I dig both the 1963 and the 1977, but if I could only have one then give me the '77! Actually this applies to the whole cycle.
The 1963 cycle was actually recorded in 1961-1962, but not released until 1963, that's why that year is always mentioned.
Looked at the labels. The 7th is dated 1977 and the 5th is dated 1962. I honestly don’t know if that’s correct. Cannot see any date at all on the 6th
A random thought for the day: I have far too many records, and yet I keep any number of music I don't especially like and that I'm unlikely to play as "library" copies. Admitting that "I don't like" has a way sometimes of turning into a new love (as happened to me some years back in the case of the Brahms 1st Pno. Cto.), and further that sometimes the reason for keeping the record is a favorite artist in un-favorite fare, viewed objectively, burning up shelf space with lots and lots and lots of records of disliked music is more than a little . Anybody else here guilty of this same indiscretion?
Elaborating on that theme a bit more, the spur for this reflection was replacing a copy of the Furtwangler Rome Ring in 4 volumes on Seraphim (one for each opera) with a later, DMM copy, also Seraphim, that puts all the records in a single, more compact box. I am not much of a Wagnerian, and I don't expect I'll ever play any of these operas from one end to the other, but I feel compelled to keep the set for its historical significance. As an aside, is there any reason to prefer the earlier, bulkier, non-DMM copies? They take up about double the shelf space.
This hits close to home. I have two sets of the RAI Furtwangler Ring on LP... In my case I've already gotten over the fact that I'm not that interested in listening to them, but as far as classical LPs go they're more sought-after than average, so I don't want to donate them or let them go for pennies. So they sit on the shelf at home
Everything seems to indicate that this Karajan Beethoven cycle had a Christmas 1962 release planned. In November 1962 the 9th was recorded, the last remaining vinyl sides were mastered, and the booklets were also rush-printed that month. However, something went wrong, but I never was able to find out exactly what. The set was ultimately released in February of 1963 (source: Richard Osborne).
Nelson Goerner Brahms: Sonata Op. 5; Variations on a Theme by Paganini. Alpha, 2019 A very nice Sonata, Op. 5, closely recorded, great piano sound. The variations seem to have been recorded with a more metallic treble sound.
The Barbirolli Box arrived today from Presto. Sir John Barbirolli: the complete Warner Recordings Warner, 2020 109 CDs This includes the EMI, Pye, & Barbirolli Society recordings. Disc 1 includes some of his earliest 78 rpm records. Purcell: Hornpipe on a Ground from The Married Beau. Mozart: Serenade No. 13 in G major Haydn: Symphony No. 104 "London" Elgar: Introduction and Allegro These date from 1928 and 1929, issued by HMV. The orchestra is John Barbirolli's Chamber Orchestra. Everything remastered by Christophe Henault, Studio Art et Son, Annecy.
CD 105 from the Barbirolli Box includes some of his last recordings. All with Janet Baker-- Elgar: Sea Pictures; London Symphony Orchestra. 1965 Ravel: Sheherazade Berlioz: Les Nuits d'ete; New Philharmonia Orchestra, 1967 Baker is in fine voice in the Sea Pictures by Elgar. The Ravel-Berlioz disc cover:
I don't know about the Elgar, but the Haydn, Mozart, and Purcell were also released in the United States on Victor. They were given black labels, not Red Seal status. The Haydn was on records 35981, 35982, and 35983; the Mozart and Purcell (filler) on 36283 and 36284. Neither set, as far as I know, was issued as an album in Victor's "M" series. One distinct oddity: the last side of the Mozart contains the conclusion of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik's fourth mvt. and then appends the Purcell as if it were a fifth mvt. to fill out the side.
Warner does a great job with the big box sets in my opinion. The Rostropovich set is a gem. I assume this one will be one as well.
