Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Alban Berg, Boris Blacher :: Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon

LITTLE BOX CONTAINS BIG THRILLS !!!!!

09/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"JUST GOT THIS ONE TODAY. MY MOM GAVE ME MONEY FOR IT (THANK YOU, MOMMY!!!) I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO IT ALL AFTERNOON AND AM EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH IT. I THINK YOU WILL BE TOO. SOME OF THESE RECORDINGS HAVE BEEN PREVIOSLY RELEASED ON CD (THE SIBELIUS AND THE HAYDN DISCS ARE THE ONES I ALREADY HAD), BUT THE NEW STUFF IS WORTH GETTING THE WHOLE BOX FOR. THIS INCLUDES STEREO RECORDINGS OF BEETHOVEN 5TH PIANO CONCERTO WITH CASADESUS AND A PETROUCHKA BOTH WITH CONCERTGEBOUW AND A BERG, WEBERN, AND STRAVINKY AGON DISC THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ON WESTMINSTER IN THE 50S. SPECIAL MENTION SHOULD ALSO BE MADE OF THE PIECES BY BORIS BLACHER. NOT FAMILIAR MUSIC, BUT I CONFESS I REALLY LIKED IT IMMEDIATELY. SOUND QUALITY IS GREAT THROUGHOUT THE SET, SOME MONO, BUT THEY ALL SOUND FANTASTIC. IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HANS ROSBAUD, THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO START. IN MY HUMBLE OPINION ONE OF THE GREATEST CONDUCTORS. SHAME ON EMI/IMG FOR NOT INCLUDING HIM IN THE SO-CALLED "GREAT CONDUCTORS OF THE 20TH CENTURY" SERIES. HE WAS A GREAT CONDUCTOR !!! DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT, ASK STRAVINSKY OR BOULEZ !!! ALSO GIVE THIS A TRY, YOU'LL WONDER WHY THIS GUY ISN'T MENTIONED IN THE SAME BREATH AS FURTWANGLER, KARAJAN, ETC. A TRULY IMPORTANT AND UNMISSABLE ISSUE. THANKS TO DEUTSCHE GRAMOPHONE AND THANK YOU TO YOU FOR READING MY REVIEW !!!!"

The Best of Rosbaud

Johannes Climacus | Beverly, Massachusetts | 05/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set contains some remarkable performances by a conductor who has only belatedly earned the international reputation he deserved in his lifetime. Too bad Rosbaud was never appointed music director of a world-class ensemble such as the Chicago Symphony (where his death prevented his appointment to succeed Reiner) and that he made few recordings. The best of his studio efforts are to be found in this inexpensive DG box, and it is urgently recommended (especially since it would appear that it has gone out of print -- only two "used and new" are currently available on this website).



Rosbaud was an incomparable interpreter of Classical repertoire; the Haydn performances included here are as close to perfection as one is likely to find. Elegance, wit, rhythmic vitality and judicious balancing of textures make for some truly compelling listening. The Mozart violin concerto with Schneiderhan possesses similar virtues, even though the violinist's distinctive, sweet timbre and patrician manner might not appeal to every listener. Hugely enjoyable also is the Beethoven "Emperor" concerto with Casadesus. The great pianist is clearly on his mettle and of one mind with Rosbaud in communicating the grandeur of the piece without succumbing to an anachronistic "grand manner." Rachmaninov, on the other hand, requires the grand manner and with the best will in the world Karolyi cannot be said to match its greatest exponents in this concerto (such as Richter, Kapell or Katchen). Rosbaud's high-profile accompaniment, however, is sufficiently atmospheric and engrossing to make this performance worthwhile.



Robaud also takes a "Classical" approach to Sibelius, making such hackneyed warhorses as "Finlandia," "Karelia" and "The Swan of Tuonela" seem newly minted. Best of all is "Tapiola"--a performance whose unique combination of elegance and elemental power is readily communicated despite the rather thin-sounding monaural recording. The sound is ampler and better defined in Stravinsky's "Petrushka," though the Concertgebouw's playing is surprisingly less refined than that of the Baden-Baden ensemble heard elswehere in this set. Rosbaud's interpretation, once again, approaches perfection in its effortless transitions and projection of Stravinsky's kaleidoscopic orchestration. Few conductors have conveyed this ballet's narrative structure as effectively as Rosbaud. "Agon" is no less convincingly portrayed, even if the music, from Stravinsky's later period, might strike some listeners as a bit cerebral in comparison with his early ballets.



Though I don't particularly care for the insipid jazzy noodling of Boris Blacher (give me real jazz instead!), Rosbaud's elegance and panache almost won me over to his cause. Those who enjoy expressionism will undoubtedly respond to Rosbaud's clear-headed and rhythmically precise way with Berg and Webern. Few recordings of their music have convinced me of its worth as readily as Rosbaud's classic interpretations.



Altogether this is an indispensible set. As indicated, the sonics are variable, though never less than acceptable. Snap this up before it goes the way of the dinosaur."