BasicRep Blog

The Complete Symphony Set - 226 Symphonies

2010-03-06T10:08:00.000-05:00

Brilliant Classics is known for producing bargain box sets that draws music from various labels.
The Complete Symphony Set - 226 Symphonies - 100 Discs is a great deal at the list price of $169 but at the moment ArchivMusic.com has it on sale for $109, around a dollar a disc! The set includes full sets of Mozart, Beethoven and others. The performances vary, but boy do you get a lot of music. This set is missing a few composers, but that hardly matters. If you want to expand your music collection at a bargain basement price, this is surely the way to go.

Here is the review from ArchivMusic.com:

Brilliant Classics has given us some of the most astounding values in classical music recordings over the last few years, but they have surely outdone themselves with this latest issue.
The 100 CDs in this set contain 226 complete symphonies. With a few notable exceptions, virtually the entire symphonic canon of the Classical and Romantic period are included. There is no Bruckner or Sibelius, and it would have been nice to have the rest of the Dvorák and Tchaikovsky cycles, but why dwell on what is missing? What is included is extraordinary.
This set includes the complete symphonies of Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mahler, and Nielsen -- and even the great 20th-century symphonist, Shostakovich, has a spectacular complete cycle included as well. The mature symphonies of Tchaikovsky and Dvorák are here, and there is even room for some surprises, like the complete Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin symphonies.
Most importantly, it’s not just about the quantity. The quality of some of these cycles is as good as it gets. By any standard, Herbert Blomstedt’s Beethoven cycle in Dresden is one of the great ones. The complete Haydn symphonies with Adam Fischer and the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra is worth the price of the entire set all by itself. In fact, for anyone looking for a complete set of the Haydn symphonies, this is hands-down the way to go. The Brahms and Mozart cycles recorded by Brilliant have both been critically acclaimed, the ever-reliable Neville Marriner and his Academy are here for Schumann, Roy Goodman and Hanover play Schubert . . . what’s not to like? The aforementioned Shostakovich is one of the best all-around cycles available, yet it’s currently difficult to come by outside of this box.
In short, this is a set that is sure to please anyone. There is no other way to get so much essential repertoire for so little. Many of the performances could suffice as a “reference” set for a collection, and those that don’t, like the mixed group of Mahler symphonies, include some notable alternate takes like a live BIS recording of the Eighth with Neemi Järvi and Jascha Horenstein’s third from Unicorn.
In short, this is one of the best investments in classical recordings you’ll ever make. Snap it up while you have the chance!

RCA Living Stereo

2010-03-01T07:52:00.000-05:00

If you are a fan of the RCA Living Stereo series, you may get a kick out of this old film:

MP3 / Box Sets - Mozart Piano Concertos

2010-02-24T17:19:00.000-05:00

Murray Perahia recorded the Mozart Piano Concertos in the 1970s and 80s and the set has been remastered by Sony. The 12 disc set is a fairly good deal on CD but is a great bargain on MP3. These performances with the English Concert are highly recommended.

DG 111 Box Set

2009-12-03T07:31:00.000-05:00

I do not usually recommend the large classical box sets because they are expensive and not always a good buy. However the new 111 Box by Deutsche Grammophon is a fantastic buy. The set is a 55-CD Box of full albums from DG's first 111 years. The set is a wonderful buy at less than $3 per disc. Yes, a bit expensive, but this is an excellent way to get a lot of great recordings for a bargain price. DG has set up a special site at dg-11.com with all of the information on the albums, and Amazon has a nice page where you can see and listen to samples from the MP3 version. Do check out the dg-111.com site, where you can listen to a full album from the collection every week.
If a 55 disc set is too daunting, there is a 6 disc set with one track from each of the albums in the 111 set, plus other tracks for a great price too.

Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice

2009-07-28T00:07:00.000-04:00

I sometimes come across some good finds while exploring for new works to try out. There is a free Creative Commons MP3 version of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice from 1951 with the Berlin Municipal Opera conducted by Artur Rother. I did find reference to an excerpts LP on DG [pictured below] from the period, and this is may be a studio or live performance, released in the US on the Urania label in 1952, but I cannot say for certain this was a DG release or not. Regardless, the cast includes Margatete Klose as Orfeo [female lead replacing castrato], Erna Berger as Euridice and Rita Streich as Amor. The recording is mono of course, but the performance is quite enjoyable and the sound quality acceptable, and it is a good way to be introduced to Gluck's operas.

Now the good part: You can get this recording for free. It has been released online in several locations, but the easiest place is here at Liber.it The page is in Italian, but no problem, scroll to the bottom and you will see the 24 tracks to download. Make sure you right-click to save the files since your browser may try to just play the MP3s. You may want a libretto or at least a synopsis, so check out the links below.

Librettos [under Gluck; ORFEO]
Synopsis at reference.com
MP3 download from Liber.it

Artwork for the Excerpts LP and a recent CD release:

CBS Great Performances

2009-07-03T19:38:00.000-04:00

The site now has a complete image gallery of all of the CBS Great Performances albums if you are searching for any, courtesy of Bryce B.

Thomas Tallis

2009-06-24T17:30:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, it is easy to miss the works of a famous composer. While I have some selections of Thomas Tallis' choral works on various compilations, I never delved too deep into some of his works. Big mistake, talk about some beautiful music. I have been listening to several Tallis CDs, one by the Tallis Scholars and one by Magnificat. Besides wonderful performances, the sound is excellent and I cannot recommend these albums enough for anyone wanting to explore early choral music. Tallis' works are reminiscent of the Gregorian Chants you have probably heard before, but with a higher range in the vocals, and many of his texts are in English as well as Latin. Take a listen and enjoy :) You can listen to these 2 CDs for free at Napster, just follow the links.

The Tallis Scholars Sing Thomas Tallis @ Napster
Tallis Spem in Alium by Magnificat @ Napster

Tallis Scholars @ Amazon.com

Magnificat @ Amazon.com

Speaking of Szell

2009-06-13T11:21:00.000-04:00

Sony Classics has just re-released the Haydn Early Symphony [93-98] recordings by George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra in a 2CD set! These are great performances, and Szell really brings out the best in these pieces. The sound quality is fine, especially for an older recording, and an excellent way to get these symphonies in your collection. The set is mid-priced, and also available in an MP3 Album version.

You can also listen to a free streaming version [low quality] of the entire CD at Napster.com

Beethoven - Box Sets 2: Szell

2009-05-27T13:18:00.000-04:00

From an earlier post, I recommended the Toscanini and Klemperer Beethoven Symphony Box Sets, but those being rather old performances, I like to have slightly newer recordings in my collection. A few of my other favorite sets are by Szell, Karajan and Bohm. All of these are from the 1960's and 1970's, but are also excellent choices for box sets.
The Szell set with the Cleveland Orchestra is currently out of print, but 4 CD's are still part of the Sony Essential Classics series, and well worth getting. Basically Symphony 4 and 7 are not available [was released but now out of print, may still be around used], the other sets are 1&6, 2&5, 3&8 and Symph 9 with Fidelio Overture. All are available as MP3 albums, so should stay around for a while. There was a great complete set released from France with all Nine Symphonies plus the Five Piano Concertos, but looks to be unavailable now. A shame, these recordings should really be put back in a nice box set domestically and kept in print. The recorded sound is good for the age, Szell has a clean and sharp view of these works.

Update: The Beethoven 4 and 7 CD has been released by ArchivMusic through their ArchivCD program. Not at a bargain price, but good if you want to get the complete set. Link is below.

Available as CD and MP3:

OUT OF PRINT SELECTIONS:

MP3 Version of Symphony 9 from older series:

Video of Gould playing Bach's Goldberg Variations 1964

2009-04-29T17:18:00.002-04:00

Gould plays selections from the Goldberg Variations:
Aria
Variation 3 (Canon at the Unison)
Variation 6 (Canon at the 2nd)
Variation 9 (Canon at the 3rd)
Variation 12 (Canon at the 4th)
Variation 15 (Canon at the 5th)
Variation 27 (Canon at the 9th)

Video of Gould playing Bach's Goldberg Variations 1981

2009-04-29T17:14:00.002-04:00

Be patient, the camera eventually gets to the keyboard, where you can see Gould play.

Bach's Goldberg Variations

2009-04-28T22:18:00.010-04:00

Of Bach's solo keyboard works, the Goldberg Variations rank at or near the top, a work with an Aria and 30 variations. While there are many recordings on harpsichord or other period keyboards like a pianoforte, my favorites happen to be modern piano performances. My introduction to Bach's Goldberg came in 1982 with the purchase of Glenn Gould's 1981 digital remake of his landmark 1955 recording. Having never heard the original, I had no basis to judge Gould's new interpretation as good, bad, or even to compare it to other artists interpretations. Let me state now that with Gould, you really love or dislike his performances, he does not just play, but puts on a performance, and in actuality may not be what the composer originally intended, but it doesn't really matter in my opinion.

Why should it make a difference which recording I listened to first? Well, if you love a particular record and it is the only version you have, you tend to set in your mind that this is the 'right' way to perform it, whether it is a 'good' recording or not. In hindsight, I am glad to have approached this work with Gould's 1981 as the 'definitive' performance. I am under no illusion that what he did had anything to do with Bach's intentions, or that the 1981 playing is not full of Gould's sometimes bizarre takes on a particular movement. But it is those particular quirks that made me love this piece, and allows me to hear things in it that I would not have appreciated had I heard the 1955 or another recording first.

Gould's 1981 recording is a radical departure from his earlier one, and in many ways these are not even the same work. Where the 1955 zips along at a practically impossible speed and is treated more or less as one long work, the 1981 thoughtfully takes each section individually, and the contrast can be jarring. Some movements are played at half the speed in the remake. Now whether he sped up in 1955 or slowed down in 1981 is again subject to interpretation. It is easy with an iPod to play both recordings at once, and alternate each CD, playing track 1 of the 1955, then track 1 of the 1981, track 2 1955, track 2 1981, etc. You never feel like you have repeated a track, and on occasion it sounds like you are not even listening to the same work.

Right now I am listening to the 1955 and the 1981 like this, with Murray Perahia's 2000 recording thrown in too as a comparison. I have listened to other recordings, but always end up with the Gould 1981 or 1955, so it was time to once again visit another performer to see if it would stand up. On a track-by-track basis, sometimes Perahia's playing matches Gould's 1955, sometimes the 1981, and others are his own take. One major difference is that Gould rarely took any of Bach's repeats, and Perahia seems to take them all. Not a bad thing, but makes the recording a lot longer. But this is not a fair way to listen to a recording, just an interesting comparison, especially with the two Gould recordings.

To anyone who is a newcomer to this work, I have always had some reservations about recommending Gould, especially the 1981 recording, since there is a lot of Gould mixed in with the Bach. He has a tendency to sing along with his playing, and it is quite audible in the 1981 set. However, Sony released the 'State of Wonder' collection with both the 1955 and 1981 versions in one set a while back, and this is the set I recommend. I lean toward the 1955 as a more 'pure' performance, but the 1981 has so much to offer too. If you are so inclined, go with Gould's set and I feel you will get a lot out of your choice. The 1955 is great, although the sound quality is mono but decent, and the 1981 sounds better, with a much closer piano sound, but you do get the humming of Gould. If this bothers you, Murray Perahia's recording is the way to go. The playing is a little 'soft' for a Baroque work, but still the best alternative in my opinion to the Gould. Perahia's recording is a lot longer because of the repeats, but still quite enjoyable. The piano is not too close, and the piano tone is nice and warm.

RECORDINGS:
Glenn Gould: State of Wonder, 1955 and 1981 recordings
Murray Perahia: Goldberg Variations

Fasch Orchestral Music

2009-03-27T11:33:00.008-04:00

A contemporary of Bach and Telemann, Johann Friedrich Fasch is a lesser known German composer. His major claim to fame is turning down a position at Leipzig, for which the post was eventually by Bach. Tempesta di Mare' has recorded a set of his works on Chandos, and the results are charming. While the style fits in the Baroque suite categories, the works are original with a familiar sound. Definitely a nice diversion to listening to the Brandenburg Concertos for those times when you need some nice classical, but are not quite in the mood for Bach.

The Tempesta di Mare' do a wonderful job of recording these works, and the recording is bright and clear. Apparently this is the first recording of these particular works, and is a great addition to any Baroque classical music lover's collection.

Read CD Booklet here.

See album at Amazon.com
See album at iTunes Store
See album at eMusic

Schumann Sonatas for Violin and Piano

2009-02-27T19:51:00.004-05:00

I have been exploring some interesting works lately, among them some excellent violin sonatas. Surprisingly, there are a few works that I never had a chance to listen to and was surprised by them. Schumann's Sonatas for Violin and Piano are sublime works, and a great recording is by Jennifer Koh [violin] and Reiko Uchida [piano] on Cedille Records. Schumann has a way with melody and the interplay with between the two instruments definitely makes this more than a violin work with the piano playing a background part. Koh has a full and rich sound, and the recording balance favors the violin, but not by too much.
Link to recording:
Schumann: The Sonatas for Violin and Piano

Wendy Carlos

2008-07-20T19:21:00.000-04:00

In case you have never heard of Wendy Carlos, if you are a fan of electronic music, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Over the past several years Wendy has been releasing her old recordings from the late 1960's and 1970's in newly remastered CD sets. You may have heard her music. She did the soundtracks for Clockwork Orange, Tron, and a few cuts from The Shining. Also, Timesteps was used in planetariums for years in the 70's and 80's.

Wendy, previously recording under the name Walter Carlos, is one of the innovators of synthesizer music, and created a sensation with the 'Switched-On Bach' album back in 1968. From then on, a variety of classical arrangements graced various LPs, and in the 1980's she began releasing some of her original works, such at Digital Moonscapes. She still is working on new recordings today, and also releasing some her early works on CD. The Wendy Carlos Homepage has a lot of commentary on all of her works, along with some other interesting info, and is worth a look.

Wendy Carlos at Amazon

Box Sets 1 - Beethoven

2007-10-19T23:01:00.000-04:00

Classical Box Sets abound, and are great ways to collect full groups of works, like Beethoven's Symphonies, Mozart's Late Symphonies, etc. I decided to comment on some of my favorites over the next few posts.

Beethoven Symphonies and Piano Concertos are probably the most popular sets available, and if you look around, there are some great bargains out there.
After a long absence, the Toscanini performances have finally been compiled into one set by BMG/RCA. The recordings are old, in mono, and I could not care less. The power and energy that Toscanini brings to these works is beyond compare. You quickly overlook the sonic shortcomings when you hear these recordings. To be honest, the sound quality is surprisingly good, and for under $30, this is a great way to get all the symphonies, or just fill in some works missing in your collection. Do not let the word MONO stop you from discovering this great set.
Beethoven - Toscanini at Amazon

A super bargain set of the 9 symphonies along with the 5 piano concertos, and some overtures thrown in for good measure can be had by Klemperer on EMI in a 9 cd set. The price can be as low as $40 on sale. These are 1960's era recordings, so a bit more modern than the Toscanini set, and better sound. The performances do hark back to the old school of Beethoven, so tempos are not as brisk as in more recent recordings, but they are nontheless classic interpretations.
Beethoven - Klemperer at Amazon

Barber and Meyer Violin Concertos

2006-07-17T00:21:00.000-04:00

Samuel Barber: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 14
Edgar Meyer: Violin Concerto
Hilary Hahn with Hugh Wolff/St. Paul Chamber Orchestra
Sony Classical

Why buy a cd from a performer you do not know, with an unfamiliar conductor, and with one of the works unknown to you? Well, on a whim, I decided I needed more Barber in my collection, and chose this cd with 19 year old [at the time, in 2000] Hilary Hahn. I tend to be suspicious of very young violin players. Their technique may be flawless, but the performances are missing soul. Not so here. Hahn's tone is smooth, but not too sweet. While razor precision does not fall in the perview of these two works, there is some great violin playing on this disc. Hahn's playing has emotion, and she brings the music alive, instead of treating it as a dusty tome that has to be played just right, in order not to offend. I will be expanding my collection of Hahn recordings to be sure, and am interested how her performances of more familiar works will hold up.

Technically, the recording is good, not too close, and the violin stands apart slightly from the small orchestra, but not in a distracting way. The orchestral parts are a little bit back, but this may be due to the size of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Overall, the recording is not quite stellar, but close.

The Barber Violin Concerto has been well recorded, and there are over a dozen cds in the current catalog. Having never heard the work, I cannot compare this particular performance to others, so it will have to stand up on its own merits. And it does, very well. The work touches on the classical style, but with some 20th century elements. Movement one is a nice allegro, while the second movement has a sad feel, and you can almost feel the distress that Hahn's playing conveys. The CD liner notes reference the fact that Barber had trouble with the third movement, and that the violinist Briselli [who commissioned it] called it unplayable. There is a lot of energy here, and qualifies as a violin showpiece. Between the 3 movements, the violinist gets to stretch their performing styles, and overall it is a very good work.

The Meyer Violin Concerto was commissioned by Hahn and this is the world premiere recording. The first movement has a rolling theme, and somehow reminds me of Stravinsky's 8 Miniatures for 15 Players. Of course, I have been listening to the Stravinsky a lot lately, and it may have to do with the small orchestration of the performance. The second movement starts with an Appalachian Spring by Copland feel, and moves from there. The work as a whole is a pretty piece, and floats in and out thru various themes and styles, but definitely worth a listen. It is not a violin barnstormer, but rather a nicely composed work with some interesting violin work. It is good to know that performers will still commission new works, for they will be the classics of tomorrow.

So, if you are a fan at all of the violin, buy this cd. It has provided me with hours of pleasure, and will be one of those cds that you play over and over again.

BasicRep.com Blog

2006-07-17T00:10:00.000-04:00

My site, www.basicrep.com, is a music review site of currently available Classical CDs that are part of the Basic Repertoire. I list the best available performances for various works, but do not really do reviews or include all of the classical CDs I own. I decided to start this blog to compliment my site, so I can add the music that either does not really fit on the site, or are works not part of the 'basic repertoire'. You can use the search at the top of the page if you are looking for a particular composer or performer. Comments are welcome. Thanks! jim