Eugen Jochum - Icon - The Complete EMI Recordings [20CD Remastered Box Set] (2012)

03 Dec, 13:20
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Artist: Eugen Jochum
Title: Icon - The Complete EMI Recordings
Year Of Release: 2012
Label: EMI Classics [64004]
Genre: Classical
Quality: 320 kbps / FLAC (tracks+cue, log)
Total Time: 22:15:54
Total Size: 2.98 gb / 5.90 gb
WebSite: Album Preview

The fourth “B” of course is Bruckner, and Jochum’s authority in that music is so well known as to require little further comment from me. Suffice it to say that his Dresden Bruckner cycle remains a reference edition. Only in the Fourth Symphony does his earlier effort (for DG with the Berlin Philharmonic) eclipse the remake, and his EMI recordings of the Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth have few equals. But the real value of this 20 CD set rests in everything else, because Jochum was a very great conductor in the standard German repertoire, one who was largely overshadowed by bigger “names” on the labels for which he recorded.

His Bach, for example, was glorious, and he recorded a lot of it, mostly for Philips. At the very end of his career, however, he made this EMI digital version of the B Minor Mass with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and its exceptional chorus. The result, once again, is one of the reference versions of the work, and as a performance using large forces it virtually stands alone. Sample the conclusion of the Credo (first sound clip) and be honest: have you ever heard anything so uplifting and sonically magnificent?

Next we have Jochum’s Beethoven cycle with the London Symphony Orchestra. Jochum actually recorded these symphonies three times: first for DG, then with the Concertgebouw for Philips, and finally this cycle, which remains the best of them. It was Jochum’s Beethoven that earned him the reputation as a Furtwängler disciple, both for his sometimes leisurely tempos as well as for his rhythmic freedom and powerful shaping of structure and line. The difference was that Jochum also got the disciplined results from his players that his elder colleague neither matched nor (evidently) cared about. Sample the coda of the Seventh Symphony’s first movement (second sound clip); yes the tempo isn’t as quick as we’re used to today, but notice the amazing balance of sonority between strings and winds and the clarity of Beethoven’s harmonic substructure. No period instrument performance comes close to letting you hear so much, and more importantly, the music never sounds slow because of the richness of information that each moment conveys.

Jochum was also one of the great Brahms conductors of the 20th century, and both of his cycles remain reference editions that are well worth hearing. His remake for EMI, with the London Philharmonic is absolutely stunning form, yields to no one in terms of expressive range, excitement, and impact. Jochum’s shaping of the Second Symphony’s first movement ought to be required listening for all future interpreters–seldom has the music flowed so effortlessly. The coda of the Fourth Symphony’s finale offers an especially powerful (and paradigmatic) example of his remarkable ability to achieve the most powerful results through a flexible handling of tempo (third sound clip). And just listen to the orchestra play!

Aside from the 4Bs, this set also includes Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Vesperae solennes de confessore in performances (Bavarian Radio again) that match the standard set in Jochum’s Bach. All of the vocal soloists do an excellent job (an experienced opera conductor, Jochum always chose well), the sonics are uniformly fine throughout the set, and the simple truth is that there is no more impressive and consistent group of performances of this music by any other conductor, anywhere, whether separately or in a box. Having it all packaged together really does make you wonder how it is that Jochum’s achievement has been so underrated (except in Bruckner) for all these years.

:: TRACKLIST ::

Disc 1 – Beethoven Symphonies 1 & 3
1-1. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.1 in C major, op.21: I. Adagio molto [9:36]
1-2. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.1 in C major, op.21: II. Andante cantabile con noto [6:34]
1-3. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.1 in C major, op.21: III. Menuetto & Trio [4:00]
1-4. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.1 in C major, op.21: IV. Adagio [6:10]
1-5. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.3 in E-flat major, op.55 'Eroica': I. Allegro con brio [18:18]
1-6. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.3 in E-flat major, op.55 'Eroica': II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai [15:55]
1-7. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.3 in E-flat major, op.55 'Eroica': III. Scherzo & Trio: Allegro vivace [5:55]
1-8. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.3 in E-flat major, op.55 'Eroica': IV. Allegro molto – Poco andante [11:53]

Disc 2 – Beethoven Symphonies 2 & 6
01. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.2 in D major, op.36: I. Adagio molto [12:55]
02. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.2 in D major, op.36: II. Larghetto [12:11]
03. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.2 in D major, op.36: II. Scherzo & Trio: Allegro [4:03]
04. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.2 in D major, op.36: IV. Allegro molto [6:42]
05. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.6 in F major, op.68 'Pastoral': I. Allegro ma non troppo (Awakening of happy feelings on arriving in the country) [11:05]
06. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.6 in F major, op.68 'Pastoral': II. Andante molto mosso (By the brook) [12:39]
07. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.6 in F major, op.68 'Pastoral': III. Allegro – Sempre più stretto – in tempo d'allegro – Tempo I [6:01]
08. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.6 in F major, op.68 'Pastoral': IV. Allegro (Thunder and storm) [4:03]
09. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.6 in F major, op.68 'Pastoral': V. Allegretto (Shepherds' song. Beneficent feelings with thanks to the Godhead after the storm) [9:38]

Disc 3 – Beethoven Symphonies 4 & 5
01. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.4 in B-flat major, op.60: I. Adagio [12:55]
02. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.4 in B-flat major, op.60: II.Adagio [10:22]
03. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.4 in B-flat major, op.60: III. Menuetto – Allegro vivace [6:23]
04. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.4 in B-flat major, op.60: IV. Allegro ma non troppo [7:29]
05. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.5 in C minor, op.67: I. Allegro con brio [8:21]
06. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.5 in C minor, op.67: II. Andante con moto [11:07]
07. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.5 in C minor, op.67: III. Allegro [5:51]
08. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.5 in C minor, op.67: IV. Allegro [11:49]

Disc 4 – Beethoven Symphonies 7 & 8
01. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.7 in a major, op.92: I. Poco sostenuto [15:14]
02. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.7 in a major, op.92: II. Allegretto [9:46]
03. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.7 in a major, op.92: III. Presto [10:47]
04. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.7 in a major, op.92: IV. Allegro con brio [9:25]
05. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.8 in F major, op.93: I. Allegro vivace e con brio [9:50]
06. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.8 in F major, op.93: II. Allegretto scherzando [4:21]
07. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.8 in F major, op.93: III. Tempo di menuetto [5:27]
08. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.8 in F major, op.93: IV. Allegro vivace [7:41]

Disc 5 – Beethoven Symphony 9
01. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.9 in D minor, op.125: I. Allegro ma non troppo [16:21]
02. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.9 in D minor, op.125: II. Molto vivace [11:11]
03. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.9 in D minor, op.125: III. Adagio molto e cantabile – Andante moderato – Tempo I – Andante moderato – Adagio [16:39]
04. Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.9 in D minor, op.125: IV. Presto – Allegro assai – Presto – Recititavo – Allegro Assai – Allegro Assai Vivace (Alle Marcia) – Andante Maestoso – Adagio Ma Non Troppo Ma Divoto [23:58]
05. Ludwig van Beethoven - Fidelio, op.72b: Overture [6:33]

Disc 6 – Brahms Symphony 1
01. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.1 in C minor, op.68: I. Un poco sostenuto – Allegro [17:01]
02. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.1 in C minor, op.68: II. Andante sostenuto [8:49]
03. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.1 in C minor, op.68: III. Un poco allegretto e grazioso [4:44]
04. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.1 in C minor, op.68: IV. Adagio – Più andante – Allegro non troppo [16:00]
05. Johannes Brahms - Tragic Overture, Op.81 [12:19]
06. Johannes Brahms - Academic Festival Overture, Op.80 [10:11]

Disc 7 – Brahms Symphonies 2 & 3
01. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.2 in D major, op.73: I. Allegro non troppo [19:07]
02. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.2 in D major, op.73: II. Adagio non troppo [9:26]
03. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.2 in D major, op.73: III. Allegretto grazioso (Quasi andante) – Presto ma non assai [5:46]
04. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.2 in D major, op.73: IV. Allegro con spirito [8:29]
05. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.3 in F major, op.90: I. Allegro con brio [12:56]
06. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.3 in F major, op.90: II. Andante [9:05]
07. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.3 in F major, op.90: III. Poco allegretto [5:38]
08. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.3 in F major, op.90: IV. Allegro [8:45]

Disc 8 – Brahms Symphony 4 Beethoven Overtures
01. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.4 in E minor, op.98: I. Allegro non troppo [12:52]
02. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.4 in E minor, op.98: II. Andante moderato [11:53]
03. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.4 in E minor, op.98: III. Allegro giocoso [6:17]
04. Johannes Brahms - Symphony no.4 in E minor, op.98: IV. Allegro energico e passionato [9:26]
05. Ludwig van Beethoven - Overture Coriolan, op.62 [8:50]
06. Ludwig van Beethoven - Egmont, op. 84: Overture [8:51]
07. Ludwig van Beethoven - Leonore, op.72a: Overture no. 3 [13:38]

Disc 9 – Bruckner Symphony 1
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.1 in C minor, WAB 101: I. Allegro [12:28]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.1 in C minor, WAB 101: II. Adagio [12:37]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.1 in C minor, WAB 101: III. Scherzo: Schnell [9:02]
04. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.1 in C minor, WAB 101: IV. Finale: Bewegt, feurig [12:57]

Disc 10 – Bruckner Symphony 2
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.2 in C minor, WAB 102: I. Moderato [18:00]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.2 in C minor, WAB 102: II. Andante [14:57]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.2 in C minor, WAB 102: III. Scherzo: Mäßig schnell [6:54]
04. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.2 in C minor, WAB 102: IV. Finale: Mehr schnell [12:46]

Disc 11 – Bruckner Symphony 3
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.3 in D minor, WAB 103: I. Mehr langsam, misterioso [20:50]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.3 in D minor, WAB 103: II. Adagio (bewegt) quasi andante [15:39]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.3 in D minor, WAB 103: III. Ziemlich bewegt [7:40]
04. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.3 in D minor, WAB 103: IV. Allegro [11:02]

Disc 12 – Bruckner Symphony 4
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.4 in E-flat major, WAB 104 'Romantic': I. Bewegt, nicht zu schnell [17:52]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.4 in E-flat major, WAB 104 'Romantic': II. Andante quasi allegretto [16:44]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.4 in E-flat major, WAB 104 'Romantic': III. Scherzo: Bewegt [10:01]
04. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.4 in E-flat major, WAB 104 'Romantic': IV. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell [20:20]

Disc 13 – Bruckner Symphony 5
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.5 in B-flat major, WAB 105: I. Introduktion: adagio [21:26]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.5 in B-flat major, WAB 105: II. Adagio [19:17]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.5 in B-flat major, WAB 105: III. Scherzo: Molto vivace [13:04]
04. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.5 in B-flat major, WAB 105: IV. Finale: Allegro moderato [23:43]

Disc 14 – Bruckner Symphony 6
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.6 in a major, WAB 106: I. Maestoso [16:11]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.6 in a major, WAB 106: II. Adagio: Sehr feierlich [18:36]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.6 in a major, WAB 106: III. Scherzo: Nicht schnell [7:58]
04. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.6 in a major, WAB 106: IV. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell [13:35]

Disc 15 – Bruckner Symphony 7
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.7 in E major, WAB 107: I. Allegro moderato [21:05]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.7 in E major, WAB 107: II. Adagio: Sehr feierlich und sehr langsam [25:54]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.7 in E major, WAB 107: III. Scherzo: Senr schnell [10:02]
04. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.7 in E major, WAB 107: IV. Finale: Bewegt, doch nicht zu schnell [12:25]

Disc 16 – Bruckner Symphony 8
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.8 in C minor, WAB 108: I. Allegro Moderato [13:55]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.8 in C minor, WAB 108: II. Scherzo: Allegro moderato [14:00]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.8 in C minor, WAB 108: III. Adagio: Feierlich langsam, doch nicht schleppend [27:24]
04. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.8 in C minor, WAB 108: IV. Finale: Feierlich, nicht schnell [20:45]

Disc 17 – Bruckner Symphony 9
01. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.9 in D minor, WAB 109: I. Feierlich, Misterioso [23:06]
02. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.9 in D minor, WAB 109: II. Scherzo: Bewegt, lebhaft [9:58]
03. Anton Bruckner - Symphony no.9 in D minor, WAB 109: III. Adagio: Langsam, feierlich [27:39]

Disc 18 – JS Bach Mass in B minor Part 1
01. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Chorus: Kyrie eleison [12:09]
02. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Duet: Christe eleison [5:19]
03. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Chorus: Kyrie elesion [3:43]
04. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Chorus: Gloria in excelsis deo [2:04]
05. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Chorus: Et in terra pax [4:36]
06. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Aria: Laudamus te [4:47]
07. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Chorus: Gratias agimus tibi [3:17]
08. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Duet: Domine deus [5:54]
09. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Chorus: Qui tollis peccata mundi [3:41]
10. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Aria: Qui sedes ad dexteram patris [4:42]
11. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Aria: Quoniam tu solus sanctus [5:13]
12. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: I. Missa: Chorus: Cum sancto spiritu [4:22]

Disc 19 – JS Bach Mass in B minor Part 2
01. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Chorus: Credo in unum deum [2:29]
02. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Chorus: patrem omnipotentem [2:08]
03. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Duet: Et in unum dominum [5:26]
04. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Chorus: Et incarnatus est [4:26]
05. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Chorus: Crucifixus [4:19]
06. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Chorus: Et resurrexit [4:21]
07. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Aria: Et in spiritum sanctum dominum [6:26]
08. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Chorus: Confiteor [2:55]
09. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: II. Symbolum Nicenum (Credo): Chorus: Et expecto resurrectionem [3:52]
10. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: III. Sanctus: Chorus: Sanctus [6:02]
11. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: III. Sanctus: Chorus: Osanna in excelsis [3:04]
12. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: III. Sanctus: Aria: Benedictus [4:59]
13. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: III. Sanctus: Chorus: Osanna in excelsis [3:06]
14. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: III. Sanctus: Aria: Agnus dei [5:47]
15. Johann Sebastian Bach - Mass in B minor, BWV 232: III. Sanctus: Chorus: Dona nobis pacem [3:13]

Disc 20 – Mozart Coronation Mass, Vesperae Solennes de Confessore
01. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Mass in C major, K317 'Coronation': I. Kyrie [2:51]
02. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Mass in C major, K317 'Coronation': II. Gloria [4:22]
03. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Mass in C major, K317 'Coronation': III. Credo [6:21]
04. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Mass in C major, K317 'Coronation': IV. Sanctus [1:52]
05. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Mass in C major, K317 'Coronation': V. Benedictus [3:11]
06. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Mass in C major, K317 'Coronation': VI. Agnus Dei [6:36]
07. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339: I. Dixit dominus [4:01]
08. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339: II. Confitebor [5:05]
09. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339: III. Beatur vir [5:02]
10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339: IV. Laudate Pueri [3:42]
11. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339: V. Laudate Dominum [5:05]
12. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339: VI. Magnificat [4:20]