Leinsdorf Boxed Set

[sbugala]

I know that some don't quite like Erich Leinsdorf's recordings, but I'm curious about this set. (I'm a huge Boston Symphony Orchestra fan.) http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Classical-Collection-Boxed-Set_000000000088040/item_The-Art-of-Erich-Leinsdorf-40CD_8077368  I have some of his Mahler with Boston on LP, German pressings or British pressings, and I they sound better than the typical American Dynagrove pressings. Any idea on whether this will be genuinely remastered, or just ripped from vinyl? Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks,
Steven

[AZContrabassoon]

Too bad they don't list the contents or sources. There are plenty of Leinsdorf recordings from the 78 and mono-LP days that are likely there, but I would be surprised if much of the stereo work for RCA, Decca, Capitol or his early digital material is. But the cover does indicate Mahler, Beethoven, Prokofieff, Brahms - maybe these are the RCA recordings? Is it all from Boston?

Personally, I respect Leinsdorf as a conductor. His musicianship and thorough study of music he performed is mind-boggling, and puts practically any conductor today to shame. His books, especially The Composer's Advocate, are wonderful and any music lover should read them. It's as a composer's servant that his interpretations sometimes fail to catch fire - too controlled and loyal to the score. But if it's accuracy, balance and clarity you're after, he's terrific. Boston has a long recorded legacy, and no one has delivered a better set of Brahms symphonies than Leinsdorf. Certainly not the new director. His Prokofieff is terrific, it's just too bad that he never had a chance to finish the cycle. The Beethoven set is to my mind one of the great ones of that era, but sadly overshadowed by Szell, Bernstein, Karajan and some others. But listening to those recordings with a score in hand and you'll realize that Leinsdorf knew his business as well as anyone. The little Mahler we have is fine IMHO. The BSO wasn't playing much Mahler until he came along, so the recordings expose an orchestra inexperienced in Mahler. Not that Ozawa improved things one iota.

I would be curious as to what the contents of this boxed set is - could be some real finds. Yes, if there's an American orchestra to follow, it's the BSO. The incredible legacy with Monteux, Koussevitsky, Munch, Leinsdorf, Ozawa is stunning. The sound of that orchestra sets it apart from all the rest.  I have no idea what the cost would be in USD, but if you decide to go for it, let us know, please? The cost and contents!

[waderice]

One of the live concerts I regret not attending while still living in the Washington, DC area was an M8 he guest-conducted with the NSO years ago!  I've been kicking myself ever since! 

Wade

[sbugala]

I like his Beethoven Symphony cycle, too. He appeared as a guest conductor with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, but that was just before I started going regularly.
Here's a translation via Google Translate:

Disc 1
● Mozart: Symphony No. 1 everyday major key KV 16
● Mozart: Symphony No. 2 Birth-major in KV 17
● Mozart: Symphony No. 3 everyday major honorable KV 18
● Mozart: Symphony No. 4 in D major, KV 19
● Mozart: Symphony No. 5 Denver major key KV 22
● Mozart: Symphony No. 6 in F major, KV 43
● Mozart: Symphony No. 7 in D major, KV 45
● Mozart: Symphony No. 8 in D major, KV 48
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1956/07 / 11-22 Stereo
Disc 2
● Mozart: Symphony No. 9 in C major, KV 73
● Mozart: Symphony No. 10 in G major 74
● Mozart: Symphony No. 11 in D major, KV 84
● Mozart: Symphony No. 12 in G major 110 KV 110
● Mozart: Symphony No. 13 F major KV 112
● Mozart: Symphony No. 14 in A major, KV 114
● Mozart: Symphony No. 15 in G major 124
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1956/07 / 11-22 Stereo
Disc 3
● Mozart: Symphony No. 16 in C major, KV 128
● Mozart: Symphony No. 17 in G major 129
● Mozart: Symphony No. 18 in F major, KV 130
● Mozart: Symphony No. 19 Everyday major KV 132
● Mozart: Symphony No. 20 in D major, KV 133
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1956/07 / 11-22 Stereo
Disc 4
● Mozart: Symphony No. 21 in A major, KV 134
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1956/07 / 11-22 Stereo
● Mozart: Symphony No. 22 in C major, KV 162
● Mozart: Symphony No. 23 in D major, KV 181
● Mozart: Symphony No. 24 Bloom major key KV 182
● Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G minor KV 183
● Mozart: Symphony No.26 Koho Major KV 184
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1955/05
Disc 5
● Mozart: Symphony No. 27 in G major 199
● Mozart: Symphony No. 28 in C major, KV 200
● Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A major KV 201
● Mozart: Symphony No. 30 in D major, KV 202
● Mozart: Symphony No. 31 in D major KV 297 "Paris"
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1955/05
Disc 6
● Mozart: Symphony No. 32 in G major KV 318
● Mozart: Symphony No. 33 number of major strokes KV 319
● Mozart: Symphony No. 34 C Major KV 338
● Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D major, KV 385 "Hafner"
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1955/05
Disc 7
● Mozart: Symphony No. 36 in C major, KV 425 "Linz"
● Mozart: Symphony No. 37 in G major KV 444
● Mozart: Symphony No. 38 in D major, KV 504 "Prague"
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1955/05
Disc 8
● Mozart: Symphony No. 39 Eho Major KV 543
● Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, KV 550
● Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, KV 551 "Jupiter"
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1955/05
Disc 9
● Brahms: Symphony No. 1 C Major Op. 68
Philadelphia Orchestra
Recording: July 16, 1952

● Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 73
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1964 Stereo
Disc 10
● Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F major Op.90
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1958/05 / 23-24, Stereo

● Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor Op. 98
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1966/04/26 ~ 27, Stereo
Disc 11
● Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op.95 "From the New World"
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: Stereo 1958/08

● Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 b Minor Op. 74 "Sadness"
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1960
Disc 12
● Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major "Giant"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1962/10/20, 21 Stereo
Disc 13 - 14
● Mahler: Symphony No. 3 in D minor
Shirley Vaught (Ms)
New England Conservatoire Choir
Boston Boys Choir
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1966/10/10, 11 Stereo
Disc 15
● Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in the minor cabinet
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: November 17, 1963, 23 & 26 Stereo
Disc 16
● Mahler: Symphony No. 6 in A minor "Tragic"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: April 21, 1965 & 21 Stereo
Disc 17
● Rimsky = Korsakov: Symphony No. 2 Op.9 "Antar"
Cleveland Orchestra
Recording: February 22, 1946

● Dvorak: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op.60
Cleveland Orchestra
Recording: February 24, 1946

● Mozart: Minuet Ha major, KV 409
Cleveland Orchestra
Recording: February 25, 1946
Disc 18
● Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra for Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1962/10 Stereo

● Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op.120
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: November 13, 1962

Disc 19
● R. Strauss: Symphonic poem "Hero's Lifetime" Op.40
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1963 Stereo

● R. Strauss: Symphonic poem "Death and Transformation" Op.24
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1961/07/13 Stereo
Disc 20
● Prokofiev: Symphony No. 3 C minor Op.44
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: April 25, 1966 Stereo

● Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6 Hoote Variant Op. 111
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1965/04/23, 24 Stereo

Disc 21
● Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 in B major Op. 100
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: October 28, 1963 Stereo

● R. Strauss: "Til Eulen Spiegel's pleasant prank" Op.28
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: November 13, 1962
Disc 22
● Schubert: Mass Track No. 6 Hote Variant D.950
Pilar / Lorenger (soprano)
Bettie Allen (Alto)
Fritz Undelich (tenor)
Manfred Schmidt (tenor)
Josef Grindle (bus)
St. Hettwig Cathedral Choir
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1960/09/03 - 04 Stereo
Disc 23
● Kodayi: "Harri · Janos" Suite
Toni Coves Steiner (Timbalon)
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1964 & 1965

● Kodaii: Variation by Hungarian folk song "Peacock"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: November 23, 1964 Stereo

● Stravinsky: "Bird of Fire" suite
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1964/04 / 23-24 Stereo
Disc 24
● Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 Hoummed Major Op.55 "Hero"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1962/09/30 Stereo

● Stravinsky: "Agon"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1965/04/19 Stereo
Disc 25
● Smetana: Symphonic poem "Moldau"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1958/03 Stereo

● Chablie: Rhapsody "Spain"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1958/03 Stereo

● Ducasse: Symphonic Scherzo "Disciples of Wizards"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1958/03 Stereo

● R = Korsakov: Overture "Easter of Russia" Op.36
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1958/03 Stereo

● Ponchielli: "Joconda" ~ "Dance of Time"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1958/03 Stereo

● Verdi: "Aida" - "Butoh"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1958/03 Stereo

● Rossini: "William Tell" ~ "Six Dancing"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1958/03 Stereo

● Saint-Saëns: "Samson and Delilah" ~ "Bacanard"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1958/03 Stereo
Disc 26
● Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major "Giant"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1962/12/04

● Mahler: Symphony No. 5 Shu-H minor ~ Fourth movement Adder Jet
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: November 12, 1963
Disc 27
● Debussy: Symphonic Suite "Sea"
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1957/03 Stereo

● Ravel: "Daphnis and Chloe" suite 2
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1957/03 Stereo

● R = Korsakov: Overture 'Easter of Russia'
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: Stereo 1958/03/05
Disc 28
● Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 Bloom major Op. 60
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1966 Stereo

● Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major 92 Op. 92
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1966 Stereo Stereo
Disc 29
● Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "With chorus"
Jane Marsh (S)
Eunice Alberts (A)
Richard Cassily (T)
Thomas Paul (B)
Harvard Glee Club
Radcliffe Chorus Society
New England Conservatoire Choir
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1965 Oct 19
Disc 30
● Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 everyday major op.
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1946/10

● Sibelius: "Karelia" suite suite op. 11 ~ "marching style"
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1946/10

● Schumann: Symphony No. 1 Breaking News in Op. 38 "Spring"
Cleveland Orchestra
Recording: 1946/02
Disc 31
● Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major, D. 944 "Great"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: March 26, 1963

● Wagner: "Tannhuiser" - Overture and Music of Venusberg
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1964/07/18
Disc 32
● Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, KV 551 "Jupiter"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: January 14, 1963 Stereo

● Mozart: Serenade No. 13 KV 525 "Aine Kleine Nahat Musique"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: January 14, 1963 Stereo
Disc 32
● Wagner: "Valkyrie" ~ "Valkyrie of Valkyrie"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1957/11/01 - 03 Stereo

● Wagner: "Valkyrie" ~ "Music of Devil's Flames"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1957/11/01 - 03 Stereo

● Wagner: Overture for 'Tannhäuser'
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1957/11/01 - 03 Stereo

● Wagner: "Lohengrin" third act prelude
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1957/11/01 - 03 Stereo

● Wagner: "Twilight of the Gods" ~ "Funeral March of the Siegfried"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1957/11/01 - 03 Stereo

● Wagner: "Tristan and Isolde" ~ "Death of Prelude and Love"
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: Stereo 1958/08

● Wagner: "Tannhuiser" ~ "Music of Venusberg"
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1961/07/13 Stereo

● Wagner: "Parsifal" ~ Good Friday's music
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1964/01/07
Disc 34
● R = Korsakov: "Sheer Lizard" Op.35
Concert · Arts Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1960/03/08 - 10 Stereo

● R. Strauss: "Til Eulen Spiegel's pleasant prank" Op.28
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1960/09 / 12-16 Stereo

● R. Strauss: "Woman without Shadows" Op.65 ~ Suite
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1960/09 / 12-16 Stereo
Disc 35
● Mendelssohn: Play Music "Midsummer Night's Dream"
Arlene · Saunders (S), Helen · Vanni (Ms)
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1962-1963 Stereo
Disc 36
● Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major 92 Op. 92
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1956

● Tchaikovsky: "Nutcracker Doll" suite
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1957

● Grieg: "Pale Gynt" Suite 1st Op.46
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1957

● Schubert: "Rosamundde" (excerpt)
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1946
Disc 37
● Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 Eho Major Op.55 "Hero"
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1952

● Rachmaninov: Symphonic dance
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1952
Disc 38
● Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor Op. 98
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Recording: 1966/05/16

● Debussy: "Perez and Merisand" Suite (Rinsdorff Edition)
Cleveland Orchestra recording: 1946/02/22, 24
Disc 39
● Fine: Serious Song for Strings
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1966 Stereo

● Fine: Toccata / Concertante
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1965 Stereo

● Berlioz: "Punishment of Faust" ~ "Lacotti March"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1964 Stereo

● Tchaikovsky: "Slave March"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1964 Stereo

● Wagner: "Tannhuiser" ~ "Great March"
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1964 Stereo

● Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op.120
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Recording: 1963 Stereo
Disc 40
● Wagner: "Nürnberg's My Staginganger" - Act 1 Prelude
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1959 Stereo

● Rossini: "Algiers' Italian Woman" Overture
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1959 Stereo

● Weber: "Oberon" Overture
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1959 Stereo

● Mozart: "Marriage Figaro" Overture
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1959 Stereo

● Beethoven: "Leonore" Overture No. 3
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1959 Stereo

● Verdi: "The Power of Fate" ~ Overture
Philharmonia Orchestra
Recording: 1959 Stereo

[sbugala]

Weird. There's two Brahms Fourths, but it omits his Boston Brahms First in favor of one with Philly! There's some Boston stuff that's missing that would at least be interesting to hear, like the Bartok Violin Concerto #2/Stravinsky Violin Concerto with Silverstein. If the price is right, and it's been transcribed, it could be a nice stop gap until RCA gives him his due with a box. But I'd prefer to opt for the "real" thing. But it. is. tempting.

[AZContrabassoon]

Very tempting. Thanks for doing the translation work - some weird, funny things (Tchaik 6 "Sadness",  or "Ducasse" Disciples of Wizards!). But the Mozart symphonies - often forgotten once the Dorati set came out. His Wagner is excellent, too. I wouldn't hold my breathe about a Leinsdorf boxed set, but it would be nice to have. There's been so many releases with Munch lately, and the Monteux set from decades ago (which needs to be re-released!) but poor Erich never had the magical appeal and following that those two giants had.

[barryguerrero]

8 discs of Mozart symphonies?!   .   .    .  nein, danke.

I would, however, love to investigate the "Perez and Merisand" suite by Debussy.

[sbugala]

8 discs of Mozart symphonies?!   .   .    .  nein, danke.

I would, however, love to investigate the "Perez and Merisand" suite by Debussy.

F'real. The late Mozart Symphonies, sure. The early ones would be rough. I'm glad it includes stuff from both his RCA and his EMI/Capital years, though.

[sbugala]

Very tempting. Thanks for doing the translation work - some weird, funny things (Tchaik 6 "Sadness",  or "Ducasse" Disciples of Wizards!). But the Mozart symphonies - often forgotten once the Dorati set came out. His Wagner is excellent, too. I wouldn't hold my breathe about a Leinsdorf boxed set, but it would be nice to have. There's been so many releases with Munch lately, and the Monteux set from decades ago (which needs to be re-released!) but poor Erich never had the magical appeal and following that those two giants had.

Agreed. The Wagner is tempting. He did some esoteric discs of guys like Ginastera, that don't appear to be included. I think he would've been an interesting conductor to experience live...if only because of his programming. I recall reading somewhere that he included a Virgil Thompson work, and Sibelius' Second Symphony for the sole reason that Thompson HATED Sibelius. I like Strauss disc of Ein Heldenleben...another one I picked up on an imported pressing. It sounds great!

[Russell]

Leinsdorf's Boston recordings figured prominently in my formative years of listening to classical music, and I secretly keep hoping that Sony/RCA will put out a complete album collection (with original LP covers) on CD someday, as they've done for other (arguably greater) conductors.

That said, there seem to be lots of gems in this Japanese box.  (I'd love to hear "Nürnberg's My Staginganger" and "Sheer Lizard".)

Russell

[justininsf]

I would, however, love to investigate the "Perez and Merisand" suite by Debussy.

This made me laugh.

[umbernisitani]

There seem to be quite a lot of these big artist boxes by no-name reissue labels nowadays, particularly in the Japanese market. I own a few from the Venias label (Ancerl, Monteux, Markevitch, Keilberth) and from the Artis label (Leinsdorf, ie. the box under discussion, and Steinberg). Those worrying about excessive noise-filtering and subpar sound quality need not worry here--as far as I can tell (and I have compared many of the recordings in the boxes with the original or "official" releases) they sound extremely similar if not entirely identical or better. You also get stuff that is basically impossible to find on CD (without shelling out a fortune to hunt for pirate issues), such as Leinsdorf's Mahler 6th, Ancerl's VSO stuff (which seem to be gradually appearing at last on Australian Eloquence) or Steinberg's Pittsburgh Brahms cycle. Definitely, these big boxes are the way to go to acquire high-quality transfers of forgotten recordings in bulk (though I won't pretend to have heard every single CD of them!).

[sbugala]

There seem to be quite a lot of these big artist boxes by no-name reissue labels nowadays, particularly in the Japanese market. I own a few from the Venias label (Ancerl, Monteux, Markevitch, Keilberth) and from the Artis label (Leinsdorf, ie. the box under discussion, and Steinberg). Those worrying about excessive noise-filtering and subpar sound quality need not worry here--as far as I can tell (and I have compared many of the recordings in the boxes with the original or "official" releases) they sound extremely similar if not entirely identical or better. You also get stuff that is basically impossible to find on CD (without shelling out a fortune to hunt for pirate issues), such as Leinsdorf's Mahler 6th, Ancerl's VSO stuff (which seem to be gradually appearing at last on Australian Eloquence) or Steinberg's Pittsburgh Brahms cycle. Definitely, these big boxes are the way to go to acquire high-quality transfers of forgotten recordings in bulk (though I won't pretend to have heard every single CD of them!).

Perfect! Thanks for allaying my fears. I'll plan on getting it. And if RCA finally DOES give him the big box treatment, I'll just have a few duplicates. However, there's enough stuff from his Capital/EMI days that it's still worth it.