Recordings That You Are Considering

[André]

I think the BIS set is a no-brainer as it collects everything of importance in excellent performances and sound. That being said, the quartet of symphonies played by Karajan is a classic (best ever # 6 and a superb 4th). Therefore I would recommend the BIS and complement it eventually with used discs of the Karajans and the first 3 symphonies in alternative versions, such as Stokowski # 1, Barbirolli RPO # 2 and Rozhdestvensky USSR S.O. in  # 3. These.

Edt: Here's Stokie's 1st coupled with Schippers' sizzling 2nd and Francescatti's scrumptious Concerto. Warning: the symphony has been remastered to better effect on the Great Conductors series (Stokowski of course). But the difference is not enough to make you go in life without that classic interpretation.


For less than 5$ you get 2 superb discs of vintage interpretations.

[The new erato]

Another Scribendum set:

[Angelos_05]

Another Scribendum set:

Which is still not listed on Scribendum's page as of yet....
http://www.scribendumrecordings.com/the-shop/4583959840

Hermann Scherchen with the Orchestras: English Baroque, Vienna Symphony, Vienna State Opera, Royal Philharmonic

    Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) Suite for orchestra no.1, no.2, no.3, no.4, The Musical Offering, Mass in B minor BWV232
    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) Requiem in D minor K626
    Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony no.3, no.1, no.2, no.8, no.5, no.4, no.6 (1958), Wellington's Victory, Wellington's Victory rehearsal, Symphony no.9, no.6 (1951), no.7, Christus am Ölberge
    Reinhold Glière (1875-1956) Symphony no.3 in B minor, op.42, "Ilya Muromets"
    Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) Symphony no.1 in C minor, op.68
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Romeo and Juliet (Fantasy Overture), Symphony no.4, 1812 Overture
    Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) Scheherazade, The Tale of Tsar Saltan (The flight of the bumble bee)
    Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) Prince Igor (Polovtsian dances)
    Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) Symphony no.1, no.5, no.7, no.2, no.10 (Adagio)
    Arthur Honegger (1892-1955) 3 Symphonic Movements, Prélude pour la Tempête, Pastorale d'été, Chant de Joie
    Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) Petrushka (1911 version), Firebird Suite
    Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Sinfonia no.100 in G major "Military", no.45 in F sharp minor "Farewell"
    Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) Gayaneh Suite
    Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) Night on the Bald Mountain (arr. Rimsky-Korsakov)
    Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Scythian Suite "Ala and Lolly" (Skifskaya syuita), Lieutenant Kije Suite
    Paul Dukas (1865-1935) The Sorcerer's apprentice
    Manuel de Falla (1876-1946) from El Amor Brujo (Danza del terror, Danza ritual del fuego)
    Emmanuel Chabrier (1841-1894) Rapsodie from España
    Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) Bolero
    Gioachino Antonio Rossini (1792-1868) Overture from William Tell
    Emil Nikolaus Joseph Freiherr von Reznicek (1860-1945) Overture from Donna Diana
    Louis Joseph Ferdinand Hérold (1791-1833) Overture from Zampa
    Daniel François Esprit Auber (1782-1871) Overture from Fra Diavolo
    Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Hungarian Rhapsodies, Les Préludes, Mazeppa, Battle of the Huns, Mephisto waltz no.1 - The dance in the village inn
    Carl Orff (1895-1982) Entrata
    Giovanni Gabrieli (c.1554/1557-1612) Canzon in primi toni

This set highlights the vast repertoire of the great conductor and features Scherchen highly influential recordings of Mahler 1, 2, 5, 7, 10 (adagio).
Remarkably good sound and exceptional conducting in these Westminster recordings.
A must for any collector of Scherchen works and discerning classic music lovers.
One of the best interpretations of classic and more adventurous masterpieces from Bach to Honegger, from Beethoven to Stravinsky, from Gabrieli to Khachaturian.

http://www.mdt.co.uk/scherchen-hermann-the-art-of-opera-royal-philharmonic-scribendum-27cds.html

The Chesky disk is the one I have, so I can't comment on anything about the Scribendum other than that it's a great performance.

I haven't heard the Beethoven discs of the Scribendum Leibowitz boxset yet, but the reviews seems to be favorable.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Complete-Symphonies-Leibowitz-Import/dp/B0009TRGKO/ref=cm_cr_dp_asin_lnk
Don't know if Ian Jones got his hand on the original master tapes, but so far the word around the campfire is that Scribendum didn't use the original master tapes.

Here is the Rene Leibowitz/RPO Beethoven cycle, recorded in 1961 for Readers Digest. I was fortunate to find this just a few days ago. Produced by Charles Gerhardt & very well recorded by Decca's Kenneth G. Wilkinson, this 2004 CD set was remastered at Abbey Road by Ian Jones for Scribendum.

http://www.forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/classical-music-corner.439029/page-100#post-12680467

[Mirror Image]

To increase my Sibelius collection, I'm very interested in buying this set box and in knowing the opinions about it......

[asin]B00ZB7UYF8[/asin]

I can't say the quality of performances are up to par with the Finns, especially Vanska on BIS and Segerstam on Ondine. I see that Bernstein/Kamu performances of Symphonies 1-3 are in the box set and HvK's Symphonies 4-7 are also there, but these aren't the most idiomatic performances I've heard. HvK is quite a capable Sibelian, but does he bring the level of understanding to the music that a native Finn like Segerstam, Vanska, or Berglund bring to the music? Hardly. As Jens suggested, that Essential Sibelius set on BIS is the way to go to acquire some of the composers best music in what I believe are some of the best performances. I know you're a huge HvK fan, but he's not the bee's knees when it comes to Sibelius IMHO. Keep your options open.

[Mandryka]

Stockhausen and Codex Chantilly, Capilla Flamenca and Het Colectief.

[mc ukrneal]

Thank you for the feedback; I wanted to know some general reviews about the box set: about the interpretations, the quality, the performers (actually, I only know the Karajan performances included), etc, or if there were some better Sibelius editions worth buying. Usually, DG collections hardly disappoint, and looking at the interpreters, that DG Sibelius box set must be excellent.
Thanks for suggesting that second set, it seems to be great too.

I have the essential Sibelius on BIS too and I can recommend it without reservation. That said, I don't think you'd be disappointed by the DG set either, though the Karajan symphonies can be had separately for much less if that is the main interest. All that said, I think the best parts of the BIS collection are the solo piano and chamber works from the point of view of exploration (a weaker point on the DG in terms of listening time). I also very much enjoy Sophie von Otter on BIS. She seems to get these songs quite well. The sound and performances are top notch.

[Drasko]

Another Scribendum set:

DG is coming out with their own Scherchen box:





http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B01B6XEVEA

[Jo498]

FWIW, the Karajan Berlin 4-7+Tapiola is available as an affordable twofer from DG originals. This is very easy to get outside the DG Sibelius box, so it probably should not be the main reason for/against that box.

[Mandryka]

Another Scribendum set:

But no details of the recordings?

[André]

DG is coming out with their own Scherchen box:





http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B01B6XEVEA

The box advertises 19 symphonies by Handel... Obviously it's Haydn, except his name does not appear on that back cover. Quality control problems, DGG ? 

[Karl Henning]

Oopsie!

[Drasko]

But no details of the recordings?

You have contents in quote of the penultimate post on previous page (from mdt site).

[Mandryka]

You have contents in quote of the penultimate post on previous page (from mdt site).

Aha. The Brahms 1 is good.

[Drasko]

Aha. The Brahms 1 is good.

Haven't heard it. It was, I think, in his volume of the Great Conductors series. I'll see if I can find it.

[Mandryka]

Andrus Madsen plays some Pachelbel. It attracted my attention because of the instruments, one of which is meantone tuned. I have a theory that meantone will do Pachelbel a power of good.

[Que]

Andrus Madsen plays some Pachelbel. It attracted my attention because of the instruments, one of which is meantone tuned. I have a theory that meantone will do Pachelbel a power of good.

I love that set.

Q

[Angelos_05]

But no details of the recordings?

You have contents in quote of the penultimate post on previous page (from mdt site).

Precisely!
One post below, I posted the contents of the Hermann Scherchen Scribendum boxset as it happens that they appeared on mdt.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,20.msg961114.html#msg961114

[prémont]

I love that set.

Q

Seconded.

[Lisztianwagner]

Ingredients: http://www.mdt.co.uk/sibelius-edition-deutsche-grammophon-14cds.html

Well, they got the symphonies right: Karajan (Sys.4,5,6,7) is excellent and so is Bernstein -- if far more exagerrated (Nos.1 & esp. 2). I wouldn't be without them whereas I *might* allow myself to be without Vanska's symphonies, but only if I had another set as good as Vanska's and in the same style. Then again, no, I wouldn't be without that, either. And Vanska is a standard from the vantage point of which I can enjoy takes like Bernstein's better than if I only knew the latter. Kamu's Third has always been fine but isn't a knock-out. The Tone Poems with ASMF / Marriner are better than expected by a cynic, but not top drawer. The Gothenburg SO / Järvi tone poems (Finlandia, Pohjola s Teenage Daughter) v.good. I like the Anne-Sophie Mutter/André Previn Violin Concerto account. But I like Vanska/Kavakos better. Quite a bit. I think better can be had than Jorma Panula's Kullervo, but it's not like it's a bad recording. (Licensed from Naxos, interestingly; DG never recorded that work.) The Kim Borg songs are old but awesome. The Emerson String Quartet in Voces Intimae excellent. Ditto Pelleas & Melisande (though dated) with the SRO/ Horst Stein. Some of the other licensed Hungarian stuff is just OK. Still, I think the BIS has on average the better performances, a real knack for the Sibelian voice (at least as I imagine it, I suppose), and greater variety on almost as many CDs for a comparable price.

I heartily agree with Jens's recommendation of the BIS Essential Sibelius, Ilaria. Just about the only things that could still improve it would be including Vänskä's Nightride & Sunrise, and the complete Tempest (instead of just the Järvi extraction).

I can't say the quality of performances are up to par with the Finns, especially Vanska on BIS and Segerstam on Ondine. I see that Bernstein/Kamu performances of Symphonies 1-3 are in the box set and HvK's Symphonies 4-7 are also there, but these aren't the most idiomatic performances I've heard. HvK is quite a capable Sibelian, but does he bring the level of understanding to the music that a native Finn like Segerstam, Vanska, or Berglund bring to the music? Hardly. As Jens suggested, that Essential Sibelius set on BIS is the way to go to acquire some of the composers best music in what I believe are some of the best performances. I know you're a huge HvK fan, but he's not the bee's knees when it comes to Sibelius IMHO. Keep your options open.

I have the essential Sibelius on BIS too and I can recommend it without reservation. That said, I don't think you'd be disappointed by the DG set either, though the Karajan symphonies can be had separately for much less if that is the main interest. All that said, I think the best parts of the BIS collection are the solo piano and chamber works from the point of view of exploration (a weaker point on the DG in terms of listening time). I also very much enjoy Sophie von Otter on BIS. She seems to get these songs quite well. The sound and performances are top notch.

FWIW, the Karajan Berlin 4-7+Tapiola is available as an affordable twofer from DG originals. This is very easy to get outside the DG Sibelius box, so it probably should not be the main reason for/against that box.

Thank you for your suggestions, I appreciated them; it seems the Essential Sibelius box set is far more recommended. It certainly looks tempting, both because of the interpreters performing and because of the great deal of works included (apart from symphonies, tone poems and Violin Concerto, I haven't listened to many of them); I've often read very good reviews about Vanska's Sibelius, I would be curious to compare his recordings to others I've listened. Karajan in the DG set isn't a determinant presence since I have already got his performance of the symphonies.

[Mandryka]

Recommendable [Tilney's Deutsche Cembalomusik], I think, His Böhm g-minor præl-fugue-postl. is very good and so is the rest.

You were absolutely right about this. And it's good to know someone with a similar response.

I'm now wondering whether I should buy this