Few record labels from the dawn of the LP era are recalled with more admiration and affection than Westminster Records – its first records from 1950 established Westminster as a pioneering source, exploring new and exciting corners of repertoire. The Westminster box gives a cross-section of Westminster’s activity in all genres, from solo piano recordings (Jörg Demus, Paul Badura-Skoda, Clara Haskil, Egon Petri) to complete operas (Handel’s Rodelinda with Teresa Stich-Randall, Maureen Forrester, Alexander Young, conducted by Brian Priestman, receiving its CD premiere) to orchestral recordings by the legendary conductors Hermann Scherchen and Artur Rodzinski. Many of these albums have never been released internationally before on CD. The box set includes: - 40 CDs with original cover art sleeves - 100-page booklet Tracklist: Beethoven: Symphonies No.3 "Eroica" & No.6 "Pastorale" Beethoven: Symphonies No.2 In D, Op. 36; No.4 In B Flat, Op.60 & No.8 In F, Op.93 Beethoven: Symphony No.9 "Choral" Haydn: Symphony No.45 In F Sharp Minor "Farewell"; Symphony No.100 In G Major "Military" Mozart: Symphonies No. 39 In E Flat, K.543; No.40 In G Minor, K.550; No.41 In C, K.551 "Jupiter" Holst: The Planets, Op.32 / Vaughan Williams: Fantasia On Greensleeves; Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis [ CD 6 ] Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (Part 1) [ CD 7 ] Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Op.71 (Part 2); Symphony No.4 In F Minor, Bruckner: Symphony No.8 In C Minor (Part 1) [ CD 9 ] Bruckner: Symphony No.8 In C Minor (Part 2) / Wagner: Lohengrin - Prelude; Mahler: Symphony No.1 In D; Symphony No.2 In C Minor [ CD 11 ] Mahler: Symphony No.2 In C Minor [ CD 12 ] Glière: Symphony No.3 "Ilya Murometz" [ CD 13 ] Beethoven: Wellington's Victory, Op.91 / Orff: Entrata / Gabrielli: Canzon Primi Toni [ CD 14 ] Mozart: Piano Concerto No.20, K.466 / Scarlatti, D.: 11 Sonatas [ CD 15 ] Mozart, W.A.: Piano Concerto No.22, K.482; Piano Sonata No.16, K.570 & Piano Sonata No.8, K.310 [ CD 16 ] Rachmaninov: Concerto No.2 Pour Piano En Ut Mineur, Op.18; Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43 [ CD 17 ] Brahms: Violin Concerto In D, Op.77 / Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto In D, Op.35 [ CD 18 ] Mozart, W.A.: String Quintet No.3 In G Minor, K.516; String Quartet No.23 IN F, K.590 "Prussian No.3" [ CD 19 ] Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 18 No.4 & Op.59 No.3 "Razumovsky" [ CD 20 Schubert: String Quintet In C, D.956 [ CD 21 ] Schubert: Octet In F Major, D.803 [ CD 22 ] Mendelssohn: Octet In E Flat, Op.20 / Beethoven: String Quartet No.8 In E Minor, Op.59 No.2 "Rasumovsky No.2" [ CD 23 ] Dvorák: String Sextet Op.48; String Quintet Op.97 [ CD 24 ] Beethoven: Piano Sonatas No.8, Op.13 "Pathétique"; No.23, Op.57 "Appassionata"; No.29, Op.106 "Hammerklavier" [ CD 25 ] Schubert: Fantasia For Piano In C, D.760 "Wanderer - Fantasie"; 6 Moments musicaux D.780; Impromptus Op.90 [ CD 26 ] Franck: Prélude, Choral et Fugue; Prélude, Aria et Fugue / Fauré: Impromptus Op.31, 91, 102; Thème et variations, Op.73; Barcarolle Op.70; Noturne No.6, Op.63 [ CD 27 ] Spanish Guitar Music [ CD 28 ] Schumann: Frauenliebe und -leben, Op.42; Liederkreis, Op.39 / Respighi: Il tramonto [ CD 29 ] Duparc: Opera Recitals And Songs [ CD 30 ] Beethoven: Christus am Ölberge / Mozart, W.A.: An Chloë, K.524; Oiseaux, si tous les ans K.307/K.284d; Ridente la calma K.152; "Un moto di gioia" (Le nozze di Figaro) K.492; Das Veilchen K.476 [ CD 31 ] Bach, J.S.: Mass In B Minor, BWV 232 (Part 1) [ CD 32 ] Bach, J.S.: Mass In B Minor, BWV 232 (Part 2) [ CD 33 ] Mozart: Requiem In D Minor, K.626 [ CD 34 ] Händel: Rodelinda (Part 1) [ CD 35 ] Händel: Rodelinda (Part 2) [ CD 36 ] Händel: Rodelinda (Part 3) [ CD 37 ] Berlioz: Roméo & Juliette (Part 1) [ CD 38 ] Berlioz: Roméo & Juliette (Part 2); Symphonie fantastique [ CD 39 ] Opera Arias [ CD 40 ]
U**R
Recordings from one of the great cult labels.
"40 CDs of legendary recordings, several of them new to CD" states the advertising on the lid of the thick card board box. Gently pull it off because it is glued on.There is no doubt that there are jewels to be found in this box set.(see my CD reviews further on).Behind the box is the composers name and the music to be played.The lid opens backwards;yet inside the thick cardboard box is another glued in.The back end has a rubber bar wrapped in cardboard.The front end has a piece of foam to protect the CD sleeves,which has the original art on the front.Behind on a light grey background,the CD number is in white.The music to be played,composer and artist,orchestra and conductor involved, printed in black.There are single sleeves,also double sleeves which has Stereo, composer and music to be played printed on the spine.Five double CDs.The CDs are easy to get out.All the CDs are bright red,with CD number and composer and music to be played printed in white.The box set is very light,about the size of EMI Eminence and Ashkenazy 50 years on Decca box sets.This is important information,because some boxes are made with thin cardboard, which do fall apart. DGG issued this release.There is a 100 page booklet containing information about the history of the Westminster label,in English and French and German.Many previously unpublished photos. Also,CD numbers,music to be played,conductor and artists.Index at the back,composer,music plus CD number. Well thought out. Limited edition. They are not joking. I have seen CDs in a box set,each 2 pounds,sold singularly for twelve pounds later on. Articles on the Chamber music,conductors and pianists and vocalists.No English translations of songs and opera.Also,an essay on "natural balance"describing what it means, with words such as 30HZ to 10 Khz and decibels,which will delight the tech heads.I am not one.Founded in 1949,by 1965 Westminster had ceased operations. The sound is good and in mono and stereo.I use Sennheiser 170 earphones,with a digital CD player.Best way to hear CDs,keeps the neighbours happy.I am going to go across the page,instead of downwards, so as to save space. I hope you understand. I will place the CD number,composer,Mono or Stereo,date recorded,music,artists and comments from myself, which I shall indicate with T,plus the Penquin Classical Guide 1977.I hope you enjoy this set as much as I have.There is some history contained in this set as I shall explain.Pierre Monteux(1875-1964)was born raised and trained in Paris. Monteux was influenced by the Hungarian Artur Nikisch,(1855-1922) conductor of the Leipzig Gewandhaus concerts and the Berlin Philharmonic orchestra from 1895-1922. He was a mentor to fellow Hungarian Fritz Reiner and was the only conductor Furtwangler learned from. Another surprise is that Nikisch influenced Boult as well,who conducted the premiere of Holst's Planet suite. Monteux made his reputation as conductor of Diaghilev's Ballets Russes;between 1911 and 1914 he presided over the World premieres of Stravinsky's Petrouchka(which he conducts on RCA Living stereo Classical Box set)and Rite of Spring,plus Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe. Hans Knappertsbusch(1988-1965)was a assistant to Richter and Siegfried Wagner at Bayreuth. Hans Richter (1843-1916) premiered the Ring cycle August 1876 Bayreuth,Brahm's 2nd and 3rd,Bruckner's 1st,3rd,4th and 8th Symphonies.Hermann Scherchen (1891-1966)left Germany in 1933 after being chief conductor of various orchestras. Collegium Musicum Winterthur(Switzerland) 1922-1947. USA debut 1964.Premiered one of Dallapiccola's and Henze's operas.Boulez the enfant terrible of modern music,stated "I did not want to conduct.But it was a neccessity because all the people conducting modern contemporary music were German first-such as Scherchen-and were of the older generation,for the music of my generation we wanted someone connected to us,so I began to conduct". Egon Petri was a Busoni protege. Busoni is known for the opera Dr Faust.Kurt List who became music director of Westminster,was a pupil of Alban Berg. Conductor Maurice Abravanel was a Berlin student of Kurt Weill. He conducted in Germany until 1933,when he was recommended to the Met by Furtwangler and Walter.Then eventually Abravanel became the music director of the Utah orchestra from 1947-1979.There is a certain logic to this set,symphonies are generally placed together,as are chamber works etc.(CD 1) BEETHOVEN: Stereo.1958.Symphony No 3 & 6.Vienna State Opera Orchestra cond Scherchen.Lebrecht states that four of Scherchen CDs were with the Vienna Philharmonic,not the Vienna State opera orchestra.He does not explain why this is so.(CD 2)1954.Mono.Symphonies No 2,4,8.Royal Philharmonic orchestra cond Scherchen."Shawe-Taylor found the Second and Eighth Symphonies 'intensely lively'.Greenfield thought the Second 'generally the best version'.The Third and Fourth have many admirers but the Sixth still splits opinion;is the first movement too fast?.In Beethoven,Scherchen caused considerable comment:his tempi often came up to the controversial metronome markings".For example,Toscanini whose tempo's are fast,3rd symphony 4th movement,(1949) 11.11. Scherchen 10.21.His Beethoven is a revelation to me, especially the Ist & 4th movement, 6th Symphony.A jewel.-T.(CD 3) BEETHOVEN:Stereo.1962. 9th Symphony,London Symphony Orch.Soderstroem soprano. Resnik contralto. Vickers-tenor,Ward Bass.A master at work-T.(CD 4) HAYDN:Stereo.1958.Symphony no 45 'Farewell".In the last movement the players leave by saying goodbye. Symphony no 100 'military'. Vienna State opera orch cond Scherchen.The fast movements are, well,fast.The slow movements are slow. -T.(CD 5)MOZART:Mono.1955. Symphonies No 39,40 41.Royal Philharmonic orchestra Cond Leinsdorf.This orchestra is Beecham's. Leinsdorf is known for his swift tempo's in Wagner's Ring cycle,Die Walkure 1940,Lawrence,Flagstad,Melchior.(Wagner at the Met).The cult Walkure classic Decca recording with the London Symphony Orch 1961,with Nilsson,Vickers,London and Brouwenstijn. (CD 6)HOLST:Stereo.1959.The Planets.VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on Greensleeves. Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis. Vienna State Opera orchestra. This is one of Boult's best recordings of the Planets-T.(CD 7&8) TCHAIKOVSKY:Stereo.1958.The Nutcracker ballet complete.A famous recording.Symphony No 4.Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Cond Artur Rodzinski,who always kept a gun in his dress suit pocket.The good news is,that he never shot anyone.Booklet.(CD 9&10)BRUCKNER: Stereo.1963.Symphony No 8."Knappertsbusch is a persuasive Bruckner conductor"Penguin Guide 1977."He uses the Joseph and Franz Schalk brothers edition,who believed they could give Bruckner a helping hand, by changing the orchestration which the average listener might find difficult. Then in 1934 Robert Haas of the Bruckner society, began to get rid of the dross, so the symphonies could return to their original form.In 1951 Leopold Nowak carried on the work." The new scores were published.Even so,there are still problems. The tempi in the 8th are quicker then we are used to with "Kna' as he was called.The Adagio is truely spiritual,and Kna has got right inside the music and become a part of it.This is another of my jewels.Which means that this CD is worth the price of this box set.-T. WAGNER:1962.Stereo. Lohengrin prelude Act 1. Siegfried Idyll. Parsival prelude Act 1.The way he conducts these pieces is similar to the great Phillips 1962 Live Parsival recorded at Bayreuth,with Thomas,London and Hotter.(CD 11 &12) MAHLER:1954.Mono. Symphony No 1.Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Cond Scherchen.1958.Stereo. Symphony no 2.Vienna State Opera orchestra. Cond Scherchen. Mimi Coertse soprano,Lucretia West.(CD 13) GLIERE:1952. Mono.Symphony no 3.(CD 14) BEETHOVEN:1960.Stereo. Wellington's victory. ORFF. Entrata. GABRIELI: Canzon primi toni a 8. Vienna State opera Orch cond Scherchen.(CD 15)MOZART piano concerto no 20. SCARLATTI: Sonatas piano Clara Haskil. The piano concerto is played beautifully-T.(CD 16) MOZART:Stereo.1964. Piano concerto No 22. Vienna State opera orch cond Somogyi. Piano Sonata in B flat major K570. (1966)Piano Sonata in A minor K310.Barenboim playing the piano in his younger years.(CD 17) RACHMANINOV:stereo 1959. Piano Concerto No 2.Mono Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. Lewenthal piano Vienna State Opera orch cond Maurice Abravanel.(CD 18) BRAHMS:1956. Violin concerto in D major op 77.TCHAIKOVSKY: Violin concerto in D Major op 35. Erica Morini Violin. Royal Philharmonic orch. cond Rodzinski.(CD 19) MOZART:Mono 1951. String Quintet in G minor K 516. String Quartet in F major K 590.(Prussian no 3) Amadeus quartet. In the Quintet "the Amadeus is a distinguished team and their set will give pleasure to their admirers.The Playing is both searching and spontaneous in the Prussian.This is one of the more impressive of the Amadeus Mozart records."(CD 20) BEETHOVEN:1959. String Quartet in C minor op 18 no 4. String quartet in C Major. Smetana Quartet.(CD 21) SCHUBERT: Mono 1950. String Quintet in C Major. Vienna Konzerthaus Quartet.(CD 22) SCHUBERT:Mono 1951. Octet in F major.Vienna Konzerthaus quartet.Not to be missed-T. (CD 23) MENDELSSOHN:Stereo 1959. Octet in E flat major. Janacek & Smetana Quartets."An intense and well integrated performance. BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in E minor. Janacek Quartet."deserves special mention.This is very fine playing." (CD 24)DVORAK:1964. String sextet in A major. String Quintet in E flat major."American". European String Quartet.(CD 25)BEETHOVEN:Mono 1956.Piano sonata No 8. "Pathetique". Stereo. 1958.Piano Sonata no 23 "Appassionata".Mono 1958 Piano Sonata no 29."Hammerklavier." Egon Petri.(CD 26) Mono 1964. SCHUBERT: "Wanderer."Fantasy in C major D 760. Moments musicaux D 780. (1951)Impromptus.D 899.Paul Badura-Skoda piano.Fine playing which brings to the fore the beautiful melodies. Another of my jewels in this treasure chest of CD's.-T.(CD 27) FRANCK:Mono 1952. Prelude,choral et fugue. Prelude, aria et final.FAURE: 1955. Impromptu No 2,4 & 5. Theme and Variations in C sharp minor. Barcarolle no 6. Nocturne no 6. Jorg Demus piano.(CD 28)SOR Mono 1955. Guitar Sonata in C major. 6 short pieces. Etudes for guitar. Fantasia. guitar sonata in C major. TURINA: Homenaje a Tarrega. Fandanguillo. Rafaga. DE FALLA:Le tombeau de claude Debussy. VILLA-LOBOS: 5 Preludes for Guitar. TORROBA: Preludio in E major. Sonatina in a major. Guitar Julian Bream.(CD 29)SCHUMANN:Mono 1954.Frauenliebe und Leben op 42. Liederkreis op 39. RESPIGHI: Il tramonto. Sena Jurinac soprano. Barylli Quartet. "Enjoyed great renown in its day.This disc whose return after hearly half a century is a matter for celebration.Glorious singing"(CD 30)Mono 1956. DUPARC:L' invitation au Voyage. Le vie anterieure. Extase. Testament. Serenade florentine. le manoir de rosemonde. La vague et la cloche. Lamento. Elegie. Phidyle.Chanson triste. Serenade. Soupir. au pays ou se fait la guerre.French Canadian, Leopold Simoneau.Tenor. Allan Rogers piano.A jewel. "It is a pity that Duparc's output for the voice can be accomodated on one record.One would give a lot for some more.This is the finest performance by a tenor of these rarefied melodies." IF YOU LIKE LIEDER (song) YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN The complete Schubert Box set,Singers from 1987-1999,with Graham Johnson.(see my review).Also,Schumann complete songs 1995- 2007,with Graham Johnson.(see my review).Many of the songs in both sets are in fact more beautiful then those that are now well known. BOTH box sets WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS. The book of Lieder by Stokes(see my review). EMI Schubert Lieder on Record 1898-2012.All the great singers.(see my review.)(CD 31) BEETHOVEN:Stereo.1962. Christ on the mount of Olives. Maria Stader. Jan Peece. Otto Wiener. Vienna State opera orchestra.Cond Scherchen.MOZART: An Chloe. Oiseaux,si tous les ans. Ridente la calma. Un moto di gioia mi sento. Das veilchen. Maria Stader.Soprano. Jorg Demus piano.(CD 32 &33) J.S.BACH:Stereo. 1959. Mass in B minor. Pierrette Alarie. soprano.Nan Merriman contralto. Leopold Simoneau tenor was married to Pierrette. Gustav Niedlinger Bass. Willi Boskovsky solo violin. Vienna State opera orchestra cond Scherchen. (CD 34) MOZART: Stereo 1958. Requiem in D minor K 626. Sena Jurinac. Lucretia West contralto. Hans Loeffler tenor. Federick Guthrie bass. Vienna State opera Orch cond Scherchen.(CD 35-37) HANDEL:Stereo.1964 Rodelinda.Teresa Stich-Randall.Soprano.She is Sophie in the famous EMI R.Strauss's der Rosenkavlier. Maureen Forrester.Contralto.She sings in Mahler's das Lied von der Erde-RCA Living Stereo box set. Alexander Young. Hilde Rossel-Majdan. Helen Watts. John Boyden.Martin Isepp harpischord. Vienna Radio orchestra cond Brian Priestman.There is a genuine contralto in this recording.The tempo's are swift.The Authentic instrument movement did not start this trend. Wagner tempo's when conducting were fast,also Toscanini,Monteux,Szell and Reiner followed Wagner,Von Bulow and Nikisch. What the authentics introduced was a more leaner sound and discouraged slowness, which was creeping into the modern music scene; but also encouraging musicians to go back to the original score. Apart from this,the Authenic movement played works that had been forgotten.-T(CD 38 & 39)BERLIOZ:Stereo.1962.Romeo and Juliet.Regina Resnik contralto. Andre Turp tenor. David Ward. Bass. London Symphony Orchestra. Cond Pierre Monteux. The tempo's are swift. A jewel-T.Symphonie fantastique.1958 Vienna state opera orch cond Rene Leibowitz.(CD 40)BELLINI & DONIZETTI:Stereo.1968 &1969. Linda Di Chamounix .Ah! tardai troppo.. O luce di quest anima. I Capuleti e i Montecchi eccomi in lieta...Oh!,quante volte. Lucia di Lammermoor. Ancor non Giunse! Regnava nel silenzio. Roberto devereux. E Sara in questi orribili monenti.. Vivi,ingrato,a lei d'accanto. La Sonnambula Come me sereno. Rosmonda d'inghiliterra. Ancor non giunse.. perche non ho del vento.Vienna Volksoper orchestra cond Jussi Jalas. He was the son in law of Sibelius. MASSENET: Manon Je marche sur tous.THOMAS: Mignon. Oui,pour ce soir je. I have broken up this list by giving it more paragraphs as requested.-TREFERENCES:Ganzer,K. Anton Bruckner and his Interpreters.2000 EMI records. Greenfield,E. Layton,R.March,I.The Penguin Stereo record Guide 1977.Penguin books. Hamilton,D.The Met opera Encyclopedia.1987.Thames and Hudson. Lebrecht,N. The Maestro Myth.1997.Pocket book. Osbourne,R.Karajan and the Bruckner Symphonies.1989.DGG. Potter,T.The Westminster Legacy.2013.DGG.
B**N
Riches revealed
A tremendous bargain which widens one's experience of some exceptional performers from earlier times. The symphonic works included are all marvellous and remind us, in particular, of what a great musician Hermann Scherchen was. There are welcome appearances from Erich Leinsdorf and Artur Rodzinski too. The version of Gliere's 3rd Symphony is simply terrific.While the choral works are not perhaps the strongest suit, the instrumental and chamber music element is tip top. Needless to say, the sound is superb for its vintage. All in all, a real treat and worth every penny.
N**E
great
Choosing classic tracks, worth collecting, great value
C**N
ANOTHER GAP FILLER
ONLY BOUGHT IT FOR THE BEETHOVEN NINTH, THE REST IS A BONUS
T**D
Well this is annoying
Like London buses, you don't get any Westminster recordings for ages, then several come along at once. If this were the only collection available, there would be no question about seizing it (see the excellent review above), but in fact it comes in the wake of two huge Universal box sets from South Korea and there is significant overlap. Westminister Legacy (The Orchestral Collection) and Westminster Legacy (The Chamber Collection) comprise 124 CDs between them, seventeen of which are included in the DG set - in other words, almost half the DG set is already in my collection. And the two Korean sets don't cherry pick in the same way; Scherchen's entire Beethoven symphony cycle is included, not just 5 of them, and his Mahler 5, 7 and 10 (Adagio) are there in addition to 1 and 2. Where the DG set scores is in including instrumental and vocal recordings; will two more box sets turn up in Korea to cover these, or should one go for the DG set to acquire them?So I'd recommend anyone wishing to investigate the wonderful Westminster legacy to go for the Korean sets - except that it already seems difficult to find them and when you do they're about twice what I paid for them a bare three months ago. A rather more coherent global strategy from Universal would be helpful. In the meantime, you decides how much money you're prepared to pay and you takes your choice.
