VA - Classical Music: 25 Legendary Albums For The Perfect Collection (2010) [25CD Box Set]

This series of recordings brings together great works from the repertory played by renowned performers. From Bach to Debussy, Vivaldi to Rachmaninoff, as well as more specific areas such as the Medieval mysticism of the Songs of Ecstasy by Hildegard von Bingen (12th century) and the heady rhythms of the waltzes and polkas from the New Year’s Concert, each work is paired with an exceptional artist who left a lasting musical mark on the interpretation of each masterpiece.

Glenn Gould unveils the astonishing cantabile emerging out of the stolid contrapuntal lines of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, in a personal and enthusiastic interpretation, Arthur Rubinstein, peerless in the elegant and unadorned fluidity of Chopin’s Waltzes, renews interpretation of Chopin’s music without sentimentality and mannerism that were previously Chopin’s bedfellows. Charles Munch shows his passion for 20th-century French music through his readings imbued with classical transparency and Pierre Boulez brings a painstakingly refined interpretation of Ravel’s unfalteringly rigorous works to the fore.

The German symphonic repertory features prominently in this record collection, as in all classical collections, represented by several of the most important works in this area. Beethoven’s Fifth and Seventh Symphonies conducted by the energetic Leonard Bernstein. Schubert is also included with his Ninth Symphony “the Great,” conducted with lyricism and sensitivity by Günter Wand, as is Brahms whose First and Third Symphonies are enlivened by Bruno Walter’s very human touch. George Szell breathes life into three of the most significant Mozart symphonies (nos. 35, 39 and 40), bringing out marvellous internal balance with precise phrasing

Among the other benchmark recordings may be cited the eminently dramatic version of the Mozart Requiem by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, the tragic and restrained power of Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion by Gustav Leonhardt, the dynamic thrust of Carmina Burana under Seiji Ozawa or, in a different register, the flamboyant virtuosity of Horowitz in Rachmaninoff, the violin lyricism of Isaac Stern, the fiery temperament of Laurent Korcia or the integrity of Yo-Yo Ma in the Suites for cello by Bach. All these recordings enable the listener to enter on sure footing into the highly personal world of each of the composers, guided by musicians of great integrity and unparalleled artistry.


Tracks:

CD1 Sequentia - Hildegard Von Bingen: Canticle Of Ecstasy
CD2 Giulianio Carmignola - Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
CD3 Glenn Gould - Jean-Sebastien Bach: The Goldberg Variations
CD4 Gustav Leonhardt - Jean-Sebastian Bach: Saint Matthew Passion
CD5 Yo-Yo Ma - Jean-Sebastian Bach: 3 Suites For Cello Solo
CD6 Nikolaus Harnoncourt - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Requiem
CD7 George Szell - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphonies N°35, 39 & 40
CD8 Leonard Bernstein - Ludwig Van Beethoven: Symphonies N°5 & 7
CD9 Isaac Stern - Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Trios (Eugene Istomin, Leonard Rose)
CD10 Günter Wand - Franz Schubert: Symphonie N°9 "The Great"
CD11 Jean-Marc Luisada - Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto N°1 (Piano Sextuor Version - Version Pour Sextuor Avec Piano) / Antonin Dvorak: Piano Quintet
CD12 Arthur Rubinstein - Frédéric Chopin: Valzes
CD13 Vesselina Kasarova - Giocchino Rossini: Arias And Duets
CD14 Fritz Reiner - Giocchino Rossini: Overtures
CD15 Jascha Heifetz - Johannes Brahms & Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concertos
CD16 Bruno Walter - Johannes Brahms: Symphonies N°1 & 3
CD17 George Szell - Antonin Dvorak: Symphonies N°8 & 9 "From The New World"
CD18 Charles Munch - Claude Debussy: La Mer, Prélude À L'Après-midi D'Un Faune, Printemps, Nocturne / Jacques Ibert: Escale
CD19 Pierre Boulez - Maurice Ravel: Boléro, La Valse, Ma Mère L'Oye, Menuet Antique, Rapsodie Espagnole
CD20 Vladimir Horowitz - Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto N°3
CD21 John Williams - Joaquin Rodrigo: Guitar Concerto, Fantasy For A Gentleman / Heitor Villa-Lobos: Guitar Concerto
CD22 Seiji Ozawa - Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
CD23 Montserrat Caballé - Bellini, Donizetti: Arias
CD24 Carlos Kleiber - New Year's Concert 1989
CD25 Laurent Korcia - «Tzigane» Ravel, Bloch, Enesco, Janacek, Bartok