Frequently bought together

George Szell - The Complete Columbia Album Collection

$175.01

Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

$39.98

Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14

Only 12 left in stock - order soon.

Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.

+

$198.22

Get it May 20 - 23

In Stock

Ships from and sold by Amazon Global Store UK.

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Try again!

Details

Added to Cart

Some of these items ship sooner than the others.

Show details Hide details

Choose items to buy together.

George Szell
123
Audio CD
5 offers from $34.91
Eugene Ormandy
48
Audio CD
13 offers from $155.83
The Philadelphia Orchestra
129
Audio CD
10 offers from $198.22
The Boston Symphony Chamber Players
17
Audio CD
13 offers from $35.74
Andre Previn
100
Audio CD
16 offers from $131.20
Fritz Reiner
79
Audio CD
2 offers from $569.99

From the brand

Amazon Exclusive Vinyl
Best Sellers
New Releases
Digital Albums on Amazon Music

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1	Slavonic Dance No. 1 in C Major, Op. 46, No. 1 (Remastered)
2	Slavonic Dance No. 3 in A-Flat Major, Op. 46, No. 3 (Remastered)
3	Slavonic Dance No. 8 in G Minor, Op. 46, No. 8 (Remastered)
4	Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 72 (Remastered)
5	Slavonic Dance No. 7 in C Major, Op. 72 (Remastered)
6	I. Allegro vivo appassionato
7	II. Allegro moderato à la polka
8	III. Largo sostenuto
9	IV. Vivace

Disc: 2

1	I. Adagio - Allegro vivace
2	II. Adagio
3	III. Allegro vivace
4	IV. Allegro ma non troppo
5	I. Ziemlich langsam - Lebhaft
6	II. Romanze. Ziemlich langsam
7	III. Scherzo. Lebhaft - Trio
8	IV. Langsam - Lebhaft

Disc: 3

1	I. Adagio - Allegro
2	II. Andante con moto
3	III. Menuetto. Allegretto
4	IV. Finale. Allegro
5	I. Adagio - Allegro spiritoso
6	II. Adagio
7	III. Menuetto (Allegretto) - Trio
8	IV. Presto

Disc: 4

1	I. Allegro vivace
2	II. Andante con moto
3	III. Con moto moderato
4	IV. Saltarello. Presto
5	I. Allegro
6	II. Turandot, Scherzo
7	III. Andantino
8	IV. Marsch
9	Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28 (Remastered)

Disc: 5

1	I. Adagio - Allegro molto
2	II. Largo
3	III. Scherzo. Molto vivace
4	IV. Allegro con fuoco

Disc: 6

1	I. Adagio sostenuto assai - Allegro agitato assai - Robert Casadesus
2	II. Allegro moderato - Robert Casadesus
3	III. Allegro deciso - Marziale un poco meno allegro - Un poco ani - Robert Casadesus
4	IV. Allegro animato - Robert Casadesus
5	Konzertstück in F Minor, Op. 79 - Robert Casadesus

Disc: 7

1	I. Sostenuto assai - Allegro ma non troppo
2	II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio I - Trio II
3	III. Adagio espressivo
4	IV. Allegro molto vivace

Disc: 8

1	I. Maestoso (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin
2	II. Adagio (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin
3	III. Rondo. Allegro non troppo (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin

Disc: 9

1	I. (Allegro) (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
2	II. Largo (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
3	III. Presto (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
4	I. Andante (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
5	II. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
6	III. Larghetto (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
7	IV. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
8	I. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
9	II. Grave (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
10	III. Presto (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
11	I. Andante (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
12	II. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
13	III. Presto assai (2018 Remastered Version) - Joseph Szigeti
14	I. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version) - Zino Francescatti
15	II. Adagio (2018 Remastered Version) - Zino Francescatti
16	III. Allegro assai (2018 Remastered Version) - Zino Francescatti

Disc: 10

1	I. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Larghetto (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Allegretto (2018 Remastered Version)
4	I. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
5	II. Larghetto (2018 Remastered Version)
6	III. Allegretto (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 11

1	I. Allegro agitato - Rudolf Firkusny
2	II. Andante sostenuto - Rudolf Firkusny
3	III. Finale. Allegro con fuoco - Rudolf Firkusny
4	Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33 (Remastered) - Leonard Rose

Disc: 12

1	I. Allegro con brio
2	II. Andante con moto
3	III. Scherzo - Allegro
4	IV. Allegro
5	I. Allegro moderato
6	II. Andante

Disc: 13

1	I. Adagio - Allegro
2	II. Largo
3	III. Menuetto
4	IV. Finale (Allegro con spirito)
5	I. Adagio - Allegro
6	II. Andante
7	III. Menuetto
8	IV. Allegro spiritoso

Disc: 14

1	Slavonic Dance No. 1 in C Major, Op. 46, No. 1
2	Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 46, No. 2
3	Slavonic Dance No. 3 in A-Flat Major, Op. 46, No. 3
4	Slavonic Dance No. 4 in F Major, Op. 46, No. 4
5	Slavonic Dance No. 5 in A Major, Op. 46, No. 5
6	Slavonic Dance No. 6 in D Major, Op. 46, No. 6
7	Slavonic Dance No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 46, No. 7
8	Slavonic Dance No. 8 in G Minor, Op. 46, No. 8
9	Slavonic Dance No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 72, No. 1
10	Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 2
11	Slavonic Dance No. 3 in F Major, Op. 72, No. 3
12	Slavonic Dance No. 4 in D-Flat Major, Op. 72, No. 4
13	Slavonic Dance No. 5 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 72, No. 5
14	Slavonic Dance No. 6 in B-Flat Major, Op. 72, No. 6
15	Slavonic Dance No. 7 in C Major, Op. 72, No. 7
16	Slavonic Dance No. 8 in A-Flat Major, Op. 72, No. 8

Disc: 15

1	I. Allegro molto
2	II. Andante
3	III. Menuetto. Allegretto
4	IV. Finale. Allegro assai
5	I. Allegro molto
6	II. Andante cantabile
7	III. Menuetto. Allegretto
8	IV. Molto allegro

Disc: 16

1	I. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Andante (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Rondo. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
4	I. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
5	II. Andante (2018 Remastered Version)
6	III. Allegretto (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 17

1	Die Walküre, WWV 86B, Act III: The Ride of the Valkyries
2	Die Walküre, WWV 86B, Act III: Wotan's Farewell and
3	Siegfried, WWV 86C, Act II: Forest Murmurs
4	Götterdämmerung, WWV 86D: Rhine Journey
5	Götterdämmerung, WWV 86D: Siegfried's Funeral and Final Scene

Disc: 18

1	Introduction. Allegro vivace - Var. 1, Precedente - Leon Fleisher
2	Tema. L'istesso tempo - Var. 2, L'istesso tempo - Leon Fleisher
3	Var. 3, L'istesso tempo - Leon Fleisher
4	Var. 4, Più vivo - Leon Fleisher
5	Var. 5, Tempo precedente - Leon Fleisher
6	Var. 6, L'istesso tempo - Leon Fleisher
7	Var. 7, Meno mosso, a tempo moderato - Leon Fleisher
8	Var. 8, Tempo I - Leon Fleisher
9	Var. 9, L'istesso tempo - Leon Fleisher
10	Var. 10, Poco marcato - Leon Fleisher
11	Var. 11, Moderato - Leon Fleisher
12	Var. 12, Tempo di minuetto - Leon Fleisher
13	Var. 13, Allegro - Leon Fleisher
14	Var. 14, L'istesso tempo - Leon Fleisher
15	Var. 15, Più vivo. Scherzando - Leon Fleisher
16	Var. 16, Allegretto - Leon Fleisher
17	Var. 17 - Leon Fleisher
18	Var. 18, Andante cantabile - Leon Fleisher
19	Var. 19, L'istesso tempo - Leon Fleisher
20	Var. 20, Un poco più vivo - Leon Fleisher
21	Var. 21, Un poco più vivo - Leon Fleisher
22	Var. 22, Un poco più vivo (alla breve) - Leon Fleisher
23	Var. 23, L'istesso tempo - Leon Fleisher
24	Var. 24, A tempo un poco meno mosso - Leon Fleisher
25	Symphonic Variations, M. 46 - Leon Fleisher
26	Irmelin: Prelude - Leon Fleisher

Disc: 19

1	I. Allegro (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin
2	II. Andante (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin
3	III. Allegretto (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin
4	I. Allegro maestoso (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin
5	II. Andante (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin
6	III. Allegretto (2017 Remastered Version) - Rudolf Serkin

Disc: 20

1	I. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro
2	II. Andante sostenuto
3	III. Un poco allegretto e grazioso
4	IV. Adagio - Allegro non troppo ma con brio

Disc: 21

1	I. Allegro con brio
2	II. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai
3	III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
4	IV. Finale. Allegro molto

Disc: 22

1	I. Andante - Allegro ma non troppo - Più moto
2	II. Andante con moto
3	III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio
4	IV. Finale. Allegro vivace

Disc: 23

1	Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
2	Don Juan, Op. 20
3	Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24

Disc: 24

1	I. Adagio - Vivace
2	II. Adagio ma non troppo
3	III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
4	IV. Finale. Presto assai
5	I. Adagio - Vivace assai
6	II. Adagio
7	III. Menuet. Allegretto - Trio
8	IV. Finale. Vivace

Disc: 25

1	I. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version) - Robert Casadesus
2	II. Romance (2018 Remastered Version) - Robert Casadesus
3	III. Allegro assai (2018 Remastered Version) - Robert Casadesus
4	I. Allegro vivace (2018 Remastered Version) - Robert Casadesus
5	II. Andante un poco sostenuto (2018 Remastered Version) - Robert Casadesus
6	III. Allegro vivace (2018 Remastered Version) - Robert Casadesus

Disc: 26

1	Capriccio italien, Op. 45, TH 47
2	Polovetsian Dances (From "Prince Igor")
3	Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34
4	Khovanshchina: Dawn on the Moskva River

Disc: 27

1	I. Maestoso
2	II. Adagio
3	III. Rondo. Allegro non troppo

Disc: 28

1	Fledermaus-Polka, Op. 362
2	Fra Diavolo, S. 18: Ouverture
3	The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492: Overture
4	The Bartered Bride, JB 1:100: Overture
5	La gazza ladra: Overture (Remastered)
6	Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9 (Remastered)
7	The Impresario Overture, K. 486

Disc: 29

1	I. Allegro con brio
2	II. Adagio
3	III. Allegretto grazioso - Molto vivace
4	IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Disc: 30

1	I. Toccata (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Pastorale Siciliana (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Giga burlesca (2018 Remastered Version)
4	I. Andante - Adagio (2018 Remastered Version)
5	II. Purgatorio (Allegretto moderato) (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 31

1	I. Allegro moderato - Leon Fleisher
2	II. Andante con moto - Leon Fleisher
3	III. Rondo. Vivace - Leon Fleisher
4	I. Allegro maestoso - Leon Fleisher
5	II. Andante - Leon Fleisher
6	III. Allegretto - Leon Fleisher

Disc: 32

1	I. Adagio - Allegro molto
2	II. Largo
3	III. Molto vivace
4	IV. Allegro con fuoco

Disc: 33

1	I. Andante - Allegro con anima
2	II. Andante cantabile, con alcuna licenza
3	III. Valse. Allegro moderato
4	IV. Finale. Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace

Disc: 34

1	I. Poco sostenuto - Vivace (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Allegretto (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Presto - Presto meno assai (2018 Remastered Version)
4	IV. Allegro con brio (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 35

1	I. Andante
2	II. Allegro marcato
3	III. Adagio
4	IV. Allegro giocoso

Disc: 36

1	I. Allegro molto moderato
2	II. Adagio
3	III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato
4	I. Allegro affettuoso
5	II. Intermezzo. Andantino grazioso
6	III. Allegro vivace

Disc: 37

1	I. Allegro maestoso
2	II. Poco adagio
3	III. Scherzo. Vivace
4	IV. Finale. Allegro

Disc: 38

1	I. Allegro con spirito
2	II. Andante
3	III. Menuetto
4	IV. Finale. Presto
5	I. Adagio - Allegro
6	II. Andante con moto
7	III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
8	IV. Finale. Allegro
9	I. Molto allegro
10	II. Andante
11	III. Menuetto. Allegretto
12	IV. Finale. Allegro assai

Disc: 39

1	I. Allegro
2	II. Andante
3	III. Allegro
4	I. Allegro
5	II. Adagio
6	III. Allegro assai

Disc: 40

1	I. Andante un poco maestoso - Allegro molto vivace
2	II. Larghetto
3	III. Scherzo. Molto vivace
4	IV. Allegro animato e grazioso
5	Manfred, Op. 115: Overture
6	I. Sostenuto assai
7	II. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
8	III. Adagio espressivo
9	IV. Allegro molto vivace

Disc: 41

1	I. Lebhaft
2	II. Scherzo. Sehr mäßig
3	III. Nicht schnell
4	IV. Feierlich
5	V. Lebhaft
6	I. Ziemlich langsam - Lebhaft
7	II. Romanze. Ziemlich langsam
8	III. Scherzo. Lebhaft
9	IV. Langsam - Lebhaft

Disc: 42

1	Introduction - Mässiges Zeitmass
2	Theme - Mässig
3	Variation I - Gemächlich
4	Variation II - Kriegerisch
5	Variation III - Mässiges Zeitmass
6	Variation IV - Etwas breiter
7	Variation V - Sehr langsam
8	Variation VI - Schnell
9	Variation VII - Ein wenig ruhiger als vorher
10	Variation VIII - Gemächlich
11	Variation IX - Schnell und stürmisch
12	Variation X - Viel breiter
13	Finale - Sehr ruhig

Disc: 43

1	I. Allegro con brio - Leon Fleisher
2	II. Largo - Leon Fleisher
3	III. Rondo. Allegro scherzando - Leon Fleisher

Disc: 44

1	I. Allegro con brio - Leon Fleisher
2	II. Adagio - Leon Fleisher
3	III. Rondo. Molto allegro - Leon Fleisher
4	I. Allegro con brio - Leon Fleisher
5	II. Largo - Leon Fleisher
6	III. Rondo. Allegro - Leon Fleisher

Disc: 45

1	I. Allegro - Leon Fleisher
2	II. Adagio un poco mosso - Leon Fleisher
3	III. Rondo. Allegro - Leon Fleisher

Disc: 46

1	I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Molto vivace (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Adagio molto e cantabile - Andante moderato (2018 Remastered Version)
4	IV. Finale (Final Chorus on Schiller's "Ode to Joy") (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 47

1	I. Allegro vivace e con brio (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Allegretto scherzando (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Tempo di Menuetto (2018 Remastered Version)
4	IV. Allegro vivace (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 48

1	Introduction
2	The Firebird and his Dance
3	Variation of the Firebird
4	Round of the Princesses (Corovod)
5	Infernal Dance of King Kastchei
6	Lullaby
7	Finale
8	I. Allegro molto
9	II. Lento assai
10	III. Passacaglia - Fugato - Coda-Scherzando

Disc: 49

1	I. Allegro moderato
2	II. Andante con moto
3	I. Adagio - Allegro spiritoso
4	II. Adagio
5	III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
6	IV. Presto

Disc: 50

1	I. Allegro
2	II. Adagio
3	III. Rondo. Allegro
4	I. Allegro
5	II. Andante
6	III. Allegro

Disc: 51

1	Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90: Prelude - Liebestod
2	Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96: Prelude to Act I
3	Tannhäuser, WWV 70: Overture

Disc: 52

1	I. Allegro molto appassionato - Zino Francescatti
2	II. Andante - Zino Francescatti
3	III. Allegretto non troppo - Allegro molto vivace - Zino Francescatti
4	I. Vorspiel - Allegro moderato - Zino Francescatti
5	II. Adagio - Zino Francescatti
6	III. Finale - Allegro energico - Zino Francescatti

Disc: 53

1	I. Allegro ma non troppo (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Andante molto moto (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
4	IV. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
5	V. Allegretto (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 54

1	I. Allegro non troppo - Leon Fleisher
2	II. Allegro appassionato - Leon Fleisher
3	III. Andante - Leon Fleisher
4	IV. Allegretto grazioso - Leon Fleisher

Disc: 55

1	I. Allegro - Robert Casadesus
2	II. Larghetto - Robert Casadesus
3	III. Allegretto - Robert Casadesus
4	I. Allegro - Robert Casadesus
5	II. Larghetto - Robert Casadesus
6	III. Allegro - Robert Casadesus

Disc: 56

1	I. Allegro moderato - Allegro - Rudolf Serkin
2	II. Andante - Rudolf Serkin
3	III. Allegro molto - Rudolf Serkin
4	I. Vivace - Rudolf Serkin
5	II. Andante - Rudolf Serkin
6	III. Moderato - Rudolf Serkin
7	IV. Vivace - Rudolf Serkin

Disc: 57

1	An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314
2	Pizzicato-Polka
3	Delirien Walzer, Op. 212
4	Frühlingsstimmen Walzer, Op. 410
5	Dorfschwalben aus Österreich Walzer, Op. 164
6	Perpetuum mobile, Op. 257 "Ein Musikalischer Scherz"

Disc: 58

1	I. Allegro vivace
2	II. Andante con moto
3	III. Con moto moderato
4	IV. Saltarello (Presto)
5	The Hebrides Overture, Op. 26, "Fingal's Cave"
6	Oberon, J. 306: Overture

Disc: 59

1	I. De l'aube à midi sur la mer. Trés lent
2	II. Jeux de vagues. Allegro
3	III. Dialogue du vent et de la mer. Animé et tumultueux
4	1. Lever de jour
5	2. Pantomime
6	3. Danse générale
7	Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19 (Remastered)

Disc: 60

1	I. Adagio - Allegro vivace (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Adagio (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Menuetto. Allegro vivace - Trio. Un poco meno allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
4	IV. Allegro ma non troppo (2018 Remastered Version)
5	Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 61

1	Má Vlast, JB 1:112, II. Die Moldau
2	Act I, Scene 5: Polka
3	Act II, Scene 1: Furiant
4	Act III, Scene 2: Dance of the Comedians
5	Carnival Overture, Op. 92, B. 169
6	No. 1 in C Major. Presto
7	No. 3 in A-Flat Major. Poco allegro
8	No. 2 in E Minor. Allegretto grazioso
9	No. 7 in C Major. Allegro vivace

Disc: 62

1	Promenade I
2	Gnomus
3	Promenade II
4	The Old Castle
5	Promenade III
6	Tuileries
7	Bydlo
8	Promenade IV
9	Ballet of the Chicks in their Shells
10	Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
11	Limoges, the Market Place
12	Catacombs (Roman Sepulchre)
13	Con mortuis in lingua mortua
14	The Hut on Fowls' Legs
15	The Great Gate at Kiev
16	The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62

Disc: 63

1	I. Allegro assai
2	II. Andante moderato
3	III. Menuetto - Trio
4	IV. Finale - Allegro assai
5	I. Allegro
6	II. Adagio
7	III. Menuetto - Trio - Trio II - Trio III
8	IV. Allegretto
9	V. Menuetto - Trio I - Trio II
10	VI. Adagio - Allegro molto - Allegro assai
11	I. Allegro spiritoso
12	II. Andante
13	III. Menuetto. Allegretto -Trio
14	IV. Presto

Disc: 64

1	I. Allegro moderato - Isaac Stern
2	II. Adagio - Isaac Stern
3	III. Presto - Isaac Stern
4	I. Allegro aperto - Isaac Stern
5	II. Adagio - Isaac Stern
6	III. Tempo di menuetto - Isaac Stern
7	I. Allegro - Isaac Stern
8	II. Adagio - Isaac Stern
9	III. Rondeau - Allegro - Isaac Stern

Disc: 65

1	I. Allegro - Rudolf Serkin
2	II. Allegretto - Rudolf Serkin
3	III. Allegro assai - Rudolf Serkin
4	I. Allegro - Rudolf Serkin
5	II. Romance - Rudolf Serkin
6	III. Allegro assai - Rudolf Serkin

Disc: 66

1	I. Allegro maestoso
2	II. Andante
3	III. Presto
4	I. Allegro
5	II. Andante
6	III. Allegro

Disc: 67

1	I. Allegro con brio (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Andante con moto (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Scherzo - Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
4	IV. Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
5	I. Allegro vivace
6	II. Andante cantabile
7	III. Menuetto. Allegretto
8	IV. Molto Allegro

Disc: 68

1	Thema I. Bewegt -Thema II. Sehr lebhaft - Thema III. Ruhig
2	Scherzo (munter) - Wiegenlied. Mässig langsam
3	Adagio - Langsam
4	Finale - Sehr lebhaft

Disc: 69

1	I. Allegro appasionato - John Browning
2	II. Canzone. Moderato - John Browning
3	III. Allegro molto - John Browning
4	A Song of Orpheus - Fantasy for Cello and Orchestra - Leonard Rose

Disc: 70

1	I. Allegro con brio
2	II. Andante
3	III. Poco allegretto
4	IV. Allegro con spirito
5	Variations on a Theme of Haydn in B-Flat Major, Op. 56a (Remastered)

Disc: 71

1	I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio (2018 Remastered Version)
2	II. Andante cantabile con moto (2018 Remastered Version)
3	III. Menuetto - Allegro molto e vivace (2018 Remastered Version)
4	IV. Finale. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace (2018 Remastered Version)
5	I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio (2018 Remastered Version)
6	II. Larghetto (2018 Remastered Version)
7	III. Scherzo - Allegro (2018 Remastered Version)
8	IV. Allegro molto (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 72

1	I. Allegro maestoso - Robert Casadesus
2	II. Andante "Theme from Elvira Madigan" - Robert Casadesus
3	III. Allegro vivace assai - Robert Casadesus
4	I. Allegro - Robert Casadesus
5	II. Larghetto - Robert Casadesus
6	III. Allegretto - Robert Casadesus

Disc: 73

1	No. 1 in C Major. Presto
2	No. 2 in E Minor. Allegretto scherzando
3	No. 3 in A-Flat Major. Poco allegro
4	No. 4 in F Major. Tempo di Minuetto
5	No. 5 in A Major. Allegro vivace
6	No. 6 in D Major. Allegretto scherzando
7	No. 7 in C Minor. Allegro assai
8	No. 8 in G Minor. Presto
9	No. 1 in B Major. Molto vivace
10	No. 2 in E Minor. Allegretto grazioso
11	No. 3 in F Major. Allegro
12	No. 4 in D-Flat Major. Allegretto grazioso
13	No. 5 in B-Flat Minor. Poco adagio
14	No. 6 in B-Flat Major. Moderato, quasi minuetto
15	No. 7 in C Major. Allegro vivace
16	No. 8 in A-Flat Major. Grazioso e lento, ma non troppo, quasi tempo di Valse

Disc: 74

1	I. Introduzione. Andante non troppo
2	II. Giuoco delle coppie. Allegretto scherzando
3	III. Elegia. Andante non troppo
4	IV. Intermezzo interrotto. Allegretto
5	V. Finale. Pesante
6	I. Allegretto
7	II. Andante - Allegretto
8	III. Moderato
9	IV. Allegretto
10	V. Andante con moto

Disc: 75

1	I. Bedächtig, nicht eilen
2	II. In gemächlicher Bewegung, ohne Hast
3	III. Ruhevoll (Poco adagio)
4	IV. Sehr behaglich - "Wir geniessen die himmlischen Freuden"

Disc: 76

1	I. Overture
2	II. Minuetto
3	III. Adagietto
4	IV. Carillon
5	L'Arlésienne Suite No. 2: IV. Farnadole
6	I. Morning Mood
7	II. Death of Åse
8	III. Anitra's Dance
9	Peer Gynt Suite No. 2, Op. 55: IV. Solveig's Song
10	IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King

Disc: 77

1	I. Gemäßigt, mehr bewegt, misterioso
2	II. Andante. Bewegt, feierlich
3	III. Scherzo. Ziemlich schnell
4	IV. Finale. Allegro

Disc: 78

1	Der fliegende Holländer, WWV 63: Overture (Remastered)
2	Eine Faust-Ouvertüre, WWV 59 (Remastered)
3	Lohengrin, WWV 75: Prelude to Act I (Remastered)
4	Rienzi, WWV 49: Overture (Remastered)

Disc: 79

1	I. Andante - Allegro - Gary Graffman
2	II. Andantino (Tema con variazioni) - Gary Graffman
3	III. Allegro ma non troppo - Gary Graffman
4	Allegro brioso - Poco più mosso - Tempo primo - Gary Graffman
5	Meno mosso - Gary Graffman
6	Andante assai - Gary Graffman
7	Allegro scherzando - Poco più sostenuto - Gary Graffman
8	Piano Sonata No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 28 "From Old Notebooks" (Remastered 2013) - Gary Graffman

Disc: 80

1	Egmont Overture, Op. 84 (2018 Remastered Version)
2	Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 (2018 Remastered Version)
3	Overture "King Stephen", Op. 117 (2018 Remastered Version)
4	Leonore Overture No. 2, Op. 72a (2018 Remastered Version)
5	Leonore Overture No. 1, Op. 138 (2018 Remastered Version)
6	Fidelio, Op. 72: Overture (2018 Remastered Version)

Disc: 81

1	I. Un poco sostenuto - Allegro
2	II. Andante sostenuto
3	III. Un poco allegretto e grazioso
4	IV. Adagio - Allegro non troppo ma con brio

Disc: 82

1	I. Allegro non troppo
2	II. Adagio non troppo
3	III. Allegretto grazioso
4	IV. Allegro con spirito
5	Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 (Remastered)
6	Tragic Overture, Op. 81 (Remastered)

Disc: 83

1	I. Allegro non troppo
2	II. Andante moderato
3	III. Allegro giocoso - Poco meno presto
4	IV. Allegro energico e passionato - Piu allegro

Disc: 84

1	I. Allegro non troppo - Rudolf Serkin
2	II. Allegro appassionato - Rudolf Serkin
3	III. Andante - Più adagio - Rudolf Serkin
4	IV. Allegretto grazioso - Un poco più presto - Rudolf Serkin

Disc: 85

1	I. Overture
2	II. Scherzo
3	III. Nocturne
4	IV. Intermezzo
5	V. Wedding March
6	Overture
7	Entr'acte No. 3
8	Ballet Music No. 2

Disc: 86

1	Il viaggio a Reims: Overture
2	La scala di seta: Ouverture
3	L'italiana in Algeri: Ouverture
4	Il turco in Italia: Ouverture
5	La gazza ladra: Ouverture

Disc: 87

1	I. Maestoso - Rudolf Serkin
2	II. Adagio - Rudolf Serkin
3	III. Rondo, Allegro non troppo - Rudolf Serkin

Disc: 88

1	I. Adagio - Allegro assai
2	II. Largo cantabile
3	III. Menuet
4	IV. Finale. Presto ma non troppo
5	I. Adagio - Vivace assai
6	II. Andante
7	III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
8	IV. Finale. Presto ma non troppo

Disc: 89

1	I. Allegro
2	II. Scherzo "Turandot"
3	III. Andantino
4	IV. Marsch
5	Variations on a Theme by Hindemith

Disc: 90

1	I. Allegro - Robert Casadesus
2	II. Andante - Robert Casadesus
3	III. Allegro - Robert Casadesus
4	I. Allegro - Robert Casadesus
5	II. Andante - Robert Casadesus
6	III. Allegro - Robert Casadesus

Disc: 91

1	I. Allegro
2	II. Romance. Andante
3	III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
4	IV. Rondo. Allegro
5	I. Adagio maestoso - Allegro con spirito
6	II. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
7	III. Concertante. Andante grazioso
8	IV. Rondeau. Allegro ma non troppo
9	V. Andantino
10	VI. Menuetto - Trio I - Trio II
11	VII. Finale. Presto

Disc: 92

1	Das Rheingold, WWV 86A: Entrance Of The Gods Into Valhalla
2	Die Walküre, WWV 86B: Ride of the Valkyries
3	Die Walküre, WWV 86B: Magic Fire Music
4	Siegfried, WWV 86C: Forest Murmurs"
5	Götterdämmerung, WWV 86D: Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey
6	Götterdämmerung, WWV 86D: Siegfried's Funeral Music and Final Scene

Disc: 93

1	I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Gary Graffman
2	II. Andantino semplice - Gary Graffman
3	III. Allegro con fuoco - Allegro vivo - Gary Graffman

Disc: 94

1	I. Prelude. The Fairy Tale Begins
2	II. Viennese Musical Clock
3	III. Song
4	IV. The Battle and Defeat of Napoleon
5	V. Intermezzo
6	VI. Entrance of the Emperor and his Court
7	I. The Birth of Kijé
8	II. Romance
9	III. Kijé's Wedding
10	IV. Troika
11	V. Kijé's Funeral

Disc: 95

1	I. Allegro moderato
2	II. Scherzo. Allegro moderato - Trio

Disc: 96

1	III. Adagio. Feierlich langsam, doch nicht schleppend
2	IV. Finale. Feierlich, nicht schnell

Disc: 97

1	I. Allegro moderato
2	II. Andante
3	III. Menuet - Trio
4	IV. Finale. Vivace
5	I. Adagio - Allegro
6	II. Andante
7	III. Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio
8	IV. Finale. Vivace assai

Disc: 98

1	I. Adagio - Vivace
2	II. Adagio ma non troppo
3	III. Menuet. Allegretto - Trio
4	IV. Finale. Presto assai
5	I. Adagio - Allegro
6	II. Adagio
7	III. Menuet
8	IV. Finale. Presto

Disc: 99

1	I. Allegro energico, ma non troppo, Heftig, aber markig.
2	II. Scherzo, wuchtig
3	III. Andante moderato
4	IV. Finale, Sostenuto - Allegro moderato - Allegro energico

Disc: 100

1	Má Vlast, JB 1:112: 2. Vltava (Remastered)
2	From Bohemian Fields and Groves, JB 1:112/4 (Remastered)
3	A Midsummer Night's Dream Overture, Op. 21
4	I. Scherzo (Entr'acte to Act 2) in G Minor
5	V. Intermezzo
6	VII. Notturno in E Major
7	IX. Hochzeitsmarsch in C Major

Disc: 101

1	Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96: Prelude to Act I
2	Rienzi, WWV 49: Overture
3	Tannhäuser, WWV 70: Overture
4	Der fliegende Holländer, WWV 63: Overture
5	Der Freischütz, Op. 77: Overture
6	Oberon, J.306: Overture

Disc: 102

1	I. Allegro ma non troppo
2	II. Andante molto moto
3	III. Scherzo. Allegro
4	IV. Allegro
5	V. Allegretto

Disc: 103

1	I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso (2013 Remastered Version)
2	II. Andantino simplice (2013 Remastered Version)
3	III. Allegro con fuoco (2013 Remastered Version)

Disc: 104

1	I. Allegro
2	II. Andante
3	III. Rondo
4	I. Allegro
5	II. Larghetto
6	III. Allegretto

Disc: 105

1	I. Allegro
2	II. Andante
3	III. Rondò. Allegretto grazioso
4	I. Allegro con spirito
5	II. Allegro
6	I. Allegro
7	II. Tempo di Menuetto
8	I. Allegro vivace
9	II. Andante sostenuto
10	III. Rondo. Allegro

Disc: 106

1	Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly
2	Joy to the World
3	Pat-a-pan
4	George Szell: The Cleveland Orchestra 1947 to 1970
5	George Szell in Interview, Winter 1964/65 - George Szell about his new recording of R. Strauss's Sinfonia domestica (MS 6627)
6	George Szell in Interview, Summer 1966 - George Szell about his new recording of Mozart's Symphonies 28 & 33 (MS 6858)
7	George Szell in Interview, Autumn 1966 - George Szell about his new recording of Bruckner' Symphony No. 3 (MS 6897)
8	George Szell in Interview, Spring 1967 - George Szell about his new recording of Brahms's Haydn Variations and Tragic/Academic Overtures (MS 6965)
9	George Szell talks with Columbia Records Producer Paul Myers about Music, Musicians and his Life as Conductor

Editorial Reviews

To coincide with the Cleveland Orchestra"&"rsquo;s centenary in 2018, Sony Classical is excited to announce one of the most ambitious reissue projects of recent times, George Szell "&"ndash; The Cleveland Orchestra: The Complete Columbia Album Collection, a comprehensive collection of the Clevelanders"&"rsquo; recordings made under the baton of their iconic fourth music director, George Szell. These recordings span the period between 1947 "&"ndash; a year after Szell (born in Budapest in 1897) inherited a fine provincial orchestra and began transforming it into the elite ensemble it remains to this day "&"ndash; and 1969, a year before his sudden death shocked the musical world. Szell"&"rsquo;s dream was to create an ensemble that combined "&"ldquo;the Americans"&"rsquo; purity and beauty of sound and their virtuosity of execution with the European sense of tradition, warmth of expression and sense of style,"&"rdquo; in the words of his biographer Michael Charry. That he fulfilled that dream is amply documented in this huge discography that fills Sony"&"rsquo;s new mega-box of 106 CDs, "&"ldquo;recordings that are prized for their stylistic rightness, clarity of structure, rhythmic tension, and transparency of texture"&"rdquo; (The New Yorker).

"&"nbsp;

Contained in this vast box are rare mono recordings, some of which have never before appeared on CD, including a DvoÅ"&"aacute;k "&"ldquo;New World"&"rdquo; from 1952, a Beethoven Fifth from 1955 and orchestral extracts from Wagner"&"rsquo;s Ring from 1956. There are also the recordings Szell made in the early 1950s as guest conductor of the New York Philharmonic, including the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto with Vladimir Horowitz. There are the pianist George Szell"&"rsquo;s outstanding chamber music recordings, including Mozart with the Budapest Quartet, and substantial interviews with the maestro. But the main attraction of this stupendous new set is the prospect of having all the Szell-Cleveland repertoire under a single roof for the first time and in optimal sound.

"&"nbsp;

sonymusicmasterworks.com

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.7 x 10.9 x 6.4 inches; 11.9 Pounds
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Sony Classical
Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2018
Run time ‏ : ‎ 87 hours and 56 minutes
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ June 8, 2018
Label ‏ : ‎ Sony Classical
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B079VD2YRP
Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 106

Best Sellers Rank: #11,052 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #484 in Classical (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 148 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

148 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Reviews with images

See all photos

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

PMB

One of the greatest conductor's work finally compiled

Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2018

Verified Purchase

One hardly needs to comment on Szell's superlative conducting and orchestral building. It may be helpful to have the contents of this box of Epic and Columbia recordings listed by composer. Hence this review:

This list is arranged by composer; work; date of recording; and CD# (the latter also indicates when the NYPhil rather than the Cleveland Orch. is used)

Composer Piece Date CD# and Label
~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Auber Overture to Fra Diavolo 1957 CD 28:Epic Stereo
Bach Violin Concerto no.2, BWV1042 (Zino Francescatti, violin) 1953 CD 9:Col. Mono
Bach-Szigeti Concerto in G minor, BWV1056 (transcr.Szigeti) (J. Szigeti, violin) 1954 CD 9:Col. Mono
Barber Piano Concerto, op.38 (John Browning, piano) 1964 CD 69:Col. Stereo
Bartók Concerto for Orchestra, Sz.116 1965 CD 74:Col. Stereo
Bartók Piano Concerto no.1 (Rudolf Serkin, piano) 1962 CD 56:Col. Stereo
Beethoven Coriolan Overture, op.62 1966 CD 80:Col. Stereo
Beethoven Egmont Overture, op.84 1966 CD 80:Col. Stereo
Beethoven Fidelio Overture, op.72 1966 CD 80:Col. Stereo
Beethoven Leonore Overture no.1, op.138 1967 CD 80:Col. Stereo
Beethoven Leonore Overture no.2, op.72a 1966 CD 80:Col. Stereo
Beethoven Leonore Overture no.3, op.72b 1963 CD 60:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Overture "King Stephen", op.117 1966 CD 80:Col. Stereo
Beethoven Piano Concerto no.1, op.15 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1961 CD 43:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Piano Concerto no.2, op.19 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1961 CD 44:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Piano Concerto no.3, op.37 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1961 CD 44:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Piano Concerto no.4, op.58 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1959 CD 31:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Piano Concerto no.5, op.73 "Emperor" (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1961 CD 45:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.1, op.21 1964 CD 71:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.2, op.36 1964 CD 71:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.3, op.55 "Eroica" 1957 CD 21:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.4, op.60 1947 CD 2:Col. Mono
Beethoven Symphony no.4, op.60 1963 CD 60:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.5, op.67 1955 CD 12:Epic Mono
Beethoven Symphony no.5, op.67 1963 CD 67:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.6, op.68 "Pastoral" 1962 CD 53:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.6, op.68 "Pastoral" 1955 CD 102:Col. NYP Mono
Beethoven Symphony no.7, op.92 1959 CD 34:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.8, op.93 1961 CD 47:Epic Stereo
Beethoven Symphony no.9, op.125 "Choral" 1961 CD 46:Epic Stereo
Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture, op.9 1958 CD 28:Epic Stereo
Bizet L'Arlésienne Suite no.1 1966 CD 76:Col. Stereo
Bizet L'Arlésienne Suite no.2: IV. Farnadole 1966 CD 76:Col. Stereo
Borodin Polovtsian Dances (from Prince Igor) 1958 CD 26:Epic Stereo
Brahms Academic Festival Overture, op.80 1966 CD 82:Col. Stereo
Brahms Piano Concerto no.1, op.15 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1952 CD 8:Col. Mono
Brahms Piano Concerto no.1, op.15 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1958 CD 27:Epic Stereo
Brahms Piano Concerto no.1, op.15 (Rudolf Serkin, piano) 1968 CD 87:Col. Stereo
Brahms Piano Concerto no.2, op.83 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1962 CD 54:Epic Stereo
Brahms Piano Concerto no.2, op.83 (Rudolf Serkin, piano) 1966 CD 84:Col. Stereo
Brahms Symphony no.1, op.68 1957 CD 20:Epic Stereo
Brahms Symphony no.1, op.68 1965 CD 81:Col. Stereo
Brahms Symphony no.2, op.73 1967 CD 82:Col. Stereo
Brahms Symphony no.3 op.90 1964 CD 70:Col. Stereo
Brahms Symphony no.4, op.98 1966 CD 83:Col. Stereo
Brahms Tragic Overture, op.81 1966 CD 82:Col. Stereo
Brahms Variations on a Theme of Haydn, op.56a 1964 CD 70:Col. Stereo
Bruckner Symphony no.3 1965 CD 77:Col. Stereo
Bruckner Symphony no.8 1969 CD 95-96:Col. Stereo
Debussy La Mer 1963 CD 59:Epic Stereo
Delius Prelude to "Irmelin" 1956 CD 18:Epic Mono
Dvorák Carnival Overture, op.92 1962-63 CD 61:Epic Stereo
Dvorák Slavonic Dance op.46 no.1 1947 CD 1:Col. Mono
Dvorák Slavonic Dance op.72 no.2 1947 CD 1:Col. Mono
Dvorák Slavonic Dance op.72 no.7 1947 CD 1:Col. Mono
Dvorák Slavonic Dance op.46 no.3 1947 CD 1:Col. Mono
Dvorák Slavonic Dance op.46 no.8 1947 CD 1:Col. Mono
Dvorák Slavonic Dances op.46 nos. 1 & 3 1962-63 CD 61:Epic Stereo
Dvorák Slavonic Dances op.72 nos. 2 & 7 1962-63 CD 61:Epic Stereo
Dvorák Slavonic Dances, op.46 complete 1956 CD 14:Epic Mono
Dvorák Slavonic Dances, op.46 complete 1962-65 CD 73:Col. Stereo
Dvorák Slavonic Dances, op.72 complete 1956 CD 14:Epic Mono
Dvorák Slavonic Dances, op.72 complete 1962-65 CD 73:Col. Stereo
Dvorák Symphony no.7, op.70 1960 CD 37:Epic Stereo
Dvorák Symphony no.8, op.88 1958 CD 29:Epic Stereo
Dvorák Symphony no.9, op.95 "From the New World" 1952 CD 5:Col. Mono
Dvorák Symphony no.9, op.95 "From the New World" 1959 CD 32:Epic Stereo
Dvorák Piano Concerto, op.33 (Rudolf Firkušný, piano) 1954 CD 11:Col. Mono
Franck Symphonic Variations, FWV46 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1956 CD 18:Epic Mono
Grieg Peer Gynt Suite no.1, op.46 1966 CD 76:Col. Stereo
Grieg Peer Gynt Suite no.2, op.55: IV. Solveig's Song 1966 CD 76:Col. Stereo
Grieg Piano Concerto, op.16 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1960 CD 36:Epic Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.104, Hob.I:104 1954 CD 13:Epic Mono
Haydn Symphony no.88, Hob.I:88 1954 CD 13:Epic Mono
Haydn Symphony no.92 "Oxford", Hob.I:92 1949 CD 3:Col. Mono
Haydn Symphony no.92 "Oxford", Hob.I:92 1961 CD 49:Epic Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.93, Hob.I:93 1968 CD 88:Col. Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.94 "Surprise", Hob.I:94 1967 CD 88:Col. Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.95, Hob.I:95 1969 CD 97:Col. Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.96 "Miracle", Hob.I:96 1968 CD 97:Col. Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.97, Hob.I:97 1957 CD 24:Epic Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.97, Hob.I:97 1969 CD 98:Col. Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.98, Hob.I:98 1969 CD 98:Col. Stereo
Haydn Symphony no.99, Hob.I:99 1957 CD 24:Epic Stereo
Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphoses - Themes of von Weber 1949 CD 4:Col. Mono
Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphoses - Themes of von Weber 1964 CD 89:Col. Stereo
J Strauss II Die Fledermaus Overture, op.362 1958 CD 28:Epic Stereo
J. Strauss II Perpetuum Mobile, op.257 1962 CD 57:Epic Stereo
J. Strauss II Pizzicato Polka in C major 1962 CD 57:Epic Stereo
J. Strauss II The Blue Danube Waltz, op.314 1962 CD 57:Epic Stereo
J. Strauss II Voices of Spring, op.410 1962 CD 57:Epic Stereo
Janácek Sinfonietta 1965 CD 74:Col. Stereo
Josef Strauss Austrian Village Swallows, op.164 1962 CD 57:Epic Stereo
Josef Strauss Delirien Waltz, op.212 1962 CD 57:Epic Stereo
Kodály Háry János Suite 1060 Col. Stereo
Liadov The Enchanted Lake, op.62 1963 CD 62:Epic Stereo
Liszt Piano Concerto no.2 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1952 CD 6:Col. Mono
Mahler Symphony no.10 1958 CD 30:Epic Stereo
Mahler Symphony no.4 in G major (Judith Raskin, soprano) 1965 CD 75:Col. Stereo
Mahler Symphony no.6 in A minor "Tragic" 1967 CD 99:Col. Stereo
Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, op.61 1967 CD 85:Col. Stereo
Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, op.61 1951 CD 100:Col. NYP Mono
Mendelssohn Symphony no.4 in A major, op.90 "Italian" 1962-63 CD 58:Epic Stereo
Mendelssohn The Hebrides Overture, op.26 (Fingal's Cave) 1962-63 CD 58:Epic Stereo
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, op.64 (Zino Francescatti, violin) 1961 CD 52:Col. Stereo
Mendelssohnn Symphony no.4 in A major, op.90 "Italian" 1949 CD 4:Col. Mono
Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A major, K622 (Robert Marcellus, clarinet) 1961 CD 50:Col. Stereo
Mozart Divertimento no.2 in D major, K131 1963 CD 63:Epic Stereo
Mozart Exsultate jubilate, K165 (158a) (Judith Raskin, soprano) 1964 CD 66:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.10, K365/316a Robert Casadesus, piano) 1955 CD 16:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Concerto no.12, K414/385p (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1955 CD 16:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Concerto no.15, K450 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1968 CD 90:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.17, K453 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1968 CD 90:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.17, K453 (Rudolf Serkin, piano) 1955 CD 19:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Concerto no.18, K456 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1956 CD 25:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Concerto no.19, K459 (Rudolf Serkin, piano) 1961 CD 65:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.20, K466 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1956 CD 25:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Concerto no.20, K466 (Rudolf Serkin, piano) 1961 CD 65:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.21, K467 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1961 CD 72:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.22 K482 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1959 CD 39:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.23, K488 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1959 CD 39:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.24, K491 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1961 CD 72:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.24, K491 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1954 CD 10:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Concerto no.25, K503 (Rudolf Serkin, piano) 1953 CD 19:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Concerto no.25, K503 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1959 CD 31:Epic Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.26, K537(Robert Casadesus, piano) 1954 CD 10:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Concerto no.26, K537(Robert Casadesus, piano) 1962 CD 55:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Concerto no.27, K595 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1962 CD 55:Col. Stereo
Mozart Piano Quartet, K478 (Budapest Qrt) 1946 CD 104:Col. Mono
Mozart Piano Quartet, K493 (Budapest Qrt) 1946 CD 104:Col. Mono
Mozart Serenade "Posthorn", K320 (Bernard Adelstein, posthorn) 1969 CD 91:Col. Stereo
Mozart Serenade no.13, K525 "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" 1968 CD 91:Col. Stereo
Mozart Sinfonia concertante, K364 (R. Druian, violin; A. Skernick, viola) 1963 CD 66:Col. Stereo
Mozart Symphony no.28, K200 (189k) 1963 CD 63:Epic Stereo
Mozart Symphony no.33, K319 1962 CD 63:Epic Stereo
Mozart Symphony no.35, K385 "Haffner" 1960 CD 38: Epic Stereo
Mozart Symphony no.39, K543 1947 CD 3:Col. Mono
Mozart Symphony no.39, K543 1960 CD 38: Epic Stereo
Mozart Symphony no.40, K550 1955 CD 15:Epic Mono
Mozart Symphony no.40, K550 1967 CD 38: Col. Stereo
Mozart Symphony no.41, K. 551 "Jupiter" 1955 CD 15:Epic Mono
Mozart Symphony no.41, K. 551 "Jupiter" 1963 CD 67:Epic Stereo
Mozart Impresario Overture, K486 1966 CD 28:Epic Stereo
Mozart Marriage of Figaro Overture, K492 1957 CD 28:Epic Stereo
Mozart Violin Concerto no.1, K207 (Isaac Stern, violin) 1961 CD 64:Col. Stereo
Mozart Violin Concerto no.3, K216 (Isaac Stern, violin) 1961 CD 64:Col. Stereo
Mozart Violin Concerto no.5, K219 "Turkish" (Isaac Stern, violin) 1963 CD 64:Col. Stereo
Mozart Violin Sonata, K296 (Rafael Druian, violin) 1967 CD 105:Col. Stereo
Mozart Violin Sonata, K304/300c (Rafael Druian, violin) 1967 CD 105:Col. Stereo
Mozart Violin Sonata, K376 (Rafael Druian, violin) 1967 CD 105:Col. Stereo
Mozart Violin Sonata, K301/293a (Rafael Druian, violin) 1967 CD 105:Col. Stereo
Mussorgsky Khovanshchina: Dawn on the Moskva River 1958 CD 26:Epic Stereo
Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition 1963 CD 62:Epic Stereo
Prokofiev Lieutenant Kijé Suite, op.60 1969 Col. Stereo
Prokofiev Piano Concerto no.1, op.10 (Gary Graffman, piano) 1966 CD 79:Col. Stereo
Prokofiev Piano Concerto no.3, op.26 (Gary Graffman, piano) 1966 CD 79:Col. Stereo
Prokofiev Piano Sonata no.3, op.28 (Gary Graffman, solo piano) 1962 CD 79:Col. Stereo
Prokofiev Symphony no.5, op.100 1959 CD 35:Epic Stereo
R Strauss Death and Transfiguration, op.24 1957 CD 23:Epic Stereo
R Strauss Don Juan, op.20 1957 CD 23:Epic Stereo
R Strauss Don Quixote, op.35 (Pierre Fournier, cello) 1960 CD 42:Epic Stereo
R Strauss Horn Concerto no.1, op.11 (Myrom Bloom, horn) 1961 CD 50:Col. Stereo
R Strauss Sinfonia Domestica, op.53 1963 CD 68:Col. Stereo
R Strauss Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, op.28 1949 CD 4:Col. Mono
R Strauss Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, op.28 1957 CD 23:Epic Stereo
Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op.43 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1956 CD 18:Epic Mono
Ravel Daphnis et Chloé Suite no.2, M57b 1963 CD 59:Epic Stereo
Ravel Pavane pour une infante défunte, M19 1963 CD 59:Epic Stereo
Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol, op.34 1958 CD 26:Epic Stereo
Rossini Il Turco in Italia: Overture 1967 CD 86:Col. Stereo
Rossini Il viaggio a Reims: Overture 1967 CD 86:Col. Stereo
Rossini La gazza ladra: Overture 1958 CD 28:Epic Stereo
Rossini La gazza ladra: Overture 1967 CD 86:Col. Stereo
Rossini La scala di seta: Overture 1967 CD 86:Col. Stereo
Rossini L'Italiana in Algeri: Overture 1967 CD 86:Col. Stereo
Schubert Rosamunde, D797 1967 CD 85:Col. Stereo
Schubert Symphony no.8 "Unfinished", D759 1955 CD 12:Epic Mono
Schubert Symphony no.8 "Unfinished", D759 1960 CD 49:Epic Stereo
Schubert Symphony no.9, D944 "The Great" 1957 CD 22:Epic Stereo
Schuman Song of Orpheus: FantasyLeonard Rose, cello) 1964 CD 69:Col. Stereo
Schumann Manfred Overture, op.115 1958 CD 40:Epic Stereo
Schumann Piano Concerto, op.54 (Leon Fleisher, piano) 1960 CD 36:Epic Stereo
Schumann Symphony no.1, op.38 "Spring" 1958 CD 40:Epic Stereo
Schumann Symphony no.2, op.61 1952 CD 7:Col. Mono
Schumann Symphony no.2, op.61 1960 CD 40:Epic Stereo
Schumann Symphony no.3, op.97 "Rhenish" 1960 CD 41:Epic Stereo
Schumann Symphony no.4, op.120 1947 CD 2:Col. Mono
Schumann Symphony no.4, op.120 1960 CD 41:Epic Stereo
Smetana Má Vlast, JB1:112: II. Vltava 1963 CD 61:Epic Stereo
Smetana Má Vlast, JB1:112: II. Vltava 1951 CD 100:Col. NYP Mono
Smetana Má Vlast, JB1:112: IV. From Bohemian Fields and Groves 1951 CD 100:Col. NYP Mono
Smetana Overture to The Bartered Bride 1958 CD 28:Epic Stereo
Smetana The Bartered Bride, JB1:100 1962-63 CD 61:Epic Stereo
Smetana String Quartet no.1, JB1:105 "From My Life" 1949 CD 1:Col. Mono
Stravinsky Firebird Ballet Suite 1961 CD 48:Epic Stereo
Tartini Violin Concerto, D45 (Joseph Szigeti, violin) 1954 CD 9:Col. Mono
Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italien, op.45 1958 CD 26:Epic Stereo
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no.1, op.23 (Vladimir Horowitz, piano) 1953 CD 103:Col. NYP Mono
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no.1, op.23 (Gary Graffman, piano) 1969 CD 93:Col. Stereo
Tchaikovsky Symphony no.5, op.64 1959 CD 33:Epic Stereo
Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, op.33 (Leonard Rose, cello) 1952 CD 11:Col. Mono
Wagner Das Rheingold: Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla 1968 CD 92:Col. Stereo
Wagner Der fliegende Holländer: Overture 1965 CD 78:Col. Stereo
Wagner Der fliegende Holländer: Overture 1954 CD 101:Col. NYP Mono
Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Prelude to Act I 1962 CD 51:Epic Stereo
Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Prelude to Act I 1954 CD 101:Col. NYP Mono
Wagner Die Walküre, Act III: Magic Fire Music 1968 CD 92:Col. Stereo
Wagner Die Walküre, Act III: The Ride of the Valkyries 1956 CD 17:Epic Mono
Wagner Die Walküre, Act III: Walkürenritt 1968 CD 92:Col. Stereo
Wagner Die Walküre, Act III: Wotan's Farewell and Magic Fire Music 1956 CD 17:Epic Mono
Wagner Eine Faust Ouvertüre, WWV 59 1965 CD 78:Col. Stereo
Wagner Götterdämmerung, Act III: Siegfried's Funeral Marchand Finale 1956 CD 17:Epic Mono
Wagner Götterdämmerung, Prologue: Siegfried's Rhine Journey 1956 CD 17:Epic Mono
Wagner Götterdämmerung: Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey 1968 CD 92:Col. Stereo
Wagner Götterdämmerung: Siegfried's Funeral Music and Final Scene 1968 CD 92:Col. Stereo
Wagner Lohengrin: Prelude to Act I 1965 CD 78:Col. Stereo
Wagner Rienzi: Overture 1965 CD 78:Col. Stereo
Wagner Rienzi: Overture 1954 CD 101:Col. NYP Mono
Wagner Siegfried, Act II: Forest Murmurs 1956 CD 17:Epic Mono
Wagner Siegfried: Forest Murmurs 1968 CD 92:Col. Stereo
Wagner Tannhäuser: Overture 1962 CD 51:Epic Stereo
Wagner Tannhäuser: Overture 1954 CD 101:Col. NYP Mono
Wagner Tristan und Isolde: Prelude and Love Death 1962 CD 51:Epic Stereo
Walton Partita for Orchestra 1959 CD 30:Epic Stereo
Walton Symphony no.2 1961 CD 48:Epic Stereo
Walton Variations on a Theme by Hindemith 1964 CD 89:Col. Stereo
Weber Der Freischütz, op.77: Overture 1952 CD 101:Col. NYP Mono
Weber Konzertstück in F minor, op.79 (Robert Casadesus, piano) 1952 CD 6:Col. Mono
Weber Oberon, J306: Overture 1962-63 CD 58:Epic Stereo
Weber Oberon, J306: Overture 1952 CD 101:Col. NYP Mono

80 people found this helpful

Helpful

Hank Drake

Szell - at last a more or less complete box

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2018

Verified Purchase

Although I have some general comments about the sound at the end of my review, I’ll leave it to very astute reviewers like John Fowler and R. D. Monsoon to review which items were newly remastered and which derive from Essential Classics, Masterworks Heritage, previous Original Jacket collections and the like.

One of the greatest misconceptions about George Szell is that, while he was able to drill orchestras into incomparable playing, his interpretations were metronomic and lacked imagination. What a load of tosh. The recordings in this collection demonstrate plenty of creativity – and even some questionable textual changes, as in the Bartok Concerto for Orchestra. The Cleveland Orchestra Szell inherited in 1946 bore little resemblance to the very fine ensemble Sokoloff and Rodzinski presided over. The loss of many players to the war effort, and a relatively inexperienced and part-time Erich Leinsdorf had led to a undeniable depletion. Szell deserves credit for removing about a dozen players who did not meet the highest standards, increasing the complement of players to the standard 104, instilling a more European aesthetic in terms of balance and homogeneity of sonority while maintaining the American hallmark of precision - although to state it was “One Man’s Triumph” is an exaggeration. It's not for nothing that Leonard Bernstein once stopped a rehearsal with the orchestra to exclaim “You guys are so [expletive deleted] good!” Szell’s imprint is undeniable and enduring – to this day, the work ethic and chamber music clarity of the playing remain. Even Severance Hall, which was spectacularly remodeled in 2000, retains the sonic aesthetic that Szell strove for when he replaced the stage shell in 1958. His musical aesthetic can be summed up in a few quotes from Szell himself:
“The composers want us to be imaginative, in the direction of their thinking – not just robots who execute orders.” "There is a difference between the chaste sensuality of Mozart or Haydn and the lascivious sensuality of Richard Strauss. One cannot pour chocolate sauce over asparagus."

It must have taken some arm twisting on Szell's part to get Mozart’s Symphonies K. 200 and K. 319 recorded, as neither were repertoire staples in the 1960s (they still appear relatively rarely). Kudos to both Szell and Columbia for undertaking the project. As with nearly everything else they recorded, the Szell/Cleveland combination in Mozart brings forth performances of common sensibility and uncommon balance. The tempos and phrasing for each work and movement seem inevitable, and the performances are stripped of all phony Gemütlichkeit. The various choirs of the orchestra are balanced with chamber-like precision, so that each voice is heard in proper perspective. This is even evident in the monaural recordings of three of the Symphonies, which are a tad more flexible than their stereo counterparts.

Szell was also an excellent collaborator in Concertos, as the Mozart Clarinet Concerto K. 622 with Robert Marcellus, the Piano Concerto K. 503 with Leon Fleischer, and R. Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1 with Myron Bloom demonstrate. Szell starts the first movement of K. 503 in crisply articulated style, with a brisk tempo, and Fleisher carries the piano part with subtle pedaling and astutely-judged dynamics. The songful andante features glowing woodwinds, while the finale is graceful whirl and dash. In keeping with the custom of his generation, Fleisher does not embellish the rather bare bones piano part in the slow movement. Bloom's rendition of the solo part in the Strauss Horn Concerto is nothing short of astonishing, his legendary liquid tone beautifully captured. Unlike, say, Toscanini, Szell did not feel the need to steamroll a soloist into complying with his own conception of a piece.

The same is true with Casadesus who also clearly saw Mozart as part of the Classical tradition, not as a proto-Romantic. The performances here are emotionally reserved (an earlier generation would have called them "aristocratic"); the sustaining pedal is used sparingly; outer movements are brisk and slow movements are never dragged - nor are they embellished. At the same time, this is not the rococo, porcelain-doll approach to Mozart that was popular among 19th Century players. Incidentally, Casadesus plays his own cadenzas in K. 365, K. 467, and K. 482, and utilizes the Saint-Saens cadenza in K. 491. Szell's accompaniments fit hand-in-glove, never crossing the line between the "chaste warmth" that Szell favored in 18th Century music and the more Romantic approach favored by some of his contemporaries.

Rudolf Serkin, a co-pupil of Szell, also contributes some Mozart here – Nos. 17, 19, 20 & 25 – but I’ve never found Serkin’s Mozart particularly congenial. His collaborations in Brahms’ two piano concertos have been familiar with me for over 30 years, and they are on a higher level but here I prefer Szell’s collaboration with Fleisher (below).

Szell's characterization of Haydn's symphonies belies the notion of him as a cold-hearted autocrat. Note the bassoon "raspberry" in the slow movement of Symphony No. 93, or his handling of the "surprise" in Symphony No. 94 (for once, it sounds startling). Szell may not indulge in aimless rubato or allow his strings to exude syrupy vibrato, but there are many subtleties to be heard for those willing to listen. Szell undoubtedly viewed the Haydn symphonies (at least the later ones) as anticipating Beethoven, and these performances have more thrust and drive than was usually heard at the time. Still, Szell remains within the Classical style: Menuets are played as such and not as Scherzos - in contrast with Toscanini. Needless to say, the playing of the Cleveland Orchestra is peerless, not merely from the standpoint of hitting the right notes at the right time and faultless intonation, but that the various choirs of the orchestra are impeccably balanced. Clearly, these players have moved far beyond merely listening to themselves to listening to each other.

Originally issued on Columbia's budget label, Epic, George Szell's early stereo (1957-1967) cycle of Beethoven's Symphonies became legendary on its original release. Originally released one LP at a time, the cycle was later reissued as a boxed set, individually again in the late 1970s, debuting on CD in the 1980s, and in several incarnations during the 1990s. Ever the perfectionist, Szell drilled the Cleveland Orchestra to within an inch of its life, and the result here is orchestral playing of immaculate perfection and austere passion. In terms of sheer orchestral virtuosity, there is no better Beethoven cycle on records, not from Maazel's and Dohnanyi's later cycles with the same orchestra, not from Karajan's Berlin Philharmonic, and certainly not from Toscanini's NBC Orchestra. Toscanini bears mentioning here, because there are similarities of approach. Szell chooses not to let details obscure the overall structure of each symphony--though there are telling details in plenty. By the time this cycle was recorded, Szell had lived with these masterpieces for half a century, and it shows in the judicious tempi, straightforward phrasing, and architectonic grandeur. Although the recordings are hardly demonstration class by today’s standards, the clarity with which one hears instruments and, in the Ninth, chorus, is bracing: for once, the listener can clearly hear the Ode to Joy’s text.
Fleisher and Szell initially recorded Beethoven's G major Concerto (coupled with Mozart's Concerto 25) and wound up recording the whole cycle after a casual suggestion by the recording producer, Howard Scott. Listeners owe Mr. Scott a round of applause, as this possibly the finest Beethoven Piano Concerto cycle by an American pianist, orchestra, and conductor (Szell took United States citizenship in 1946). The G major has just the right balance of lyricism, pathos (in the central movement) and sparkle. Fleisher's playing in the two early concertos serves as a reminder that Beethoven initially conquered Vienna as a virtuoso pianist, not a composer - the way he tears through the cadenza in the opening movement of Concerto 1 is beyond brilliant. Szell matches Fleisher bar-for-bar with tightly coiled conducting, except in the middle movements which are expansive without lapsing into sogginess. That's also largely true of the C minor concerto, which is played through a classicist's prism. The Emperor Concerto is largely devoid of the pomp usually heard; this monarch is lean and lithe, wearing his imperial garb lightly. Mutuality is everywhere evident in this cycle.

The Brahms D minor Concerto is given a propulsive, dynamic performance that reminds the listener that the composer was a young man when this was written. Fleisher's playing is vibrant without being forced, while Szell manages to make the rather muddy orchestration sound lean and clear. The B-flat Concerto is exceptionally detailed, helped by Fleisher's sparing use of the sustaining pedal. Jules Eskin's cello solo in the slow movement is beyond beautiful, and integrally balanced with the accompaniment. By and large, these are my favorite stereo Brahms concertos, although I wouldn't want to be without Rubinstein/Reiner or Serkin/Ormandy in the D minor or Zimerman/Bernstein in the B-flat.

One wouldn't normally associate the Fleisher/Szell partnership with Grieg and Schumann, but the popular coupling of A minor Concertos are presented with freshness, crisp attacks in the faster sections, and relaxed, unforced poetry in the slow movements.

The 1953 live performance of Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto with Horowitz was a bootleg legend for decades before it was officially released – and rightfully so – even though it was said Szell didn’t particularly care for the piece, referring to it in scatological terms and advising the New York Philharmonic “let’s give Horowitz what he wants.” Noteworthy here is Horowitz’s rhapsodic phrasing in the opening movement, while the pianist sounds as if he's been shot from a cannon for the finale's octave torrent. I wish Szell and Horowitz had recorded more together. One can only imagine what they could have achieved when they were both with Columbia during the 1960s. A hint of that is provided in the Tchaikovsky Concerto with Graffman. Szell certainly lavishes loving care judging by the richly detailed accompaniment he and the Clevelanders provide, while Graffman's contribution nicely balances bravura with poetry. The Prokofiev Third Concerto with Graffman is architectonic, with the relentless rhythms of the Third's finale imprinting themselves on the listener, rather than impressing by mere speed. The First Concerto is a bit freer with whimsical moments. One of the hallmarks of Graffman's playing is its clarity, so that Prokofiev's more dense configurations emerge with scintillating detail instead of mushiness. Szell, who touched Prokofiev only rarely (his Prokofiev Fifth Symphony and Lieutenant Kije suite are other highlights of this set) provides a dedicated accompaniment which serves as an object lesson in the difference between drive and haste.

Szell was also a fine pianist. (Szell's arrangement of Richard Strauss' Till Eulenspiegel [featuring sound effects from his cuff-links] was legendary.) Both the Violin Sonatas and Piano Quartets show Szell as a sympathetic collaborator who was comfortable with ceding the spotlight to his partners.

A note about the orchestras: All of the recordings with Szell made in Cleveland do indeed use the Cleveland Orchestra or "members of", including those that credit the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. For contractual reasons, sometimes the Clevelanders did not record under their own name. (I recall a contemporary music critic who lamented Szell's use of the Columbia Symphony, but marveling how Szell got them to sound like the Cleveland, evidently unaware of the ruse.) The Columbia Symphony recordings made in New York are likely populated with members of the New York Philharmonic.

Now a few words about the sound quality and other items. Sony’s general rule of thumb about remastering in these Original Album sets is to use the best existing transfers of material if previously issued on CD, remastering only items which are new to CD. This seems to be the policy they have executed here. From what I can hear, it seems the mono recordings have been the most improved. But the sound on Szell’s recordings has often been problematic – and the problem may have rested with Szell himself. I’ve been told that he reviewed his upcoming recordings in his home, and his speakers were placed behind his furniture, muffling the treble. Szell apparently believed most music lovers preferred to conceal their unsightly audio equipment this way, which certainly is not the case, and had the high frequencies of his recordings boosted to compensate. Whatever the truth of that rumor, no doubt every CD I’ve heard so far sounds far more pleasing than its LP counterpart – of which I have quite a few. The original LP obverse and reverse covers are included (the Epic covers are mostly rather generic), and the CDs look like mini LPs – except with the case of multi-CDs, where only the front cover is shown while reverse and gatefold are simple black. There’s a mostly perceptive essay about Szell by Jürgen Kesting, which has a few mistakes that may the result of translation errors. First, the author of Second to None, the Cleveland Orchestra Story, is Donald Rosenberg, not Daniel Rosenberg. Second, Szell signed his contract with the orchestra in January 1946, not 1945. But these are quibbles.

Word on the virtual street has it that this set is selling more briskly than expected. I’d advise those interested to snap these up as soon as they can, lest resellers get ahold of them for future profit.

130 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

David Lasker

Now the Cleveland bass section is no longer missing in action

Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2022

Verified Purchase

I've always Szell and the Clevelanders and have most of his repertoire on LP. Unfortunately, Columbia was notorious for rolling off the bass on their LPs, so now the bass section is no longer missing in action. A whole extra octave down there to be heard, and these are good transfers.

As a symphony bass player myself, I'm extremely impressed at how the Clevelanders play those four notorious measures in the last movement of Mozart's HAFFNER Symphony just before the recapitulation, one legato bow to the bar, each with awkward string crossings, that every bass player dreads being asked for on an audition. Szell's tempo is daringly quick and the display of ensemble is astonishing. Such unanimity! I wonder how many, if any, orchestras at the time could match this level of technical skill. Of course, speed-freak tempi are par for the course for today's original-instrument groups.

With 40 of the CDs listened to, I’ve come upon the first of several double CD sets. Trouble is that all these cases are thin cardboard, not jewel boxes. Took me awhile to figure out how to extract a CD from one of these double cardboard cases without messing it up. Barely enough wiggle room to insert a finger on the CD-label side and pull the CD out.

3 people found this helpful

Cliente Amazon

Szell: la perfezione

Reviewed in Italy on December 24, 2022

Verified Purchase

Questo è un cofanetto che fa la storia della musica registrata. George Szell è un direttore straordinatio. Tutto ciò che dirige è da considerarsi ai vertici interpreativi. Le rimasteruzzazioni e la qualità delle registrazioni fanno letteralmente entusiasmare chiunque.
Unica pecca di tutti questi cofanetti Sony è l'eccessivo ingombro.

One person found this helpful

Translate review to English

Francisco José Poyato Ariza

¡¡Qué maravilla!!

Reviewed in Spain on November 8, 2022

Verified Purchase

Como muchos melómanos, me quedé sin la primera edición de esta caja porque se agotó enseguidísima. Hace pocos meses la reeditaron, y menos mal que me he enterado a tiempo. Szell es unánimemente reconocido como uno de los mejores directores orquestales (no grabó óperas en estudio, que yo sepa) de todos los tiempos. Vivió el momento del inicio del estéreo, en que se realizaron numerosas nuevas grabaciones del repertorio más tradicional, y también de obras menos frecuentes, siempre con gran cuidado y esmero en la calidad del sonido.
A Szell lo descubrí buscando una versión de oberturas de Rossini que me gustara al 100%. Las de Abbado o Pappano eran excelentes, pero siempre había pequeños detalles de tempi o de claridad que, en mi opinión, aún dejaban opción a mejora. Vi excelentes críticas de las de Szell, las pedí...y me maravillaron. Para mí, perfectas en todos los sentidos. Cuando quiero escuchar oberturas de Rossini, que es un alegravidas, ya no escucho más que las de Szell. El grado de excelencia de esta orquesta con este director es tal y como dicen tantos admiradores: claridad, sencillez, musicalidad, equilibrio entre todos los instrumentos, claridad textural, tempi perfectos, sin excesos innecesarios pero con un brillo y una energía que ya quisieran los directores actuales. Escuchar su quinta de Beethoven o su Grande de Schubert es como descubrir esas maravillas por primera vez. Tal vez en Brahms es mejorable, pero el resto (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schubert, Smetana, Dvorak) es, para mí, imbatible. La emoción no se crea con artificios, sino que se hace brotar, pura, desde el interior de la música. No hay palabras...
Y claro, luego está la edición de la caja. Un estuche rígido y sólido, de excelente diseño. Los 106 (¡sí, 106!) discos con sus carátulas originales, en cartón rígido de fácil manejo, colocados de modo que, de un vistazo, se ven todos con sus contenidos...inmejorable. Las remasterizaciones son, simplemente, milagrosas. En muchos aspectos de claridad, equilibrio y separación instrumental son incluso mejores que ciertas actuales. El rango dinámico es, por supuesto, menor, pero sorprendentemente bueno para la época y para épocas posteriores. Y un libro estupendo, en gran formato y tapas duras, bien ilustrado, con información sobre todos y cada uno de los discos. No se puede pedir más.
Lo conseguí por poco más de 244 euros. Sí, es mucho, pero realmente merece la pena. Poco más de dos euros por disco, en esta edición de auténtico lujo. Aunque vaya subiendo de precio, seguirá mereciendo la pena. Eso sí, daos prisa o volverán los tiempos en que sólo quedaban cajas de segunda mano a precios de cuatro dígitos...

4 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

NeworpK

Truly superb, extremely tiny niggles and a request for Sony

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

I'd give this more or less an outright recommendation. Performance, sound, presentation, accompanying info. I have most of these recordings already in one form or another, but still couldn't resist this. There's so much detail given by some other reviewers, that there's little point in trying to add to that. The following points are purely very minor niggles indeed:

1. CD 3 Mozart Symphony 39 (1949); Haydn: Symphony 92 (1949). Original art EXCEPT, footnote in excellent 'booklet' (c. 150 pages, hardcover) says: "We have altered the contents of Lp ML 4109 and replaced Haydn's Symphony 88 (perf. Ormandy/Philadelphia) with No. 92 (Szell) etc. - adjusted artwork reflects this" etc. Fine, BUT, even allowing for the principle of saving disc space and that this is a Szell 'only' boxed set, I'd ideally preferred it if Sony had provided the whole of the first edition album, even given that Lp Side 2 wasn't conducted by Szell, being with Ormandy and the Philapelphia Orchestra. One or two other similar examples occur with adjusted art regarding Szell's mono Mendelssohn Italian Symphony, first paired with Mitropoulos conducting the capriccio brillante and one or two further pieces. The latter has been replaced with Hindemith and Strauss with Szell, which again maybe could have been with THAT original art. Again, ideally, even though the original art for all of these pieces is shown in the booklet, I'd have preferred the original Lp layout and corresponding art reflecting that, instead of the adapted Mendelssohn only Lp sleeve. (Btw, there is, nevertheless, the occasional non-Szell item, eg. Schippers accompanying Francescatti in Bruch as a filler for the Mendelssohn Violin Cto).

2. Recording dates: pretty complete, but can be misleading, eg. re CD 61 'Bohemian Carnival': booklet reads "Recording: Cleveland, Severance Hall January 4/5, 1963 [1-9]; Aug 2 1962 [2-4; 6-9]; July 19, 1962 [5-9]. It appears at first reading that there are one or two typos there. I was confused further when my Sony Essential Classics (stereo) Slavonic Dances (4 of which appear on this album) had the dates as 1963 (only). I was only able to ascertain what exactly was going on here via reference to the book, 'The Cleveland Orchestra Story' by Donald Rosenberg. This made it clear that some the stereo Slavonic Dances were partly recorded one one day, but completed on another, up to some 4 months apart. To be fair there is further album recording/date info. at the back of the booklet supplied, but even so, this was a battle to work out at first.

NB: on the stereo Slavonic Dances disc, the four dances on 'Bohemian Carnival' have rightly been duplicated. Good move.

3. All that said, this, overall, must have been a labour of love for many at Sony who have done a magnificent job as proud current owners of the vast proportion of Szell's recorded legacy. A REQUEST: we've had Bernstein and now the Szell 'Complete' editions, but IS THERE NOW ANY CHANCE OF AN ORMANDY EQUIVALENT please (including mono recs - even if the whole thing was in two/three/four huge volumes? I know - looking at the Philly Orch discography this would indeed be gigantic, but there's still much unreleased Ormandy stuff and I'm sure - given that the Szell appears to be selling well - there'd be a similar custom for Ormandy, making my life complete at least!

Whatever! Buy without hesitation.

17 people found this helpful

noちゃん

クラシック演奏の規範

Reviewed in Japan on January 30, 2024

Verified Purchase

基本に忠実。
クラシック演奏の規範であり、オーケストラと指揮者の最高到達点。
だからこそ永遠に記憶される。

2 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

See more reviews

Amazon Prime includes:

George Szell - The Complete Columbia Album Collection

Box Set

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

From the brand

Amazon Exclusive Vinyl

Best Sellers

New Releases

Digital Albums on Amazon Music

Track Listings

Disc: 1

Disc: 2

Disc: 3

Disc: 4

Disc: 5

Disc: 6

Disc: 7

Disc: 8

Disc: 9

Disc: 10

Disc: 11

Disc: 12

Disc: 13

Disc: 14

Disc: 15

Disc: 16

Disc: 17

Disc: 18

Disc: 19

Disc: 20

Disc: 21

Disc: 22

Disc: 23

Disc: 24

Disc: 25

Disc: 26

Disc: 27

Disc: 28

Disc: 29

Disc: 30

Disc: 31

Disc: 32

Disc: 33

Disc: 34

Disc: 35

Disc: 36

Disc: 37

Disc: 38

Disc: 39

Disc: 40

Disc: 41

Disc: 42

Disc: 43

Disc: 44

Disc: 45

Disc: 46

Disc: 47

Disc: 48

Disc: 49

Disc: 50

Disc: 51

Disc: 52

Disc: 53

Disc: 54

Disc: 55

Disc: 56

Disc: 57

Disc: 58

Disc: 59

Disc: 60

Disc: 61

Disc: 62

Disc: 63

Disc: 64

Disc: 65

Disc: 66

Disc: 67

Disc: 68

Disc: 69