An informal video guide to collecting music on record (and occasionally on CD). You'll learn about which records feature the best sound and best performances, and how to make smart choices in the ever-growing new and used record market.
I draw on 50 years of collecting and listening to music (and sometimes playing it), with an emphasis on classical and film music, but also including jazz, rock, pop, spoken word - and everything in-between.
I worked for many years as a producer/director of music and drama programming for NPR, winning a Peabody along the way. I also occasionally wrote about film and film music for a number of publications, including the Financial Times. I was recently asked by Michael Fremer to write for his new site: trackingangle.com.
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If you are interested in checking out more of my writing, radio and film work, head over to my blog: www.hollywoodandallthat.com.
I got mine delivered and in perfect condition. Now, my suggestion to DG: Eugen Jochum’s Bruckner cycle. I have the original Jochum set and I like his approach to Bruckner. Jochum recognized the influence of the huge organs on Bruckner’s symphonies as he was a superb organist. And this recognition helps clarify Bruckner’s approach to symphonic composition.
The Gramophone magazine surveyed recordings of the Pastoral last year - the Bohm was their choice. It is not mine - I prefer something brisker eg David Zinman and the Zurich Tonhalle. Bohm also has that thin Oboe sound…
Hi Mark, when we will get your review? I received my box on Friday and have listened to the first 3 so far and have just put on the 4th. I'm very impressed with the quality. I think that the Bruckner Box is a must have! (writing during listening to the 4.). I look forward to your detailed review with all the experience you can throw into the ring!
What does opening the video with the preposition "so" add to a presentation? Is it just nervous tick, a filler-word that the present fad dictates must be used as often as possible at the start of sentences, lest one not be thought of as _au courant_ ?
I have ordered the set and look forward to it. As regards future OS issues can I suggest Karl Bohm’s 1970s Brahms symphony cycle? The interpretations are excellent- the VPO woodwinds sound glorious - and the orchestra is recorded in the lovely Musikverien acoustic. My pressings (UK) are fine but ,as the recent OS release of Bohm’s Pastoral shows, there is much more on the tape that the 70s compressed DG masterings allow to come through.
The set already looks very classy! However, I miss the possibility of getting the symphonies as individual editions... Even if the serious sound defects of the original editions have been eliminated here (in my opinion, a professional remix was absolutely overdue), it is unfortunately not possible to eliminate interpretational defects. I am of the opinion that you can clearly hear, especially in the Sixth, that Karajan obviously didn't like this work and only recorded it to complete his cycle. I would buy individual editions of the Fifth, Seventh and Eighth immediately! But maybe they'll be available soon... On the other hand, I would buy the complete edition of the Beethoven symphonies with Karl Böhm from this series immediately!
Karajan's 6th is the only recording I have of this particular symphony. Out of interest, what makes it a poorer interpretation compared to other symphonies in his Berlin cycle?
@@bluto32 Well, it sounds somehow unmotivated and ‘played down’ and I think it lacks power and dynamics. According to Karajan himself, he didn't like the Sixth either. Compared to Solti or Klemperer, for example, the symphony sounds boring throughout. In Symphonies 4, 5, 7 and especially the Eighth, you are literally swept away by Karajan's irrepressible power, but I miss that in the Sixth. But that may also be a matter of personal taste...
I purchased the 2019 CD set (with the Blu Ray ) and would be interested on how this set compares to the new O.S. set. I also have the original box set which sounds OK. The Blu Ray is superior. I cant wait to read your review. Enjoy your listening.
Hi Mark, thx for the unboxing, I have the original series, so be interested in your opinion on the reissues, and please make more videos, I love your content !
Naturally, as a fan of Bruckner and Karajan, I would love to have this vinyl box set. It looks perfectly stunning. However, I am struggling with justifying the expense of the purchase since I do have this entire set on CD already in the original individual releases with the original information booklets. Another factor is, as fine as these performances are as a whole, and keeping in mind the slight limitations of the early digital transfers (digital edge) on Nos. 1 - 3, none of these performances do I consider a clear first choice when choosing to listen to a specific Bruckner symphony. Another determining factor is that the available inventory isn't likely to last long enough for price reductions to kick in (Amazon). I think what I need to do is sit down and listen to the cycle that I have on CD from beginning to end to see how I feel about it then. First world problems to be sure.
The version of the 9th in this set (first pressing) was what got me into Bruckner. Got it about two years ago at an outdoor market, on a terribly hot and humid day! Four Aussie dollars.
Thanks for the video. Issuing recording on LP's gives a great opportunity to companies in order to inflate the number of discs that is needed to issue a particular recording and/or work. For instance in this set's CD issue, all symphonies fits into a single CD with the exceptions of 5th and the 8th yet still the entire music fits on 9 Cd's, as many Cd's as the number of symphonies. Here, for instance, symphony n.3 is presented on 2 LP's: one movement per side which is a totally unnecessary number as they could've fit the 1st movement with the 3rd and the 2nd with the 4th to a single side and present the work on one single LP. One might say "But then you'll have to flip the LP 3 times to listen the whole work" but then it is the same thing with 2LP issue. Anyway: very handsome box, presentation and booklet. Overall 10/10.
The reason these have been spread to 4 sides is purely to maximize the sonics, obviating any potential for inner groove distortion. Given the massive dynamic range of these OSS releases it's a wise decision. The earlier release of Gilels' Brahms Piano Concertos had issues for some listeners derived from long side playing times. I think pressing these Bruckner records on 4 sides was the way to go.
Gosh that unboxing certainly induced Pavlovian audiophile drooling. I’m really looking forward to your listening reviews as well as the other coming attractions you mentioned. I also take heart from the previous OS release patterns that this Bruckner boxset may well be followed by releases of the individual symphonies and we will be armed by your findings to cherry pick the absolute killers.
I wouldn't count on the individual records being released separately. It hasn't happened with any of the previous OSS boxes. If you want these, I would advise springing for the box. Expensive, I know...
Same here. Lovely looking cat. 21! A tea drinker, a Karajan fan, and a cat lover - you are a man after my own heart. Looking forward to your review of this beautiful-looking box set. Ordered mine a while back. BTW, I think HVK's 1970/71/EMI recording of Bruckner 7 is uniquely spellbinding. Not everyone likes the cavernous recording, I know. David Hurwitz dismisses, it for one. HVK's two DG recordings of the same symphony sound drier and less glowing to my ears. I have them and I like them. But HVK and the BPO in the autumn of 1970...
@@musiconrecord6724 I remember buying it the day of release down Berwick Street. Eno’s vocals have always been underrated. I only have the Karajan VPO Bruckner 7th & 8th with the BPO 9th.
It all depends on many conditions. The original recording, the state of the original tape recording, the pressing of the records, the digitalization, the reproduction, the transmission of the digital source, the equipment, and so on. I have a very large collection of original records (what is termed vinyl nowadays) and some are not so good, and their digital remasterings snd files sound better than the records. In addition, there is the issue of the capacity of the place where you can keep the records and its appropriate conditions. I am fortunate to have a very large room where I keep my records and I installed air conditioning and room conditioning to keep them safe, but slowly it’s becoming full and I don’t have an additional room where I can keep more records. So, I have decided to buy digital files, cd, SACD, media. And buying the best digital equipment I can obtain.
Excellent videos. However, the store that imported HMV, EMI, UK COLUMBIA, DECCA, etc, closed many, many years ago in my area and they all became impossible to obtain. I bought a lot, but afterwards it became very difficult and expensive to buy by mail. I have resorted to buy some used in mint condition or new sealed old stock, but many others buying digital files. Sad situation.
These recordings are IMHO his absolute best and a testament of gigantic piano playing to future generations: 1) Stravinsky, Petroushka 2) Brahms, 2nd Piano Concerto (the early recording with Abbado) 3) Bartok, Concertos N.1 and 2, and Out of Doors (bootleg) 4) Schumann, Symphonic Studies and first Sonata 5) Chopin, Etudes and Preludes 6) Beethoven, Hammerklavier, Diabelli variations, Choral Fantasy, and 3rd and 5th piano concertos (I like the Böhm versions the most) 7) Schubert, Wanderer Fantasy and a magnificent bootleg version of the D. 894 sonata 8) Brahms, Piano Quintet 9) Prokofiev, Sonata N. 7
Yes indeed, I whole heartedly agree with you about the greatness of the Previn recoding of the Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes. It's fabulous. And yes I also agree that it's better than the recoding by Britten himself
I purchased a couple of this series and i find the mastering horrible. The mastering alrhough clear and detailed is very bombastic. Micro dynamic shading and overall emotive expressivness has been evisetated in the quest for hifi. I much prefer the originals which may lack the clarity, is much more commincatively expressive. I dont know why people like this series.
In my experience, the ARCHIVE productions are really excellent in contrast to the yellow label DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON, especially the early digital recordings from the early 80s. I would be interested: Do you share this view?
I have several of these in my LP collection too. Very good choices. More fine modern ballet music can be found in Les Biches by Francis Poulenc. Perhaps you have a favorite recording?
