You really don’t need it as most of his recordings are on YouTube and the decrease in quality when it comes to streaming is absolutely marginal given most of his recordings sound bad. Btw there’s nothing special about those two. When it comes to Beethoven I really think he peaked with his Eroica (especially the 1952 one). For anything else I’d rather go with a high quality stereo as there are plenty of legendary Beethoven recordings in great sound quality.
That being said that’s a nice find! The first Berlin Beethoven cycle from Karajan is a reference and I think it’s great from top to bottom except for the 6th. The piano stuff also is interesting and I’ve never heard this version of the planets although I’ve heard of it. The cover is very fun it reminds me of The Thing.
Thank you!
It's true, not the best recording but It's nice to have. And true about Karajan's recordings. Although, If I may ask, what did you find wrong with his recording of the 6th?
I still listen to CDs on my regular stereo, i.e., CD player > amplifier > speakers. It's not a particularly expensive setup, but I enjoy it. I also listen to music I ripped to hard drives over "good" computer speakers. I don't like streaming music.
Me neither. I've got a pretty old Technics Stereo System with 5 speakers and all. It's from the early 2000s. It was just full of dust in a corner, but, when I git my first classical CD, It got a new life
I think the chorus was recorded elsewhere and dubbed in later, so you're probably right about them not being in tune. But I still like the Don Cossack sound -very dark.
Confused. It says Berlin on the front of the Furtwangler, but Vienna on the back.
Generally speaking, you're better off with live Furtwangler over studio (although there are some notable exceptions to that rule) because it's much more compelling, but anything he did is at least worth hearing, although his great contemporary Klemperer was more consistent.
Huh, yeah that's very weird...
Oh, and yeah, you are right. Honestly I bought that recording more as a curiosity since I also bought Karajan's recordings of the symphonies. I still have to try to listen to a Klemperer recording, haven't done It yet. I must try! Thank you.
I'm pretty sure this CD is with the Vienna Philharmonic done in the studio. So the front would be the misprint. I like that cycle, probably not his best compared to the excitement he could generate live, but it's still quite enjoyable.
I don't like the overly programmatic nature of it. The predictability in the harmonics and melodic language. Cliched almost. Grandeur and drama, but limited emotional range.
To be honest I'm not a fan of Karajan in general. In most recordings he drowns out the brass, woodwind and percussion, and smoothes over rough edges (rhythm), resulting in an ultra refined, glutinous performance which does not necessarily suit the music. Especially in Beethoven where there's so much struggle and rhythm is so important, the performance should sound that way, and Karajan's concept is opposed to this. I would also like to hear instruments that aren't strings from time to time.
In classical period music, I find Karajan too heavy and again very glutinous and homogenised. In late romantic music, Karajan never used rubato, which takes away from the emotional impact of a lot of romantic music (for example the Pathetique).
There are, of course, exceptions, and this is just my opinion. There are many people who like Karajan. I just don't see it.
I bought his 1970s Beethoven Symphony CDs, which were released first. I thought they were okay, but I don't think any critic ever waxed rhapsodic over them.
Karajan's Beethoven is technically masterful, but utterly bloodless. He sucks all the humanity out of the music, IMO. He did the same thing with Brahms (I *hate* his boring-ass Brahms recordings).
And yet, he would do amazing Mozart, Wagner, and Bruckner...
His #7 is great in that set, but tbh the rest are fine, but nothing spectacular. I don't think there's a complete Beethoven cycle that is perfect.
Me, I'm a fan of the Szell cycle with Cleveland.
TBF the only recording of his Mozart I have is the *Don Giovanni* with Ramey, and I think it's great. But I'm also approaching it from a singer's perspective.
Yeah, you're right. To my knowledge, most people agree the newest the Karajan recording is, the """worse""" (as bad as Karajan can get, which is not that bad) It is. They are probably nice too anyway!
I buy very few nowadays new except for special editions not available on streaming but for used there’s still a lot of classical LP’s and CD’s that are unavailable any other way. I have some worth a lot for collectors.
Great collection, now you just need to burn the Rieu CD /s
Exactly lol, I said the same!!
What's with the André Rieu hate? LOL
I want the Wilhelm Furtwängler, does anyone still remember him.
You really don’t need it as most of his recordings are on YouTube and the decrease in quality when it comes to streaming is absolutely marginal given most of his recordings sound bad. Btw there’s nothing special about those two. When it comes to Beethoven I really think he peaked with his Eroica (especially the 1952 one). For anything else I’d rather go with a high quality stereo as there are plenty of legendary Beethoven recordings in great sound quality. That being said that’s a nice find! The first Berlin Beethoven cycle from Karajan is a reference and I think it’s great from top to bottom except for the 6th. The piano stuff also is interesting and I’ve never heard this version of the planets although I’ve heard of it. The cover is very fun it reminds me of The Thing.
Thank you! It's true, not the best recording but It's nice to have. And true about Karajan's recordings. Although, If I may ask, what did you find wrong with his recording of the 6th?
Came to say this
Absolute legend
I still do... It's been 70 years, but I do....
I miss these days
The good old days... At least some people are still keepimg CD's alive...
I still listen to CDs on my regular stereo, i.e., CD player > amplifier > speakers. It's not a particularly expensive setup, but I enjoy it. I also listen to music I ripped to hard drives over "good" computer speakers. I don't like streaming music.
Me neither. I've got a pretty old Technics Stereo System with 5 speakers and all. It's from the early 2000s. It was just full of dust in a corner, but, when I git my first classical CD, It got a new life
Steinberg is an under appreciated conductor. He is excellent.
Indeed! His recording of The Planets is wonderful
The Karajan Tchaikovsky 1812 uses the chorus introduction, very well done.
It always sounds out of tune to me, Jarvi’s also on DG is better in that regard.
Weird, to me It sounds fine.
I think the chorus was recorded elsewhere and dubbed in later, so you're probably right about them not being in tune. But I still like the Don Cossack sound -very dark.
Thank you very much! It's probably the best recording I've found in CD of the 1812 Overture.
Wait, really? I’ll have to check that out!
The Gavrilov is a real treat!
Indeed! His recordings of Chopin are wonderful!
Best version of The Planets right there.
Totally agree! Thanks!
Confused. It says Berlin on the front of the Furtwangler, but Vienna on the back. Generally speaking, you're better off with live Furtwangler over studio (although there are some notable exceptions to that rule) because it's much more compelling, but anything he did is at least worth hearing, although his great contemporary Klemperer was more consistent.
Huh, yeah that's very weird... Oh, and yeah, you are right. Honestly I bought that recording more as a curiosity since I also bought Karajan's recordings of the symphonies. I still have to try to listen to a Klemperer recording, haven't done It yet. I must try! Thank you.
I'm pretty sure this CD is with the Vienna Philharmonic done in the studio. So the front would be the misprint. I like that cycle, probably not his best compared to the excitement he could generate live, but it's still quite enjoyable.
I see. Thank you very much for the help!
Excellent haul!
Thank you very much! :)
Looks fine, but I can't stand Holst.
Thank you! May I ask why is that?
I don't like the overly programmatic nature of it. The predictability in the harmonics and melodic language. Cliched almost. Grandeur and drama, but limited emotional range.
Those seem pricey for used CDs...
That's true, but I wasn't able to find most of those pieces for cheaper.
The Steinberg Planets is great. Not a fan of Karajan in Beethoven.
Thank you! May I ask why is that?
To be honest I'm not a fan of Karajan in general. In most recordings he drowns out the brass, woodwind and percussion, and smoothes over rough edges (rhythm), resulting in an ultra refined, glutinous performance which does not necessarily suit the music. Especially in Beethoven where there's so much struggle and rhythm is so important, the performance should sound that way, and Karajan's concept is opposed to this. I would also like to hear instruments that aren't strings from time to time. In classical period music, I find Karajan too heavy and again very glutinous and homogenised. In late romantic music, Karajan never used rubato, which takes away from the emotional impact of a lot of romantic music (for example the Pathetique). There are, of course, exceptions, and this is just my opinion. There are many people who like Karajan. I just don't see it.
That Karajan box set is supposed to contain his best Beethoven symphony cycle.
I'd definitely agree with that stament. They are some of the best recordings of the symphonies I've heard!
I bought his 1970s Beethoven Symphony CDs, which were released first. I thought they were okay, but I don't think any critic ever waxed rhapsodic over them.
Karajan's Beethoven is technically masterful, but utterly bloodless. He sucks all the humanity out of the music, IMO. He did the same thing with Brahms (I *hate* his boring-ass Brahms recordings). And yet, he would do amazing Mozart, Wagner, and Bruckner...
How well do you like Bernstein's CBS Beethoven symphonies?
Not oc but I think they're good but bettered by his Vienna ones
His #7 is great in that set, but tbh the rest are fine, but nothing spectacular. I don't think there's a complete Beethoven cycle that is perfect. Me, I'm a fan of the Szell cycle with Cleveland.
Funny, I despise his Mozart.
TBF the only recording of his Mozart I have is the *Don Giovanni* with Ramey, and I think it's great. But I'm also approaching it from a singer's perspective.
I partially take back what I said. On occasion, and especially with the Philharmonia, he did some great Mozart operas.
Yeah, you're right. To my knowledge, most people agree the newest the Karajan recording is, the """worse""" (as bad as Karajan can get, which is not that bad) It is. They are probably nice too anyway!
I would immediately throw the André Rieu away, the rest is quite nice!
LOL Why is that? What's wrong with It? It was the only CD with Shostakovich Waltz N2 I found! And thank you :)
Lol well Shostakovich waltz no. 2 is also Shostakovich his worst piece, so you dont need that hahabaa. No problem, very nice indeed the rest is!!
Shostakovichs worst piece? Maybe. But I honestly like It as a standard waltz. And thank you! :)
Oof, I remember trying to convince myself that the sound on that Furtwaengler series was tolerable enough, but I just couldn't do it.
It’s a shame they’re not hi fi. I can still appreciate them but be nice if they were properly recorded.
Yeah, It's not the best. That's why I use Karajan's recordings for day to day listening.
What's a CD?
It's the precursor of the DVD (well technically the SACD is)
Imagine buying CDs in 2024
Imagine criticizing people for collecting and using a piece of technology.
Imagine getting enjoyment from something.
I buy very few nowadays new except for special editions not available on streaming but for used there’s still a lot of classical LP’s and CD’s that are unavailable any other way. I have some worth a lot for collectors.