Which Deutsche Grammophon super box to buy?

[fripp21]

Hi there. I am new to this forum after lurking about for a couple of days. Now I have a question that hopefully someone of you may be able to answer.

I am looking at the good looking boxes from Deutsche Grammophon, but there are so many, and I suspect that there are alot of overlap between the boxes.

So I am simply asking which ones you would recommend! I like classical music but I don't have that much in my collection. I do like big nice boxes though.

The ones I have looked at are:
111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon (vol 1 (55 CD's) + vol 2(56 CD's), or the whole thing 111 CD's in one box)
Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft - The Mono Era 1948-1957 (51 CD's)
Centenary Edition 1913-2013 (50 CD's)
The Originals - The Legendary Recordings Vol 2 (50 CD's)

Is the overlap extensive?

Is there any opinions on which of these are the best as a starting point...?

I am grateful for all and any help. 

PS, I have tried to search in the forum but couldn't find a suitable thread. Maybe all this have already been covered...

[Biffo]

My advice would be none of them. You would be better off putting your classical collection together piecemeal especially as it is now possible preview albums on Spotify and the like. Start with composers you know you like and build on that.

I don't know how much overlap there is, probably a lot; even as a seasoned collector it makes my head spin when trying to evaluate the never-ending stream of mega-boxes.

If you really feel you need one of these boxes to give your collection a boost go for The Originals Vol 2; it contains many fine performances and I doubt you will be disappointed. Personally, I would avoid the others.

[Papy Oli]

PS, I have tried to search in the forum but couldn't find a suitable thread. Maybe all this have already been covered...

Hi Fripp

Not sure if it has covered some of the DG boxes but a thread on big boxes can be found here, in the Box Blather : https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,23088.0.html

[Brian]

Welcome, fripp!

Not owning any of the boxes on the list I was initially skeptical, but actually if you're just starting with classical music and want a big sampler smorgasbord, those "The Originals" boxes might be a good choice. I have a few of the original CDs and am aware of some more, and all are pretty good with well-known artists and decent sound. It's true that you can find better recordings of individual works of music, but only by researching and reading reviews and spending $$ on a bunch of individual purchases.

This is a really good time to be a newbie because of all of these huge box sets that deliver so many CDs for so little money. Some others I would consider:
- if you have an especial interest in baroque or Mozarty music, look at box sets from Harmonia Mundi (the French label, not the German one) (actually the German one ALSO has a big baroque box which is ALSO good...so look at both haha). I have a 30 CD cube that's gold and black and has lots of diverse goodies from the 1600-1700s. I think French HM have a couple new ones that function much like DG The Originals, kind of victory lap boxes encompassing the label's greatest recordings, and they would be good too. (One of the new ones also has romantic and modern music.)
- if you are primarily interested in the orchestra (as opposed to solo piano or opera or chamber music), grab the Complete George Szell box from Sony. Lavish presentation - a book and a little ribbon to mark your place in the box - and there is not a single bad recording in the whole box. If you're gonna do only one artist for a big box, do the best artist! (I think I've read similarly high praise for Deutsche Grammophon's Boston Symphony box set.)

Box Blather is a great resource to read, because we have a lot of people who collect big boxes. But it's long!

[Mirror Image]

Welcome aboard, fripp21! You wouldn't happen to be a Robert Fripp fan would you? Anyway, I agree with Biffo in that it would be better to start a collection and build it piece-by-piece. My own collection is centered on composers and not the performers. There are hundreds of box sets dedicated to conductors, pianists, violinists, etc., but this never appealed to me, because I have always been, and always will be, more interested in the composer than the performer. Of course, your mileage may vary.

[fripp21]

Hi Fripp

Not sure if it has covered some of the DG boxes but a thread on big boxes can be found here, in the Box Blather : https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,23088.0.html

Thanks Papy Oli. I'll check that thread out.

[fripp21]

My advice would be none of them. You would be better off putting your classical collection together piecemeal especially as it is now possible preview albums on Spotify and the like. Start with composers you know you like and build on that.

I don't know how much overlap there is, probably a lot; even as a seasoned collector it makes my head spin when trying to evaluate the never-ending stream of mega-boxes.

If you really feel you need one of these boxes to give your collection a boost go for The Originals Vol 2; it contains many fine performances and I doubt you will be disappointed. Personally, I would avoid the others.

Thanks Biffo. I would like to get a start with a box with a collection of different stuff. As a collector I am more familiar with popular music ...

I ordered the Originals vol 2. Thanks for the advice.

[fripp21]

Welcome aboard, fripp21! You wouldn't happen to be a Robert Fripp fan would you? Anyway, I agree with Biffo in that it would be better to start a collection and build it piece-by-piece. My own collection is centered on composers and not the performers. There are hundreds of box sets dedicated to conductors, pianists, violinists, etc., but this never appealed to me, because I have always been, and always will be, more interested in the composer than the performer. Of course, your mileage may vary.

Not so much Robert Fripp. But the online handle is music related. The British band Catherine Wheel's song Fripp... It's great. ❤️

[fripp21]

Welcome, fripp!

Not owning any of the boxes on the list I was initially skeptical, but actually if you're just starting with classical music and want a big sampler smorgasbord, those "The Originals" boxes might be a good choice. I have a few of the original CDs and am aware of some more, and all are pretty good with well-known artists and decent sound. It's true that you can find better recordings of individual works of music, but only by researching and reading reviews and spending $$ on a bunch of individual purchases.

This is a really good time to be a newbie because of all of these huge box sets that deliver so many CDs for so little money. Some others I would consider:
- if you have an especial interest in baroque or Mozarty music, look at box sets from Harmonia Mundi (the French label, not the German one) (actually the German one ALSO has a big baroque box which is ALSO good...so look at both haha). I have a 30 CD cube that's gold and black and has lots of diverse goodies from the 1600-1700s. I think French HM have a couple new ones that function much like DG The Originals, kind of victory lap boxes encompassing the label's greatest recordings, and they would be good too. (One of the new ones also has romantic and modern music.)
- if you are primarily interested in the orchestra (as opposed to solo piano or opera or chamber music), grab the Complete George Szell box from Sony. Lavish presentation - a book and a little ribbon to mark your place in the box - and there is not a single bad recording in the whole box. If you're gonna do only one artist for a big box, do the best artist! (I think I've read similarly high praise for Deutsche Grammophon's Boston Symphony box set.)

Box Blather is a great resource to read, because we have a lot of people who collect big boxes. But it's long!

Thank you Brian for the long and interesting reply. I ordered the Originals box and I will surely have a look at some of the stuff you mention and also check out Box blather. I am really not that advanced to be able to build my library cd by cd. I have been at concerts many times with a friend of mine (classical) and I like the stuff newbies tend to like as M, B and B. Now I have invested in a really nice audio system (Yamaha A-S2100, Yamaha CD-S2100, Rega Planar 3 and Focal Electra 907BE) and I want to try out listening to classical in a really good sounding set up in the comfort of my home... 🤓🤗

[Ken B]

Big boxes are an excellent way to start. You get a variety of music in excellent recordings cheaply. Mostly it's mainstream stuff too, which is good for a newcomer to classical music. The term "classical music" covers a VAST amount of stuff, so a scattershot approach is good.

I liked the 111, and the Originals. If you see it at a good price the thr first Decca box, The Decca Sound, is excellent. So is the first Living Stereo box.

[Mirror Image]

Not so much Robert Fripp. But the online handle is music related. The British band Catherine Wheel's song Fripp... It's great. ❤️

Ah, thanks for the clarification.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Thanks Biffo. I would like to get a start with a box with a collection of different stuff. As a collector I am more familiar with popular music ...

I ordered the Originals vol 2. Thanks for the advice.

Not a bad choice, since The Originals Vol 2 will have no overlap with the box you have, and I think it is likely any of the other DG boxes will.

However, you are now seeing the classical world through the DGG catalog, and that will be a bit German focused and DGG thorough its history has had an engineering style that not everyone finds ideal. If you want to give your new stereo a workout the Decca Sound box would give you a different slice of the classical universe, and the same would go for the Philips box. I'd add to the list the Haitink Symphony Edition.

But probably once you've made your way through the stuff you have it would make sense to focus on things that you particularly enjoyed.

[Biffo]

Thanks Biffo. I would like to get a start with a box with a collection of different stuff. As a collector I am more familiar with popular music ...

I ordered the Originals vol 2. Thanks for the advice.

I hope you enjoy the Originals Vol 2. I have just looked at it again and I am impressed by the breadth of the repertoire. I have many of the discs though more from Vol 1. For some reason Vol 1 is just called The Originals and is more expensive, perhaps something to bear in mind for the future.

[fripp21]

Thanks Ken B, Ghost of Baron Scarpia and all.

I am digesting your advice.

Currently I have ordered :
The Originals - The Legendary Recordings Vol 2 (Deutsche Grammophon)
The Decca Sound (good price at amazon.it)
Decca Sound - The Piano Edition (too good a deal at amazon.co.uk to pass on)

I also have previously ordered the 111 CD box 111 The Collector's Edition, but I am fairly sure it is sold out. I just haven't got the definitive answer from the online shop yet. But I am not expecting to receive it.

However, on a side note, I really like it when the CD covers are replicas of the LP covers, and I have realised that the Original vol 2 have not so good looking CD covers. It seems like that each CD cover is a picture of someone holding the LP cover, so not replicas. Very bad. I was thinking of cancelling the order, but I don't know... Sure it's the music that matters, yes, yes, but the feeling is also important, and that's a big part of why I have gone back to collecting vinyl for my collection of popular music.

I also have my eyes on the Philips box but I am awaiting the delivery of the first batch first...

[Biffo]

Thanks Ken B, Ghost of Baron Scarpia and all.

I am digesting your advice.

Currently I have ordered :
The Originals - The Legendary Recordings Vol 2 (Deutsche Grammophon)
The Decca Sound (good price at amazon.it)
Decca Sound - The Piano Edition (too good a deal at amazon.co.uk to pass on)

I also have previously ordered the 111 CD box 111 The Collector's Edition, but I am fairly sure it is sold out. I just haven't got the definitive answer from the online shop yet. But I am not expecting to receive it.

However, on a side note, I really like it when the CD covers are replicas of the LP covers, and I have realised that the Original vol 2 have not so good looking CD covers. It seems like that each CD cover is a picture of someone holding the LP cover, so not replicas. Very bad. I was thinking of cancelling the order, but I don't know... Sure it's the music that matters, yes, yes, but the feeling is also important, and that's a big part of why I have gone back to collecting vinyl for my collection of popular music.

I also have my eyes on the Philips box but I am awaiting the delivery of the first batch first...

It would be a great shame if you cancelled The Originals Vol 2 simply because you don't like the artwork; it is an excellent box. My personal view, and I know I differ from many in this forum, is that I don't care about the artwork and would be happy to have plain covers and more information. I buy the discs to listen to the music not look at the covers.

[mc ukrneal]

However, on a side note, I really like it when the CD covers are replicas of the LP covers, and I have realised that the Original vol 2 have not so good looking CD covers. It seems like that each CD cover is a picture of someone holding the LP cover, so not replicas. Very bad. I was thinking of cancelling the order, but I don't know... Sure it's the music that matters, yes, yes, but the feeling is also important, and that's a big part of why I have gone back to collecting vinyl for my collection of popular music.

They are the original covers tilted at an angle. This is how they kept the same cover, but made it a little different to differentiate from the initial (full price)release. The covers I see in the photos are the same ones you would get if you bought them all individually (in the originals line). You can see them all here (click on the image to see all the images): https://www.discogs.com/Various-The-Originals-Legendary-Recordings-From-The-Deutsche-Grammophon-Catalogue-Vol-II/release/9095166.

[Brian]

I think those will be a good intro taste test to see what kinds of classical music you want to explore more and what kinds you don't! When you're ready for round 2 or 3, the two labels, in my experience box shopping, that have done the best with the "original LP art" styles are Sony and Warner-Erato (post-2017 merger and rebrand).

Sony original jacket boxes are mostly artist-focused. They also almost all carry the original BACK covers on the backs of the sleeves. I'm a young guy with good glasses so I love that, but many people complain they're so shrunk they're hard to read. If something was originally released on CD, the back cover just lists artists and works - no timings or tracks. The artist-focused boxes do cover wide bands of repertoire, so they often act as overviews like the Originals set.

Examples that I own: George Szell (all the great orchestra hits from Mozart through the 1950s), Arthur Rubinstein (same but piano), Andre Previn (showy big orchestra stuff, some jazz, some cinematic), Murray Perahia (romantic piano), Esa-Pekka Salonen (mostly modernist music by Bartok, Nielsen, Stravinsky, etc).

Warner/Erato boxes are generally on a smaller scale but equally well put together. Their innovation relative to Sony is they add extra music to the original LPs while keeping the original art. Back covers have full track lists, timings, recording dates, sometimes original LP catalog numbers.

Because the Warner-Erato boxes are so small and specialized, they're for after you identify composers and styles you like. But generally since Erato was French they are the best resource for French music and artists (Debussy, Ravel, Berlioz, Faure, Roussel, Couperin, etc).

Hope this isn't information overload! I am hoping you like everything you hear in the Originals and Decca boxes and need this info later 

[Biffo]

Further to what Brian has said, DG, Decca and Philips are all now owned by Universal. They have issued numerous boxes devoted to individual artists under the 'Original Masters' title. These boxes  have covers in a similar style (though different for DG) and the contents are all in plain white paper envelopes so mercifully no original artwork.

I believe it was Sony who started the fad with their 'Original Jackets' boxes. I have the Szell/Mozart box Brian mentions and, to me, it only illustrates how naff and unimaginative classical LP cover design was in the 1960s. How many portraits (usually spurious) of Mozart do you want? How many views of Salzburg do you need? Szell was a great conductor and a tyrant who could eat a whole woodwind section for breakfast; I only need one photo of him to satisfy my curiosity of what he looked like.

[Brian]

I believe it was Sony who started the fad with their 'Original Jackets' boxes. I have the Szell/Mozart box Brian mentions and, to me, it only illustrates how naff and unimaginative classical LP cover design was in the 1960s. How many portraits (usually spurious) of Mozart do you want? How many views of Salzburg do you need? Szell was a great conductor and a tyrant who could eat a whole woodwind section for breakfast; I only need one photo of him to satisfy my curiosity of what he looked like.

Then you should avoid the Leonard Bernstein Sony boxes with different pictures of Lenny on every single cover!

I agree that seeing a lot of the artwork has taken away some of the mystique of LP design. Some labels did great jobs - I love a lot of the paintings DG used and, in jazz, the "Disques Vogue" boxes have ridiculously stylish covers. But Erato, in particular, was not a stylish label...lots and lots of artist portraits with GIANT CAPITAL LETTERS ON TOP 

Still, they beat a lot of the ugly CD reissue series that have gone around recently... like those Sony ones with the gradient bars on the sides, or the EMI and Hyperion ones with the original cover presented in tiny format inside a giant frame...

[Ken B]

I particularly like original covers on reissues of the LPs I couldn't afford when I was younger! I really don't care about the artwork on a Janine Janson disc for example, but I like seeing the covers of discs I recall from before the era of CDs.