New York Philharmonic

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.

Exactly what I was looking for.

good!

Incredible listening to a great renowned Orchestra

Excellent valueGreat overview

Great set of historic importance!Willy Lindwer

この枚数で、この値段は破格では。

Comment ne pas trouver son bonheur avec des interprétations aussi sublimes . Bien sûr Berstein occupe une place de choix mais il n'y pas lieu de s'en plaindre Sa renommée n'est pas usurpée Pierre et le loup en anglais c'est beau et amusant La symphonie Résurrection de Malher qui mérite bien son nom Et si c'était cela le rêve américain ...

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.