I would like to invite some comments on this complete recording.
Does anyone know were they come from, and still better has heard them.
Tempi, sound, etc etc.....
Quote from: Harry on October 29, 2007, 10:43:33 AM
Tempi, sound, etc etc.....
The tempi are excellent ....... among the best in the business ........
But the sound ......... oh, the sound .........
Isn't this Chandos material?
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/nov99/Glazsymph34.htm (http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/nov99/Glazsymph34.htm)
http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=8828 (http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=8828)
It is easy to google references to other discs in the series on both sites.
Quote from: erato on October 29, 2007, 10:48:12 AM
Isn't this Chandos material?
Yes I found out it is, and Gramophone writes about with two minds.
Still I would like to hear some opinions of the posters about these recordings. :)
I am tempted by these CDs:
(http://www.jpc.de/image/w300/front/0/6203450.jpg)
But Glazunov is relatively new to me. I know his violin concerto with Vengorov ( I recorded it from the radio). Otherwise the composer is completely new to me.
As far as I know he is a relatively conservative composer. The German Reklam Konzertführer gives Glazunov an entry in the "major composer department" and speaks about all the symphonies ( he doesn't speak about Sibelius symphonies 3-7 and all Shostakovich symphonies). This makes me hopefull.
This Brilliant box is certainly very tempting but I would like to know your opinions. About this composer and about these recordings.
Regards Martin
I started yesterday a thread about the same composer, and the same recording.
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,4133.0.html
As to the question about do you need Glazunov, that you can only answer yourself.
Wether you like his music or not. Many amongst us think he is a bleak image of Rachmaninoff.
I think he is a very good composer that needs repeated hearings before you find the core of his genius.
So in my view you need Glazunov.
That said, the present recordings are a mixed bunch, both in sound and interpretation.
Being Chandos recordings, made in Russian, they are not up to the usual good standards of this label. And as for the interpretation, well the samples I have heard on the Chandos site, did not make me happy, regarding tempi, phrasing, and the message of the works.
I still regard the complete recording on Orfeo by Neeme Jarvi the best option, and advise you to sample before you buy. This complete set from Chandos is not a good introduction to Glazunov, IMO.
Sorry Harry,
I searched for a thread about Glazunov yesterday, couldn't find any, so I started this thread today. You were obviously a bit quicker. Thank you for your advice and let's continue our discussion in your thread.
Best regards
Martin
Quote from: Martin Lind on October 30, 2007, 02:53:31 AM
Sorry Harry,
I searched for a thread about Glazunov yesterday, couldn't find any, so I started this thread today. You were obviously a bit quicker. Thank you for your advice and let's continue our discussion in your thread.
Best regards
Martin
Well if possible the mods can merge the two topics.......
"Need" + "Glazunov = Probably Not.
Tchaikovsky's prediction that Glazunov had the talent, but "something in him holds him back" turned out to be rather true.
Certainly he lived through "interesting times, " especially when the vicissitudes of the Communist Revolution reduced his weight from 300 pounds to below normal.
Will you hear much of that in his compositions? Not from my experience: at times the tunes are intriguing enough, which is what has kept him around for so long. But the depth, the substantial expression of a great composer, is usually lacking. "Something in him holds him back."
I do enjoy revisiting the tone-poem Stenka Razin from time to time. My own need for Glazunov is a sometime thing, and never intense. YMMV, of course.
No.
His mileage is not permitted to vary? 8)
Quote from: Harry on October 30, 2007, 03:02:09 AM
Well if possible the mods can merge the two topics.......
Glazunov topics now merged. 0:) Please continue...
--Bruce
Traffic from the on-ramp is yielding most courteously 8)
Quote from: karlhenning on October 30, 2007, 05:43:44 AM
His mileage is not permitted to vary? 8)
Of course it is. But the more concise answer is much funnier.
Agreed, Larry.
I absolutely adore Glazunov's String Quintet, an incredible tuneful work with great beauty and a charming little dance movement:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JBzhHGSlL._SS400_.jpg)
The Novelettes, written when Glazunov was 16, are quaint and pretty, with a very dignified third movement and a wonderful waltz, but the Quintet (also a youthful work, but a masterpiece) makes the disc. I have long been afraid to buy a symphony cycle by the composer, since they all seem to have serious drawbacks, and also because I have heard the symphonies themselves are rather uneven. This disc has given me a great impression of Glazunov's style and I don't want it to be ruined. :D
Scott has an excellent review here (http://www.amazon.com/Glazunov-String-Quintet-Five-Novelettes/dp/B000MRP1WS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-5615556-7935269?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1193758100&sr=8-2).
All this helps me not realy. First: The price is a very convincing argument. This cycle on Brilliant is realy cheap. Maybe the Järvi is better but it is certainly also much more expensive. And Glazunov is certainly not such a great composer that you definetely need the best thing.
If this cycle from Brilliant is bad, I will not buy it. But if Brilliant is bad, I will very probably buy nothing and miss the complete Glasunov.
Today I listened again to Glasunovs violin concerto. I have the Vengorov which I recorded ( with a minidiscrecorder ) from German radio. Somehow I like this performance and the Glasunov. If the Glasunov symphonies are playing in the same leage and if the Brilliant recordings are not that bad I would like to buy this cheap set. If you mean this set is bad, I will buy nothing. So is this set good enough or is it not good enough and should I wait for another bargain?
Quote from: Martin Lind on October 30, 2007, 10:31:25 AM
All this helps me not realy. First: The price is a very convincing argument. This cycle on Brilliant is realy cheap. Maybe the Järvi is better but it is certainly also much more expensive. And Glazunov is certainly not such a great composer that you definetely need the best thing.
If this cycle from Brilliant is bad, I will not buy it. But if Brilliant is bad, I will very probably buy nothing and miss the complete Glasunov.
Today I listened again to Glasunovs violin concerto. I have the Vengorov which I recorded ( with a minidiscrecorder ) from German radio. Somehow I like this performance and the Glasunov. If the Glasunov symphonies are playing in the same leage and if the Brilliant recordings are not that bad I would like to buy this cheap set. If you mean this set is bad, I will buy nothing. So is this set good enough or is it not good enough and should I wait for another bargain?
Well I would advise you to go to the cheap BIS, its certainly better as the Brilliant issue, I know and tried both cycles.
Hi Harry,
Yes you are right the Bis cycle is also relatively cheap. 30 Euro for 5 CDs, compared to 17 Euro for the Brilliant, certainly more expensive but not that much. I will think about it and wait for more opinions.
Regards Martin
Quote from: Martin Lind on October 30, 2007, 11:23:02 AM
Hi Harry,
Yes you are right the Bis cycle is also relatively cheap. 30 Euro for 5 CDs, compared to 17 Euro for the Brilliant, certainly more expensive but not that much. I will think about it and wait for more opinions.
Regards Martin
O, you know all reviews are great, and would you have been earlier, you would have got this set for free, I gave it away a week ago........
This set from BIS is highly praised, so go for it......
Quote from: brianrein on October 30, 2007, 07:34:16 AM
I absolutely adore Glazunov's String Quintet, an incredible tuneful work with great beauty and a charming little dance movement:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JBzhHGSlL._SS400_.jpg)
The Novelettes, written when Glazunov was 16, are quaint and pretty, with a very dignified third movement and a wonderful waltz, but the Quintet (also a youthful work, but a masterpiece) makes the disc. I have long been afraid to buy a symphony cycle by the composer, since they all seem to have serious drawbacks, and also because I have heard the symphonies themselves are rather uneven. This disc has given me a great impression of Glazunov's style and I don't want it to be ruined. :D
Scott has an excellent review here (http://www.amazon.com/Glazunov-String-Quintet-Five-Novelettes/dp/B000MRP1WS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-5615556-7935269?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1193758100&sr=8-2).
My problem with the Naxos disc is the performance of the Novelettes. Much better comes from the St. Petersburg Qt. on Delos.
I'd go for the BIS set. I haven't heard anything good about the Polyansky set.
Having said that, I have the Rostestvensky, Jarvi, Serebrier, and a few others here and there. The Rostestvensky is the best performed but has glassy, glassy sound. The Serebrier is just about the same and has better sound. I only hope the Serebrier gets finished. BTW, next month's BBC Magazine will have a recording of the 5th as a freebie.
No one needs Glazunov in their collection. $:)
Quote from: BorisG on October 30, 2007, 06:26:24 PM
No one needs Glazunov in their collection. $:)
You always go around and threadcrap like that?
Quote from: jo jo starbuck on October 30, 2007, 07:53:28 PM
You always go around and threadcrap like that?
Haha, what a perfect word for the situation! :D
Just say "no" to Popov, too. $:)
Glazunov was a fine composer, perhaps a little too productive for his own good. The extended, and indeed exhausting, Naxos series revealed that he wrote a great deal of lesser music. However, some of the symphonies and concertos are beautiful works, and a must for collectors of late romantic Russian orchestral music.
(http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/87/11687.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lNiubmcGL._SS500_.jpg) (http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/20/925920.jpg)
I'm afraid that of all the cycles hitherto released, the Polyansky is arguably the weakest. Neither can his orchestra measure up against the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (for BIS, also available at a good price now), nor the Royal Scottish National (for Warner, awaiting completion, under José Serebrier), nor indeed the Bamberg Symphony and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (under Neeme Järvi, for Orfeo) - and the cavernous, mushy sound in my book renders the Polyansky instantly uncompetitive. No wonder Chandos wanted to get rid of it. The Naxos series (under Anissimov and Golovshin) was also rather poorly played and recorded.
My advice would be either to get the (expensive) Järvi, or wait for the also-excellent Serebrier to finish his cycle. Otaka OTOH isn't bad either.
I have the Rozhdestvensky set, which has satisfied my only moderate and occasional appetite for Glazunov.
But I see now there are many alternative cycles available, - Svetlanov, Polyansky, the BIS and Naxos recordings, possibly Butt on ASV.
Any thoughts specifically on the quality of Svetlanov, but also the ++'s & --'s of the others? Does one set stand out?
I think the ongoing Serebrier cycle is the one to follow. Production values are high, and Serebrier hasn't been hurrying.
Reviews of the Polyansky, Otaka, and Anissimov cycles have not been encouraging. I think Järvi gets higher marks.
I have the Svetlanov set, which hasn't made a great impression, but is better than the discs I have by Anissimov and Otaka. I am waiting for the Serebrier set to conclude, or alternately for the Jarvi set to be reissued at a reasonable price. But there's no hurry - I wouldn't rate Glazunov's cycle as especially desirable (and I say this as a fan of "golden age" Russian symphonism).
Have the Jarvi, Roz, the Serebrier, some Otaka, and others. Indispensable musicmaking.
I prefer the Rozhdestvensky Olympia series - sadly deletedv now.
Quote from: jo jo starbuck on March 04, 2009, 11:08:18 PM
Have the Jarvi, Roz, the Serebrier, some Otaka, and others. Indispensable musicmaking.
I have the Jarvi, must say I consider Glazunov to be entirely dispensable. Too many notes, not enough ideas.
Quote from: J on March 04, 2009, 03:32:26 PM
my only moderate and occasional appetite for Glazunov.
Quote from: eyeresist on March 04, 2009, 07:04:32 PM
I wouldn't rate Glazunov's cycle as especially desirable
Quote from: nut-job on March 05, 2009, 02:04:46 PM
I consider Glazunov to be entirely dispensable
Obviously not a composer who inspires much in the way of passion or devotion. Makes me wonder why there are so many recordings!
I am particularly partial to a version of no.3 by Boris Khaikin (or is it Kaikhin??), one which has not been surpassed imho. I have never found it on CD, though, which is a pity. I was sorely dissappointed by the Naxos version of this, that had a very weedy sound, odd tempi and - worse of all - no vibrato in the brass (surely a must in this repertoire)!
A related symphony of which I am very fond, but not by Glazunov, is Lyapunov's Second, written in 1917 in St Pete's when the streets were in a bit of disorder. There is a Svetlanov from the 60s from what appears to be a concert, with quite a bit of coughing etc, Melodiya speciality. That - or another of Svetlanov's accounts of this mighty (55') piece - has come out on CD on a French label.
Quote from: Spitvalve on March 05, 2009, 09:37:03 PM
Obviously not a composer who inspires much in the way of passion or devotion. Makes me wonder why there are so many recordings!
Some people want to stick with Romanticism, unable to make the jump to
Schoenberg or
Carter or even
Pärt.
Tchaikovsky had a comment that something in the young Glazunov was preventing greatness from blossoming: alcoholism?
Quote from: Cato on March 06, 2009, 04:18:03 PM
Some people want to stick with Romanticism, unable to make the jump to Schoenberg or Carter or even Pärt.
And some people are unable to make the jump from chocolate to brussel sprouts.
Quote from: sound67 on November 03, 2007, 02:39:29 PM
Glazunov was a fine composer, perhaps a little too productive for his own good. The extended, and indeed exhausting, Naxos series revealed that he wrote a great deal of lesser music. However, some of the symphonies and concertos are beautiful works, and a must for collectors of late romantic Russian orchestral music.
(http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/87/11687.jpg) (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lNiubmcGL._SS500_.jpg) (http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/20/925920.jpg)
I'm afraid that of all the cycles hitherto released, the Polyansky is arguably the weakest. Neither can his orchestra measure up against the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (for BIS, also available at a good price now), nor the Royal Scottish National (for Warner, awaiting completion, under José Serebrier), nor indeed the Bamberg Symphony and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (under Neeme Järvi, for Orfeo) - and the cavernous, mushy sound in my book renders the Polyansky instantly uncompetitive. No wonder Chandos wanted to get rid of it. The Naxos series (under Anissimov and Golovshin) was also rather poorly played and recorded.
My advice would be either to get the (expensive) Järvi, or wait for the also-excellent Serebrier to finish his cycle. Otaka OTOH isn't bad either.
The Serebrier is available at recession proof prices and the sound quality is excellent, so this is really a cycle for those interested to acquire.
Quote from: nut-job on March 05, 2009, 02:04:46 PM
I have the Jarvi, must say I consider Glazunov to be entirely dispensable. Too many notes, not enough ideas.
Really? Well that is a very harsh judgment I must say. Entirely dispensable? Really these words landed quite hard in my small country in Europe.
Too many notes huh. Did you see the scores in detail? Not enough ideas, well I did not hear any of your works! I have the scores of all his symphonies, and I consider every note indispensable.
Of course you are entitled to have your opinion, but I think its beyond opinion to express such a opinion.
Jarvi is the conductor that brings out all the felicities in Glazunov whom I consider a first class composer, and a very good orchestrator.
Quote from: Spitvalve on March 05, 2009, 09:37:03 PM
Obviously not a composer who inspires much in the way of passion or devotion. Makes me wonder why there are so many recordings!
Maybe you should listen to the music, instead of letting your ears hang after what other people say.
Quote from: Harry on March 07, 2009, 08:47:59 AM
Of course you are entitled to have your opinion, but I think its beyond opinion to express such a opinion.
Certainly we are entitled to think a composer dispensable....one can't think everything indispensable.
I think that there is depth and a sense of tragedy in Symphony No 8 (my favourite) and a wonderfil wistful regret in the one movement fragment of Symphony No 9 (which I'm sorry that he never completed). I think that anyone who composed 'The Seasons' was a fine (if not great) composer. Former politician, Chelea FC fan and Classic FM DJ David Mellor is a great admirer of Glazunov - so he MUST be a great composer ;D
Quote from: Harry on March 07, 2009, 08:50:08 AM
Maybe you should listen to the music, instead of letting your ears hang after what other people say.
Life is short - I think I'll just let my ears hang, despite the risk that I might miss something good.
Quote from: erato on March 07, 2009, 09:02:35 AM
one can't think everything indispensable.
You can if you're Harry :D
Quote from: Spitvalve on March 07, 2009, 09:11:59 AM
You can if you're Harry :D
I nearly said it, but since I'm a polite man, I didn't. ;D
Quote from: nut-job on March 05, 2009, 02:04:46 PM
I have the Jarvi, must say I consider Glazunov to be entirely dispensable. Too many notes, not enough ideas.
Quote from: Harry on March 07, 2009, 08:47:59 AM
Really? Well that is a very harsh judgment I must say. Entirely dispensable? Really these words landed quite hard in my small country in Europe.
Too many notes huh. Did you see the scores in detail? Not enough ideas, well I did not hear any of your works! I have the scores of all his symphonies, and I consider every note indispensable.
Of course you are entitled to have your opinion, but I think its beyond opinion to express such a opinion.
Jarvi is the conductor that brings out all the felicities in Glazunov whom I consider a first class composer, and a very good orchestrator.
Too many notes? Where have I heard that criticism before? Ah yes:
Emperor Joseph II: Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.
Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?
The remarks and comments about Glazunov where far from polite and extremely harsh, in that respect I was friendly as a innocent kitten.
Quote from: erato on March 07, 2009, 09:14:08 AM
I nearly said it, but since I'm a polite man, I didn't. ;D
I hope you are not suggesting I am impolite Erato?
Quote from: Harry on March 07, 2009, 10:02:28 AM
I hope you are not suggesting I am impolite Erato?
Not at all, just that you have a certain tendency to think things indispensable that to many people, aren't.
And I don't find "too many notes" and "not enough ideas" very harsh criticism, and even quite accurate for at least some Glazunov works I've heard.
Quote from: Harry on March 07, 2009, 08:47:59 AM
Really? Well that is a very harsh judgment I must say. Entirely dispensable? Really these words landed quite hard in my small country in Europe.
Too many notes huh. Did you see the scores in detail? Not enough ideas, well I did not hear any of your works! I have the scores of all his symphonies, and I consider every note indispensable.
Of course you are entitled to have your opinion, but I think its beyond opinion to express such a opinion.
Jarvi is the conductor that brings out all the felicities in Glazunov whom I consider a first class composer, and a very good orchestrator.
If you experience such emotion distress at the idea that someone thinks your favorite composers is boring I feel sorry for you indeed.
Quote from: Bunny on March 07, 2009, 09:47:58 AM
Too many notes? Where have I heard that criticism before? Ah yes:
Emperor Joseph II: Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.
Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?
Of course I was alluding to the scene from
Amadeus that you quote. The fact that it was not true of Mozart doesn't mean the criticism isn't true of Glazunov. Alexander, you're no Wolfgang Mozart.
I'm not familiar enough with the Glazunov symphonies to call them important. However, all the recordings of them tell me that someone out there thinks they are highly rewarding. Put another way, Harry has many comrades on this one. One thing I do feel certain of - Glazunov is many steps higher than Dittersdorf.
Quote from: nut-job on March 08, 2009, 04:07:22 PM
If you experience such emotion distress at the idea that someone thinks your favorite composers is boring I feel sorry for you indeed.
I think we could say the same thing for someone who impulsively enters a thread about music they find boring just to make sure we all know they find it boring.
For me: Rozhdestvensky(on Olympia) in Nos. 1,2,4,5,7 and 8 and Butt(on ASV) in Nos. 3 and 6.
Ok, the Olympia sound is not as good as in more modern recordings but I think that Glazunov deserves the authentic Russian treatment.
In saying that I have to admit that he is not a composr I go back to all that often. Good but not great music, in my opinion.
Quote from: Daverz on March 08, 2009, 04:49:10 PM
I think we could say the same thing for someone who impulsively enters a thread about music they find boring just to make sure we all know they find it boring.
You feel sorry for me because I impulsively wrote that I find Glazunov boring? Why, pray tell?
Quote from: nut-job on March 08, 2009, 06:46:42 PM
You feel sorry for me because I impulsively wrote that I find Glazunov boring? Why, pray tell?
Now you're just boring me. >:(
Quote from: nut-job on March 08, 2009, 04:07:22 PM
If you experience such emotion distress at the idea that someone thinks your favorite composers is boring I feel sorry for you indeed.
Feel sorry for yourself and leave me out..
Quote from: Harry on March 09, 2009, 12:34:25 AM
Feel sorry for yourself and leave me out..
A bit testy, aren't we? Maybe lay off the espresso and try a nice Sambucco.
Strange to see all this bickering about a composer that clearly arent' among the greats, but where I well can understand that somebody likes him (he's not my cup of tea - but I definitely like many figures as marginal, or even more marginal, than Glazunov); as well as understand that a criticism of "too few ideas" is valid. The violin concerto is very fine though, but I haven't found anything else to match it.
Most composers has both adherents and detractors, but while I feel that the burden of proof is heavy on one criticizing Bach or Mozart, I think that an indifference to Glazunov isn't anything going to war about. Leave it folks, move on, there's nothing to see......
I like Glazunov's Raymonda ballet music.
Quote from: Herman on March 09, 2009, 10:22:48 PM
I like Glazunov's Raymonda ballet music.
Actually that's quite a nice piece. Seasons is also attractive, and I should hear that violin concerto that got a good mention above. My trouble with Glazunov is he seems to think of a symphony as a giant jello mold into which to pour music.
Raymonda is tuneful and nice, I agree, but ultimately relatively forgettable compared to Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Stravinsky's ballets.
Quote from: erato on March 10, 2009, 06:35:23 AM
Raymonda is tuneful and nice, I agree, but ultimately relatively forgettable compared to Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Stravinsky's ballets.
But why for heavens sake should one compare? You can take Glazunov as he comes right?
Actually, but that's only my humble opinion, there is no need at all to compare composers.
Like women, every one of them is unique, and that is the thing to remember.
Quote from: nut-job on March 10, 2009, 05:20:30 AM
Actually that's quite a nice piece. Seasons is also attractive, and I should hear that violin concerto that got a good mention above. My trouble with Glazunov is he seems to think of a symphony as a giant jello mold into which to pour music.
Next time you meet him, simply ask that question, instead of assuming something, that is coming out of your own fantasy! :)
You either like a composer or not, but do not judge him as if you are entitled to do that.
First accomplish anything that comes close to his compositions, and than maybe, and only maybe you are allowed to express your private opinion to the public.
No offense Nut job, but I get rather irritated by your demeaning opinion of Glazunov.
Quote from: erato on March 10, 2009, 06:35:23 AM
Raymonda is tuneful and nice, I agree, but ultimately relatively forgettable compared to Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Stravinsky's ballets.
"Ultimately relatively forgettable?" What does that even mean? And why invoke such an Alzheimerian view of music.
All music is ultimately relatively forgettable, compared to the best Mozart and Bach composed. The best parts of
Raymonda strike me as better than most of
Swan Lake. BTW you forgot Delibes.
As it happens there is not a whole lot of good ballet music, and there's no reason to throw out a perfectly nice piece.
Quote from: Harry on March 10, 2009, 06:58:43 AM
Like women, every one of them is unique, and that is the thing to remember.
If you like everyone too much, that can get you into trouble.
My favorite Glazunov works are The Seasons and From the Middle Ages.
http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4007507
http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/3786891
I ask because I don't think it's likely, but would like to get one of them. Does anyone have either of these?
Found this comment to an Amazon review:
QuoteBy the way, I've just found out that the new Relief set of the symphonies are NOT the studio recordings. Interestingly, they are LIVE recordings made in the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory from roughly the same period! I am looking forward to buying this as well. But the Venezia set ARE the studio recordings. HMV Japan has them for sale.
http://www.amazon.com/review/R1EW1TX3NJ8ZJC
Note that he has not actually heard the recordings.
Hi, it looks like Fedoseyev only recorded one cycle of the Glazunov symphonies. I bought both the Venezia issue and the Relief issue. I really wish I hadn't bought the Relief one.
What annoys me is that the new Relief set claims to be 'live recordings'. They LIE!! These are the same studio recordings that Venezia issued already. However, avoid the Relief set like the plague! The transfers are disgraceful: they are a quarter-tone flat throughout, and the sound is (slightly) distorted at times. I would suggest that these were transfers from LPs rather than the original master tapes. Relief adds the Valse de Concert No.1 as a filler on disc three, but that's the only bright spot to be found here.
If you want the Fedoseyev, buy the Venezia set from HMV Japan, the transfers are outstanding and it's cheaper too! If you do get lumbered with the Relief set, make sure your CD player has pitch control.
Hmm. It sounds like Relief is basically a pirate label. Let's avoid them. (Venezia seems to be the domestic Russian distributor of the Melodiya catalog.)
I was in Tokyo so I bought the Venezia set.