Your Choice for 80th Year/Anniversary Box set for 2009

[Opus106]

It dawned upon just some time ago that last year around this time I had with myself a box set from DG commemorating the 80th year of Rostropovich. And in a couple of weeks, I will get my hands on the box set with Gustav Leonhardt CDs from DHM, again an 80th Anniversary "Jubille Eidtion." This made me wonder about all those bigwigs (and not-so-big wigs) of classical music who will be eligible for a similar box set next year. There are quite a few strong contenders for this one.

I have based my list from the Birth Listings for 1929, from Wikipedia. I've included only those people who according to me are most likely to have a box set celebrating their birth. There will always be the 'Other' option, of course, for those not featured. Please mention the artist you have in mind if you voted "Other".

For me, it would either be Haitink or Harnoncourt. 

P.S.: Sorry, no option for "I have every recording ever made of every artist in and out of existence, so I don't care." 

[Lethevich]

A Harnoncourt box would be the most consistently rewarding IMO, but perhaps too much to hope for. His work is spread over so many different labels, anyway.

[dirkronk]

I voted for Kertesz, mostly because I'm curious at what might be found in archives and dragged into light of day. Certainly I've enjoyed a number of his recordings...Dvorak, Brahms, Kodaly, others...but surely there are other, less well-known examples of his conductorial art. And I'd like to hear 'em.

I came close to voting for Previn instead, and for the same reason. If an 80th anniversary box were contemplated for him, I'd suggest that EMI drag out his Mahler 4th with Ameling and the Pittsburgh and perhaps some of his live performances rather than just give us another iteration of his Rach symphonies, and Rach & Prokofiev piano concerti with Ashkenazy, good though those may be.

FWIW,

Dirk

[Opus106]

A Harnoncourt box would be the most consistently rewarding IMO, but perhaps too much to hope for. His work is spread over so many different labels, anyway.

I was thinking the same. Maybe some major labels would come together for this one.

Nah.

I voted for Kertesz, mostly because I'm curious at what might be found in archives and dragged into light of day. Certainly I've enjoyed a number of his recordings...Dvorak, Brahms, Kodaly, others...but surely there are other, less well-known examples of his conductorial art. And I'd like to hear 'em.

And there are also those recordings that feature him as a pianist and are not all the well-known.

[Drasko]

Dohnanyi box from Decca would be very nice. They have a lot in their vaults and most of it is out of print. Since Schumann, Dvorak and Mendelssohn are mostly available it could consist of Bruckner, Mahler, Bartok, Stravinsky, Webern and perhaps Schoenberg and Ives. I'd be buying that. 

[Opus106]

Well, Haitink's is here.

Click image for details.

[Renfield]

I voted Harnoncourt, though the Dohnanyi also sounds like an excellent idea, indeed.

I've still to recover from the live "Pathetique" I heard by him two years ago.


Edit: Is that a Boston Brahms 3rd by Haitink in his anniversary box set? When did that happen?

[Maciek]

Wanda Wiłkomirska

[springrite]

I voted for "other", meaning everyone else! That should be a huge boxset, though I have no idea who will be included. Quality may vary.

[Renfield]

I voted for "other", meaning everyone else! That should be a huge boxset, though I have no idea who will be included. Quality may vary.

Taking the pluralist approach?

Not that it wouldn't be an interesting experiment...

[Opus106]

That should be a huge boxset, though I have no idea who will be included. Quality may vary.

Sounds like a project for Brilliant.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Edit: Is that a Boston Brahms 3rd by Haitink in his anniversary box set? When did that happen?

It's a mid-90s cycle that didn't get much exposure. Not for lack of quality, mind you, as to my ears it's at least the equal of the other two cycles he recorded (the earlier Concertgebouw, and the later LSO). I can only hazard why it hasn't been reissued before now, but undoubtedly the greater marketability of the Concertgebouw is a factor in keeping that set in the reissue loop (for Philips) over the Boston set. Plus with a new cycle for LSO Live it fits that three cycles from Haitink sitting on the (virtual) shelves might be too much for the market to bear.

At any rate, it's a fine achievement and it's good to see at least a morsel from this Boston cycle finally make it back into print.

[Renfield]

Oh, I hadn't noticed this. Thanks, donwyn.

Highly unlikely as it is that I'll pick up that Haitink box just for (even) a Brahms 3rd, knowledge of another Brahms cycle is never worthless!

[DavidW]

Harnoncourt.  It would be interesting to see a box set reveal how his style has evolved over time.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Oh, I hadn't noticed this. Thanks, donwyn.

Highly unlikely as it is that I'll pick up that Haitink box just for (even) a Brahms 3rd, knowledge of another Brahms cycle is never worthless!

The Boston/Haitink pairing is extremely rare on recordings but is generally a favorable match.

What I've heard of the partnership (Ravel, Brahms) Haitink tends to loosen his 'drill sergeant' grip on the musical line somewhat and allow more air to sneak in. Just a bit more animated, I guess I'd say. It's fun, no doubt, yet still eminently Haitink. 

[Opus106]

Previn Warholised, kind of.



Again, click image for track listing.