Great conductors of the 20th century

[samtrb]

It seems that the collection entitled "Great conductors of the 20th century" is going out of print, yet i found a few recordings of them at a big store in my little country (i am here for vacations) luckily enough i bought the Manfred symphony by Markevitch and Mahler 6 by Mitropoulos, both have been cited in the forum !



i do remember seeing also the Kubelik featuring Schubert no.3, Mravinsky Bruckner`s 7th, and Talich Dvorak's 9th New World, and other conductors i don't remember  . I'd like to ask about Talich's Dvorak 9th, since i am still looking for a perfect new world, how is it compared to Kubelik's, Ancerl's, abbado's?
what names of that collection is a must have?

[MishaK]

It's a fine series, though there is some duplication among other issues. I missed the Kubelik set and am still hunting for it. Anyone know where it is available?

My favorites in this series, apart from the Markevitch, include Schuricht (who has hands down my favorite Bruckner 8th - incredible performance with the VPO) and Mravinsky. The Boult set is surprisingly good with a fiery and very compelling Frank Symphony in D. I found the Argenta and Reiner issues disappointing. Not particularly good choices of repertoire or performances.

[orbital]

It's a fine series, though there is some duplication among other issues. I missed the Kubelik set and am still hunting for it. Anyone know where it is available?

Caiman seems to offer it -and for $32, probably a mispricing but worth a try perhaps?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000239AMY/ref=dp_olp_2/102-3015269-3508938

[MishaK]

Caiman seems to offer it -and for $32, probably a mispricing but worth a try perhaps?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000239AMY/ref=dp_olp_2/102-3015269-3508938

Gross mispricing. These sets used to go for $10.90 new.

[orbital]

Then the other two are just baiting 

[Iago]

Abbados Dvorak 9th is available on several different recordings, made from different performances. The one on DVD from the "Concert from Palermo" is one of the finest and best played interpretations I've ever heard. Rivaled ONLY by the Toscanini/NBC on RCA. And the sound on that one isn't nearly as good.

[samtrb]

Abbadis Dvorak 9th is available onb several different recordings, made from different performances. The one on DVD from the "Concert from Palermo" is one of the finest and best played interpretations I've ever heard. ...

i totally agree, i heared it on that DVD once and i remember a very good impression of it, but everyone talks about Kubelik and Ancerl so i thought to investigate !

[BorisG]

Then the other two are just baiting 

Try Amazon UK.

[Drasko]

Berkshire still carries most of these (but no Kubelik, I'm afraid).

Mahler, Symphony #6 {w.Cologne Radio Orchestra}. Debussy, La Mer. Berlioz, 'Romeo and Juliet' Symphonic Excpts. Strauss, Dance of the Seven Veils {w.NY Philharmonic}. (All cond. Mitropoulos)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75471 | BRO Code: 128325 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Symphonies

Berlioz, Rob Roy Overture. Schumann, Symphony #4. Sibelius, 'The Tempest' Prelude. Schubert, Symphony #4. Walton, Portsmouth Point Overture. Tchaikovsky, Theme & Variations from Orchestral Suite #3 {all w.London Philharmonic. Rec. 1956-74}. Franck, Symphony in d {w.London Orchestra Society. Rec. 1959}. Wolf, Italian Serenade. Beethoven, Coriolan Overture {w.Philharmonia Orchestra. Rec. 1957 & 1970}. (All cond. Sir Adrian Boult)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75459 | BRO Code: 129274 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Symphonies

Glinka, 'A Life for the Tsar'- Overture and Three Dances. Debussy, La Mer {w.Lamoureux Orchestra}. Tchaikovsky, Manfred Symphony {w.London Symphony Orch.}. Verdi, La Forza del Destino Overture {w.Philharmonia Orch.}. Ravel, Daphnis et Chloe Suite #2 {w.N.German Radio Orch. & Chorus}. Chabrier, Espana {w.Spanish Radio Orch.}. Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel {w.French Radio Orch.}. (All cond. Igor Markevitch. Rec. 1956-67)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75124 | BRO Code: 128117 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Orchestral

Moussorgsky, 'Boris Godunov'- Prologue {w.Boris Christoff, John Lanigan & Sofia National Opera Chorus}. Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique. Debussy, Images for Orchestra {all w.Paris Conservatory Orch.}. Bizet, Symphony in C {w.French Radio Orch.}. Ravel, La Valse {w.Philharmonia Orch.}. Schumann, Manfred Overture {w.Berlin Philharmonic}. Wagner, 'Lohengrin'- Act 3 Prelude {w.Paris Opera Orch.}. (All cond. Andre Cluytens cond. Rec. 1953-64)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75106 | BRO Code: 128209 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Symphonies

Prokofiev, Symphony #7. Dvorak, Symphony #9. Borodin, Symphony #2. Glinka, Russlan and Ludmilla Overture. Rimsky-Korsakov, Cortege and Dance of the Tumblers from 'The Snow Maiden'. Tchaikovsky, 'Nutcracker' Excpts. Suppe, 'Poet and Peasant' Overture {w.Philharmonia Orch.}. Haydn, Symphony #92 {w.Royal Danish Orch.}. Nielsen, 'Maskarade' Overture {w.Danish State Radio Orch.}. (All cond. Nicolai Malko. Rec. 1947-56)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75121 | BRO Code: 128069 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Symphonies

Mozart, Symphonies 25 & 38 {rec. 1950}. Beethoven, Symphony #2 {rec. 1958} {all w.Berlin Radio Orch.}. Janacek, Sinfonietta. Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel {w.Cologne Radio Orch. Rec. 1956}. Stravinsky, Pulcinella Suite {w.Bavarian Radio Orch. Rec. 1957}. Weill, 'Kleine Dreigroschenmusik' Excpts. {w.Berlin State Opera Orch. Rec. 1931}. (All cond. Otto Klemperer)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75465 | BRO Code: 128185 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Orchestral

Brahms, Symphony #1. Reznicek, Donna Diana Overture. Orff, Entrata. Beethoven, Coriolan Overture {w.Vienna State Opera Orch.}; Symphony #8. Stravinsky, Firebird Suite {w.Royal Philharmonic}. Schoenberg, Suite for String Orchestra {w.Berlin Radio Orch.}. Haydn, Symphony #100 {w.Vienna Symphony}. (All cond. Hermann Scherchen. Rec. 1952-60)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75956 | BRO Code: 128105 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Symphonies

Mozart, Don Giovanni Overture. Bruckner, Symphony #7. Haydn, Symphony #88. Tchaikovsky, Francesca da Rimini. Glazunov, Symphony #5. (Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra/ Mravinsky)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75953 | BRO Code: 128104 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Symphonies

Brahms, Symphony #2. Strauss, Don Juan [live performances]. Thomas, Mignon Overture. Schubert, Symphony #6. Nicolai, Merry Wives of Windsor Overture. Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade. Elgar, Cockaigne Overture. (Concertgebouw Orchestra & London Philharmonic/ Van Beinum. Total time: 154'37')
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75941 | BRO Code: 133693 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Symphonies

Beethoven, Creatures of Prometheus Overture {w.Vienna Philharmonic}; Symphony #2. Liszt, Les Preludes; Mephisto Waltz #1 {w.London Symphony Orch.}. Berlioz, 'Les Troyens' March. Wagner, Rienzi Overture {w.Paris Conservatory Orch.}; Siegfried Idyll. Weber, Invitation to the Dance. Brahms, Symphony #3. Mozart, Symphony #39 {w.London Philharmonic}. (All cond. Felix Weingartner. Rec. 1936-40)
Add to cart | Price: $ 7.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75965 | BRO Code: 128694 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Symphonies

Glazunov, Symphony #6. Mendelssohn, Overture and Scherzo from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture. Liszt, Orpheus; Heroide Funebre; Mazeppa; Festklange; Prometheus. (Moscow Radio Orch./ Golovanov. Rec. 1948-53)
Add to cart | Price: $ 9.98 | 2 in set. | Country: DUTCH | D/A code: Mono | Code: 75112 | BRO Code: 128067 | Label: EMI/ANGEL
Genre: Orchestral

.............

  

[MishaK]

That reminds me: the Cluytens is also a must have. One of the finest Symphonies fantastiques ever recorded by a French orchestra. It's live, too!

[Novi]

It's a fine series, though there is some duplication among other issues. I missed the Kubelik set and am still hunting for it. Anyone know where it is available?

hmv japan and only a couple of bucks above the original price .

[Daverz]

Here's a survey of the series:

http://www.classicalnotes.net/columns/emiconductors.html

[Daverz]

That reminds me: the Cluytens is also a must have. One of the finest Symphonies fantastiques ever recorded by a French orchestra. It's live, too!

Is it the same as this one:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/1866292

which I assume is the same as this one.

[MishaK]

Is it the same as this one:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/1866292

which I assume is the same as this one.

Those two are indeed identical, but they are not what's in the Great Conductors set. Those two EMI issues are of a studio recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra from 1958. There are three Cluytens fantastiques (see here for full discography). One from 1955 Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise and then the 1958 Philharmonia, neither of which I have actually heard, but which by all accounts are inferior to the Great Conductors version. The one on the Great Conductors set is a live performance with the Conservatoire Orchestra on tour 1964 in Tokyo. To my knowledge this recording was only ever available on the Great Conductors series. The electricity is palpable and the orchestra gives it all. It's really a terriffic performance. IMHO, the best recorded performance of this piece by a French orchestra.

[Daverz]

Those two are indeed identical, but they are not what's in the Great Conductors set. Those two EMI issues are of a studio recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra from 1958. There are three Cluytens fantastiques (see here for full discography). One from 1955 Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise and then the 1958 Philharmonia, neither of which I have actually heard, but which by all accounts are inferior to the Great Conductors version. The one on the Great Conductors set is a live performance with the Conservatoire Orchestra on tour 1964 in Tokyo. To my knowledge this recording was only ever available on the Great Conductors series. The electricity is palpable and the orchestra gives it all. It's really a terriffic performance. IMHO, the best recorded performance of this piece by a French orchestra.

Thanks!  I guess this is it then.  The whole program is:

Berlioz        Symphonie fantastique
   Musorgskuy(arr:Ravel)  Tableaux d'une exposition - Il vecchino castello
   Bizet          L'Arlesienne - Farandole

[MishaK]

Here's a survey of the series:

http://www.classicalnotes.net/columns/emiconductors.html

That reminds me: the Kempe set is also outstanding, with a very fine Munich Bruckner 4.

[rubio]

Has anybody here heard the Ancerl? I'm especially interested in the Concertgebouw Dvorak 8, the Martinu 5 and the pieces by some of the more obscure Czech composers.

[ChamberNut]

This would be a good "Pick 5" poll. 

[Gustav]

I think the one on Kempe has a rare Bruckner's 4th.

[dirkronk]

I've enjoyed some of this series a great deal, and it introduced me to the likes of Malko and Golovanov. However, I too felt that some of the bigger "names" were rather poorly represented in repertoire and was especially miffed that the series petered out before even giving Mengelberg a whisper of a mention. Reminiscent of great pianists left out of the Great Pianists series...



Dirk