Rudolf Serkin: Columbia Legends Beethoven

While some are currently lamenting the disappearance of 'historical' recordings from out major recording companies, it might be useful to point to an initiative in France. I know, I know. The French were against war in Iraq. But so, of course, were we Canadians. And you are mostly still talking to us!

RudolfSerkin, as many know, hated recordings. And made many, but not as many as he would have had he liked the process. We are all the poorer for his dislike, in my opinion.

Anyway, French Sony, unlike their colleagues under the leadership of Peter Gelb, who is leading Yo Yo Ma and others further and further from classical music, have issued a series of boxed sets under the rubrique 'Columbia Legends'.

Among which figure the Sibelius Symphonies with Leonard Bernstein, the Mozart Sonatas with Lili Kraus, and, to the point, a set which contains ALL of the Beethoven sonatas Serkin recorded for Columbia ikn the 1960s and 70s. The total is, alas, only 17 Sonatas. To wit: Nos. 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32. not included are the four sonatas he recorded in mono for Columbia in the 1950s: No.s 8, 14, 23, 30, as all of these were remade in stereo.

Although more knowledgeable catalogue beavers will perhaps have seen all of these before, the French are SAYING that some of these have not been issued before. The famous 'Inedits en CD': and 'Inedits' are in evidence.

In any event, since this set is unlikely to interest the rulers at Sony Classical in the USA, who cannot even seem to get Perahia's Chopin Etudes out on CD intact, I would suggest that a quick perusal of Amazon.fr would be a benefit to some members of this forum.. There are about 14 of these sets just released. And they are unlikely to stay in the catalogue for long.

Tom Deacon

There's always been higher interest in historical recordings and perhaps a better market for them in Europe and Japan.

Some day we'll occupy you too. Just for fun. And to see if you can deal with inches, miles and pounds!

Boy, does that show!

Or the richer. Depends on one's point of view. As you know, Serkin's art was, um, highly debatable. I'm getting tired of quoting David Dubal and Allan Evans on this matter, but they have articulate my opinion of Serkin better than I can do it myself.

Wonderful.

Great!

Another *GROSSLY* over-rated butcher.

The French are/were also SAYING Saddam Hussein is a polite, well meaning gentleman

Thank you for this timely notice. While we may have had words elsewhere, I will note that we appear to be of like minds on the subject of Sony.

The POINT is not whether you like or dislike Serkin, or Liili Kraus. Surely those who dislike his playing can make their own decisions without our help. But those who DO like his playing, might be interested in knowing what Sony, in France, at least, is doing with the Columbia Records Archives. And certainly I am not about to debate the artistry of Rudolf Serkin. What I will say, however, is that Serkin was better in concert than on records. Always. But he is not unlike many musicians in that respect. Rubinstein being another. And Horowitz. etc. etc..

If you scan all of these amazon sites regularly, Dan, surely you would have come across these items.

Personally, I don't look for things unless I read about them in the three French magazines I read every month. Which is where I discovered their existence.

Cast aspersions all you will, the work of the Sony people in France would seem to be vital if the whole catalogue is not to be junked into the East River for ever.

Now, when are they going to get around to reissuing the Charles Rosen Debussy Etudes and some of his other Epic recordings? Maybe the CD release will even improve on the original sonics, which were unflattering to the piano, to say the least, but unable to conceal a brilliant musician tackling the knottiest of Debussy's confections.

Anyway, if I can dig out the list of releases I will post it. For those who LIKE some of the material being released., that is.

Tom Deacon

On 27 Jun 2003 20:02:13 GMT, 'Matthew B. Tepper (posts from uswest.net

The collection entitled 'Columbia Legends' just released in France contains the following boxed sets at budget price.

Mozart: The great Symphonies (nos. 25, 28, 29, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41 plus overtures, WKN, and Masonic Funeral Music with Bruno Walter. 4 CDs

Beethoven: the 9 symphonies with Walter. 5 CDs

Mahler: Symphonies 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen) with Walter. 5 CDs.

Haydn: The London Symphonies with Bernstein. 5 CDs

Sibelius: The 7 Symphonies, and Luonotar and Pohjola's Daughter with Bernstein. 4 CDs.

Tchaikovsky: Symphonies etc. with Bernstein. 5 CDs

Ravel: Great Orchestral Works with Boulez. 4 CDs

Stravinsky: Complete Ballets cond. by the composer. 6 CDs

Schubert: Somplete Symphonies with Jos van Immerseel. 4 CDs

Mozart: Complete sonatas etc. with Lili Kraus. 4 CDs

Mozart: Haydn Quartets and the Sic Quintets with Budapest Quartet. Recorded 1941-1956) 4 CDs

Beethoven: 17 sonatas with Rudolf Serkin. 5 CDs.

I would expect that much of this material has seen the light of day on CD before, but perhaps no longer available. In any event, these sets are budget priced, for those who may have missed them on their first go around.

Tom Deacon

What are the fourteen sets? Amazon.fr. doesn't produce a search result for 'Columbia Legends.' Perhaps you have a link to the source of your information...?

-John Thomas

Thanks for so quickly answering the question I'd just posted before this came up Comments on the quality of any of these sets would be appreciated.

In article < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >,

I know that, John. Very annoying. I think all of the Series should be available through their search engine. But they are not.

My source is Repertoire magazine, a monthly review magazine.

The reviews are mixed, of course, as some critics don't like all of Walter's Mahler, or all of Bernstein's Tchaikovsky, etc. But all are full of praise for the Serkin Beethoven set and for the Kraus Mozart, as well as the Bernstein Sibelius Symphonies and Budapest Mozart quartets and quintets.

But that is always the way with big sets like these. Thing is, they are available, cheap, and those interested should just follow their instincts, one way or the other.

The notes, by the way, are also in English, so they are ready for some interest in the UK, America and elsewhere.

Tom Deacon

> >Thank you for this timely notice. While we may have had words elsewhere, I > >will note that we appear to be of like minds on the subject of Sony. > > > The collection entitled 'Columbia Legends' just released in France > contains the following boxed sets at budget price. > > Mozart: The great Symphonies (nos. 25, 28, 29, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41 > plus overtures, WKN, and Masonic Funeral Music with Bruno Walter. > 4 CDs > > Beethoven: the 9 symphonies with Walter. > 5 CDs > > Mahler: Symphonies 1, 2, 4, 5, 9 and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen) > with Walter. 5 CDs. > > Haydn: The London Symphonies with Bernstein. 5 CDs > > Sibelius: The 7 Symphonies, and Luonotar and Pohjola's Daughter with > Bernstein. 4 CDs. > > Tchaikovsky: Symphonies etc. with Bernstein. 5 CDs > > Ravel: Great Orchestral Works with Boulez. 4 CDs > > Stravinsky: Complete Ballets cond. by the composer. 6 CDs > > Schubert: Somplete Symphonies with Jos van Immerseel. 4 CDs > > Mozart: Complete sonatas etc. with Lili Kraus. 4 CDs > > Mozart: Haydn Quartets and the Sic Quintets with Budapest Quartet. > Recorded 1941-1956) 4 CDs > > Beethoven: 17 sonatas with Rudolf Serkin. 5 CDs.

Without so much as giving a second thought, I'd definitely go for Bernstein's Sibelius, and especially all of the Walter (Beethoven, Mozart and Mahler). Even though Walter's Mozart is big-band stuff, it is still wonderful.

Bernstein's Haydn Londons have a mixed reception (generally not favourable), whereas it is unfortunate the Paris set is not listed.

The Stravinsky will be well worth acquiring also. I am intrigued by the Boulez Ravel, but unfortunately have no idea about this. For me, the rest are of unknown status, but could be promising, in an area I am not too familiar with.

Regards,

# http://www.users.bigpond.com/hallraylily/index.html See You Tamara (Ozzy Osbourne)

Ray, Taree, NSW

There are some fine, right-thinking Canadians. Mostly in Alberta, I understand.

In any case, I'm not one to let my disagreements with French government policy stand in the way of the occasional order from Alapage or Fnac! I only wish that more US record executives would emulate their colleagues at Sony France, who have done some excellent reissues in recent years. For the US companies, it's their loss. I just got an order from Crotchet with the five new Great Conductors sets (probably as cheap as I could get them in the US, and certainly faster) and the two Testament Cantelli sets ($100 for the eight discs, compared to the $21-per-disc asked by Amazon!) In our age of credit cards and fast shipping, it's a worldwide market now.

In case anyone's wondering, I haven't heard the Great Conductors yet, but I'll enthusiastically endorse the Cantelli sets. Wonderful stuff. (I don't know the transfers on other labels, so I'm unable to compare, but Testament's credit to the Cantelli Estate and to the Toscanini Legacy implies use of 'inside' sources. I didn't notice any major sonic flaws, apart from a bit of distortion at the end of Mathis der Maler and a momentary wow somewhere in Beethoven 7.)

Anyway, Tom, thanks for the tip!

and I hate Serkin's records even more than Serkin did )))))

please dont quote Dubal....... he is a blithering idiot

now lets be a little more charitable..... she was not great but certainly better than Serkin....

goddamn waste of time and money

they sure know class )))))))

, who cannot even seem

more waste of time.....

they dont deserve to be in ANY catalogue for a second......

dont forget, Casals loved Serkin, why I dont know...... maybe because he kissed his a