GEMS from the CBS-COLUMBIA-SONY catalogue #1
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ย. 2024
- A wide-ranging selection of records from the CBS/Columbia/Sony catalogue.
You can watch the complete video of Bernstein's "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs" performed on TV in 1955 here:
• Leonard Bernstein - Pr...
Bernstein's "live" performance of Mahler's 2nd Symphony is available on DVD. Here are links to some extracts and an introduction by producer Humphrey Burton, plus a conversation marking the film's re-release:
• Sir Humphrey Burton In...
• Video
• Humphrey Burton CBE in...
Recommended channels for classical music fans and collectors:
David Hurwitz
www.youtube.co....
Poetry On Plastic
www.youtube.co....
An invaluable guide to all the different pressings of the main classical labels:
www.youtube.co....
Another excellent resource for new classical recordings is BBC Radio 3's long-standing weekly broadcast "Record Review". Shows remain available to listen to for 30 days after first broadcast:
www.bbc.co.uk/....
My system, which has evolved over 20-plus years, is tube based and many pieces were acquired used. It was mostly put together with the invaluable help and ears of Eliot Midwood at Acoustic Image (acousticimage.com) who is also responsible for many of the fine recordings on the Yarlung label.
Well-Tempered Classic Turntable (round motor)
Micro-Benz Ruby 2 MC Cartridge
Phonostage: L.A. Audio
Cary Audio CD/SACD 306
Preamp: Kora Equinoxe
Amps: Genesis Monoblocks 60 Amp Valve
Speakers: Silverline Sonatas with upgraded crossover and tweeters (Dynaudio)
Cabling: Aural Symphonics
Custom-made stands, with a Townshend Seismic Sink for the Well-Tempered turntable
Another brilliant video! One conductor you didn’t mention is George Szell (who recorded for the CBS sub-label Epic). His recordings with the Cleveland Orchestra are legendary. To anyone who doesn’t know him, I would highly recommend his Mendelssohn 4, his Beethoven Eroica and his recordings of both of Brahms’ piano concertos with Leon Fleisher. Absolutely reference recordings.
I suppose he didn't get a mention because he recorded for another Sony imprint called Epic Records, which used to be a sub-label of sorts of Columbia?
@@miro.georgiev97 Yeah, of course, he would have had to either include Epic in his talk or discussed the 70s reissues
Thanks! To be honest, re. Szell - he's never been on my radar that much. Growing up in UK his records were not as mainstream as releases on DG, Decca, EMI - most of the CBS records I acquired were Bernstein's and Boulez etc. But there was always that persistent problem of the vinyl itself being of inferior quality etc. Now, over the years I have acquainted myself more with Szell's catalogue, and I share your enthusiasm for those Brahms concertos, to which I would add the Schumann symphonies, and on vinyl his marvelous Walton, Hindemith, and Handel (mentioned in another of my videos). When that big set came out I hesitated for too long, and now that prices have skyrocketed I regret not picking it up.
Always good to remember the gems. Watching again a year later.
This is a fascinating survey. I have the Ormandy mono, Szell, and Walter Boxes on Sony, and totally agree that those recordings have never sounded better! And I'm looking forward to the stereo Ormandy, and complete Bernstein.
Stereo Ormandy will arrive, I am sure. Not so sure about the complete Bernstein - but I hope I am proved wrong.
@@musiconrecord6724 Alas, the Bernstein Columbia legacy is such a daunting task. But then…so it the Ormandy, who may have made even more records for them than did Bernstein. Sony seems to be treating Bernstein much like Decca/London has treated Blomstedt’s SFO years….cherry picking instead of giving us the entire legacy.
@@LyleFrancisDelp Yup. Drives me crazy! eg. Would love to have all his Haydn in bang up-to-date remastering.
Thanks once again. Another endearing video. Without a doubt The Firebird conducted by Boulez is an extraordinary performance. Perhaps the album I most admire from the French director during his time at CBS is Stravinsky's Petrushka.
His records of Ravel's La Valse and Varese Ameriques etc. are top of my list!
thank you that's really really informative. I've just checked and three of the best classical shops in London are now closed, very sad.
Thank you! If you love prelude fugue and riffs, which I do, go onto you every and watch him perform the piece; it’s even more exciting than the studio version. Thanks again , l LOVE your channel!
That’s u tube, sorry
It’s actually at the end of the video…
Thanks so much for your support!
Sony issued Bernstein’s entire CBS & RCA catalogs in a 3 vol. series; Symphony Edition, Concerto/Orchestral Works, Vocal Works. 198 CDs total. That’s slightly more than the complete Columbia boxes of Szell & Walter COMBINED. And if the original album jackets & track listings were all used instead of these box set configurations, you would need a hand truck to move such a massive set. For those who want complete Lenny on CBS, get the 3 vol. boxes. These have gone in & out of print over the years, so get them whenever they are repressed & affordable.
Thank you so much for another informative and very nicely-done video. I especially enjoyed this one since CBS records comprise the bulk of my classical collection just by default of being an American who regularly shops the bargain bins. I was just listening to that MTT record of Rhapsody in Blue last night!
MTT is an American treasure. There are very few duds in his catalogue.
You are really increasing my love for classical music and classical vinyl collecting. Thank you. Would love for you to do a video on how to understand classical music. Movements, minors and majors and how to listen and purchase classical vinyl.
I just discovered your channel a few days ago, absolutely love it, thank you. I watched this video yesterday and today I went to my local secondhand record shop in Hong Kong and there is was, the Bruno Walter 9 Symphonies set (6 eyes) in mint condition. I emptied my wallet at the drop of a hat. True story, like magic!
Oh you are so lucky! Those 6 eyes are rare....
@@musiconrecord6724 Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion with us. My listening pleasure and appreciation for music in general has been greatly enriched. In particular, for classical music, you have provided a certain structure to help us find the music that touches our heart.
I am enjoying your videos. Great job. Thanks.
I have had some CBS recordings and they’re just not up to scratch. The performances might be good but I’d only invest in a recording where the recording quality was decent.
Agree about the mono recordings. Some can be sensational and in in the time domain you surprisingly get some sense of depth of image too.
Mark barely mentions George Szell. Same with other LP TH-cams. Try Beethoven PC set w Leon Fleisher. For beautiful music and sound, Lt Kije, the Capriccios, Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel, Dvorak 7-9, Mozart PC w Casedesus, Tchaikovsky Symphony 5, etc.
You make an excellent point. Growing up in UK, Szell was not as much on my radar, and the few records I bought sounded miserable, as did most of the CBS/Sony LPs. Fast forward to the 90s when I started to really get back into records, I picked up a few of the Szell recordings on SAX British Columbia, like the Walton and Hindemith works - and quickly realized what I had been missing. I will also mention the fabulous King Super Analogue edition of his Handel Water Music and Royal Fireworks - one of my go-to recordings of this music. I was finally able to get the giant Szell CD box from Sony when it was repressed. Best sounding versions of all these American Columbia and Epic recordings - as is the case with all the superb Sony remastered Big Boxes. I am all in on Szell now, and for anyone starting a classical collection from scratch I can't think of a better place to start. Who knew that all those Columbia master tapes sounded that good!!
Just found this video - and as I was looking through Presto's listing of Bernstein's recordings, I saw the Neilson3 listed! What do you think of digital downloads such as this? Unfortunately, they do not list any physical media for this recording. But, for $10, who can go wrong?
I believe the Columbia Symphony was largely made up of LA Phil and Hollywood Studio players.
Absolutely correct. Talk about the ultimate scratch orchestra!
@@musiconrecord6724 I love the term “scratch” orchestra. Of course you’ll know, having lived here some years, that we Yanks refer to it as a pick-up orchestra. (Sounds like a group that a Texan would toss in the back of his Ford F-150)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra could refer to a pick-up ensemble. But it was also used for recordings largely performed by either the LA Phil. or NY Phil., but were credited as being the CSO on particular LPs for contractural reasons.
Isn't it strange. CBS LPs sounded scrawny, bright and thin with a shallow front to back stereo image. I used to avoid them. Must have been the way they were cut because the CD versions sound infinitely superior. Lenny's Mahler cycle is superb.
That set is available in a deluxe SACD and vinyl set. No doubt the vinyl is mastered from hi-rez digital, but it sounds amazing - hard to find though.
@@musiconrecord6724 I'll stick to the CDs. I don't miss vinyl at all unlike other LP fans.
No Stravinsky conducts Stravinsky?
Columbia made outstanding recordings, but pressed on horrid vinyl!!!!
What? MTT has left SF? Salonen has taken over? What is this heresy?
MTT retired from SF to have more time for composition - and then got hit by the discovery of a brain tumor. He recently conducted in LA and got rave reviews. Yes, Mr. Salonen is in SF now. I'll be curious to see how his programming develops, because he and MTT overlap repertoire to a considerable degree.
@@musiconrecord6724 Sad to hear of MTT, but glad to hear of the Salonen appointment. He has long been one of my favorite young(ish) conductors.
Alas...for the reissue of the Budapest Beethoven Cycle, they used the hideous album covers of that horrid illustration of the composer, rather than the lovely Jim Flora art used on some other Columbia mono issues.
I noticed that -- ugh!