Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture Op. 26; Symphony No. 5

On this CD:

1. The Hebrides, overture in B minor for orchestra ("Fingal's Cave," 4 versions), Op. 26
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by Philharmonia
Conducted by Walter Weller

2. Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 11
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by Philharmonia
Conducted by Walter Weller

3. Symphony No. 5 in D major/D minor ("Reformation"), Op. 107
Composed by Felix Mendelssohn
Performed by Philharmonia
Conducted by Walter Weller

Tracks:

Symphony No.1 In C Minor, Op.11
Octet In E Flat, Op.20
Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Op.21
The Hebrides, Op.26 (Fingal's Cave)
Meeresstille Und Glkliche Fahrt, Op.27
Symphony No.2 In B Flat, Op.52 - "Hymn Of Praise"
Symphony No.3 In A Minor, Op.56 - "Scottish"
Overture "The Fair Melusine", Op.32
"Trumpet Overture", Op.101 - Allegro Vivace
Ruy Blas, Op.95 - Overture To Victor Hugo's Play
Symphony No.4 In A, Op.90 - "Italian"
Symphony No.5 In D Minor, Op.107 - "Reformation"
Overture For Wind Instruments, Op.24 (F Harmoniemusik)

Customer Reviews:

Real class.......2007-06-24

Abbado has created an excellent anthology of Mendelssohn's symphonic output - rich, lush and balanced. A+

Great set.......2007-05-18

By my calculations, this is the single best set of Mendelssohn symphonies out there today. Though better versions of the "Reformation," "Scottish," and "Italian" Symphonies exist in other disks, I still like the interpretations offered by Abbado and the LSO.

For the "Reformation", and "Italian" Symphonies, I'd recommend John Eliot Gardiner and the Vienna Philharmonic's DG set.

For the Scottish Symphony I'd go with Karajan's recording with the BPO (that CD also comes with the best "Hebrides Overture" recording available, and a pretty good "Italian Symphony" interpretation, too).

All of the overtures in this set are performed very well, both in technical execution and musical interpretation. The Hebrides (a work far ahead of its time), in particular, is a fine recording. So is "Overture 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'." I really have grown fond of the "Ruy Blas" overture as well.

Another reviewer complained that the interpretations in this set are "too Classical." I think they are correct in saying the set is Classically performed, but I think that works with Mendelssohn, as he was "the Romantic Mozart."

Overall this is a great set, and a good way to become familiar with the music of Felix Mendelssohn, or build your Mendelssohn library.

MENDELSSOHN: 5 Symphonies/7 Overtures (LSO/Claudio Abbado) DG 471 467-2.......2006-07-13

Unlike many all-digital compilations offered by one orchestra and conductor, this collection of Mendelssohn favorites is outstanding in performance and interpretation throughout. Maestro Abbado shows a genuine affection for the composer and his genius by the sequence of selections on each disc, and I find no weak performances anywhere in this remarkable recording.

Charlie Hastings
Falls Church, VA

Great Concept but Not So Great Execution!.......2006-06-14

First, the good: Great box design for packaging, great booklet in various languages describing the history of all the performed works, great value for money, excellent representation of the great Mendelssohn's best works.

Now, the bad: the problem with compilations like this is that the material tends to have been recorded at different times and places and frequently by different personnel on various recording equipment of varying quality. What this means is that some tracks within each disc sound much better then others and even whole discs come in varying sound qualities.

Fortunately, the best disc, disc one starts out very well with the great first symphony and ends with the composer's best Overtures and the quality of the sound recording is very good. Then we get to disc 2 and the sound quality can only be described as abysmal. The difference in the sound is like night and day when compared with the first disc. The third disc sounds much better but is still not as good as the first disc while the last disc comes somewhere in between the second and third.

There's no doubting the quality of the performances though by Claudio Abbado and the LSO and of course the choice of material but too bad about the inconsistency of the sound quality from track to track and from disc to disc.

Still, the 3 stars are for the good points listed above and for the great disc 1.

More of Mendelssohn to Love.......2005-11-08

I had heard all the music on here before interpreted by other conductors and other symphonies but Claudio Abbado proved to be the most efficient for me. Thanks to the world's leading classical music label- Deutsche Grammophone -we are able to hear a complete set of Mendelssohn's symphonies and overtures with the acclaimed London Symphony in a beautiful and surprisingly afforadable album. For music that is this good, I was surprised that it wasn't a little more expensive. But good, right ? Just more of Mendelssohn to love. On this album: his symphonies 1-5, Scherzo in G Minor from the Octet for Strings, the Overture to A Midsumer Night's Dream incidental music and Hebrides Overture. These are the most famous Mendelssohn creations. His Fourth Symphony is the "Italian" symphony, with lyrical, bouncy rhythms and classical harmony. The Midsummer Night's Dream overture encompasses romanticism at its peak, with sprightly strings representing the mischievous fairies that figure prominently in the Shakespeare comedy. The Hebrides Overture is evocative of wintery landscapes and sea breezes, a fine example of a tone poem and musical painting at its best. Its haunting melody is instantly recongizable. Abbado is clearly suited for this kind of music and it's refreshing to see him stray from the usual Italian repertoire he is most famous for. Still, inescapably, his Italian soul stands out but this gives this music more color, more volume and lyricism than what can often succumb to stale, cold English interpretations like Andre Previn's conducting. No offense to Mr. Previn, who has produced some brilliant music.

Average customer rating:

a voice teacher and early music fan
The Vienna Phil. is the star here
Fantastic performances
Double Decker or Box Set

Mendelssohn: The Symphonies, Vol.2

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000IX7X
Release Date: 1999-05-11

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitato - Assai animato - Andante come prima
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': Vivace non troppo
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': Adagio
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assai
Symphony No.4 In A Major, Op. 90 'Italian': Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 'Italian': Andante con moto
Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 'Italian': Con moto moderato
Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 'Italian': Saltarello: Presto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 107 'Reformation': Andante - Allegro con fuoco - Andante come I - Meno allegro come I
Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 107 'Reformation': Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 107 'Reformation': Andante
Symphony No. 5 In D Minor, Op. 107 'Reformation': Chorale (Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott): Andante con moto - Allegro vivace - Allegro maestoso - Piu animato poco a poco
Overture: The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave), Op. 26: Les Hebrides- Hebridenouverture
Overture: Calm Sea And Prosperous Voyage, Op. 27: Mer calme et heureux voyage - Meeresstille und gluckliche Fahrt
Overture
Athalie, Op. 74: War March of the Priests - Marche guerriere des pretres - Kriegsmarsch der Priester

Customer Reviews:

a voice teacher and early music fan.......2007-03-20

Few composers of the 19th century enjoyed the almost universal acclaim accorded to Felix Mendelssohn(1809-1847). He was rightfully admired as a protector of artistic standards in an age when musical values were being assailed and reshaped. Mendelssohn confronted musical Romanticism and struck a balance between tradition and reform. His music evinces a classical purity of structure and emphasis on tradtional craft; yet it was not unaffected by the new cult of self-expression which dramatically altered musical esthetics during the first few decades of the nineteenth century.
The origins of almost all the music collected here lie in the same short period of Mendelssohn's early maturity and European travels at the end of the 1820's and beginning of the 1830's. It was during his travels in the Scottish Highlands that he 'Scottish Symphony'(#3) was conceived followed by the "Hebrides" Overture which he composed after seeing the rock formatons of Fingal's Cave. The following year his travels to Italy brought forth the 'Italian Symphony'(#4); just the opposite of the Scottish Symphony in mood (morose & dark); the sunlight of Italy inspired him to write "the jolliest piece I have ever done" (his own words). Around 1829 Mendelssohn began serious work on his fifth symphony for full orchestra, intended as a contribution to the tercentenary celebration of the Augsburg Confession in June 1830. At first referred to as the Kirchen-symphonie, the work became known as the 'Reformation' symphony, becasue of its use of Luther's chorale 'Ein feste Burg' aas a kind of 'cantus firmus' in the finale, and the citation of the 'Dreden Amen' in the first movement.
Mendelssohn has always been one of my personal favorites, and in his short life he has composed so much quality music in all genres and in his 'classical-romantic' way he stabalized and guided indirectly the way that the next generation of composers might go.
The performance of Christoph von Dohnanyi and The Weiner Philharmonic suits me fine; I enjoy the discs very much, and really can not find much fault with them.

The Vienna Phil. is the star here.......2007-02-26

I don't find that Dohnanyi has anything special to say here, since as usual he prefers to keep a tight rein on the music. But Mendelssohn himself was apparently a brisk, no-nonsense conductor who eschewed Romatnic expressiveness. If you want "classical" Mendelssohn, however, I'd be hard pressed to think of a better example. The real delight here is the incomparable sweetness, elegance, and precision of the Vienna Phil., who like to play for Dohnanyi. They make the rapid-fire perpetual motion in the finale of the Italian Sym. sound effortless.

This Double Decca twofer was extracted from Dohanyi's complete symphony cycle, and considering that it contains Mendelssohn's three mature sympphonies along with the Hebrides and Meerstille overtures, the cream of the crop is right here. All tempos are standard, as are the interpretations. We don't get Karajan's authority and swagger or Abbado's charm, and of course there are great individual recordings of the Scottish and Italian symphonies by the score. But for elegance, dynamic sound, and the presence of the Vieena Phil., this is a set to seriously consider.

Fantastic performances.......2004-03-30

Christoph von Dohnanyi and the Vienna Philharmonic truly deliver fantastic readings of these three popular symphonies by Felix Mendelssohn. The Vienna Philharmonic (as always) is well balanced, very transparent, and well rehearsed; they play incisively and with total conviction. The playing is especially inspired in the Scottish Symphony, where the dialogue between wind and strings is delightful. However, the best parts of this set are the "filler" overtures. Both Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage and Fingal's Cave are played to the hilt. Dohnanyi conducts the symphonies tightly, and that taught quality makes these recordings very exciting. My only complaint would be that, at times, the orchestra sounds a bit small. Still, overall, a wonderful compilation by London Decca.

Double Decker or Box Set.......2003-08-05

This value-priced Double Decker featuring Mendelssohn's Symphonies Nos. 3-5 and three Overtures by Christoph von Dohnanyi and the Vienna Philharmonic is terrific. However, a potential problem arises if you plan to also buy the Double Decker featuring Symphonies 1 & 2. By this I mean that Decca/London has released Symphonies 1-5, and the three overtures featured on this title, as a space-saving, slim-paper box set (see my review). It basically comes down to whether you want to pay more money and get Die Erste Walpurgisnacht (Cantata for Chorus & Orchestra, Op. 60), which is also included on the Double Decker featuring Symphonies 1 & 2, but not on the box set. With either the two Double Deckers or the Box Set, you will get first rate performances of Mendelssohn's magnificent Symphonies.

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Symphonies; Overtures; Concertos

Average customer rating:

Triumphant return of Flor's Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Symphonies; Overtures; Concertos

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0009A1AJG
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Tracks:

Merce, Diletti Amici - O Tu, Che L'alma
Scena, Coro E Brindisi
Mamma...Quel Vino E Generoso
Lamento Di Federico
Improvviso
Come Un Bel Di Dimaggio
Oh! Fede Negar Potessi
Fontainebleau, Foresta Immense
Amor Ti Vieta
Cielo E Mar
Epilogo
Vesti La Giubba
Dio, Mi Potevi Scagliar
La Danza

Customer Reviews:

Triumphant return of Flor's Mendelssohn.......2005-06-01

At last Claus Peter Flor's Mendelssohn symphonies, overtures and piano concertos (with Edelmann) have returned. On the basis of these recordings (all previously issued) Flor, who is probably in his early 50s now, is still one of the better Mendelssohn conductors out there.

In particular, his Symphonies Nos. 2 and 5 have been hailed by critics on this side of the Atlantic for their beauty, proportion and Mendelssohnian sensibility. His other symphonies are also good and his collected overtures have been revered on both sides of the Atlantic by critics from Gramophone (which gave the overtures a rosette) to American Record Guide (which continued to promote his works even after they were out of print).

Flor's regualr partner in these performances, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, is a European band of the second rank. While not being confused with the more well-known orchestras in Vienna, Berlin or London, they perform universally well in these CDs in recordings that sound better than ever.

This is a very good collection of Mendelssohn's symphonic music and piano concertos that will rank with the best recorded boxes including Abbado and Karajn. In musical terms is far exceeds the collections led by Masur, Ashkenazy and the newer Naxos cycle of mixed quality.

Collectors that have never heard Flor conduct (or have never heard of him) can rest assured that this is a worthy alternative collection in this music. If this grouping and this price are attractive, go for it.

Average customer rating:

Uneven quality but great value
A superb collection of Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn: The Masterworks [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00062FLJ2
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Customer Reviews:

Uneven quality but great value.......2007-04-30

Brilliant Classics has found a niche with their extremely low-price multi-disc collections of the work of a single composer or performer. The Bach, Mozart and Chopin Complete Editions are legitimately considered to be artistic and economical triumphs. But the Masterworks series are more uneven. Currently available from Amazon France at about a buck per CD, they're still a bargain for those interested in quickly building a music library. But it's worth keeping a few things in mind. Unlike the Bach and Mozart Editions, these are not always historically informed performances. In this Mendelssohn set, the Hanover Band puts in a cameo (in Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage), but most of the ensembles use modern instruments, techniques and proportions. This doesn't always work out, as in the case of the ponderously heavy recordings of the String Symphonies by an apparently full complement of Gewandhausorchester Leipzig strings (Mendelssohn likely wrote these early works for a much smaller group). The caliber of the performances varies too, ranging from good to poor, and from marquis musicians such as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau to a few Dutch who-dats. The chamber musicians generally acquit themselves well (though the Octet recording is marred by an engineering flaw in the last movement, distortion, at least on my copy). But the symphonies suffer from some substandard performances, such as the Italian Symphony's live recording with not only audience noise but also ensemble flaws such as a distracting clarinet squeak in the first movement's recapitulation. Another strike is the lack of program notes. Brilliant's Complete Editions provide a booklet or CD-ROM with program notes, but here you'll need to do your own research.

Despite these shortcomings, this set is still good value (at least at Amazon France's current price of 31 Euros). And it's a fine way to become acquainted with Mendelssohn's music.

A superb collection of Mendelssohn.......2007-03-24

Let me preface this by saying that most of these works were not new to me - I own many other Mendelssohn CDs and have enjoyed his compositions for some time now. Also, this set is available much cheaper elsewhere, particularly from European retailers.
The symphonies are well-performed. 'Reformation' is an inspired live recording. The 12 string symphonies, written in Mendelssohn's youth, are also included. The concertos are exceptional - the violin concerto is as good as you'll find anywhere. The oratorios Elijah and Paulus are included, as well as the complete chamber works and a diverse assortment of choral works. The last few discs include the Lied ohne worte, the epic organ sonatas, and excellent renditions of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Fingal's Cave. While there are a few sketchy performances in the choral and chamber works, the performances and recordings are generally very solid, and the body of work couldn't be better.

Average customer rating:

A riveting example of classical music

Mendelssohn: Works for Orchestra

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Tracks:

Sym No.1 in C: I. Allegro
Sym No.1 in C: II. Andante
Sym No.1 in C: III. Allegro
Sym No.2 in D: I. Allegro
Sym No.2 in D: II. Andante
Sym No.2 in D: III. Allegro
Sym No.3 in e: I. Allegro Di Molto
Sym No.3 in e: II. Andante
Sym No.3 in e: III. Allegro
Sym No.4 in c: I. Grave-Allegro
Sym No.4 in c: II. Andante
Sym No.4 in c: III. Allegro Vivace
Sym No.5 in B flat: I. Allegro Vivace
Sym No.5 in B flat: II. Andante
Sym No.5 in B flat: III. Presto
Sym No.6 in E flat: I. Allegro
Sym No.6 in E flat: II. Menuetto
Sym No.6 in E flat: III. Prestissimo

Tracks:

Sym No.7 in d: I. Allegro
Sym No.7 in d: II. Andante
Sym No.7 in d: III. Menuetto
Sym No.7 in d: IV. Allegro Molto
Sym No.8 in D: I. Adagio E Grave-Allegro
Sym No.8 in D: II. Adagio
Sym No.8 in D: III. Menuetto
Sym No.8 in D: IV. Allegro Molto
Sym No.10 in b: I. Adagio
Sym No.10 in b: II. Allegro

Tracks:

Sym No.9 in C: I. Grave-Allegro
Sym No.9 in C: II. Andante
Sym No.9 in C: III. Scherzo
Sym No.9 in C: IV. Allegro Vivace
Sym No.11 in F: I. Adagio-Allegro Molto
Sym No.11 in F: II. Scherzo Commodo Schweizerlied
Sym No.11 in F: III. Adagio
Sym No.11 in F: IV. Menuetto: Allegro Moderato
Sym No.11 in F: V. Allegro Molto
Sym No.12 in g: I. Fuga: Grave-Allegro
Sym No.12 in g: II. Andante
Sym No.12 in g: III. Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Pno Con No.1 in g, Op.25: I. Molto Allegro Con Filoco - Joseph Kalichstein
Pno Con No.1 in g, Op.25: II. Andante - Joseph Kalichstein
Pno Con No.1 in g, Op.25: III. Presto - Joseph Kalichstein
Hebrides Ov ('Fingal's Cave') Op.26 - Joseph Kalichstein
Pno Con No.2 in d, Op.40: I. Allegro Appassionato - Joseph Kalichstein
Pno Con No.2 in d, Op.40: II. Adagio-Molto Sostenuto - Joseph Kalichstein
Pno Con No.2 in d, Op.40: III. Finale-Presto Scherzando - Joseph Kalichstein

Tracks:

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ov & Incidental Music): Ov - SCO/Jaime Laredo
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ov & Incidental Music): Scherzo - SCO/Jaime Laredo
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ov & Incidental Music): Intermezzo - SCO/Jaime Laredo
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ov & Incidental Music): Nocturne - SCO/Jaime Laredo
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ov & Incidental Music): Wedding March - SCO/Jaime Laredo
A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ov & Incidental Music): Bergomask Dance - SCO/Jaime Laredo
Sym No.3, Op.56: I. Andante Con Moto-Allegro Un Poco Agitato - SCO/Jaime Laredo
Sym No.3, Op.56: II. Vivace Non Troppo - SCO/Jaime Laredo
Sym No.3, Op.56: III. Adagio - SCO/Jaime Laredo
Sym No.3, Op.56: IV. Allegro Vivacissimo - SCO/Jaime Laredo

Tracks:

Sym No.4 in A, Op.90 'Italian': I. Allegro Vivace - Benjamin Hudson
Sym No.4 in A, Op.90 'Italian': II. Andante Con Moto - Benjamin Hudson
Sym No.4 in A, Op.90 'Italian': III. Con Moto Moderato - Benjamin Hudson
Sym No.4 in A, Op.90 'Italian': IV. Saltarello: Presto - Benjamin Hudson
Vn Con in e, Op.64: I. Allegro Molto Appassionato - Benjamin Hudson
Vn Con in e, Op.64: II. Andante - Benjamin Hudson
Vn Con in e, Op.64: III. Allegretto Non Troppo-Allegro Molto Vivace - Benjamin Hudson
Calm Sea And Prosperous Voyage, Op.27 - Benjamin Hudson

Customer Reviews:

A riveting example of classical music.......2000-09-22

The poet, Goethe, once wrote that "music is architecture in a fluid state." That statement is exceptionally correct in describing Mendelssohn: Works for Orchestra. The compilation is filled with Mendelssohn's greatest, most beautiful works. His "Hebrides" is a most rich and intense audio portrait of the Scottish shoreline on a stormy night. The music is wonderful and pregnant with detail. It is definately five star quality.

CARL SCHURICHT Decca Recordings 1949-1956

Average customer rating:

Beautiful early 1950s recordings by an unknown conductor to many Americans
Schuricht's Classic Studio Recordings 1949-56
Carl Schuricht: An Original Master

CARL SCHURICHT Decca Recordings 1949-1956

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
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ASIN: B000276K3W
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful early 1950s recordings by an unknown conductor to many Americans.......2006-04-29

Carl Schuricht (1880-1967) may be an unknown conductor to many Americans, but had an active career in Germany, Holland and France from the 1930s until his death in 1967. Schuricht was known to me primarily from his EMI stereo recording of Bruckner Symphonies 8 and 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic. The recordings in this Decca set are MONO, but in very clear, well defined sound. Decca's engineers have done excellent work for this reissue.

Some listeners will know which works are by the Paris Conservatory Orchestra, as their trumpets, horns, and woodwinds have a certain vibrato laden timbre which their American and British counterparts, for example, do not. You either like the Paris Conservatory or you don't, and I DO. Beethoven's Symphony 5; Tchaikovsky's Capriccio Italien, Orchestra Suite No. 3 Variations; Schumann's Symphonies 2 and 3 + Overture, Scherzo and Finale are all by the Paris Conservatory Orchestra in this collection. The other works: Beethoven Symphonies 1 and 2, Mendelssohn RUY BLAS, HEBRIDES, FAIR MELUSINA and CALM SEA AND PROSPEROUS VOYAGE Overtures; Brahms Symphony 2 and Schubert Symphony 8 "Unfinished" are all with the Vienna Philharmonic from the early 1950s.

There is much here to love, even if you have other recordings of these works. Schuricht had a special solidity but was never stodgy or dry. I compare him favorably with Karl Bohm (1894-1981). Recommended, and I have other recordings of all these works, but am glad to have Schuricht, too.

Schuricht's Classic Studio Recordings 1949-56.......2005-04-08

To my mind, Schuricht's sane and very musical conducting always occupied an appealing "middle ground" between the more subjectively romantic way of Furtwangler/Abendroth/Mengelberg and the tougher rhythmic drive of Toscanini and Kleiber. Here is a brief assessment of each CD in this 5-disc collection:

CD 1. Schuricht draws wonderfully disciplined playing from the VPO in this superb Beethoven 1st, which is one of my favorite versions along with the more Haydnesque, gemutlich Weingartner/VPO (best heard on an Opus Kura CD from Japan, coupled with Weingartner's magnificent Beethoven 7th). Schuricht's Beethoven 5th with the Paris Conservatory Orchestra has appeared elsewhere on Italian bootleg labels. The transfer here is vastly superior. This is, to my ears, one of the greatest-ever accounts: it's very straight (lean and mean) and better-played than Schuricht's later recording in his complete Beethoven symphony set (French EMI). Even though Furtwangler remains my exemplar here (his 1943 wartime concert performance on DG and the mellower 1952 account on Tahra), Schuricht's more classical manner is very persuasive. This surely ranks among the finest "straight" 5ths of Weingartner (Naxos), Erich Kleiber (Decca) and Carlos Kleiber (DG). Schuricht's Mendelssohn is well-played, if a bit sober and penny-plain. In the Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) Overture, I still prefer Beecham, Furtwangler, Maag and Fritz Lehmann. In the Ruy Blas, Beecham is simply inimitable. For the Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, there was once an excellent version on Columbia LP (England) by Paul Kletzki and the Israel Philharmonic (coupled with a great Scotch Symphony) that deserves to be on CD. My favorite account remains the Lehmann/Berlin Phil., which DG ought to re-issue in a coupling with the Hebrides and the Roloff/Lehmann readings of Mendelssohn's piano concertos.

CD 2. This disc holds two treasurable 2nds of the "desert island" variety. The Beethoven Symphony has a wonderfully trenchant first mvt., a Larghetto with delectable interplay between the VPO's beautifully sweet strings and its plangent winds, a witty Scherzo, and an affectionately slow last mvt. At a length of 7:07, the latter is hardly Allegro Molto (for that you have to hear the brilliant Erich Kleiber on Teldec), but to my ears this is one of the truly classic performances, along with the Kleiber and the outstanding Weingartner (best transfer: Naxos). The Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto with Backhaus is a great collaboration - this pianist was always at his best in Brahms - and the transfer is HUGELY superior to what was (barely) heard in the Philips "Great Pianists" series. It's my favorite account, though I wouldn't be without the exceptional readings by Clifford Curzon/Hans Knappertsbusch (Living Stage) and Sviatoslav Richter/George Georgescu (Dorian, coupled with Richter's only recording of the Handel Variations).

CD 3. Schuricht's gorgeously lyrical, very pastoral account of Brahms' 2nd Symphony is more uptempo than his live Stuttgart account (Archiphon). If I could have only 3 recordings, they would be this Schuricht (excellent transfer!), the Fritz Busch (EMI) and the Furtwangler (EMI). Incidentally, I can't help noticing (in the last mvt., the passage starting at 4:43 here) an odd similarity to the opening of Mahler's 1st (since the opening of Mahler's 3rd is clearly patterned on the main theme of the Brahms 1st's last mvt., I think this may be more than just a coincidence). Christian Ferras' interpretation of the Brahms Violin Concerto reminds me somewhat of Fritz Kreisler's (Ferras also uses the Kreisler cadenza). It's a lovely, small-scale account, and joins a lengthy list of "greats" (e.g., Kreisler/Blech, Busch/ Steinberg, Szigeti/Harty, Martzy/Kletzki, De Vito/Schwarz, etc.)

CD 4. This disc is all Schumann: The Overture, Scherzo & Finale (rather like a symphony without a slow movement), plus the 2nd and 3rd Symphonies. All are with the Paris Conservatory Orchestra, whose billowing brass may be an acquired taste. These are all masterly readings. The CD notes fail to mention that, in the "Rhenish," Schuricht uses Mahler's re-orchestration. My other favorite 2nds (the opening measures so like Haydn's #104!) are the more richly romantic readings by Stokowski (Cala) and Pfitzner (Koch Legacy), and the chastely classical Enescu (Dutton). My favorite stereo 3rd is probably the Leibowitz (Chesky). Hopefully a long-extinct 10" DG LP of the 3rd with Leitner and the Berlin Phil. will achieve a CD transfer: it had the loveliest slow mvt. I have ever heard.

CD 5. This disc is of lesser distinction. Mendelssohn's Fair Melusine Overture receives a sturdy reading that isn't quite on the level of Busch or Beecham. The Schubert 8th strikes me as a mis-fire - it's also available on Schuricht's "Great Conductors" volume on IMG (see my review). And the Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italien is simply no match for the ebullient Kondrashin (RCA).

This Decca set is essential listening, especially for its pace-setting accounts of Beethoven and Brahms. If you would like to hear a broader representation of Schuricht's artistry, you may want to explore his 10-disc set on Scribendum (available at Amazon.uk), which includes stylish accounts of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, Mozart's 38/40/41, a fine Bruckner 7th, and a very warm-hearted Brahms 4th.

Strongly recommended.

Carl Schuricht: An Original Master.......2005-01-13

Conductor Carl Schuricht has been unfairly neglected over the years, but a recent string of reissues should go to great lengths to remedy that problem. Compiling many of his greatest recordings for the Decca label from 1949-1956, this box set will be a most welcome addition to the shelves of classical music connoisseurs. Unfortunately, this title is not without its problems. While the set claims on its back cover that all of this material, save a 1952 account of the Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto with Backhaus (amazing BTW) and a 1956 Schubert 8th Symphony, are receiving their first international CD release, a lot of this material has been readily available for years. In addition to the aforementioned "Unfinished," the 1954 performance of Mendelssohn's "Hebrides" Overture with the Vienna Philharmonic was recently included in Schuricht's "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" title. Also the 1954 recording of the Brahms Violin Concerto with Christian Ferras is the very same version featured on Testament SBT 1293, and it is an alarming trend, if you ask me, that these "licensed" recordings are starting to appear simultaneously on two labels (see my recent review of EMI's "Great Recordings of the Century" release of David Oistrakh performing Prokofiev's Violin Concertos). Finally, why UNI chose to issue this and the recent Erich Kleiber set in clunky plastic jewel cases, instead of the normal slim paperboard box with paper sleeves for the discs, is beyond me. Overall though, "Original Masters: Carl Schuricht" is another first rate historical reissue from Universal. Schuricht's earlier performances of Beethoven's 1st, 2nd & 5th Symphonies featured here offer a nice contrast to his accounts of a few years later on EMI, and his Schumann -- the 2nd & 3rd Symphonies and "Overture, Scherzo and Finale" comprising CD4 -- is surprisingly good. In fact, I can hardly wait for the next batch of Decca OMs next month!

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The Best of Mendelssohn

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000014HB
Release Date: 1997-10-20

Tracks:

Fingal's Cave, Op.26: The Hebrides - Overture
Songs Without Words, Op.62: Spring Song
A Midsummers Night's Dream: Overture, Op.21
A Midsummers Night's Dream: Wedding March, Op. 61, No. 4
A Midsummers Night's Dream: Scherzo, Op. 61, No. 1
Songs Without Words, Op.19 No.6: Venezianisches Gonellied
Symphony No. 3 In A Minor, Op. 56 'Scottish': Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agiato - Andante come prima
Piano Concerto No.1 In G Minor: Molto allegro con fuoco
Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64: Andante - Allegro non troppo
Symphony No. 4 In A Major: 'Italian' - Ssaltarello: Presto

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The best Mendelssohn collection

Panorama: Felix Mendelssohn

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Octets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Panorama: Jean Sibelius
Panorama: Franz Schubert
Panorama: Joseph Haydn
Panorama: Sergey Prokofiev
Panorama: Hector Berlioz

ASIN: B00004W3IT
Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

Overture 'The Hebrides': Allegro moderato - Animato in tempo - Berliner Philharmoniker
Violin Concerto: Allegro molto appassionato - Anne-Sophie Mutter
Violin Concerto: Andante - Anne-Sophie Mutter
Violin Concerto: Allegro non troppo - Allegro molto vivace - Anne-Sophie Mutter
Symphony No.4 'Italian': Allegro vivace - Berliner Philharmoniker
Symphony No.4 'Italian': Andante con moto - Berliner Philharmoniker
Symphony No.4 'Italian': Con moto moderato - Berliner Philharmoniker
Symphony No.4 'Italian': Saltarello. Presto - Berliner Philharmoniker
Songs Without Words: Op. 62 No.5 in A Minor 'Venetian Gondola Song'. Andante con moto - Daniel Barenboim
Songs Without Words: Op.67 No.4 in C Major 'Spinning Song'. Presto - Daniel Barenboim
Songs Without Words: Op. 62 No. 6 in A Major 'Spring Song'. Allegretto grazioso - Daniel Barenboim
Songs Without Words: Op. 38 No.6 in A Flat Major 'Duetto'. Andante con moto - Daniel Barenboim

Tracks:

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Overture (Op.21). Allegro di molto - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Fairies's March. Allegro vivace - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Song with Chorus - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Intermezzo. Allegro appassionato - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Nottumo. Con moto tranquillo - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Wedding March. Allegro vivace - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Funeral March. Andante comondo - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Dance Of The Clowns. Allegro di molto - Edith Mathis
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61: Finale: Allegro di molto - Edith Mathis
Octet In E Flat Minor, Op. 20: Allegro moderato, ma con fuoco - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields Chamber Ensemble
Octet In E Flat Minor, Op. 20: Andante - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields Chamber Ensemble
Octet In E Flat Minor, Op. 20: Scherzo. Allegro leggierissimo - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields Chamber Ensemble
Octet In E Flat Minor, Op. 20: Presto - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields Chamber Ensemble

Customer Reviews:

The best Mendelssohn collection.......2000-12-10

This compilation has the finest interpretations of the most-known Mendelssohn masterpieces, from the Digital recording of the Violin Concerto by the marvellous Anne-Sophie Mutter and the masterful Herbert von Karajan to the sparkling, reverberating recording of the Midsummer Night's dream conducted by Rafael Kubelik. It is a must-have. And the price is nice too!

Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

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Some Of Bernstein's Most Memorable Deutsche Grammophon Recordings

Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Leonard Bernstein Conducts Haydn (Collectors Edition)

ASIN: B000ASAEM6
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Customer Reviews:

Some Of Bernstein's Most Memorable Deutsche Grammophon Recordings.......2007-05-21

Fans of Leonard Bernstein's conducting have much to enjoy in this fine commemorative box set which includes all of his recordings of several Schubert, Mendelssohn and Schumann orchestral works for Deutsche Grammophon in the 1980s. More importantly, this set contains some of his best recordings. Among my favorites are his Schubert symphony recordings made with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Of these, his electrifying, swift account of the Schubert 9th Symphony remains among the finest recorded, blessed by superlative playing from the Concertgebouw Orchestra, especially its winds and strings. Bernstein doesn't seek emotional pyrotechnics from the orchestra, relying instead on swift tempi. His recordings of the Schubert 5th and 8th symphonies are also highly recommended, featuring exceptional playing from the Concertgebouw Orchestra. In stark contrast, his celebrated Schumann symphony cycle with the Wiener Philharmoniker (which has been available separately as a two CD set) is replete with emotion, and what could be charitably described as Bernstein's unique, quite mannered interpretations of these scores. Without question, this box set is yet another reason showing Bernstein's excellence as one of the great conductors of the 20th Century, and one which should be popular with his fans and others interested in his legendary career.

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Mendelssohn: Symphonies

Manufacturer: Chandos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

I. Allegro Di Molto
II. Andante
III. Menuetto. Allegro Molto - Trio
IV. Allegro Con Fuoco - Piu Stretto
I. Andante Con Moto - Allegro Un Poco Agitato..
II. Vivace Non Troppo
III. Adagio -
IV. Allegro Vivacissimo (Allegro Guerriero)
Allegro Maestoso Assai

Tracks:

1. Sinfonia. Maestoso Con Moto - Allegro...
Allegretto Un Poco Agitato
Adagio Religioso
2. Allegro Moderato Maestoso. 'Alles, Was Odem Hat, Lobe Den Herrn!;'...
3. Recitative. 'Saget Es, Die Ihr Erlost Seid' -
Allegro Moderato. 'Er Zahlet Unsre Tranen In Der Zeit Der Not' -
4. Chorus. A Tempo Moderato. 'Sagt Es, Die Ihr Erloset Seid' -
5. Andante. 'Ich Harrete Des Herrn, Und Er Neigte Sich Zu Mir'
6. Allegro Un Poco Agitatio. 'Stricke Des Todes Hatten Uns Umfangen' -
Allegro Assai Agitato -
7. Recitative. 'Die Nacht Ist Vergangen!' -
8. Chorale. Andante Con Moto. 'Nun Danket Alle Gott'..
9. Andante Sostenuto Assai. 'Drum Sing' Ich Mit Meinem Liede'
10. Final Chorus. Allegro Non Troppo. 'Ihr Volker, Bringet Her Dem Herrn'...

Tracks:

I. Allegro Vivace
II. Andante Con Moto
III. Con Moto Moderato
IV. Saltarello. Presto
I. Andante - Allegro Con Fuoco - Andante Come Prima - Meno Allegro Come Prima...
II. Allegro Vivace
III. Andante -
IV. Chorale: Ein's Fest Burg Ist Unser Gott. Andante Con Moto...
Allegro Moderato - Animato

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