Great Conductors of the 20th Century series
Posted by: Todd A on 13 September 2002
I have now purchased three of the initial 15 releases in this series and must say that this is an exceptionally well-done series. I think EMI has done a better job than Philips did in the Great Pianists set in many respects, except, of course, for presentation (which is of secondary importance anyway). The transfers all seem better - as they should since even better technology is available - and the price is more appropriate. So far I have got the Ancerl, Ansermet, and Erich Kleiber sets. I would pretty much rank them in that order. The Ancerl set is a truly excpetional release, packed with outstanding performances, as I have noted before. The Ansermet, too, is quite fine, with a good (but not great) Bartok Concerto for Orchestra, and some wonderful Chabrier and Stravinsky. The Kleiber is most notable for the Beethoven Sixth.
I am most likely going to snap up the Fricsay set, and perhaps the Koussevitsky. I also look forward to the future releases.
Which brings me to the point of my post. Since only 45 "titles" remain, who do you think warrants inclusion that may be overlooked? And some will. Look at the Great Pianists series. No Annie Fischer. No Horszowski. No Sandor.
Clearly, future batches must include Furtwangler, Toscanini, Klemperer, Karajan (like him or not), Bernstein, Kubelik, and the other big names. But perhaps Michael Gielen won't make it. I would think it scandalous, but it could happen. I don't really think Maurice Abravanel will make it, though he should. Granted, the Utah Symphony Orchestra is not the best, and his performances can vary wildly (compare his Mahler 6 and Mahler 9), but any conductor who can present Varese as he can, and can deliver a compelling Mahler 5 deserves inclusion. EMI and IMG had damn well include Boulez, as well. Any other names you think might get missed, or perhaps that should not be included but probably will be?
I am most likely going to snap up the Fricsay set, and perhaps the Koussevitsky. I also look forward to the future releases.
Which brings me to the point of my post. Since only 45 "titles" remain, who do you think warrants inclusion that may be overlooked? And some will. Look at the Great Pianists series. No Annie Fischer. No Horszowski. No Sandor.
Clearly, future batches must include Furtwangler, Toscanini, Klemperer, Karajan (like him or not), Bernstein, Kubelik, and the other big names. But perhaps Michael Gielen won't make it. I would think it scandalous, but it could happen. I don't really think Maurice Abravanel will make it, though he should. Granted, the Utah Symphony Orchestra is not the best, and his performances can vary wildly (compare his Mahler 6 and Mahler 9), but any conductor who can present Varese as he can, and can deliver a compelling Mahler 5 deserves inclusion. EMI and IMG had damn well include Boulez, as well. Any other names you think might get missed, or perhaps that should not be included but probably will be?