Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon & Decca

At last, a box-set of "Complete Recordings" from Deutsche Grammophon dedicated to Carlo Maria Giulini. DG has also included Mozart's symphonies 40 and 41 which Giulini recorded with the New Philharmonia Orchestra for Decca. There are many recordings in this set that I own in previous incarnations, but the Verdi opera recordings, I'll leave for others to provide opinions - Verdi, for the most part, remains a stranger, but the "Requiem" is another matter. Giulini's legendary Bruckner recordings, with the Vienna Philharmonic, have few equals; they are readings of epic proportions, bold and visionary, granite-hewn towering monoliths under Giulini's baton which grow in stature as the years roll by... majestic and magnificent. Giulini, a fine Brahmsian, brings a stateliness and nobility to his sanely-delivered and measured - perfectly paced - Brahms recordings with the Vienna Philharmonic which emphasise the music's architecture - large-scale readings of considerable stature, combining understated power and great beauty. On to Beethoven with the Los Angeles Philharmonic... I don't think Giulini quite convinces in the "Eroica", it's just too "relaxed" - Giulini keeps tempi on a tight rein - but I'm sure that Giulin's interpretation isn't at fault - it's just my opinion, after all. And the recordings of the Fifth, Sixth and the BPO Ninth are not to be dismissed lightly - well-considered readings that are finely crafted and conveyed with great conviction and absolute authority. Speaking of absolute authority, there's Giulini's sublime recording of Mahler's Ninth which is one of the finest recordings in the catalogue. Giulini conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and brings a warmth and glowing refinement to Mahler's music sans the emotional extremes which can trivialize and vulgarize... such words do not feature in Giulini's Mahlerian vocabulary - good taste prevails, and Mahler's Ninth has never sounded so warmly affectionate and civilized. And I must make mention - it rarely gets a mention! - of Giulin's BPO "Das Lied von der Erde" with Fassbaender and Araiza which is very fine indeed. There are many, many recordings in this box too numerous to mention, but there are some wonderful Dvorak and Schubert recordings which show Giulini's skilful baton focusing on sheer tonal beauty and lyricism, allowing the music to bloom naturally - organic and unforced with gravitas in abundance.I'll finish by mentioning two recordings in this box which I have just finished listening to - Giulini's outstanding recording of Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem, with the Vienna Philharmonic, and Verdi's Requiem which he recorded with the Berlin Philharmonic in the Jesus-Christus Kirche. Under Giulini's baton these recordings sound truly awesome - and I mean awesome! - and all concerned provide stellar performances which want for nothing. Epic, large-scale readings which transport the listener beyond the physical realms... transcendence. If there is a God, then he must have made an appearance at Giulini's recording sessions and provided divine inspiration, as Maestro Giulini has it in spades and then some. Riveting performances which resonate in the mind long after the listening session has ceased.. I'll leave the prospective purchaser to ponder... to buy or not to buy...There are no new remasters in the box, contrary to information received from a friend who is usually very reliable in such matters! Anyway, the sound quality is never less than excellent, and the original artwork is included in the set. The booklet notes, all too brief - Giulini deserves better - are nonetheless very informative and are provided by Richard Osborne. I also have the DG/Italy release, "Art of Carlo Maria Giulini", and that box-set is now very expensive and has only 22 CDs, if memory serves. This new Deutsche Grammophon box-set has double the amount of discs and is an absolute steal. To buy or not to buy? I think that's what they call a no-brainer.

Giulini was a brilliant conductor - all these recordings worth hearing & many are absolutely essential recommendations.

PHOTOS 1-3: Deutsche Grammophon has already issued boxes of “Giulini in Chicago”, “Giulini in Los Angeles” and “Giulini in Vienna”.I expected that DG would release their remaining recordings in a fourth box, possibly “Giulini in Berlin, London, Milan and Rome”, but DG has double-crossed buyers of the first three boxes.To get these eleven CDs, you are expected to buy a new 42 CD box.The eleven CDs:-- Beethoven: Symphony No. 9: Berlin Philharmonic-- Britten: Les illuminations with Robert Tear: Philharmonia Orchestra (½ CD)-- Fauré: Requiem + Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte: Philharmonia Orchestra-- Franck: Symphony + Psyché: Berlin Philharmonic-- Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde with Fassbaender & Araiza: Berlin Philharmonic-- Mozart: Symphony No. 40, 41: New Philharmonia (originally a Decca recording)-- Mozart Concerto No. 23: La Scala Orchestra with Vladimir Horowitz (½ CD)-- Rossini: Stabat Mater: Philharmonia Orchestra-- Verdi: Requiem: Berlin Philharmonic (2 CDs)-- Verdi: Il Trovatore: Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (2 CDs)The new box also includes five Los Angeles Philharmonic CDs that were left out of the “Giulini in Los Angeles” box:-- Chopin: Piano Concerti No.1 & 2 with Krystian Zimerman-- Chopin: Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise with Krystian Zimerman-- Verdi: Falstaff (2 CDs)-- Placido Domingo aria recitalAnnoying as all this is, I will still give the new box five stars for quality of performance and sound.Nothing is newly remastered, but the sound was always excellent.Unlike the earlier boxes, the new DG box is in modified “original jacket” format with original artwork on the front and track listings on the back.80 page booklet.No texts or translations for the vocal works.This is backsliding: They were included with "Giulini in Chicago" (Britten's Serenade) and "Giulini in Vienna" (Brahms' German Requiem and Einem's 'Nachgeborenen', but not Verdi's Rigoletto).Carlo Maria Giulini’s (1914-2005) early career was confined to Italian opera houses.In 1955, at the late age of 41, he made his UK conducting debut.His international recording career spanned forty-one years, 1955-1995, divided into three periods:EARLY PERIOD (1955-1976), age 41-62all but one recorded by EMI:1955-76: Philharmonia Orchestra:  Carlo Maria Giulini Centenary Edition - The London Years  (also London Symphony, London Philharmonic and New Philharmonia.)1965: New Philharmonia Orchestra * - Mozart Symphonies 40 & 41, recorded by Decca - in the DG box.1969-76: Chicago Symphony, part one:  Carlo Maria Giulini Centenary Edition - The Chicago Years .1974: Vienna Symphony -  Bruckner: Symphony No. 2 , an EMI recording, but Warner forgot to include it with their boxes.* Carlo Maria Giulini was one of the few conductors to have recorded with all three incarnations of the London-based Philharmonia Orchestra (1945-64), then New Philharmonia (1964-77), then back to Philharmonia (1977 - present).MIDDLE PERIOD (1975-1984), age 61-70recorded by DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON - in this box:1975-79: Vienna Symphony - music director (3½ CDs )1976-78: Chicago Symphony, part two (5½ CDs)1978-84: Los Angeles Philharmonic - music director (11 CDs)1978-81: Philharmonia Orchestra (1½ CDS)1979: Vienna Philharmonic - Verdi Rigoletto (2 CDs)BEETHOVEN:---- Symphonies No. 3, 5, 6: Los Angeles Philharmonic (1978-81)---- Piano Concerti No.1, 3, 5: Vienna Symphony with Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (1979)BRAHMS:---- Symphonies No.1, 2: Los Angeles Philharmonic (1980-81)BRITTEN:---- Les illuminations: Philharmonia Orchestra with Robert Tear tenor (1978)---- Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings: Chicago Symphony with Robert Tear, Dale Clevenger horn (1977)CHOPIN:---- Piano Concerti No.1, 2: Los Angeles Philharmonic with Krystian Zimerman (1978-79)---- Andante spianato & Grande Polonaise: Los Angeles Philharmonic with Krystian Zimerman (1979)DEBUSSY:---- La Mer: Los Angeles Philharmonic (1979)DVORAK:---- Symphonies No. 8, 9: Chicago Symphony (1977-78)EINEM:---- An die Nachgeborenen: Vienna Symphony with Hamari, Fischer-Dieskau (1975) - only contemporary music recorded by GiuliniLISZT:--- Piano Concerti No.1, 2: Vienna Symphony with Lazar Berman (1976)MAHLER:---- Symphony No. 9: Chicago Symphony (1976)MOZART:---- Symphonies No. 40, 41: New Philharmonia Orchestra (1965) - actually dates to the early periodMUSSORGSKY/RAVEL:---- Pictures at an Exhibition: Chicago Symphony (1976)PROKOFIEV:--- Symphony No.1 ‘Classical’: Chicago Symphony (1976)RAVEL:---- Ma Mère l'Oye: Los Angeles Philharmonic (1979)---- Rapsodie Espagnole: Los Angeles Philharmonic (1979)ROSSINI:---- Stabat Mater: Philharmonia Orchestra with Ricciarelli, Valentini Terrani, Gonzalez, Raimondi (1981)SCHUBERT:---- Symphonies No. 4, 8, 9: Chicago Symphony (1977-78) DGSCHUMANN:---- Symphony No. 3 'Rhenish': Los Angeles Philharmonic (1980)---- Manfred Overture: Los Angeles Philharmonic (1981)TCHAIKOVSKY:---- Symphony No. 6 'Pathétique': Los Angeles Philharmonic (1980)VERDI:---- Rigoletto: Vienna Philharmonic (1979) - only Vienna Philharmonic recording during the middle period---- Falstaff: Los Angeles Philharmonic (1982)PLACIDO DOMINGO ARIA RECITAL - Bizet, Donizetti, Flotow, Halévy, Meyerbeer, Verdi: Los Angeles Philharmonic (1980)LATE PERIOD (1984-1991), age 70-81recordings for DG and Sony with European orchestras.In his seventies, Giulini's interpretations became even more serious and thoughtful.Detractors would say stodgy.His internal clock certainly slowed down - which produced some especially impressive Bruckner.LATE DG RECORDINGS (1984-1991), age 70-77 - in this box (21 CDs)BEETHOVEN:---- Symphony No. 9: Berlin Philharmonic, with Varady, van Nes, Lewis, Estes (1989)BRAHMS:---- Symphonies No.1-4: Vienna Philharmonic (1989-91)---- Tragic Overture: Vienna Philharmonic (1989)---- Variations on a Theme by Haydn: Vienna Philharmonic (1990)---- Ein Deutsches Requiem: Vienna Philharmonic with Bonney, Schmidt (1987)BRUCKNER:---- Symphonies No. 7, 8, 9: Vienna Philharmonic (1984-88)FAURE:---- Requiem: Philharmonia Orchestra with Battle, Schmidt (1986)FRANCK:---- Symphony in D Minor: Berlin Philharmonic (1986)---- Psyché: Berlin Philharmonic (1986)MAHLER:---- Das Lied von der Erde: Berlin Philharmonic with Fassbaender, Araiza (1984)MOZART:---- Piano Concerto No. 23: La Scala Orchestra with Vladimir Horowitz (1987)RAVEL:---- Pavane pour une infante défunte: Philharmonia Orchestra (1986)VERDI:---- Requiem: Berlin Philharmonic with Sweet, Quivar, Cole, Estes (1989)---- Il Trovatore: Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (1984)LATE SONY RECORDINGS (1991-1995), age 77-81 - not in this box, but issued in  Giulini: The Complete Sony Recordings  - out-of-print and expensive, but individual CDs are available.BACH:---- Mass in B Minor: Bavarian Radio Symphony with Ziesak, Alexander, van Nes, Lewis, Wilson-Johnson (1994)BEETHOVEN:---- Symphonies No.1-8: La Scala Philharmonic (1991-93)---- Coriolan & Egmont Overtures: La Scala Philharmonic (1992)---- Violin Concerto & Romances: La Scala Philharmonic with Salvatore Accardo (1992)DEBUSSY:---- La Mer: Amsterdam Concertgebouw (1994)---- Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun: Amsterdam Concertgebouw (1994)DVORAK:---- Symphonies No. 7, 8, 9: Amsterdam Concertgebouw (1990-93)FRANCK:---- Symphony in D minor: Vienna Philharmonic (1993)---- Symphonic Variations: Vienna Philharmonic with Paul Crossley piano (1993)MOZART:---- Symphonies No. 39, 40, 41: Berlin Philharmonic (1991-92)---- Sinfonia Concertante K.543: Berlin Philharmonic (1991)---- Requiem: Philharmonia Orchestra with Dawson, van Nes, Lewis, Estes (1989)MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL:---- Pictures at an Exhibition: Berlin Philharmonic (1990)RAVEL:---- Ma Mere l'Oye: Amsterdam Concertgebouw (1989)---- Pavane pour une infante défunte: Amsterdam Concertgebouw (1994)SCHUBERT:---- Symphonies No. 4, 8, 9: Bavarian Radio Symphony (1993-95)---- Mass D.950: Bavarian Radio Symphony with Ziesak, van Nes, Lippert, Bunten, Schmidt (1995)SCHUMANN:---- Piano Concerto: Vienna Philharmonic with Evgeny Kissin (1992)STRAVINSKY:---- Firebird Suite: Amsterdam Concertgebouw (1989)VERDI:---- Quattro Pezzi Sacri: Berlin Philharmonic with Sharon Sweet (1990)VIVALDI:---- Credo RV591: Berlin Philharmonic (1991)Most of the recordings Giulini made after his 70th birthday (1984) are re-recordings; but there were significant additions to his earlier discography:Bach: Mass in B Minor - SONYBeethoven: Symphonies 1,2,4 - SONYBeethoven: Coriolan Overture - SONYBeethoven Romances for Violin & Orchestra - SONYBrahms: German Requiem - DGBruckner: Symphonies 7,8 - DGFauré Requiem – DGFranck: Symphonic Variations - SONYMahler: Das Lied von der Erde - DGMozart: Symphony 39 - SONYMozart: Sinfonia Concertante K.543 - SONYMozart: Piano Concerto 23 - DGRossini: Stabat Mater - DGSchubert: Mass D.950 - SONYVerdi: Il Trovatore - DGVivaldi: Credo - SONYThe British label Testament has an interesting series of broadcast recordings with Giulini and the Berlin Philharmonic, recorded during this late period.On the Amazon search bar, under CDs & Vinyl, enter “Giulini Testament”.