New York Philharmonic

Back in 1993, the New York Philharmonic's 150th Anniversary was observed on CD:-- Pearl issued a three CD box:  New York Philharmonic: A Sesquicentennial Tribute (Recordings of 1917-1939) , expertly remastered by Ward Marston and Mark Obert-Thorn.This is still the only CD release of two incredibly rare 1917 Joseph Stransky 78s, including the orchestra's only Gilbert & Sullivan (Overture to The Mikado),plus Fritz Reiner's 1938 Debussy & Wagner recordings.-- The Smithsonian Institution issued a single disc:  New York Philharmonic 1940-1954: Great American Orchestras This is the only CD release of Artur Rodzinski's recording of Bizet's Symphony in C.Those CDs were limited to commercial 78s and LP records.But in 1997 something unexpected happened:The New York Philharmonic issued a glorious ten disc box of recordings from their archive:  Historic Broadcasts 1923-1987 It was a commercial success, and the orchestra followed it up with additional boxes:"The Mahler Broadcasts" (1998), "An American Celebration" (1999), and "Bernstein Live" (2000)The new 175th Anniversary box is a co-production of the New York Philharmonic and Sony:65 CDs + 160 page hardcover bookletwith an eleven page history of the orchestra, photos, and an index to the contents.I was anticipating a lot of new material, but was disappointed.No radio broadcasts.Everything is from the back-catalogs of RCA or Columbia.180 individual recordings, but only 20 are new to CD (eleven percent)(75 mono, 105 stereo)Cardboard jackets, but not "orginal jackets".Same bland design on the front and back: Contents are identified, but track listings can only be found in the booklet.No texts or translations (or even plot summaries) for the vocal works.Confusing claims, but apparently everything has been remastered.Where I was able to make an A-B comparison, I heard no dramatic improvement(however my ears are 67 years old and not what they once were)One exception: The 1968 Bernstein recording of the Symphonie fantastique is a dramatic improvement over the last CD reissue.*WASTE OF SPACE:Leonard Bernstein, the Philharmonic's best known Music Director, is featured on 25 of the 65 CDs.The composers he conducts are the "usual suspects" - Bernstein, Copland, Ives, Mahler, Nielsen, Stravinsky, and a lot of light classics.Nothing wrong with the performances, but Bernstein's complete Columbia Records discography is already available from Sony- It would be unthinkable to leave Bernstein out of this box, but two or three CDs would have been enough to honor his memory.I could say the same about Pierre Boulez (six CDs), whose complete Columbia recordings were recently issued in a box from Sony.WISHFUL THINKING:Two of the Philharmonic's greatest Music Directors are woefully under-represented on CD.I wish Sony would issue boxes devoted to the "Complete Columbia and RCA Recordings" of Artur Rodzinski and Dimitri Mitropoulos.Rodzinski is an especially interesting case: In the space of six years (1943-1948), he went fromthe Cleveland Orchestra,to the New York Philharmonic,to the Chicago Symphony,to unemployable.He had a problem with authority.Sony owns Rodzinski's recorded legacy in all three cities (recorded 1939-1948).That would be a really interesting box.(Rodzinski actually went to Europe, where he made some records for Westminster, and conducted opera in Italy.)1911-1923 JOSEPH STRANSKY (half-a-CD) mono- Dvorak: Largo from Symphony No.9 "New World" (1917 acoustic) NEW TO CD- Thomas: Raymond Overture (1917 acoustic) NEW TO CDAuthenticity?The booklet points out that the orchestral parts for the 1917 Dvorak recording were used at the 1893 premiere (with Dvorak's markings).Five musicians present actually took part in the premiere.But I wonder what Dvorak would make of the fact that it was abridged to 4 minutes, 34 seconds (versus 14:43 in Bernstein's 1962 recording).The two 78s in this set officially double the availability of Stransky on CD.1922-30 WILLEM MENGELBERG (one-and-a-half CDs) mono- Beethoven: Symphony No.3 "Eroica" (1930)- Beethoven: Symphony No.5 - Allegro con brio (1922 acoustic)- Saint-Saens: Omphale's Spinning Wheel (1929)- Schelling: A Victory Ball, Fantasy for Orchestra (1925 - also in the Pearl box)- R.Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (1928) (amazingly realistic sound)- Wagner: Flying Dutchman Overture (1925 - the booklet is wrong)Schelling's "Victory Ball" is a an anti-war polemic, a mix of Viennese waltzes, military marches and the Dies Irae, ending with taps (the bugle call, not the dance).Mengelberg's New York recordings are already on Pearl, Biddulph & Naxos, though no single label has gathered them all together (Sony missed an opportunity.)1928-1936 ARTURO TOSCANINI (three CDs) mono- Beethoven: Symphony No.5 (9 April, 1933 live - not issued on 78s)- Beethoven: Symphony No.7 (1936)- Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn (1936)- Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1929)- Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits from Orfeo ed Euridice (1929)- Haydn: Symphony No. 101 "Clock" (1929)- Mendelssohn: Scherzo & Nocturne from A Midsummer Night's Dream (1926)- Mozart: Symphony No. 35 "Haffner" (1929)- Rossini: The Barber of Seville Overture (1929)- Rossini: L' Italiana in Algeri Overture (1936)- Rossini: Semiramide Overture (1936)- Verdi: Prelude to Acts I & III of La traviata (1929)- Wagner: Siegfried Idyll (1936)- Wagner: Dawn & Siegfried's Rhine Journey from Gotterdammerung (1936)- Wagner: Prelude to Acts I & III of Lohengrin (1936)This is Toscanini's complete published RCA discography, but Naxos did a more thorough job on five CDs, including alternate takes of many of these works, plus a second unreleased performance of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.1936-1943 JOHN BARBIROLLI (two-and-a-half CDs) mono- Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture (1940)- Brahms: Symphony No.2 (1940)- Ravel: La Valse (1940)- Schubert: Symphony No.4 "Tragic" (1939)- Sibelius: Symphony No.1 (1942)- Sibelius: Symphony No.2 (1940)Barbirolli's New York recordings are already on Dutton.1943-1947 ARTUR RODZINSKI (four-and-a-half CDs) mono- Gould: Spirituals for Orchestra (1946) NEW TO CD- Prokofiev: Symphony No.5 (1946) NEW TO CD- Rachmaninov: Symphony No.2 (1945)- Sibelius: Symphony No.4 (1946) NEW TO CD- Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 "Pathetique" (1944) NEW TO CD- Tchaikovsky: Suite No.4 "Mozartiana" (1945) NEW TO CD- Wagner: Act III of Die Walkure with Helen Traubel (1945) NEW TO CDGOOD NEWS: ALL BUT ONE ARE NEW TO CD (I'm not counting the poorly transferred and out-of-print Dante LYS CDs.)1947-1949 BRUNO WALTER (five CDs) monoBruno Walter's title was "Music Advisor" (he stepped in after Rodzinski's unexpected departure).- Beethoven: Symphony No.3 "Eroica" (1941)- Beethoven: Symphony No.5 (1941)- Dvorak: Symphony No.8 (1947) NEW TO CD- Mahler: Symphony No.4 with Desi Halban soprano (1945)- Mahler: Symphony No.5 (1947)- Mozart: Symphony No.39 (1956)- Mozart: Symphony No.40 (1953)- Mozart: Symphony No.41 "Jupiter" (1956)- Smetana: The Moldau from Ma Vlast (1941)Walter's New York recordings are on Sony and Music & Arts.1949-1950 LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI (one CD) monoStokowski's title was "Co-Principal Conductor".- Messiaen: L'Ascension (1949)- Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.6 (1949, with original third movement)- Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves (1949)- Wagner: Dawn, Siegfried's Rhine Journey & Funeral Music from Gotterdammerung(1949)Stokowski's New York recordings are on Cala1949-1958 DIMITRI MITROPOULOS (seven CDs) mono unless otherwise indicated- Berg: Wozzeck with Mack Harrell and Eileen Farrell (1951 live)- Borodin: Symphony No.2 (1953) NEW TO CD- Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia (1953) NEW TO CD- Gould: Philharmonic Waltzes (1950) NEW TO CD- Ippolitov-Ivanov: Caucasian Sketches (1953) NEW TO CD- Krenek: Symphonic Elegy for String Orchestra (1951)- Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain (1957 stereo)- Prokofiev: Selections from Romeo and Juliet (1957 stereo)- Rabaud: La Procession nocturne (1950) NEW TO CD- Saint-Saens: Omphale's Spinning Wheel (1950) NEW TO CD- Saint-Saens: La Jeunesse d'Hercule (1956) NEW TO CD- Saint-Saens: Phaeton (1956)- Schoenberg: Erwartung with Dorothy Dow (1951)- Schoenberg: Verklarte Nacht (1958 stereo)- Scriabin: Poem of Ecstasy (1953) NEW TO CD- Scriabin: Prometheus, Poem of Fire with Leonid Hambro piano (1953) NEW TO CD- Shostakovich: Symphony No.10 (1954)- Skalkottas: Four Greek Dances (1956) NEW TO CD- Tchaikovsky: Orchestral Suite No.1 (1954) NEW TO CD- Tchaikovsky: Marche slave (1957 stereo)- Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1958 stereo)GOOD NEWS: 11 OF THE 21 SELECTIONS ARE NEW TO CD. Everything else is already on Sony1958-1969 LEONARD BERNSTEIN (25 CDs) stereo unless otherwise indicated- Barber: Adagio for Strings (1971)- Barber: Violin Concerto with Isaac Stern (1964)- Beethoven: Leonore Overture No.3 (1960)- Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique (1968) *- Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini Overture (1960)- Berlioz: Rákóczy March from Damnation of Faust (1967)- Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture (1959)- Bernstein: Symphony No.2 "Age of Anxiety" with Lukas Foss piano (1950 mono)- Bernstein: Candide Overture (1960)- Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story (1961)- Bernstein: Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront (1960)- Brahms: Academic Festival Overture (1963)- Brahms: Tragic Overture (1964)- Britten: Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra narrated by Henry Chapin (1961)- Copland: Symphony No.3 (1966)- Copland: Connotations for Orchestra (1962)- Copland: Billy the Kid Suite (1959)- Copland: Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo (1960)- Debussy: Images (1958)- Debussy: Jeux (1960)- Debussy: La Mer (1961)- Debussy: Nocturnes - Nuages & Fetes (1960)- Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (1960)- Debussy: Rhapsody for Clarinet with Stanley Drucker (1961)- Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (1965)- Dvořák: Symphony No.9 "From the New World" (1962)- Dvořák: Carnival Overture (1965)- Dvořák: Slavonic Dances No.1 & 3 (1963)- Elgar: Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 (1967)- Gershwin: An American in Paris (1958)- Goldmark: Rustic Wedding Symphony (1968)- Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites No.1 & 2 (1967)- Grieg: Norwegian Dance, Op.35, No.2 (1965)- Grieg: March of the Trolls from Lyric Suite (1970)- Harris: Symphony No.3 (1960)- Haydn: Symphony No.82, The Bear (1962)- Haydn: Symphony No.83, The Hen (1962)- Holst: The Planets (1971)- Ives: Symphony No.2 (1958)- Mahler: Symphony No.2 "Resurrection" with Lee Venora & Jennie Tourel (1963)- Mahler: Symphony No.3 with Martha Lipton (1961)- Mahler: Symphony No.8, Part I (1962)- Mahler: Kindertotenlieder with Jennie Tourel (1960)- Nielsen: Symphony No.4 "Inextinguishable" (1970)- Nielsen: Symphony No.5 (1962)- Prokofiev: Peter & the Wolf narrated by the conductor (1960)- Ravel: Mother Goose Suite (1965)- Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte (1968)- Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole (1958)- Ravel: Shéhérazade with Jennie Tourel (1961)- Rossini: The Barber of Seville Overture (1963)- Rossini: L’Italiana in Algeri Overture (1960)- Rossini: La gazza ladra Overture (1960)- Rossini: La scala de seta Overture (1963)- Rossini: Semiramide Overture- Rossini: William Tell Overture (1963)- Saint-Saëns: Carnival of the Animals with Ruth & Naomi Segal pianos, narrated by the conductor (1962)- Schuman: In Praise of Shahn (1970)- Schuman: To Thee Old Cause (1968)- Shostakovich: Symphony No.5 (1959)- Sibelius: Finlandia (1965)- Sibelius: Swan of Tuonela (1973)- Sibelius: Valse triste (1969)- Smetana: Bartered Bride Overture (1963)- Smetana: The Moldau from Má vlast (1964)- Smith: Star-Spangled Banner (1962)- Stravinsky: Firebird Suite (1957)- Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite (1960)- Stravinsky: Rite of Spring (1958)- Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet (1957)- Tchaikovsky: Capriccio italien (1960)- Tchaikovsky: Marche slave (1963)- Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture (1962)- Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite (1960)- Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite (1969)- Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty Waltz (1971)- Tchaikovsky: Polonaise from Eugene Onegin (1971)- Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1976)- Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves (1969)- Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music (1962)- Four Improvisations by the Orchestra (1964, technically there shouldn't be a conductor)* BERNSTEIN CONDUCTS BERLIOZ SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUEThere were two NYPO recordings: 1963 and 1968.Bernstein was unhappy with the first effort and demanded a remake after only five years.For some reason, Sony selected the 1963 recording for three of the four previous CD releases (see Comment Three for details).The 175th Anniversary box finally has the preferable 1968 recording in a new and dramatically improved remastering.1971-1977 PIERRE BOULEZ (six CDs)- Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra (1972)- Bartók: Miraculous Mandarin (1971)- Berg: Three Pieces from Lyric Suite (1974)- Falla: Three-Cornered Hat (1975)- Handel: Water Music (1974)- Ravel: Boléro(1974)- Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé (1975)- Ravel: Mother Goose (1974)- Ravel: Valses nobles et sentimentales (1973)- Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht (September 24, (1973)- Varese: Amériques (1975)1978-1991 ZUBIN MEHTA (five CDs)- Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue with Gary Graffman (1979)- Gershwin: Seventeen songs used in Woody Allen’s film "Manhattan" (1979, actually conducted by Thomas C. Pierson)- Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (1979)- Ravel: La Valse (1978)- Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra (1980)- Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (1981)- Verdi: Requiem with Caballé, Berini, Domingo, Plishka (1980)1991- 2002 KURT MASUR (half-a-CD)- Dvořák: Cello Concerto with Yo-Yo Ma (1995)The Zubin Mehta years marked the end of the New York Philharmonic's exclusive recording contract with Columbia Records.Kurt Masur and the orchestra signed a new contract with Teldec (Warner).Masur's departure in 2002 marked the virtual end of recording for the most venerable of U.S. orchestras.GUEST CONDUCTORS mono unless otherwise indicatedTHOMAS BEECHAM- R. Strauss: Don Quixote with Alfred Wallenstein cello (1932)Also in the 1993 Pearl box.IGOR STRAVINSKY- Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring (1940)- Stravinsky: Symphony in Three Movements (1946)Stravinsky actually made two recordings of The Rite of Spring with the New York Philharmonic (1940 mono & 1960 stereo),though in 1960 the orchestra recorded under the pseudonym "Columbia Symphony".Photos taken at the recording session show most of the same musicians who took part in Bernstein's 1958 recording.Only the 1940 recording is in the 175th Anniversary box.CHARLES MUNCH- Mozart: Piano Concerto No.21 with Robert Casadesus (1948)- Saint- Saëns: Symphony No.3 "Organ" (1947)ANDRE KOSTELANETZ- Gershwin: Concerto in F with Oscar Levant (1942)- Taylor: Through the Looking Glass (1975 stereo) FIRST RELEASELUCIANO BERIO- Berio: Sinfonia (1968 stereo)---------------------AMAZON LINKS:Comments Three and Four contain Amazon links to the previously released CDs mentioned in this review(dated April 8, 2017)Click on "Sort by oldest".PHOTOS: The 1993-1997 NYPO boxes.2017 was also the 175th Anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic.The Vienna Philharmonic box is also a disappointment, and an even bigger one than the New York box. Wiener Philharmoniker 175th Anniversary Edition [44 CD/DVD ]

This is an okay box, but it could have been so much more. My thoughts:1. The box is top heavy with Bernstein. The problem with that is the fact that all of the Bernstein items have been released before countless times. Most collectors will have many duplicates on their shelf.2. They could have used this opportunity to release some of the broadcast recordings, rather than the same studio recordings we have heard already.3. No attempt was made to replicate the original album covers. Much of the material is presented here not in the original couplings so this would have made things challenging, but still, the artwork used is very lame (same problem with the Carnegie Hall, Horowitz, and Bernstein boxes that Sony recently released)4. Several of the discs are not generously filled. (42, 46, 50 minutes)5. Why in god's name they decided to release the soundtrack to Woody Allen's 'Manhattan' (conducted by Thomas C. Pierson) as part of this box I'll never know.Good things:1. The Rodzinski items are of extreme interest. In fact, a box of nothing but Rodzinski would serve collectors well. The Prokofiev fifth is a hot-blooded performance, even though Rodzinski goes into a manic episode during the Allegro Marcato movement.2. Always nice to see Mitropoulos in the picture, even if most of those items were available before elsewhere. Again, sony needs to do a complete Mitropoulos box. Anything short of that will leave me unsatisfied.3. There is some interesting Barbirolli stuff here. Sibelius 1 has some good qualities (and some things that didn't work). Liederkranz hall sound is not so good (or is it the mastering? Dvorak 8 with Walter doesn't sound particularly good either and that venue was Carnegie Hall. Do I hear some artificial resonance added? I don't like it)

Leonard Bernstein brings out the life in the music.

Great historical sound view of The Philharmonic. Too bad that there is a bit of over reliance on performances already in release. Enough with the Lenny.

Great set of historic importance!Willy Lindwer

This is a simple statement that this is a great collection, in so far as it gives to us a complete as possible collection of the orchestra and it's myriad conductors.The words of the good man whose review with scholarship is impeccable, has given us that which Sony has not.The lack of any original sleeves and the here-to-fore mentioned dull coverings, is a disappointment.We can survive without this, but, it is an indication of the world of finance, and thus, we must be thankful that this gives us the products of the great orchestra and enclosed in one place.Harold Edward Wills, DMA

This is a marvellous box set that gives the recording history of the New York Philharmonic, which includes Toscanini, Mengelberg, early Barbirolli and Greek conductor Mitropoulos, who deserves a box set with just his conducted works, Beecham and lots of Bernstein. My review is on Amazon.co.uk which goes into the history of the conductors and their background, and is totally different to John Fowler's excellent review. At times we do work together, as we are both enthusastic about reviewing.

Exactly what I was looking for.

good!

I own the 50 CD Berlin Philharmonic Centenary Edition celebrating 100 years of recording with DGG, starting with Nikisch's Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Also the Decca 50 years with the Wiener Philharmoniker orchestral edition. This set contains conductors such as Clemens Krauss,, Monteux, Knappertsbusch, Reiner, Walter, Boult, Boskovsky, Solti, Bohm, Krips and so forth. When I bought it, the set was 76 pounds, now it is 225 pounds, an utter disgrace. In my opinion, this set is certainly better then the new 175th Anniversary Wiener Philharmoniker set. However, we who buy Classical box sets are a different breed, for we will gladly buy a set even though we own half of the CDs. So I can say, that this New York Philharmonic box set is certainly worth owning, and would bring joy to those new to classical music and those like myself, who are very experienced collectors of some 53 summers. Now I shall attempt to convince you of the validity of my statement.Now first about the BOX SET. The lid which is basically a light grey, covering most of the box which contains the CDs. The box is made of tough cardboard and is smallish for 65 CD's, but reasonably heavy. The sleeves are also made of thickish.cardboard, and are a very light grey colour on both back and front. Here the music to be played and conductor and the CD number is placed. What is very useful is on the spine of the sleeve is the CD number and composer plus pieces to be played. Behind , the CD number, with the track numbers and music, plus conductor. The CD is white, with music and conductor, plus CD number. All Sony box sets are well made and presented.BOOKLET: A hard cardboard cover. The New York Philharmonic for 175 years, a essay in English, German and French. Music and track numbers with dates recorded. Discography. A easy way to find the composer and music, plus sleeve number. Black and white pictures of conductors and musicians.SOUND: This is the most important aspect where the box set is concerned. On top of the box is placed a statement printed on paper which can be taken off the box " 20 recordings for the first time on CD, 15 recordings as first authorized releases, remastered from the original discs and tapes using 24 bit/192 kHz (?) technology. As I own some of the recordings, I am able to judge exactly what has been done to the CD's soundwise. For example, I own the Mahler, 2nd ( Bernstein Century-Remastered 24 bit technology) and 3rd Symphony cond Bernstein,(The Royal Edition- remastered 20 bit technology) plus a excerpt from the 8th Symphony. These CD's have been remastered years ago. The Nielsen box set symphonies 1-6 conductor Bernstein, which includes the 4th and 5th symphonies that are included in this New York Philharmonic box set. Then Leonard Bernstein edition, concerto's and orchestral works. Also Arturo Toscanini-the complete RCA collection, Bruno Walter Edition and the Pierre Boulez complete Columbia Album collection.At the back of the booklet it states, "Tape transfers, Mixing and Mastering for CD's, the CD numbers are mentioned, and who by. Andreas K. Meyer and Rebekah Wineman, Meyer Media LLC. Tape Transfers, a few CD's by Brett Zinn, Iron Mountain Digital Services. Mixing and mastering by Martin Kistner, b-sharp music & media solutions. Tape Transfers, Mixing and mastering, one CD, by Mark Wilder, Battery Mastering Studios, using 24bit/192kHz technology. All other tracks mastered by Martin Kistner and Hansjorg Seiler, b-sharp music & media solutions."A HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC:Barbara Haws in her article mentions that recordings are identified by the conductor or composer rather then the orchestra. Rarely do we listen for what a group of musicians might bring to the piece. And we have probably never listened to a set of recordings to discern long past influences that may be heard in the playing of a orchestra. Yet this set which covers 78 years of a single orchestra, the New York Philharmonic; we can observe the echoes of the past that may still be living through the players themselves. The memory is always passed on into the future. I think you could say this of the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic.At the Philharmonic's very first concert in 1842 there were no fewer then three conductors, all of them members of the orchestra. This set the stage for 66 years in which the Philharmonic was organised as a cooperative, with the musicians sharing in the work, the decisions, and any profits. The musicians elected conductors, who for most of the 19th century were expected to be members of the orchestra. The three conductors idea died out after one season. Then a different conductor from the orchestra was chosen for each concert. Then one conductor for a entire season. Anton Seidl was the first conductor to be elected for more then a single season who was not originally a member of the orchestra. A former assistant of Wagner at Bayreuth, he was brought to New York by the Met Opera to lead the German repertoire. He taught at the National Conservatory of music in America led by Dvorak. The composer wanted to create an America school of composition that included Negro and American indigenous songs. Hence the Symphony No 9, from the New World and the Philharmonic were given the rights to the world premiere 1893. In 1898 Seidl died.After a number of experiments, wealthy New York's offered to support the Philharmonic financially. After 66 years the co-op was disbanded, and so Mahler came to lead this orchestra.1910-1911. So for two years he toiled away at his position, conducting the Symphonies 1,2 and 4, plus kindertotenlieder. The women on the committee unfortunately attempted to interfere in his programmes and handling of the orchestra causing him great stress. he died that year 1911. Stransky took over. Then change came about with the conductors, Mengelberg conducted only half the season from 1921 onwards, with the remainder handled by various guest conductors, including Furtwangler, Beecham, Stravinsky and Reiner. In 1928 New York's two oldest orchestra's merged to become the orchestra it now is. Then Toscanini took over and there was a clash with Mengelberg who gave up the post. When Toscanini eventually left, Barbirolli conducted for three seasons. However, Rodzinski was brought in as a orchestra builder who engaged 25 year old Bernstein as assistant conductor. After a fiery end to Rodzinski's reign, Walter took over the position. In 1949-50 the leadership was shared by Stokowski and Greek born Mitropoulos, who became the sole leader of this orchestra until 1960, then the era of Bernstein began. Haws in her essay mentions the different orchestral players from one era to the other, to show how a certain tradition and sound was continued.MUSIC:I shall not review every piece of music, but simply give you an idea about what this box set is about, as Amazon has kindly placed the music piece for you to read.MENGELBERG:The Flying Dutchman overture is a first release. (1924) (Remastered) Ein Heldenleben was dedicated to this conductor by Richard Strauss. Beethoven symphony no 3,(1930) plus Symphony No 5. Allegro con brio.(1922) (Remastered) Mengelberg attached great importance to what he considered a link between Beethoven and himself. For through his studies in conducting, theory and composition in Cologne under Franz Wullner, a friend of Anton Schindler, who in turn a been a friend, secretary, biographer and pupil of Beethoven himself, he felt there was a oral tradition passed down to him. Mengelberg asked his orchestra to play on his beat. He left all tradition behind, with his impassioned performances. He was indifferent to Metronome marks, accept where Beethoven symphonies were concerned.From 1902 when Mahler met Mengelberg, they had an enduring friendship that lasted until the composers death in 1911. Mahler had told his wife Alma, that the conductor was the only person he felt he could trust his work to. Mengelberg was the first conductor ever, to play all his symphonies in a festival. After 50 years he was stripped of his post as chief conductor of the Concertgebouw, because of his closeness with the Nazi's. A 15 CD box set, Decca The Concertgebouw Recordings, Mengelberg. 1939-1941 Live .Contains all Beethoven symphonies. They should be in every serious classical music fan's collection and Mahler's 4th Symphony, Bach etc. STRANSKY :Thomas - Raymond overture and Largo from the Dvorak New world symphony recorded in 1917,(Remastered) still had some members in the orchestra who had played in the Premiere of this symphony. The parts used in the 1893 premiere which reflected the changes that Dvorak and Seidl made in rehearsal, were still being used by the Philharmonic in concert. Could this first recording from the work capture some of the experience of the premiere performance.? The sound for this period is good. Who I wondered was Josef Stransky? I had never heard of him. Born 1872 died 1936. He was a Czech who worked in Prague and Berlin before being selected by the New York Phil to replace Gustav Mahler on his death in 1911. Walter and Fried were interested, but they picked Stransky because his fees were lower. Mahler scholar de la Grange considered Stransky as a " conscientious but uninspiring leader, who allowed the high performing levels achieved by Mahler to slip". From 1922-23 Stransky conducted the first half of the season, the Mengelberg the second. Then he left to become a art dealer, which was on of his interests. He amassed a private art collection of major Impressionist and post Impressionist paintings. For example, Van Gogh, Gaugiun, Renoir, Manet, Monet. He is buried in the Bronx, New York city.TOSCANINI: Beethoven Symphony No 5. First Release.(1933) (Remastered) Symphony No 7.(1936) I have listened to this recording from the Toscanini box set-the complete RCA complete collection. Disc to digital tape transfer. Ward Marston who is blind and a magician. Digitally remastered by Anthony salvatore engineer and I cannot tell the difference. Gluck: Orfeo ed Euridice. Dance of the Blessed spirits.(1929) Rossini overtures. 1929 & 1936) Verdi La traviata Act 1 and 111.(1929) Wagner. Siegfried Idyll. Gotterdammerung. Dawn and Siegfrieds Rhine journey. (1936) Lohengrin Acts 1 & Act 3.(1936). Disc to digital tape transfer. Ward Marston and there is hiss on both recordings, which is a trade mark of Marston's work. Swift tempo's as you would expect from this conductor.Toscanini played the cello at the Premiere of Verdi's Othello. At 18 he started conducting when the singers went on strike. For he was told to by the orchestra. Thus he conducted Aida from memory. Muti who was inspired by Toscanini's conducting, mentions that the Verdi's sound is the one Toscanini left us because he played the cello under Verdi's baton. So the sound Verdi produced is certainly the same Toscanini used in a more modern way.BARBIROLLI: Schubert. Symphony No 4. (1939) Brahms symphony No 2. (1940). (Remastered) The last movement is marvellous. A quick version. The sound is good. You could almost say it was remastered. Sibelius No 1 symphony (1942).(Remastered) The last movement is full of passion. I have never heard Sibelius played like this. Amazing. A New Yorker attempted to flatter Barbirolli by calling him Toscanini the Second, his soloist for the evening, Adolf Busch, interjected: " No-Barbirolli the first." Symphony No 2. According to the booklet these two CDs have been remastered. By 1942 Barbirolli had run into trouble with New York critics and was being pressed by the musicians union to become a US citizen. Desperately homesick, he obtained special permission from Churchill to sail on a convoy of 75 ships, of which 32 were sunk. Once in England he accepted a poorly paid post at the Halle and the rest is history.BEECHAM: Richard Strauss-Don Quixote. Alfred Wallenstein cello. (1932). American players did not take Beecham to their unionized hearts, journalists did not appreciate his jokes. Americans did not appreciate him, but amongst British musicians, he could do no wrong.STRAVINSKY: Le Sacre du printemps.(1940) (Remastered.) This is how the ballet should be played, rough and raw. Fast and primitive.RODZINSKI: Tchaikovsky No 6. Pathetique. (1945). (Remastered). Rachmaninov symphony No 2. (1945) (Remastered.) Curiously Cold and not warm. Wagner Die Walkure Act 3. Traubel, an extrovert Brunnhilde, Jessner and Herbert Janssen. Highly intelligent Wotan. The set was originally made to complete the recording of the whole work begun with the famous Bruno Walter set of Act 1, made in Vienna 1935. Who can forget the Sieglinde of Lehmann with Melchior's Siegmund. The Act 2 with Klose,Hotter as Wotan, Marta Fuch's Brunnhilde is Womanly. Lehmann and Melchoir are again superb this part conducted by Walter, the rest by Seidler-Winkler. Sibelius Symphony No 4. (1947) Rodzinski has captured the frozen ice and wind of Finland. Prokofiev No 5. (1946). The conductor has captured perfectly the spirit of this work. (Remastered.)Rodzinski's first act was to dismiss 14 players, including the concertmaster." He sat in the balcony with his binoculars, looking-at people he was going to weed out. That's when the orchestra committee began to get organized" The tension and termoil with the management and orchestra. became too distracting to continue. he carried a gun on his person, but he never shot anyone. I suppose Mae West would have said "is that a gun in your pocket, or are you pleased to see me."KOSTELANETZ: Gershwin Piano Concerto in F. Oscar Levant piano. (Remastered.)This is probably the greatest recording of this piece. Fast tempo, jazz and classical music mixed. O' Lordy me, it sure shook those old bones of mine.WALTER: Beethoven No 3. (1941). No 5.(1941). (Remastered.) These are different to the Beethoven symphonies in the Bruno Walter Edition. Quick tempi and more spirit. Mahler 4th (1945) and 5th symphonies (1946). They have not been newly remastered. Walter's is a glowingly radiant reading of the No 4 but the 1996 remastering has worked wonders, and orchestral textures are clear and yet warm. Desi Halban's contribution is refreshingly individual, dramatic as well as touching. Walter was assistant conductor to Mahler and championed his music.MUNCH: Saint-Saens. Symphony No 3. (1947) (Remastered). The music flows and is played quickly. I have always though highly of this conductor because of the twinkle in his eye, which comes through in his music. Mozart Piano concerto No 21. (1948)Remastered. Robert Casadesus.. piano. Munch was born in German Strasburg, Alsace, Lorraine. His brother was a conductor. He was conscripted into the German Army in World war One, and gassed at Verdun. Munch was Concertmaster of the Leipzig Gewandhaus and played under Furtwangler and Walter from 1926-1933. This conductor remained in France conducting the Conservatoire orchestra during the German occupation, believing it best to maintain the moral of the German people. He refused engagements to conduct in Germany, also refused to perform German contemporary music. Munch protected members of the orchestra from the Gestapo and contributed funds to the French resistance. for this action he received the legion d' Honneur, with the red button in 1945. After he rehearsed his players, at the concert performance with a deadly smile he changed it all. " He kept us on our toes, it was exciting" said one of his players.STOKOWSKI: Vaughan Williams symphony No 6. Fantasia on Greensleeves onwards (remastered.) Messiaen L'Ascension. Wagner Gotterdammerung. Dawn and Rhine journey. funeral march. This was a great conductor who could mould a orchestra. Somehow he is seen as a light weight. Born in London 1882, died in 1977. The first born of a cabinet maker of Polish descent and a Irish girl. He spoke in a affected mid-European brogue and claimed to have been born in Krakow. No one understood why he needed to create such a nonsense, which undermined his great achievements. But I suppose it was the times in which British singers sometimes changed their names to iIalian ones, so Stokowski thought it might make him more attractive as a conductor. In otherwords, he did not like being a plain cockney. Up the apples and pears-stairs. My Mum was from London, so I have a fair idea of their slang.MITROPOULOS: Wozzeck . Harrell, Farrell, Jagel, Mordino, Lloyd.(1951) This first recording ever of this opera is a tribute not only to Mitropoulos's superlative skill but also his courage in bringing to American audiences a work that in 1951 was still controversial. This live recording remains in its remarkable expressive and dramatic qualities, the standard against which all subsequent recordings must be measured. The intensity of characterization that has hardly been surpassed by others. No other conductor has understood this music so well. (Met opera guide to recorded opera) Another opera you may like, from the 25 operas classic collection opera -diapason d'or. Barber- Vanessa. Steber, Gedda, Elias, Tozzi, Resnik. Cond Mitropoulos with the Met Orch. Schoenberg. Erwartung. (1951) Dorothy Dow soprano. A very passionate unforgettable voice.The composers first stage work was a one character opera that he wrote in 17 days during 1909. It takes half an hour for performance. There is no dramatic action, the music following the course of inner emotions, and suggests the world of fFeudian psycho analysis.. in the first scene she is looking for her lost lover. She has come to the edge of the forest; since it is night she is overwhelmed by fears. she stumbles over a trunk of a tree she thinks is a body. She comes out the forest, she stumbles again and falls on the body of her lover. she now goes from love to hate, from reality to dreams.The First American performance came in the form of a concert performance by this orchestra under Mitropoulos on November 15, 1951. Not in the 12 tone technique, for that did not come into being for another 14 years. But this small opera predicts what is to come. Borodin symphony No 2. (1953) The third movement is beautifully done. In the steppes of central Asia. Caucasian sketches by Ippolitov-Ivanov (1959) captures the spirit of the composers works as if Mitropoulos had composed the music himself.(remastered) Scriabin the poem of Ecstasy, along with Prometheus: The poem of fire. There is an emotional intensity in these works, for the composer was influenced by the occult and Theosophy teachings. Shostakovich symphony no 10.(1954). The thrid movement is extremely quick. Schoenberg Verklarte nacht.(Remastered) Think of the chromatic chords in Tristan und Isolde with an even more intense yearning, but with quicker tempo's then you understand it. Mitropoulos had been raised for the priesthood by two uncles in the monastery on top of Mount Athos after his father lost his life saving refugees from Turkish massacres at Smyrna. However his musical gifts took him out of this environment. So he was helped by Saint-Saens to win a travel scholarship to Berlin, where he studied with Busoni and became Erich Kleiber's assistant at the state opera. He conducted without a baton or a score, his memory was the envy of every conductor, and he was a progressive in politics and art. At the same time he turned the Minneapolis orchestra into a world beater. When he eventually became conductor of the New York Phil, he found they did not like modern music. Also because he was a homosexual some in the orchestra rode roughshod over his mild attempts to impose disciple. Harold Schonberg " he was a mild sweet man and that was one of his trouble." When Bernstein worked with Mitropoulos, what was not known was that they had been lovers. Eventually Bernstein ousted the conductor and he went to the Met. He had a warm relationship with orchestra and the directors. Two years later he was felled by a heart attack, but he had always been a fit man, who gave away most of his possessions and all of his money, mainly to needy musicians and music students. Somehow he lost his will to live after the hammering he took from the New York press and players. Today his records are rarely reissued. Why is this so. For Mitropoulos was a great conductor. I find that through his conducting I am hearing the pieces as if for the first time.BERNSTEIN: Stravinsky. The Rite of spring. (1955).(Remastered.) Bernstein is the ideal conductor for the rite of spring, with a level of excitment and plenty of room for expression and a barbaric momentum that is frightening. The firebied suite- full of life and energy. Ravel. rapsody espagnole. His first version of this piece was judged the best, along with Pavane pour une infante defunte and. Ma mere l'oye. Tchaikovsky. Romeo and juliet (1957) capriccio Italian (1958). brightly lit orchestra and a brash version. Rossini overtures. Barber of Seville, Italian un Algers, La gazza Ladra (1960) William Tell, (1965) La Scala di Seta. Copland. Symphony No 3. One of the composers most ambitious and accessible works. This must rank among the very finest and most attractive of American symphonies. Some of Copland's most characteristic poetry is in this score, including the fanfare for a common man. Mahler symphony No 3 (remastered) was one of the first to be recoded in his Mahler cycle. it remains one of the most satisfying and passionate. The last slow movement is heavily expressive. Martha lipton, Mezzo, contributes to the overall success.Mahler No 8 part 1. Veni creator spirtus. This was a natural piece with which to open the Lincoln center for the performing Arts on September 29th 1962. Amara, Chookasian, Tourel, Tucker, Flagelto, London. Bernstein the age of Anxiety. symphony No 2 for piano and orchestra, original 1950 version with Lukas Foss, composer, pianist and conductor, also a class mate of Bernstein's. Canide overture. A witty little overture. Symphonic dances from West side story (1960). Contains much more then the dance sequences. The lyrical tunes are outstanding.Barber Adagio for strings. The music is heard on the film about the vietnam war, Platoon, directed by Oliver stone. concerto for violin and orchestra, violin Issac Stern. Gershwin An American in Paris (1958) Sways with a instinctive sense of popular and film music. Holst. The planets. Brilliantly played. The performance is never less then interesting.Bernstein was schooled by Fritz Reiner, who called him my most brilliant and successful student, as well as Serge Koussevitsky. Both these conductors were inspired by Nikisch, the Hungarian conductor, who made the modern conductor what he is, and their subjective reading of the score.BOULEZ: The miraculous Mandarin (1971). deeply felt. DeFalla, The three cornered hat. it is vividly played. Boulez capture the Spanish spirit, inspired by the singing of Flamenco. Ravel. Valses Nobles et sentimentales. This has a genuine sense of magic. Daphnis et Chloe. In this magical score, Boulez allows ample time for the music to breath.This conductor was known as part of the contemporary music Avant-garde scene, then he became an internationally acclaimed conductor. he had come into contact with George Szell and Wieland Wagner, which inspired him. One only has to hear and see the DVD of Wagner's Ring cycle directed by Chereau, and conducted by Boulez, to know how far he had come. This is a classic and one of the greatest Ring DVD's around today.This set concludes with Metha,1989.s. Music from Woody Allen's film Manhattan. Gershwin. Rhapsody in blue. Then music from his songs, someone to watch over me. I've got a crush on you. S'wonderful. Embraceable you etc. Masur with Yo Yo Ma cello Live Dvorak Concerto for cello and orchestra 1995.REFERENCES: Blyth,A.(Ed) opera on record. 1979. Hutchinson. Gruber,P. Met opera guide to recorded opera. 1993. Thames and Hudson.Lebrecht,N. The Maestro Myth.1997. Pocket Books. Penguin classical guide. 1977, 1993,1996 &2008.

La New York Philharmonic Orchestra è una delle migliori orchestre del mondo. Questo sontuoso cofanetto celebra i 175 anni di questa prestigiosissima formazione offrendo alcune tra le migliori registrazioni dell'ultimo secolo. Le incisioni sono tutte restaurate e hanno un livello tecnico prodigioso. Uno dopo l'altro, è possibile ascoltare tutti i grandi maestri che hanno rappresentato qualcosa per l'orchestra: Arturo Toscanini, Willhelm Mengelberg, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Bruno Walter, Lepold Stokowski, John Barbirolli, Charles Munch, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur. Il repertorio è vastissimo e ogni volta il livello è altissimo. La veste grafica è stupenda e c'è un libretto curato. Due soli i limiti: la mancanza delle copertine originali sui cd, e il fatto che i cd sono stampati con il consueto supporto e non con il Sacd. Il costo però è sbalorditivamente contenuto per un simile scrigno di tesori. Straconsigliato!

beh,che dire...qui troviamo una raccolta di grandi compositori di musica classica di spicco. Le + grandi opere senza tempo di classica uniche al mondo,racchiuse in un unico cofanetto a dir poco stupendo. L'ho voluto ad ogni costo;appena l'ho visto non ci ho pensato un' attimo, l'ho acquistato immediatamente. E devo ammettere che ho fatto + che bene. Completamente soddisfatto perche si sente ascoltandolo il vero fruscio della puntina nel solco dei primi 78 giri come in origine. Il massimo per l' audiofilo di vecchio stampo.