
It's nice to hear someone talk about Haydn with the same enthusiasm that I feel myself. A look at Haydn's wonderful piano trios would also be very welcome.
Mr. Hurwitz you are contributing to my sobriety I cut my liquor budget because now I’m buyin your recommendations and happy I am! I just got the cpe Bach box and I am blown away this guy rocks
Here is the thing. The packaging kind of sucks. I got a razor blade and carefully sliced the top of each desk. There are so many I am not cutting open a disk until I listen to it. It’s forcing me to listen to all of them. I’m hooked
By the way mr Hurwitz I subscribe to a magazine called the New Criterion it arrived today and they had a full page ad from the packerd institute for the complete Cpe works I think you have behind you in some of your vid’s. You are a Renaissance man dude!
Only one I have is the Szell. Some of the others I have: Bernstein remastered, Living Stereo remastered, Montreal/Dutoit, Decca/Phase4/Stokowski, Decca/Mehta (not the LA only box), Martinon/Chicago, Gould/Chicago. And there’s more! I treasure all of these.
I would love to see a video about whom you believe are the all-time 10-25 most underrated composers. That would be a fantastic way to direct listeners to what we should be discovering.
Wonderful idea for a video. It could go together with something like "10 composers you've probably never heard of - but you should!" I can promptly come up with a list of names I could bet my money on.
The 12 greatest classical box sets - I love it! I love box sets. I love focusing on one composer, artist, subject. This reminds me of Harold Blooms survey of the greatest works of literature. 😎 CPE Bach! Who knew? I would have Hyperion’s Schubert’s Lieder box. Alas Szell, Baroque, Arrau, Munch boxes are gone or stratospherically expensive. CPE is still available though
Well I have some of your recommendations which is reassuring, although we are talking here about very big boxes sometimes which at the prices are a bit of a fantasy! I can only add some ones I happen to have. Agree about Stravinsky and about Anna Maria Markovina (I just have her big box of the keyboard music, and, yes it is superb.) Someone has mentioned the Horowitz Carnegie Hall box - well, wow, yes. There's a large box - sony, I think - with all the pieces performed at the Vienna New Years concerts that I have as a guilty pleasure, so many pieces and conductors :) A word for the RCA Monteux box, so many pieces i don't have otherwise, and such a pleasure mostly. And there was a bit of joking about the Scarlatti sonatas the other day, but surely Scott Ross' achievement here is right up there (no, I can't say I've listened to every disc). A word for the RCO Live The Radio Legacy, which is now a huge (and alas expensive - though not as expensive as the reported price for Arrau by one commenter!) sort of double shoebox. Cheaper from the RCO maybe then from Amazon. You can still get various decade themed boxes - "Anthologies of the (Royal) Concertgebouw Orchestra" -and conductor boxes separately. This is an extraordinary record of an orchestra from the 30s until about 2010 with a great array of works, conductors, soloists. Lots of Mengelberg, Van Beinum, Haitink, Chailly, Jansons, sure (not always playing what you expect them to!) but also a load of other people and such variety of repertoire and great playing. 152 CDs! Really extraordinary to work through...
Hello, what were according to you the best orchestras to look out for. I only listen to vinyl and have a ton of Deutsche Grammophon. Mostly Berliner and Karajan. Thanks. Btw, I am Flemish Belgian, it is pronounced Cluytens :-) uy is like one vowel. Like fur, furens, cluytens. Something like that. :-)
Thank you for suggesting the Cluytens box. It has been such an eye-opener. Since I also have Munch and Monteux boxes, I have a counterweight to the vast Austro-German approach.
What has happened to Richard Goode's Beethoven Sonatas? I consider it an indispensable reference. Every dynamic and articulation is intelligently interpreted and flawlessly executed.
To be honest, I'm not a fan of huge boxes. I mean, sure, boxes like the Arrau or the Szell one would look great on my CD shelf, but I know I wouldn't listen to most of the stuff, as great as most of those recordings are. I just don't have the discipline to listen to most of it. The lack of time is another issue but not the main one. That said, I have lots of smaller boxes of like 10 oder 20 discs or so. Those are way more manageable for someone like me, so e. g. the Martinon and the Růžičková box sure are tempting. In my opinion, small boxes containing certain parts of the repertoire of a great artist (e. g. the boxes of the Michael Gielen Edition or the Liszt recordings of Claudio Arrau) are much more interesting than a huge box of just about everything or most of his recordings. Of course lots of music collectors will disagree!
Yes I was thinking about this too. There has to a lot of variety in a very big box to incentivise going all the way through it. The Hyperion Schubert Edition is a case in point. Not dissing Schubert or the performers at all, but it’s very unlikely anyone would listen from beginning to end, which is why I’d didnt mention it in an earlier comment, however pathbreaking and essential (in a way) it may be....
with The Messah video, I think the Sur Andrew Davis recording is great fun. But the two I wouldn’t be without are the Coro Sixteen and Trevor Pinnock, English Concert
David, I finally pulled the trigger on the updated Hanssler C.P.E. Bach Edition box that has been expanded to 60 discs with 6 newer recordings added, including some piano concerto discs with Michael Rische which you've talked about separately and I believe you had a hand in. It finally arrived yesterday about 2 months after I ordered it. The new big box is currently available for about $75, so I thought you might want to mention it in your next update video before it disappears.
To name another box set that come to mind: The Bartok "Complete Works" from Decca I think is exemplary among composer compilations. The only downside for any one interested in Bartok - certainly among the 4 or five most important and influential composers of the 20th century is that he or she is likely already to have a number of the performances chosen, such as the Kertesz Bluebeard, the piano works by Koscis, or the Anda/Fricsay piano concertos. But even in such a case, the set is worth having because it contains all the vocal works, many of which are all but unknown outside of Hungary, with full texts and translations, in reasonably readable type. The discs are organized by genre, and all the individual tracks are thoroughly indexed by BB number in the accompanying booklet. The box and sleeves are sturdy and practical, the performances are intelligently chosen, generally among the best if not the best available, all in very good t0 excellent sound and there are three discs of historical performances, mostly from the mid-fifties through around 1970, plus a 1939 performance of the 2nd Violin Concerto by its dedicatee and first performer Zoltan Szekely. The whole presentation appears to be a labor or love, rather than the expedient and slapdash production we frequently get. At the risk of rambling on too long, I want to mention one other boxed set which deserves to exist, but does not as yet: Decca should box up all the recordings issued in Michael Haas' Entartete Kunst series, also from Decca, which is one of the most important and valuable series undertaken before the CD industry, as you have put it "went bust."
Before I hear his selections: artists -- Rubinstein or Peter Serkin on piano, Stern on violin because they recorded mostly for one label. (Horowitz and Richter on piano, Perlman on violin, and Rostropovich on cello recorded for just about every label composer collection -- all Mozart, all Beethoven works, Bach cantatas, Haydn symphonies or string quartets on one label. entire label from a time -- RCA Living Stereo, CBS Masterworks from the pre-digital era, There might be huge gaps, as Bruckner or Mahler on the RCA Red Seal conductors -- Bernstein, Harnoncourt, Colin Davis, Karajan, Szell... I know what you think of Solti so I exclude him My beef: I am satisfied that the finest recording was done before digital. CD's are as good as anything for playback. I often replaced an LP after ten years if I played it a lot -- needle scratches, stretching and shrinking in the heat flux in a hot place such as Dallas... .
In the end, all of your wonderful choices balance each other out, and basically cover all the repertoire you'll really need for a well-rounded collection. As for what will happen to box sets, I find it interesting that certain boxes have been made available in flash-drive format, such as the Glenn Gould Remastered Edition, the Daniel Barenboim Bayreuth Ring Cycle, and the Hanssler Complete Bach Edition. I can't see why one couldn't release lossless files on small drives and model their packaging after the best box sets. We've already seen this in the pop world: The Beatles remastered edition, the Grateful Dead's "30 Trips Around the Sun" megabox in flash drive format, and so forth. Furthermore, this might be much more cost effective than pressing CDs.
That is a really good idea. Typically I am only interested in physical discs (I'm pretty old school), but if there were a physical "box" with a flash drive, I would probably adjust quite well to that and in fact learn to prefer it. It's a little nonsensical the way I currently listen to things. I get a physical cd and RIP it to my computer and usually transfer it over to my mobile device and listen through bluetooth. So why do I insist on having physical discs? Well, I like seeing the original album art as well as well as having liner notes. Those could still be made available without providing a physical cd. God knows I could then eliminate having to rent overflow space for all this stuff!
FWIW, the Růžičková box is available in FLAC and MP3 formats if you live outside the US. Don't know why Warner have to be such jerks about their US distribution of these things. (IMHO, they should have never been allowed to get so big in the first place. I think they are the most unworthy custodians imaginable of the Erato, Teldec, EMI, and Nonesuch catalogs. Their unworthiness is evident in their failure to recognize that they're, in fact, custodians: these recordings belong in a strong sense "to history." A world not run by bean counters, the importance of these catalogs would recognize this role, and any custodian would approach these catalogs with a sense of humility.)
Hi Mr Hurwitz I remember one time you mentioned that RCA should put out an Arthur Fiedler box. I ran across one today at Newbury comics. It’s called 100 Fiedler Favorites and it is a 7CD box. Put out in 1994. Everything with the Boston Pops. Both straight classical and the typical pops repertoire. I’m gonna dig into it tomorrow I will let you know how it is dude!
Dear Jan, thank you so much for your note. I have already noticed from Amazon reviewers that older CD players have problems and when the record approaches its end, they begin skipping, especially if the cd is super long. Mine is a newer model, although it’s nothing special, it still plays them perfectly. Some years ago there was a warning for burning a cd-r 900mb because somehow it could harm your computer but I don’t think they exist any more. Thanks again for your message! If anyone else with experience on this topic would be willing to share their thoughts on this, I’d be very interested in hearing them, although I absolutely don’t mean to draw attention away from David’s marvelous reviews.
Dear Dave, I believe the complete Philips recordings box by the Beaux Arts trio is a beautiful set, in terms of repertoire, artistic achievement, historical importance, and a great, great homage to a music who gave 100% always, with a deep musical integrity, and from the shadowed side of the stage : Menahem Pressler.
Most importantly there are so many bouncy, charming piano trios by Haydn that get played less often than is appropriate. Haydn wrote oodles of those, and they are always enjoyable.
I want the Munch box set from RCA so badly, but I missed the moment to get it. There is only one that I can find and it's $1,400.00 - OMG I can only hope that it will be issued again or someone knows where I can get one for less money.
Thanks for that -- feel like you could probably do five more without thinking too hard? At any rate, your commentary is as informative and joy-inducing as ever. (As well as purchase-inspiring. So...thank you?) Being a weak person, feel I'm somewhat walled in by boxes. Happily mostly by performers I already know I'll like, which saves some listening time/obligation. Love all the usual suspects -- the ones you mentioned along with the Living Stereo, Toscanini, Gould, anyone's mono box, etc. Though mong the ones that might not jump to mind: -- The Ataulfo Argenta box on Scribendum. Love boxes that hold surprises I would not have thought to seek out . (How many other boxes contain works by Guridi, Breton, Ohana, Escudero...not to mention the dozen or so composers of Zarazuelas, who are all new to me.) Quite a voyage of discovery. -- A couple of mini-boxes: The Isserlis on RCA (12 discs). Interesting repertoire outside of the kind of thing on the Patiagorsky, Fournier, du Pre, et al boxes. (though adore them all) -- also, with apologies to pipo, Kreisler on Music and Arts as well as the RCA box. Like everyone, have fingers crossed for an Ormandy box. And, being another CPE fan, am twiddling my fingers waiting for that Rische box. (Though may find myself as dead as -- you'll forgive me -- you before that arrives. The problem with living performers and authors is that you never know how much space to leave on the shelf...)
David, thank you so much for opening my ears to many new things. I thought I knew what I liked, and this would never have included J.S. Bach on the harpsichord, or Baroque opera, or C.P.E. Bach! But now I've listened to some of these things, and they are wonderful. (Although I can't agree with your choice of pianist for the C.P.E. Bach; her articulation is like nails on a blackboard to me. But the Pletnev is glorious.) By the way, I did a little creepy internet research, and Marc-Andre Hamelin is not much younger than you are: in fact, you were born exactly seven days apart!
That Szell box is on the top of my wish list. It is completely impossible to obtain it now unfortunately. If it appears somewhere the price is horrible. If youtube doesn't suggest Mr. Hurwitz's channel to me, I would be calm. But now... :-(
Just bought the Ruzickova set (having just discovered your videos). Thank you! I'm tempted by the Harmonia Mundi opera set but, damnit, I already own half the recordings. *Sigh* Like that has ever stopped me before. If this hasn't been mentioned already, I think you stated that Markovina was the first and only to record CPEs complete keyboard works. If so, there's poor old Spanyi, who seems to be all but ignored. His recordings should already be in a box set by now-at least his CPE Bach keyboard concerti. Don't know why BIS is sitting on those.
As a relatively new appreciator of classical music I would like to ask how much any of you would recommend avoiding releases from the brilliant classics label? They have a massive selection here on TH-cam which I have been exploring for a while but I'm starting to doubt the quality, I wonder what a more qualified opinion might go like...
After London/decca issued the dorati haydn on cd, they actually did issue the whole set with the notes in a large box. It was out in the 1990's. So decca can just reissue that box........ My big complaint about box reissues is the removal of the notes. Often the companies issue some boxes with "lavish books" with pictures,....but NOT THE NOTES. Of course, atleast we have the recordings.
@@ftumschk I specifically asked s.o. "knowledgeable about the whereabouts of the industry" why that was. Apparently there are the two reasons for it: 1. The rights. Usually the copyright of the original notes is with their author and the publisher licenses them only for publication with the recording in the original form. Sometimes even for a given (limited) number of printed copies. This is also the reason why notes are missing with the digital releases of music. 2. Often the modern digital typography was uncommon or non-existent at the time the recording was originally published. The publisher did not have the print files or the offset films, these were with the printer. If the printed supply was out of stock and/or the printer went out of business -- sorry, guys! To re-create these booklets from an old printed copy, if the original photographs and artwork are lost, is a rather tricky, sometimes impossible task, that may cost lots of effort and money...
@@jankucera8180 very interesting, and sorry to learn this. I am sure it is true, look how they handled masters. However, let me point out a problem or two: first, the companies have no problem leaving out recordings from box issues and reissuing "complete limited editions" within a few years. They often do this with "original jacket" editions....where they reproduce jacket backs with the notes. Then when they offer the "complete" edition, they use plain simple sleeves. Often, alot of the large boxes are "original jackets". The notes are there on the jacket. However, you need a magnifying glass to read it. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ENLARGED AND REPLACE THE PICTURE books. When Harnoncourt bach was issued on lp, they included the scores....that would ask too much......HOWEVER HERE IS A COMPROMISE. These days most people have computers. Why not offer the notes, when they have them, cheaply, on a cd-rom. This is being done, but not on the "limited editions". Or provide this "stuff" downloadable off their website.
I have the Haydn/Dorati, the Cluytens and the Munch sets and love them all! I have at least some of the others in separate recordings and smaller sets, so I may do some hunting for individual recordings as time and money permits. One set you didn't mention but that may rate at least an honorable mention is the complete-as-currently-possible Bach collection of the Edition Bachakademie set on Hannsler. The scope of the project is impressive and, whereas there are some hits and misses (an 15 minute organ rendition of the Ricercar as an example of the latter), the overall quality is very nice, with Helmuth Rilling striking the right balance (in my opinion) of period and modern performance in the choral and orchestral music.
Dave, to pronounce Cluytens there are two ways: Flemish (=Dutch) or French (hailing from the Flemish port town of Antwerp, he became a French national just befor WW II). So, you go to Google Translate, type his name, select the language and push the 'listen' button. Then you practice. The Google pronunciation is pretty correct to my ears (Dutch dude living in Brussels). And I want to hear you pronounce it correctly some time in the future and make us all proud of you. Let me also thank you profusely for all the great recordings you recommend. I'm close to bankruptcy, while Jeff Bezos became megabillionaire. I stopped eating, but continue paying the electricity bill, just to be able to keep on listening to music. These boxes will kill me....
I appreciate the help but in case you haven't noticed, I don't care how to pronounce it! It's not worth the trouble when, as you point out, I could be listening to the recordings.
Jeroen, when giving English advice, you'd best get yours right. "Then you practise." Practise is the verb, hence, "Go and practise." "I went to the doctor's practice." (NOUN). Except, like everything, if you are American, in which case you are free to make up your own spelling and grammar rules! (tongue firmly in cheek)...
OMG, that Zuzana is something else! I just sampled her Goldberg on TH-cam. Thank you, David for bringing her to our attention! Her playing is so fresh, imaginative, even Romantic (not a bad word!). Primphonic has the album where she plays the Triple (and Quadruple!) Harpsichords & Strings concertos by Bach and they sound FULLY CHARGED. Will get you to sit straight up in delight. ;) Just curious: anyone know what Glenn Gould thought of her???
For a few years around 2010, I used to get nearly daily phone calls from an elderly listener way out in rural Western Mass named Arthur Perkins. As a young lad in '49, after graduating from Harvard and studying music in Paris, Arthur became secretary and translator for the Boston SO's new French conductor. You know who. Arthur later went on to manage orchestras in San Antonio, Detroit (under Paray) and Hartford. Then, he became a stockbroker and after that, a Protestant minister. He usually called during piano music by Schubert or Schumann (his faves, along with Elgar and Rachmaninoff), which he always thought was being played too fast. I would tell him that the music wasn't too fast, he was listening too slow. And he'd sign off by thanking me, "dear boy," for humoring an old man. Never met him in person. But I think of him every time I listen to Munch -- which, inspired by you, Dave, is often. Thanks for humoring a soon-to-be senior citizen!
I can’t thank you enough for recommending the Ruzickova set. I’d not known of it before watching this video. There weren’t a lot of copies out there, so I ordered one immediately. It’s a gorgeous box, and the music is phenomenal. For as much as I like Glenn Gould, he’s the wrong player for a complete Bach edition since his playing is so idiosyncratic. My approach to this music had always been to look for good representative records but not to try to hear all of it, because there’s too much and a lot of it is too obscure. The Rusickova box is a cornerstone of my collection now.
@@DavesClassicalGuide - Ruzickova's collaborations with Joseph Suk, Pierre Fournier, and Jean-Pierre Rampal on the last discs of this set are the perfect way to end it. I can't get enough of those tracks.
Such life-affirming videos. One thing that doesn't seem to get mentioned much is what a marvelously fluent speaker you are; a continuous stream of information without umms and ahhs for 35 minutes. Great stuff!
Wow, thank you!
Totally agree David. I have to do online lectures at the moment (and watch them after to check) and your lack of the uns and ers is striking, but a model to eventually approximate!
@@DavesClassicalGuide Rare today :)
Oh yeah, it's pretty impressive. Lot of teaching experience there?
Absolutely - a wonderful fluent and intelligent narrator
1. Opéra baroque (39 x CD; Harmonia Mundi)
2. Haydn: The Complete Symphonies (33 x CD; 1996; Decca)
3. C.P.E. Bach Edition (54 x CD; 2016; Haenssler Classics)
4. Stravinsky: The Complete Columbia Album Collection (56 x CD; 2015; Sony Classical)
5. Maria Callas: The Complete Studio Recordings (69 x CD; 2014; Warner Classics)
6. Zuzana Růžičková: Bach - The Complete Keyboard Works (20 x CD; 2016; Erato)
7. Leslie Howard: Liszt - The Complete Piano Music (98 x CD; 2011; Hyperion)
8. Claudio Arrau: The Complete Philips Recordings (80 x CD; 2018; Decca)
9. Jean Martinon: The Late Years (14 x CD; 2015; Erato)
10. Cluytens: The Complete Orchestral & Concerto Recordings (65 x CD; 2017; Erato)
11. Munch: The Complete RCA Recordings (86 x CD; 2016, RCA Red Seal)
12. The George Szell Edition (106 x CD; 2018; Sony Classical)
SUGGESTIONS:
13. The Complete Mozart Edition (180 x CD; 1991; Philips Classics)
14. Beethoven: The Symphonies (5 x CD; 1994; Philips Classics)
15. Mozart 225: The New Complete Edition (200 x CD; 2016; Decca/Deutsche Grammophon/Philips)
@@berserker8853 Okay? Thanks I guess?
My quick thoughts - what and why:
1 - Beethoven Symphonies - Karajan/BPO 1963 - perhaps it may have been more of a marketing accomplishment, but certainly whetted the appetite of collectors for "Complete" collections of this or that.
2 - Mahler Symphonies - Bernstein/NYPO - accelerated the trajectory of Mahler from odd crank to central fixture of the repertoire.
3 - Haydn Symphonies - Dorati/PH - For all the reasons you mentioned and more
4 - Wagner Ring Cycle - Solti/VPO - Still the measuring stick and likely to remain so
5 - Bach Keyboard Works - Glenn Gould - Love him or hate him, he still looms large over the repertory
6 - Mozart Piano Concertos - Perahia/ECO - Another benchmark that is still a reference in this area
7 - Shostakovich String Quartets - Borodin Quartet - One of the most important modern works, again in recordings that set the standard
8 - Complete Mozart Edition - Philips Recordings - The first "Complete" essay to capture the attention of the public in a noticeable way
9 - Mercury Living Presence Box - I recall how collectors used to thumb through crates of LPs looking for these very recordings and the temptation to finally have so many of them at one's fingertips is too tempting to resist
10 - Mozart Sonatas - Uchida - Again a set of recordings that will likely be a benchmark for years to come
While I confess not all of these are my favorites, I think they're all collections that at some point you have to reckon with. Whatever you ultimately purchase, you at some point probably thought "well, how does this compare to (one of the recordings above)?" Also, I think it matters that many of these projects shaped the conversation about classical music and contributed to the appreciation and understanding of it in a meaningful way.
A smart and thorough "personal" selection! I'd sure be happy with it.
Excellent selection, and for exactly the reasons you cite (even if I'm not a fan of the Solti Ring!). If I had one reservation--and it's a tiny one that I put forth cautiously--I'd agree with you on the Gould from the perspective of the history of recording, but from the perspective of interpretation and performance, I wonder if in Eastern Europe, where Růžičková has been far better known and for longer than in Western Europe and the Anglosphere, if the Gould would have made the same impression. In favor of Gould, though, Sony's reproduction of the covers alone demonstrate a recognition of a significant and too often underestimated aspect of recording history--packaging!--that the Warner's packaging of the Růžičková does not.
But both represent monumental achievements, and I'd be happy with any list that contained either collection.
Wonderful selection. I'm happy to own the Solti, Bernstein and Perahia. And Gould. For Shostakovich quartets, I own the first incomplete Borodin Qt set and I'm thinking of going with the Pacifica on Cedille for a modern edition.
Definitely agree with the Karajan Beethoven, Borodin Shostakovich, Gould Bach, and Mercury Living Presence. Aside from the Wagner, it seems we have similar tastes, great list! Like VoceCorale, I too have been wondering about a modern set of the Shostakovich Quartets to upgrade the sonics. Multichannel SACD would be nice. I love Shostakovich, and for me his Operas and String Quartets are tops, but those seem to be the least-often performed and recorded in comparison with his symphonies and concertos.
The Uchida box set is included in the Complete Mozart Edition by Philips.
The Karajan/BPO Beethoven Symphonies are included in the Beethoven Complete Edition box set by DG and i'd put it on this list along with the Bach 2000 box set by Teldec.
Old video…BUT I finally found the Dorati Haydn Symphonies box set…for a very reasonable price. And I’m loving it! Again, Dave, your recommendation was SPOT ON!!
I have just started watching these - so informative and entertaining.
Thank you and welcome!
My favorite boxed sets are Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau's box of all Schubert songs, some 475 of them, composed for the male voice; about $2/disc. Then there's the Bach Cantatas box by Rilling. About 75 discs for barely more than $1 each. I know, price isn't everything; but when you can get such fantastic music at such a ridiculously low price, you have to give it some serious thought. This was a great video.
The Szell box is available again, I ordered it and I got it last week. I listen to it disc by disc from start to end. Now I am still at the mono era but I listened to some of the stereo recordings also. The sound quality is quite good, even the mono recordings sound good. There are little faults in the remastering but usually it is very satisfying.
When I got the box, one of the first performance I listened to was the stereo Till. I was completely impressed. That perfection, that musicality, that transparency and sound! Unbeliveable. I know that not every recording will match my taste (especially the big band Mozart/Haydn with supressed timpani) but I think this box was one of my greatest buy, thank you for the suggestion!
This has been the first year I’ve really embraced a journey with classical music after passively enjoying concerts and performances for several years, I feel so lucky to have found your channel and this treasure trove of seasoned information. These videos work really well as a North Star for understanding what is often an intimidating canon with artistic and publishing history. Thank you so much.
It's my pleasure. Thank you for watching.
@@DavesClassicalGuidewow quick reply! I found the CPE Bach box set for $50 at a Half Priced Books and it’s a complete delight! I look forward to reading your book. 😊
CDs are still going. I am curious how you think about the CD versus streaming issue now almost 3 years later.
My partner got me as a gift the Bruno Walter set. Absolutely beautifully presented and the transfers are of the highest quality
I have now been listening to Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach for a couple of hours and you were right. The music is great! Thank you for showing us this underrated composer.
Thank YOU for listening.
I one million percent agree with the Zuzana Ruzickova choice. She has such an affinity for making Bach come alive like no other artist I have ever heard. I actually love the coloring you get with her harpsichord and wish they would make a comeback. She makes even the most pedantic Bach piece exciting and thrilling to listen to. It's such a shame she wasn't well known during her time, but I'm sure she will get the recognition she truly deserves with this set.
Hello David:
I like the continued aura of 'having fun' ...that is what this is all about...often leading one down the "rabbit hole' to discover new performances and repertoire .. There is still much for ALL of us to discover ( coming from one, who had tens of thousands of lps,cds) Discovering something new is always exciting! Your box selections make sense, but as you surely know, it would require at least a handcart for a more 'complete selection' .. I approve of selecting Cluytens. I have been a fan of his work...He did most things very well and what is also worthy of note is that many of the recordings posses some of the best sonics , of a truly French orchestra.
With the disappearance of cds, what about the disappearance of records, which would lead to a long discussion of the virtues and pitfalls of those mediums....how far we have drifted from the live performance to cylinders, 78's, records , cds... It seems we are adrift in a sea of convenience with a frequent loss of quality.....sort of like fast food...you receive it quickly, but start loosing flavor and gustatory pleasure....a subject for much discussion and thought
Your love of Haydn warms my heart, David. I grew up with these Dorati symphony recordings as a teenager, and while I find some of the tempi too slow, especially the minuets, I wouldn't be without it. You're also right about CPE Bach....I'll look out for your book. I especially love the keyboard concertos.
Excellent! The weightlifters guide to classical music.
Dear Mr Hurwitz!
I would like to thank you for this talk. I think it is one of your most important yet. It says a lot about your taste and I feel I know you better after this talk. I now wonder if you had made a talk about Dvorak's Cello concerto?
If not I think it is high time.
Best wishes!
Thank you, Dave. We have had a good time too! Really, really enjoyed this, and listened hard to everything you said.
I have the Szell box. Magnificent!
You make me want to explore the CPE Bach collection.
Loved, loved, loved this "documentary" - I felt like I was hearing another soul who "gets it" on my wavelength. Thanks David! (You had me at the "whole Megillah"!)
I really laughed out loud at the Dido and Aeneas part!
Thank you very much, I'm so happy!!!
Ана, как я рада за тебя!!!
Hi Dave, what is the best recording of the Schumann violin concerto?
Check out reviews on ClassicsToday.com.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Thank you.
Dear Mr Hurwitz!
I would like to ask you to consider to make a talk about another 12 great boxes.
Best wishes Fred.
This was so much fun. I felt like cheering when some of my favorites came up. You included one box of harpsichord music, but I'd like to add another one ... the set of complete Scarlatti sonatas by Scott Ross. At the time, I think it was the largest recording project by a single artist. It's an amazing achievement, even more so given his declining health. I wonder what a Scott Ross Box would look like today if we hadn't lost him so soon.
That was on my list too, but I want to do a separate talk about it later, so I decided to save it. You are totally right, though--a tremendous achievement.
I've been thinking about getting that set for years now... I must really make a resolution and start the long journey across Scarlatti's sonatas before it's too late. A colossal achievement indeed.
Yes indeed, but it's just a pity it's played on the harpsichord: clunk, clink, clunk...
@@novagerio9244 Yes it did occur to me and all I can say is pity Bach and his audiences having to listen to that appalling plonking. But you go ahead and listen to it that way if you like lacerating your eyedrums. Me? I'll stick to a forte or a grand. Do you think Bach would be playing on a harpsichord if he were alive today? Of course not!
@@rossappleby Both are valid approaches. A harpsichord makes the counterpoint clearer, but a piano allows far more room for expression of the music. I have seen the rap for "sewing-machine" playing of the harpsichord. It has gotten better. Obviously Bach sounds better on piano than Chopin does on harpsichord.
Greetings from sunny Malta ! what a wealth of information and very well explained video, can you advise where I can purchase the Zuzanna Ruzickova as I did not find it as yet, thanks and keep up the good work
I really don't know if it's still in print. You'll just have to hunt around, I'm afraid.
A great video. I will admit, I was surprised to not see the Silvestri box on the list.
I keep coming back to this video. everything is there. I thank your mother for giving birth to you. Beyond a list, there are so many inspiring things. I go back to watch this video from time to time and I will continue to do so. THANKS! a bit strange though to hear about pipo. how can i have an attachment ?
I like that you have CD's!
Bless this man 😊
I do not always agree with you, but you never pick a dud, unless that is your intent. And, your sense of humor is refreshing. Thanks for these videos.
Fair enough!
I've completely switched to digital music with roon+tidal+qobuz but these videos have been instrumental in compiling my library! Keep m coming good sir!
Glad I could help!
Same here, though I have a large library of discs. I've made some Spotify playlists of David's recommendations that can be moved to Qobuz or Tidal via Soundiz, listed under "Hurwitz" and a few of them are now in Qobuz.
Glad to see you recommend the Ruzickova Bach box. A brilliant and unique set. Beautifully played and interpreted. I have many boxes of Bach keyboard works on piano and harpsichord but this one is the most beautiful and heartfelt.
I'm a very recent listener/watcher/subscriber. The boxset episode caught my notice, in particular. I love them for so many reasons (the often comprehensive booklets, the graphics, the positioning of the pieces, etc.)
My taste runs to mostly 20th-century music, and there is one set that tops them all for me. The "if-I-could-only-take-one" for me would be the old EMI set of RVW's works, culled under the title "The Collector's Edition", issued in 2008. I had several collections of his symphonies, but nothing much else. This set introduced me to every facet of his music. I believe no other label had (or even was capable of providing) such a gathering of artists and compositions from this maestro. He taught me to love choral music, as well as English opera.
What I'm saying, I guess, is that this particular boxset completely changed my musical landscape.
But I would also like to mention another fine boxset. Being a poor elderly retiree with little spare cash, I try not to look at those big bigbucks boxsets, but the recent release of the Warner (nee EMI) complete Barbirolli recordings made me go for my wallet. Very few conductors (none that I can think of from his generation) brought such warmth to even the most dynamic music as did Sir John. What a treasure trove, containing as it does his final recordings, those of the Sibelius cycle, my personal favorites.
Keep these elucidations forthcoming!
Thanks Dave. As always, entertaining and informative. My favourite boxed sets:
Mozart: The Concertos for Piano & Orchestra, Murray Perahia, English Chamber Orchestra (CBS Masterworks) and (it's a tie) Mozart the Complete Piano Sonatas, Mitsuko Uchida (Philips).
I'm now going to find the CPE Bach set on Apple/Spotify and start my Ana-Marija Markovina.
Awesome box set episode. If only you were made of money. I would totally get'em all if i only could afford it. Still, an awesome watch. Thanks Dave! 🎼🎶🎶🎶🎻🎻🎻
Thanks!
Thank you very much for your kindness!
Dave - greetings from the Penal Colonies. Yes it was a great idea from your friend. Here is my list
, where subjectivity is king:
(1) Complete Mozart Edition
(2) Karajan 60 70 80s
(3) Karajan’s Bruckner which is a separate entry in its own right.
(4) Karajan Warner Edition.
(5) Schubert Sonatas - Kempff
(6) Haydn Piano Trios - Beaux Arts Trios
(7) Beethoven Sonatas - Gilels.
(8) Haydn Symphonies - Dorati.
(9) Mozart Symphonies - Böhm & Berlin Phil.
(10) Dvorak Symphonies - Kubelik & Berlin Phil.
(11) Schubert Lieder - Dietrich Fischer Dieskau. Not my favourite singer by a mile but it was a milestone in the genre.
(12) Haydn String Quartets - Kodaly, where the only weakness is the Sun Quartets.
Best wishes, B
He was OUR friend, since he commented here for all of us.
As someone who was "getting back" into classical music about a dozen years ago, I'd find it difficult not to include some of the boxed sets devoted to specific labels that came out around that time, as they gave a huge cross section of the repertoire in one well-priced package.
There was the DG111, and the couple of Phillips boxes (which devoted more space to chamber music than the other label boxes seemed to), and the Decca Sound boxes - particularly the mono one, which very effectively shows us just how much the core repertoire has changed during the last seventy years or so. There's lots of slightly left-field choices on that one. These boxes came out, of course, before Decca started screwing up every boxed set it seemed to release! I also would include the first two Living Stereo boxes - the third one was a bit of a mopping up exercise, but the first two are superb.
I'd also include the 40CD "Romantic Piano Concertos" box from Brilliant Classics, which brings together a truckload of obscure repertoire from Turnabout LPs. And I'm very fond of the "200 Ans de Musique a Versailles" box of 20 discs of French baroque and early classical recordings. And then there's the Szell Columbia megabox and the two Ormandy megaboxes. And, finally, the Glenn Gould complete albums box. Just an absolutely gorgeous set. Sony presents this stuff so well.
"The Decca Sound" is my favourite box set. Almost completely perfect
Since it started, this channel has been putting major expansion pressure on my collection, but this is getting ridiculous!
In truth, I’m a music lover who finds these big boxes more daunting than alluring. I feel the pressure of mortality when I look at them, and I have nowhere to put them. That said, I have three of your ten in my collection: Liszt/Howard, Stravinsky/Stravinsky, and Haydn/Dorati.
Some other boxes that I treasure: the Hyperion Schubert edition, which I think someone else mentioned, the Byrd Edition from the Cardinall’s Musick (also on Hyperion, which is a label that seems to specialize in producing interesting and enterprising boxes, or box-able things), the Rubinstein “Chopin Collection” box, and the “Britten Conducts Britten” box from Decca.
A very stimulating talk, once again. Many thanks.
I share your feelings... the Hyperion Schubert Edition is surely another great achievement in the field of recorded music. I own and cherish the Byrd/Cardinall’s Musick recordings; I started buying them when they were first released on ASV. I don't think they were ever re-released as a box set, though, which is a shame - it would certainly have more manageable proportions than the boxes mentioned in the video!
Speaking of "box-able things" on Hyperion: I'd be happy if they chose to reissue the complete organ works by Petr Eben in a single box at special price. They're all out-of-print and, although I have an interest in modern organ music, and Eben's in particular, I don't feel like going on a hunt for used copies in this case (it could be expensive, too).
And I do hope they release together in a single set all the individual volumes in the Orlando Consort's complete Machaut series, once it's done.
A fun presentation, indeed, David and thanks for creating it. Was hoping you'd feature the "Mozart 225" as that album ain't too bad for a complete box set. Glad you included Leslie Howard's complete Liszt piano music (98 CDs, no less!). I have both that and the Claudio Arrau set. Couldn't agree more on those. And thanks for suggesting the Harmonia Mundi Baroque Opera set.
Thank you for leading me to Zuzana Ruzickova. After nearly 70 years learning and listening to music, I've never come across her. Better late than not at all.
I just discovered you on TH-cam. Great stuff!! I just want to add my two cents. My favorite box which I listen to constantly is the Solti Chicago box. Muscular classical. I also have to give a shout out to the RCA Heifetz Piatigorski box. Beautiful chamber music keeps me sane
Welcome, and enjoy the shows!
Hello David! I had never heard of the Baroque Opera box. I have recently become somewhat obsessed with that period of opera, so I will probably try to find a set for a good price. Thanks for the great video! And I'm looking forward to a Handel opera video, if you haven't already recorded one.
I find Handel's operas as great as Mozart's in terms of drama and character portrayal.
From early Mozart Symphonies I went to the Zinman box of JC Bach Symphonies and thence to CPE Bach. You are right. A major composer completely overlooked.
The Szell box is perfection… my favorite
Apologies for being late to the party here.
I’m a long-time listener to selected classical music but I’m a new enthusiast looking to expand my collection and knowledge.
I’m looking for a boxed set I can buy to provide me with the best variety of popular repertory pieces and fabulous performances. Can anyone recommend a set? I’d like it to be 75-100 discs, in stereo, preferably, and under $250. I’m looking at the Warner Previn set, the Warner Muti set, the Columbia Szell and the Columbia Ormandy. I almost bought the Ormandy, but it’s in mono. I still might go for it, but I’d prefer stereo recordings. Any preference amongst these 4? Or is there a better assortment in a different boxed set that anyone here can recommend?
I love Dave’s videos and have watched quite a few…but the options are overwhelming and I’m still undecided.
Thanks for any guidance.
Ha ha you went there about the D and A Love it. I wanted to buy your CPE Bach book but it’s out of stock on Amazon! Get some to them quick. Also i’ll take this chance to say I’m still loving your genuine enthusiasm and lack of pompousness. Still finding great recordings on your recommendation to accompany me on my covid dog walks. If you can do something on Janacek soon that would be great as he’s always been a sticking point with me and I know it’s my fault not his. He just sounds so random and unstructured and hysterical and there’s always some older woman screaming at some younger woman in a cottage! Anyway keep up the good work
I’m talking about Amazon Uk
Amazon everywhere seems to be a huge mess, and Amadeus Press just switched publishing groups, but you can get the book direct from the publisher, Rowman and Littlefield, usually at a much better price too:
rowman.com/ISBN/9781574674675/C-P-E-A-Listener's-Guide-to-the-Other-Bach
@@DavesClassicalGuide thanks Dave!
The C.P.E. Bachs is being reissued in a different color box.
I have the Stravinsky box, but mine is much much smaller, with an almost black background. What extra is in the enormous box that DH showed?
I keep coming back to this video in order to salivate. That Szell box alone is going for $1700 now. For that reason, I mortgaged my son’s college education to order the Ormandy box from Amazon Germany for 168 euros, which seems like both a steal and an investment. That was three weeks ago, and it is finally due to arrive on Monday! I’m really looking forward to the luxury experience!
Meanwhile, I have had the Cluytens, Martinon and Silvestri boxes for quite some time, and I picked up a copy of the lovely Skrowaczewski 90th Birthday box about six weeks ago, which has all his Bruckner, so I am not doing so badly. But I also thought of a little mini-box I adore: the Klemperer/Wiener Phil Live Broadcast Performances box on Testament! Uniformly exciting performances and astonishingly good sound for 1950s live Klemp. And Testament boxes always have this silky feel to them, so they are good for stroking and petting and loving ....
Great David. I agree about Liszt, he basically met and played all the great composers of the 19th century. A lovely man (read the letters he exchanged with Wagner), a virtuoso who, like Glenn Gould, left the stage with his amazing piano performances to dedicate himself to making great music (which here and there he even managed to make). But just because I consider him a wonderful person, I will certainly never listen this box with all his piano work. It must be the most boring thing ever done.
Not at all! It's fascinating.
Růžičková really is extraordinary. She is everything you say she is, David, and more. She and Leonhardt are my two favorite harpsichordists.
I'm just flabbergasted at the fact that you included all the diacritical marks in her name. You must really love her.
I've got her Martinů Concerto for harpsichord. Great musician.
@@DavesClassicalGuide I guess I do it out of respect, and a certain perfectionism on my part. :)
The older I get the more that old chestnut, “Ars longa, vita brevis est”, rings true. Take a box with 80 CDs. As each CD lasts over an hour, if you were to listen each day for four hours solid, you would spend approximately a month at that one box without even repeating your favourites. For that reason I’m reluctant to consider those big boxes.
However I have followed your advice and purchased Igor Levit’s Beethoven sonatas and Paul Kletzki’s Beethoven symphonies both of which I enjoy immensely.
Fair enough, and I take your point. I like having the boxes because for those with large collections they can consolidate a lot of individual discs, and they are like libraries--you're not going to play all of it, but it's there if you want it, and eventually, you just might. That's reason enough for me.
I have to say YES! to the Dorati box set of the Haydn Symphonies. I’d been listening to these on TH-cam for a while now since I decided to join the Crusade. I’m up to 41 now. Amazing! I think Haydn turned a corner at #40. 41 should be called “the Trumpet”. Or the “Restless Trumpet”. And the Adante is superb. David, I can’t thank you enough for getting me into Haydn. I’ve already listened to the London and Paris. But Haydn already broke major ground with these 40 on Symphonies. I can’t wait to hear 42, 43, 44 …. . One caveat: the provider on TH-cam accompanies them with some weird space age revolving videos. I just cover it up on my iPad and enjoy! I
Thank you for joining me. This series means a lot to me, so I appreciate it very much.
This is one of your best videos, but it’s also officially the end of my efforts to keep up with you. The Baroque opera box and the complete Bach keyboard works especially jump out, though. I’ll probably get the complete Bach keyboard works and at least sample some of the Baroque operas.
A few weeks ago, when I started getting out driving to stuff (caving trips, hiking trips, etc) more (that is, letting the pandemic freeze go a bit), I started bringing the Dorati Haydn box with me and have been going through it. What a glorious way to enliven mostly-boring interstate driving!
I confess I never heard before about Zuzana Ruzickova and will always be grateful for this. A world on itself...
Unbelievable.
Talking about harpsichord, unless I missed it but I'm surprised not having seen any mention on Scott Ross' complete Scarlatti sonatas.
Thanks again for your good work.
Haven't gotten to Ross yet because I can't use samples owing to copyright restrictions, but I'm delighted you've enjoyed Ruzickova.
Josy, you meant Scott Ross's right? Good!
Great varied choices. The Munch, Martinon and Cluytens boxes are tremendous. Your comment that Britten was less important than Stravinsky made me think you should do another talk about 'specific boxes'. There are some amazing box sets covering specific but obscure corners of the repertoire, or the work of less well known but interesting artists. Examples would be the BIS box of Villa-Lobos Bachianas Brasileiras and Choros complete, or for artists: the Morton Gould Chicago Symphony box on RCA and Warners' Constantin Silvestri Icon box.
Already did Villa-Lobos. Silvestri is great but that's the whole talk: "It's great." Please have a look through the channel. You will find an entire playlist devoted to boxed sets: 44 videos so far. th-cam.com/play/PLAjIX596BriHBJNP1UPnuaSR443qKB3lR.html
It's nice to hear someone talk about Haydn with the same enthusiasm that I feel myself. A look at Haydn's wonderful piano trios would also be very welcome.
Mr. Hurwitz you are contributing to my sobriety I cut my liquor budget because now I’m buyin your recommendations and happy I am! I just got the cpe Bach box and I am blown away this guy rocks
Thank you! Enjoy CPE.
Here is the thing. The packaging kind of sucks. I got a razor blade and carefully sliced the top of each desk. There are so many I am not cutting open a disk until I listen to it. It’s forcing me to listen to all of them. I’m hooked
I have a question tho I got the callas live box on a deal I think it was released at the same time and I love her should I invest in this studio box?
I’m on a tight budget but music beatin booze
By the way mr Hurwitz I subscribe to a magazine called the New Criterion it arrived today and they had a full page ad from the packerd institute for the complete Cpe works I think you have behind you in some of your vid’s. You are a Renaissance man dude!
Only one I have is the Szell. Some of the others I have: Bernstein remastered, Living Stereo remastered, Montreal/Dutoit, Decca/Phase4/Stokowski, Decca/Mehta (not the LA only box), Martinon/Chicago, Gould/Chicago. And there’s more! I treasure all of these.
I would love to see a video about whom you believe are the all-time 10-25 most underrated composers. That would be a fantastic way to direct listeners to what we should be discovering.
Noted!
@@DavesClassicalGuide Also I'm pretty sure you're just about the exact same age as Hamelin.
Wonderful idea for a video. It could go together with something like "10 composers you've probably never heard of - but you should!" I can promptly come up with a list of names I could bet my money on.
The 12 greatest classical box sets - I love it! I love box sets. I love focusing on one composer, artist, subject. This reminds me of Harold Blooms survey of the greatest works of literature. 😎 CPE Bach! Who knew? I would have Hyperion’s Schubert’s Lieder box. Alas Szell, Baroque, Arrau, Munch boxes are gone or stratospherically expensive. CPE is still available though
Szell is back in print!
Any box sets coming down the pipeline for release on Tinnitus Classics? Hoping for a complete set of Leif Segerstam symphonies (to date).
That's a good suggestion!
I don't know how you do it. Thanks. Zuzanna's Bach sounds terrific.
Well, for one thing, he gets all those boxes for free to review, a luxury us common folk don't enjoy!
Well I have some of your recommendations which is reassuring, although we are talking here about very big boxes sometimes which at the prices are a bit of a fantasy! I can only add some ones I happen to have. Agree about Stravinsky and about Anna Maria Markovina (I just have her big box of the keyboard music, and, yes it is superb.) Someone has mentioned the Horowitz Carnegie Hall box - well, wow, yes. There's a large box - sony, I think - with all the pieces performed at the Vienna New Years concerts that I have as a guilty pleasure, so many pieces and conductors :) A word for the RCA Monteux box, so many pieces i don't have otherwise, and such a pleasure mostly. And there was a bit of joking about the Scarlatti sonatas the other day, but surely Scott Ross' achievement here is right up there (no, I can't say I've listened to every disc).
A word for the RCO Live The Radio Legacy, which is now a huge (and alas expensive - though not as expensive as the reported price for Arrau by one commenter!) sort of double shoebox. Cheaper from the RCO maybe then from Amazon. You can still get various decade themed boxes - "Anthologies of the (Royal) Concertgebouw Orchestra" -and conductor boxes separately. This is an extraordinary record of an orchestra from the 30s until about 2010 with a great array of works, conductors, soloists. Lots of Mengelberg, Van Beinum, Haitink, Chailly, Jansons, sure (not always playing what you expect them to!) but also a load of other people and such variety of repertoire and great playing. 152 CDs! Really extraordinary to work through...
Does the George Szell box include good notes for each disc? If so I'll most likeky make the investment.
Of course not.
8:58 I cannot find the Haydn boxed set anywhere.
Stick around. It will probably pop up at some point.
Hello, what were according to you the best orchestras to look out for. I only listen to vinyl and have a ton of Deutsche Grammophon. Mostly Berliner and Karajan. Thanks. Btw, I am Flemish Belgian, it is pronounced Cluytens :-) uy is like one vowel. Like fur, furens, cluytens. Something like that. :-)
This is why I don't worry about pronunciation. Also, I appreciate the comment but your question is unanswerable, really.
@@DavesClassicalGuide yes, you are probably right. So much good composers, conductors, orchestras, musicians.
Thank you for suggesting the Cluytens box. It has been such an eye-opener. Since I also have Munch and Monteux boxes, I have a counterweight to the vast Austro-German approach.
I was waiting the the Hyperion Complete Schubert Box. Hehehehe! With bonus performances (at least 10) of Frauenliebe und Leben.
In case no one has mentioned it, the CPE Bach box set can be had on Amazon for about 65 bucks!
very good price!
good news!
What has happened to Richard Goode's Beethoven Sonatas? I consider it an indispensable reference. Every dynamic and articulation is intelligently interpreted and flawlessly executed.
To be honest, I'm not a fan of huge boxes. I mean, sure, boxes like the Arrau or the Szell one would look great on my CD shelf, but I know I wouldn't listen to most of the stuff, as great as most of those recordings are. I just don't have the discipline to listen to most of it. The lack of time is another issue but not the main one.
That said, I have lots of smaller boxes of like 10 oder 20 discs or so. Those are way more manageable for someone like me, so e. g. the Martinon and the Růžičková box sure are tempting.
In my opinion, small boxes containing certain parts of the repertoire of a great artist (e. g. the boxes of the Michael Gielen Edition or the Liszt recordings of Claudio Arrau) are much more interesting than a huge box of just about everything or most of his recordings. Of course lots of music collectors will disagree!
Yes I was thinking about this too. There has to a lot of variety in a very big box to incentivise going all the way through it.
The Hyperion Schubert Edition is a case in point. Not dissing Schubert or the performers at all, but it’s very unlikely anyone would listen from beginning to end, which is why I’d didnt mention it in an earlier comment, however pathbreaking and essential (in a way) it may be....
I hope they reissue that Munch set again. Over $700 most places! The Opera Baroque has gotten quite expensive as well
with The Messah video, I think the Sur Andrew Davis recording is great fun. But the two I wouldn’t be without are the Coro Sixteen and Trevor Pinnock, English Concert
David, I finally pulled the trigger on the updated Hanssler C.P.E. Bach Edition box that has been expanded to 60 discs with 6 newer recordings added, including some piano concerto discs with Michael Rische which you've talked about separately and I believe you had a hand in. It finally arrived yesterday about 2 months after I ordered it. The new big box is currently available for about $75, so I thought you might want to mention it in your next update video before it disappears.
I will feature it separately.
To name another box set that come to mind: The Bartok "Complete Works" from Decca I think is exemplary among composer compilations. The only downside for any one interested in Bartok - certainly among the 4 or five most important and influential composers of the 20th century is that he or she is likely already to have a number of the performances chosen, such as the Kertesz Bluebeard, the piano works by Koscis, or the Anda/Fricsay piano concertos.
But even in such a case, the set is worth having because it contains all the vocal works, many of which are all but unknown outside of Hungary, with full texts and translations, in reasonably readable type. The discs are organized by genre, and all the individual tracks are thoroughly indexed by BB number in the accompanying booklet. The box and sleeves are sturdy and practical, the performances are intelligently chosen, generally among the best if not the best available, all in very good t0 excellent sound and there are three discs of historical performances, mostly from the mid-fifties through around 1970, plus a 1939 performance of the 2nd Violin Concerto by its dedicatee and first performer Zoltan Szekely. The whole presentation appears to be a labor or love, rather than the expedient and slapdash production we frequently get.
At the risk of rambling on too long, I want to mention one other boxed set which deserves to exist, but does not as yet:
Decca should box up all the recordings issued in Michael Haas' Entartete Kunst series, also from Decca, which is one of the most important and valuable series undertaken before the CD industry, as you have put it "went bust."
Yes, the Bartok is an excellent set for sure.
I agree with you on the Bartok Decca, it's my favorite of the composer oriented box sets.
Before I hear his selections:
artists -- Rubinstein or Peter Serkin on piano, Stern on violin because they recorded mostly for one label. (Horowitz and Richter on piano, Perlman on violin, and Rostropovich on cello recorded for just about every label
composer collection -- all Mozart, all Beethoven works, Bach cantatas, Haydn symphonies or string quartets on one label.
entire label from a time -- RCA Living Stereo, CBS Masterworks from the pre-digital era, There might be huge gaps, as Bruckner or Mahler on the RCA Red Seal
conductors -- Bernstein, Harnoncourt, Colin Davis, Karajan, Szell... I know what you think of Solti so I exclude him
My beef: I am satisfied that the finest recording was done before digital. CD's are as good as anything for playback. I often replaced an LP after ten years if I played it a lot -- needle scratches, stretching and shrinking in the heat flux in a hot place such as Dallas... .
In the end, all of your wonderful choices balance each other out, and basically cover all the repertoire you'll really need for a well-rounded collection. As for what will happen to box sets, I find it interesting that certain boxes have been made available in flash-drive format, such as the Glenn Gould Remastered Edition, the Daniel Barenboim Bayreuth Ring Cycle, and the Hanssler Complete Bach Edition. I can't see why one couldn't release lossless files on small drives and model their packaging after the best box sets. We've already seen this in the pop world: The Beatles remastered edition, the Grateful Dead's "30 Trips Around the Sun" megabox in flash drive format, and so forth. Furthermore, this might be much more cost effective than pressing CDs.
That is a really good idea. Typically I am only interested in physical discs (I'm pretty old school), but if there were a physical "box" with a flash drive, I would probably adjust quite well to that and in fact learn to prefer it.
It's a little nonsensical the way I currently listen to things. I get a physical cd and RIP it to my computer and usually transfer it over to my mobile device and listen through bluetooth. So why do I insist on having physical discs? Well, I like seeing the original album art as well as well as having liner notes. Those could still be made available without providing a physical cd. God knows I could then eliminate having to rent overflow space for all this stuff!
I'm on board with this too.
FWIW, the Růžičková box is available in FLAC and MP3 formats if you live outside the US. Don't know why Warner have to be such jerks about their US distribution of these things. (IMHO, they should have never been allowed to get so big in the first place. I think they are the most unworthy custodians imaginable of the Erato, Teldec, EMI, and Nonesuch catalogs. Their unworthiness is evident in their failure to recognize that they're, in fact, custodians: these recordings belong in a strong sense "to history." A world not run by bean counters, the importance of these catalogs would recognize this role, and any custodian would approach these catalogs with a sense of humility.)
Chandos did something like this some years ago, if I remember correctly.
Hi Mr Hurwitz I remember one time you mentioned that RCA should put out an Arthur Fiedler box. I ran across one today at Newbury comics. It’s called 100 Fiedler Favorites and it is a 7CD box. Put out in 1994. Everything with the Boston Pops. Both straight classical and the typical pops repertoire. I’m gonna dig into it tomorrow I will let you know how it is dude!
I meant a big box, not a "highlights" collection, but have fun anyway!
I´d add Mozart´s Complete Piano Concertos with András Schiff/Sandor Végh (Decca)
If you had to add an appendix to cover the last three years, what would it be? Ormandy Columbia Legacy surely?
Dear Jan, thank you so much for your note. I have already noticed from Amazon reviewers that older CD players have problems and when the record approaches its end, they begin skipping, especially if the cd is super long. Mine is a newer model, although it’s nothing special, it still plays them perfectly. Some years ago there was a warning for burning a cd-r 900mb because somehow it could harm your computer but I don’t think they exist any more. Thanks again for your message! If anyone else with experience on this topic would be willing to share their thoughts on this, I’d be very interested in hearing them, although I absolutely don’t mean to draw attention away from David’s marvelous reviews.
Dear Dave, I believe the complete Philips recordings box by the Beaux Arts trio is a beautiful set, in terms of repertoire, artistic achievement, historical importance, and a great, great homage to a music who gave 100% always, with a deep musical integrity, and from the shadowed side of the stage : Menahem Pressler.
You are right!
Most importantly there are so many bouncy, charming piano trios by Haydn that get played less often than is appropriate. Haydn wrote oodles of those, and they are always enjoyable.
I want the Munch box set from RCA so badly, but I missed the moment to get it. There is only one that I can find and it's $1,400.00 - OMG I can only hope that it will be issued again or someone knows where I can get one for less money.
Thanks for that -- feel like you could probably do five more without thinking too hard? At any rate, your commentary is as informative and joy-inducing as ever. (As well as purchase-inspiring. So...thank you?)
Being a weak person, feel I'm somewhat walled in by boxes. Happily mostly by performers I already know I'll like, which saves some listening time/obligation.
Love all the usual suspects -- the ones you mentioned along with the Living Stereo, Toscanini, Gould, anyone's mono box, etc. Though mong the ones that might not jump to mind:
-- The Ataulfo Argenta box on Scribendum. Love boxes that hold surprises I would not have thought to seek out . (How many other boxes contain works by Guridi, Breton, Ohana, Escudero...not to mention the dozen or so composers of Zarazuelas, who are all new to me.) Quite a voyage of discovery.
-- A couple of mini-boxes: The Isserlis on RCA (12 discs). Interesting repertoire outside of the kind of thing on the Patiagorsky, Fournier, du Pre, et al boxes. (though adore them all) -- also, with apologies to pipo, Kreisler on Music and Arts as well as the RCA box.
Like everyone, have fingers crossed for an Ormandy box. And, being another CPE fan, am twiddling my fingers waiting for that Rische box. (Though may find myself as dead as -- you'll forgive me -- you before that arrives. The problem with living performers and authors is that you never know how much space to leave on the shelf...)
David, thank you so much for opening my ears to many new things. I thought I knew what I liked, and this would never have included J.S. Bach on the harpsichord, or Baroque opera, or C.P.E. Bach! But now I've listened to some of these things, and they are wonderful. (Although I can't agree with your choice of pianist for the C.P.E. Bach; her articulation is like nails on a blackboard to me. But the Pletnev is glorious.)
By the way, I did a little creepy internet research, and Marc-Andre Hamelin is not much younger than you are: in fact, you were born exactly seven days apart!
That Szell box is on the top of my wish list. It is completely impossible to obtain it now unfortunately. If it appears somewhere the price is horrible. If youtube doesn't suggest Mr. Hurwitz's channel to me, I would be calm. But now... :-(
Just bought the Ruzickova set (having just discovered your videos). Thank you! I'm tempted by the Harmonia Mundi opera set but, damnit, I already own half the recordings. *Sigh* Like that has ever stopped me before. If this hasn't been mentioned already, I think you stated that Markovina was the first and only to record CPEs complete keyboard works. If so, there's poor old Spanyi, who seems to be all but ignored. His recordings should already be in a box set by now-at least his CPE Bach keyboard concerti. Don't know why BIS is sitting on those.
As a relatively new appreciator of classical music I would like to ask how much any of you would recommend avoiding releases from the brilliant classics label? They have a massive selection here on TH-cam which I have been exploring for a while but I'm starting to doubt the quality, I wonder what a more qualified opinion might go like...
After London/decca issued the dorati haydn on cd, they actually did issue the whole set with the notes in a large box. It was out in the 1990's. So decca can just reissue that box........
My big complaint about box reissues is the removal of the notes. Often the companies issue some boxes with "lavish books" with pictures,....but NOT THE NOTES. Of course, atleast we have the recordings.
I agree!
So frustrating, because the notes were usually by well-informed authors, and so much thought and care had gone into them.
@@ftumschk I specifically asked s.o. "knowledgeable about the whereabouts of the industry" why that was. Apparently there are the two reasons for it: 1. The rights. Usually the copyright of the original notes is with their author and the publisher licenses them only for publication with the recording in the original form. Sometimes even for a given (limited) number of printed copies. This is also the reason why notes are missing with the digital releases of music. 2. Often the modern digital typography was uncommon or non-existent at the time the recording was originally published. The publisher did not have the print files or the offset films, these were with the printer. If the printed supply was out of stock and/or the printer went out of business -- sorry, guys! To re-create these booklets from an old printed copy, if the original photographs and artwork are lost, is a rather tricky, sometimes impossible task, that may cost lots of effort and money...
@@jankucera8180 Thanks for sharing that information, Jan. Much appreciated.
@@jankucera8180 very interesting, and sorry to learn this. I am sure it is true, look how they handled masters.
However, let me point out a problem or two: first, the companies have no problem leaving out recordings from box issues and reissuing "complete limited editions" within a few years. They often do this with "original jacket" editions....where they reproduce jacket backs with the notes. Then when they offer the "complete" edition, they use plain simple sleeves. Often, alot of the large boxes are "original jackets". The notes are there on the jacket. However, you need a magnifying glass to read it. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ENLARGED AND REPLACE THE PICTURE books.
When Harnoncourt bach was issued on lp, they included the scores....that would ask too much......HOWEVER
HERE IS A COMPROMISE. These days most people have computers. Why not offer the notes, when they have them, cheaply, on a cd-rom. This is being done, but not on the "limited editions". Or provide this "stuff" downloadable off their website.
Another great video
I have the Haydn/Dorati, the Cluytens and the Munch sets and love them all! I have at least some of the others in separate recordings and smaller sets, so I may do some hunting for individual recordings as time and money permits.
One set you didn't mention but that may rate at least an honorable mention is the complete-as-currently-possible Bach collection of the Edition Bachakademie set on Hannsler. The scope of the project is impressive and, whereas there are some hits and misses (an 15 minute organ rendition of the Ricercar as an example of the latter), the overall quality is very nice, with Helmuth Rilling striking the right balance (in my opinion) of period and modern performance in the choral and orchestral music.
II agree, but stay tuned...
Very heavy music - thanks for your excellent comments / we love your work - RayGinn
What about Eratos Armin Jordan box? I think it is totally great.
It doesn't exist yet.
I mean the Big Box, not the 13-CD ICON earlier one...
Dave, to pronounce Cluytens there are two ways: Flemish (=Dutch) or French (hailing from the Flemish port town of Antwerp, he became a French national just befor WW II). So, you go to Google Translate, type his name, select the language and push the 'listen' button. Then you practice. The Google pronunciation is pretty correct to my ears (Dutch dude living in Brussels). And I want to hear you pronounce it correctly some time in the future and make us all proud of you. Let me also thank you profusely for all the great recordings you recommend. I'm close to bankruptcy, while Jeff Bezos became megabillionaire. I stopped eating, but continue paying the electricity bill, just to be able to keep on listening to music. These boxes will kill me....
I appreciate the help but in case you haven't noticed, I don't care how to pronounce it! It's not worth the trouble when, as you point out, I could be listening to the recordings.
Jeroen, when giving English advice, you'd best get yours right. "Then you practise." Practise is the verb, hence, "Go and practise." "I went to the doctor's practice." (NOUN). Except, like everything, if you are American, in which case you are free to make up your own spelling and grammar rules! (tongue firmly in cheek)...
I believe it is pronounced as /klɥiˈtɑ̃ns/ (at least by the Walloons)
Is it said differently by the Flemish?
OMG, that Zuzana is something else! I just sampled her Goldberg on TH-cam. Thank you, David for bringing her to our attention! Her playing is so fresh, imaginative, even Romantic (not a bad word!). Primphonic has the album where she plays the Triple (and Quadruple!) Harpsichords & Strings concertos by Bach and they sound FULLY CHARGED. Will get you to sit straight up in delight. ;)
Just curious: anyone know what Glenn Gould thought of her???
Who cares? What matters is what you think of her.
For a few years around 2010, I used to get nearly daily phone calls from an elderly listener way out in rural Western Mass named Arthur Perkins. As a young lad in '49, after graduating from Harvard and studying music in Paris, Arthur became secretary and translator for the Boston SO's new French conductor. You know who. Arthur later went on to manage orchestras in San Antonio, Detroit (under Paray) and Hartford. Then, he became a stockbroker and after that, a Protestant minister. He usually called during piano music by Schubert or Schumann (his faves, along with Elgar and Rachmaninoff), which he always thought was being played too fast. I would tell him that the music wasn't too fast, he was listening too slow. And he'd sign off by thanking me, "dear boy," for humoring an old man. Never met him in person. But I think of him every time I listen to Munch -- which, inspired by you, Dave, is often. Thanks for humoring a soon-to-be senior citizen!
Join the club!
I can’t thank you enough for recommending the Ruzickova set. I’d not known of it before watching this video. There weren’t a lot of copies out there, so I ordered one immediately. It’s a gorgeous box, and the music is phenomenal. For as much as I like Glenn Gould, he’s the wrong player for a complete Bach edition since his playing is so idiosyncratic. My approach to this music had always been to look for good representative records but not to try to hear all of it, because there’s too much and a lot of it is too obscure. The Rusickova box is a cornerstone of my collection now.
That's great. Thanks for letting me know!
@@DavesClassicalGuide - Ruzickova's collaborations with Joseph Suk, Pierre Fournier, and Jean-Pierre Rampal on the last discs of this set are the perfect way to end it. I can't get enough of those tracks.