George Szell - Sony Complete Columbia & Epic Album Collection out this August, 106 discs

[RebLem]

I hope you all do know about the Szell Bruckner 7th with the Wiener Phil. (63'57) from the Salzburg Festival 21 AUG 1968 on Sony.

[T. Schurk]

If this link works, here is a disc by disc listing for the Szell box. It looks to be complete, the only thing missing is the Tokyo/1970 live, which wasn't a Columbia/Epic release. http://www.hmv.co.jp/artist_Box-Set-Cla ... em_ジョージ・セル／ザ・コンプリート・アルバム・コレクション（106CD）_8780845

[T. Schurk]

Ugh, if you type "Szell" into the Hmv/Japan search box, it will bring up the listing. The translation is hilarious as usual, but the disc by disc content looks pretty accurate for the most part.

[Lance]

I have those two West Hill Radio Archives sets ... they are wonderful. Interesting to hear what Szell does with the NYP. Some surprising repertoire on these discs, especially (for me) the collaborations: Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, NYP, Eugene List, piano (1943); Prokofiev Violin Concerto #1, Cleveland, Joseph Szigeti, violin (1945); Lalo Symphonie espagnol, Cleveland, Alfredo Campoli, violin (1953); and Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2, NYP, Clifford Curzon, piano (1953). I can't seem to get enough of this live material.

I am still very undecided on whether to get this new box or not. My inclination is NOT to get it as I have so much of Szell on CDs (and LPs). For me, the Cleveland Orchestra was Szell's alone.

And West Hill Radio Archives has made a nice 2x2-CD collection of live broadcasts from Cleveland and New York available commercially with excellent annotations and transfers by Lani Spahr: The Art of George Szell, vols 1 & 2.

[T. Schurk]

I inquired to Sony Classical as to whether Robert Russ (producer of the Serkin, Munch, and Reiner boxes - all fine issues) was producing the Szell box, and they replied..".Hi Todd,
The George Szell Box is being produced by our in-house
producer Robert Russ with engineers from Swan Studios, NYC, Andreas K. Meyer and Rebekah Wineman as well
as b-sharp, Berlin, Martin Kistner and Matthias Erb."

[jserraglio]

Your HMV link with the TOC in Japanese shortened. Thanks.

https://tinyurl.com/y7anvf85

[T. Schurk]

Thanks! Yes much better!

[jserraglio]

Thanks! Yes much better!

Lani Spahr some time ago posted on another board two interesting short works (TT: about 30 min.) that were originally intended for his West Hill Radio Archives sets that he did the transfers for but didn't make the cut.

The art work for these outtakes is my own, loosely based on the original WHRA sets.

BTW has anyone mentioned the Book-of-the-Month-Club sets issued in the early 50s? I have several of those on LP.

[jserraglio]

TOC for Discs 1-42: Edited from Japanee, Google Translation. All with TCO unless otherwise indicated:

Disc 1
Dvorak:
1. Slavonic Dance No. 1 Op.46-1
2. Slavonic Dance No. 3 Op. 46-3
3. Slavonic Dance No. 8 Op. 46 - 8
4. Slavonic Dance No. 10 Op. 72 - 2
5. Slavonic Dance No. 15 Op. 72 - 7
6. Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 "From My Life" (Arr. Szell)
April 21, 1947 (1-5), April 26, 1947 (6)

Disc 2
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 Op. 60
April 22, 1947
2. Schumann: Symphony No. 4 Op. 120
November 26, 1947

Disc 3
1. Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in D major, K.543
April 22, 1947
2. Haydn: Symphony No. 92 "Oxford"
April 27, 1949

Disc 4
1. Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major Op. 90 "Italian"
November 26, 1947, November 17, 1951
2. Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis on a Theme by Weber
November 25, 1947
3. R. Strauss: Symphonic Poem "Tll Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks" Op.28
April 15, 1949

Disc 5
1. Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor Op. 95 "From the New World"
January 18, 1952

Disc 6
1. Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major, S. 125
2. Weber: Konzertstück in F minor Op. 79
Robert Casadesus (piano)
January 20, 1952

Disc 7
1. Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major Op. 61
November 28, 1952

Disc 8
1. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op.15
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
November 30, 1952

Disc 9
1. J. S. Bach: Violin Concerto in G minor BWV 1056 (Szigeti Edition)
January 13, 1954
2. Handel: Violin Sonata HWV 371
February 23, 1954
3. Tartini: Violin Concerto in D Minor, D.45
January 15, 1954
4. Tartini: Violin Sonata B.G.19
February 22, 1954
5. J. S. Bach: Violin Concerto in E major, BWV. 1053
January 6, 1953
Josef Szigeti (violin: 1-4)
Zino Franciscatti (violin: 5)
Carlo Buzzotti (piano: 2, 4)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra (1,3,5)

Disc 10
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C major, K.491
January 12 - 13, 1954
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major K.537 "Coronation"
January 15 - 16, 1954
Robert Casadesus (piano)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Disc 11
1. Dvorak: Piano Concerto in G minor Op.33
April 9, 11, 1954
2. Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme Op.33
January 8, 1952
Rudolf Firkusny (piano: 1)
Leonard Rose (cello: 2)

Disc 12
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op. 67
2. Schubert: Symphony No. 8 D.759 "Unfinished"
November 26, 1955

Disc 13
1. Haydn: Symphony No. 88 in G major
2. Haydn: Symphony No. 104 in D major "London"
April 9, 1954

Disc 14
1. Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op.46 (8)
2. Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op. 72 (8)
Feb. 24-26 and March 16-17, 1956

Disc 15
1. Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550
2. Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K.551 "Jupiter"
November 18, 1955

Disc 16
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 10 (two pianos) K.365
December 19, 1955, 21
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K.414
December 20, 1955
Robert Casadesus (piano)
Gaby Casadesus (Piano: 1)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Disc 17
Wagner:
1. Ride of the Valkyries (Walkure)
2. Magic Fire Music (Walkure)
3. Forest Murmurs (Siegfried)
4. Siegfried’s Rhine Journey (Gotterdammerung)
5. Siegfried’s Funeral March (Gotterdammerung)
November 2, 1956

Disc 18
1. Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op.43
October 26, 1956
2. Franck: Symphonic Variations M.46
December 28, 1956
3. Delius: "Irmeline" Prelude
October 28, 1956
Leon Fleischer (piano: 1, 2)

Disc 19
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K.453
November 20-21, 1955
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K.503
20 - 21 November 1955, 16 April 1953
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Disc 20
1. Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor
1-2 March 1957

Disc 21
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 Op.55 "Eroica"
February 22 - 23, 1957

Disc 22
1. Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C major D.944 "Great"
November 1, 1957

Disc 23
1. R. Strauss: Symphonic Poem "Til Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks" Op.28
2. R. Strauss: Symphonic Poem "Don Juan" Op.20
3. R. Strauss: Symphonic Poem "Death and Transfiguration Op.24
March 29, 1957

Disc 24
1. Haydn: Symphony No. 97 in C Major
2. Haydn: Symphony No. 99 in E-flat Major
October 25 - 26, 1957

Disc 25
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 K.466
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 18 in D major, K.456
Robert Casadesus (piano)
October 10 - 11, 1957

Disc 26
1. Tchaikovsky: Capriccio italien Op.45
2. Borodin: Polovtsian Dances
3. Rimsky = Korsakov: Capriccio espagnole Op.34
4. Mussorgsky: Preludes from "Khovanshina"; "Dawn on the Moscow River"
February 28, 1958, March 1, 1958

Disc 27
1. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op.15
Leon Fleischer (piano)
February 21-22, 1958

Disc 28
1. J. Strauss II: "Fledermaus" Overture
March 1, 1958
2. Aubert: "Fra Diavolo" Overture
November 2, 1957
3. Mozart: "Marriage of Figaro" Overture
October 25, 1957
4. Smetana: "Bartered Bride" Overture
March 15, 1958
5. Rossini: "Thieving Magpie" Overture
March 15, 1958
6. Berlioz: “Roman Carnival" Overture
March 15, 1958
7. Mozart: “Schauspieldirektor” Overture
January 28 - 29, 1966

Disc 29
1. Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 in G major Op. 88
October 25, 31, 1958, November 1, 1958

Disc 30
1. Walton: Partita for Orchestra
January 21, 1959
2. Mahler: Symphony No. 10 I. Adagio (Arr. Krenek)
3. Mahler: Symphony No. 10 III. Purgatorio (Arr. Krenek)
November 1, 1958

Disc 31
1. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 Op. 58
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major, K.503
Leon Fleischer (piano)
January 10, 1959

Disc 32
1. Dvorak: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor Op. 95 "From the New World"
March 20 - 21, 1959

Disc 33
1. Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E Minor Op. 64
23-24 October 1959

Disc 34
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A major 92 Op. 92
October 30-31, 1959

Disc 35
1. Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5 Op. 100
October 24 and 31, 1959

Disc 36
1. Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Minor Op.16
2. Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor Op.54
Leon Fleischer (piano)
January 8, 1960

Disc 37
1. Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 Op. 70
March 18, 1960

Disc 38
1. Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K.385 "Hafner"
January 8-10, 1960
2. Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in D Major, K.543
March 11 - 12, 1960
3. Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K.550
August 25, 1967

Disc 39
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 E-flat Major K.482
November 13, 1959
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major, K.488
November 14-15, 1958
Robert Casadesus (piano)

Disc 40
1. Schumann: Symphony No. 1 Op. 38 "Spring"
January 21, 1959
2. Schumann: "Manfred" Overture Op.115
January 21, 1959
3. Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major Op. 61
October 21, 24, 1960

Disc 41
1. Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major Op.97 "Rhenish"
October 21, 1960
2. Schumann: Symphony No. 4 Op. 120
March 12, 22, 1960

Disc 42
1. R. Strauss: Symphonic Poem "Don Quixote" Op.35
Pierre Fournier (cello)
October 28 - 29, 1960

[jserraglio]

TOC Discs 43-75

Disc 43
1. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major Op.15
Leon Fleischer (piano)
February 25, 1961

Disc 44
1. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in D major Op.19
2. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor Op.37
Leon Fleischer (piano)
April 16, 1961

Disc 45
1. Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major Op. 73 "Emperor"
Leon Fleischer (piano)
March 3-4, 1961

Disc 46
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 "Choral"
Adele Addison (soprano), Jane Hobson (mezzo soprano)
Richard Lewis (tenor), Donald Bell (baritone) & Choir
April 15, 21, 22 April 1961

Disc 47
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 in F major Op. 93
April 15, 1961

Disc 48
1. Stravinsky: "Firebird" Suite (1919 edition)
February 24, 1961, March 3, 4, 1961
2. Walton: Symphony No. 2
February 24, 1961

Disc 49
1. Schubert: Symphony No. 8 D.759 "Unfinished"
March 12, 1960
2. Haydn: Symphony No. 92 Major, "Oxford"
October 20, 1961

Disc 50
1. Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major K.622
October 21, 1961
2. R. Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1 Op. 11
October 27, 1961
Robert Marcellus (clarinet)
Myron Bloom (Horn)

Disc 51
1. Prelude and "Liebestod" from "Tristan and Isolde"
2. Prelude to Act 1 "Meistersinger"
3. Overture "Tannhäuser"
January 26, 1962

Disc 52
1. Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor Op.64
December 1, 1961
2. Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor Op.26
January 23, 1962
Zino Franciscatti (violin)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Schippers, New York Philharmonic (2)

Disc 53
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major Op. 68 "Pastoral"
January 20-21, 1962

Disc 54
1. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 83
Leon Fleischer (piano)
October 19, 1962

Disc 55
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major K.537 "Coronation "
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 27 in D major K.595
Robert Casadesus (piano)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
2-4 November 1962

Disc 56
1. Bartok: Piano Concerto No. 1 Sz.83
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
April 20-21, 1962
2. Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 4 Op. 53
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra
March 30, 1958

Disc 57
1. J. Strauss II: Waltz “Blue Danube" Op.314
2. J. Strauss II & Josef Strauss: Pizzicato Polka
3. Josef Strauss: Waltz "Deliren” Op.212
4. J. Strauss II: Waltz "Voices of Spring" Op.410
5. Josef Strauss: Waltz " Village Swallows from Austria" Op.164
6. J. Strauss II: Perpetuum Mobile Op.257
January 5, 1962

Disc 58
1. Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major Op. 90 "Italian"
October 26, 1962
2. Mendelssohn: Overture "Fingal's Cave" Op.26
October 26, 1962
3. Weber: "Oberon" Overture
January 4, 1963

Disc 59
1. Debussy: Symphonic Poem "La Mer" L. 109
2. Ravel: "Daphnis and Chloe" Suite No. 2
3. Ravel: Pavane for a Dead Princess
January 11 - 12, 1963

Disc 60
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 Op. 60
2. Beethoven: Overture "Leonore" No. 3 Op. 73b
April 5-6, 1963

Disc 61
1. Smetana: "Moldau" from "My Country"
January 4-5, 1963
2. Smetana: Three Dances from "The Bartered Bride"
August 2, 1962, January 4-5, 1963
3. Dvorak: Overture 'Carnival' Op.92
July 19, 1962, January 4-5, 1963
4. Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op.46 No. 1, No. 3
July 19, 1962, August 2, 1962, January 4-5, 1963
5. Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op. 72, No. 2, No. 7
July 19, 1962, August 2, 1962, January 4-5, 1963

Disc 62
1. Mussorgsky: Suite "Pictures at an Exhibition" (Ravel)
2. Liadoff: The Enchanted Lake Op.62
October 30, 1963

Disc 63
1. Mozart: Symphony No. 33 in B-flat K.319
October 26, 1962
2. Mozart: Divertimento in D Major K.131
April 20, 1963
3. Mozart: Symphony No. 28 in C major K.200
October 5, 1965

Disc 64
1. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 1 K. 207
Isaac Stern (violin)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
January 22 - 23, 1961
2. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K.219 "Turkish"
Isaac Stern (violin)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
April 19, 1963
3. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major K.216
Isaac Stern (violin)
Cleveland Orchestra members
January 21-22, 1961

Disc 65
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major, K.459
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 K.466
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra
26-28 April 1961

Disc 66
1. Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante K.364
Rafael Druian (violin), Abraham Skernick (viola)
Cleveland Orchestra members
December 28, 1963
2. Mozart: Motet "Exsultate, jubilate" K.165
Judith Raskin (soprano)
Cleveland Orchestra members
May 11, 1964

Disc 67
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op.67
2. Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major K.551 "Jupiter"
October 11 and 25, 1963

Disc 68
1. R. Strauss: Symphonia Domestica Op.53
January 10, 1964

Disc 69
1. Barber: Piano Concerto Op.38
John Browning (piano)
January 3, 1964
2. William Schuman: Song of Orpheus
Leonard Rose (cello)
January 11, 1964

Disc 70
1. Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F major Op.90
October 16, 1964
2. Brahms: Variations on a Theme of Haydn Op.56a
October 24, 1964

Disc 71
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C Major Op.21
October 2, 1964
2. Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 36
October 23, 1964

Disc 72
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K.467
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C major, K.491
Robert Casadesus (piano)
3-5 November 1961

Disc 73
1. Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op.46 (8)
2. Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Op.72 (8)
July 19, 1962, August 2, 1962, January 4-5, 1963

Disc 74
1. Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra Sz.116
January 15 - 16, 1965
2. Janacek: Sinfonietta Op.60
October 15, 1965

Disc 75
1. Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G major
Judith Raskin (soprano)
October 1-2, 1965

[jserraglio]

I inquired to Sony Classical as to whether Robert Russ (producer of the Serkin, Munch, and Reiner boxes - all fine issues) was producing the Szell box, and they replied..".Hi Todd,
The George Szell Box is being produced by our in-house
producer Robert Russ with engineers from Swan Studios, NYC, Andreas K. Meyer and Rebekah Wineman as wellas b-sharp, Berlin, Martin Kistner and Matthias Erb."

Thanks. A bit more on Robt. Russ QTD from another forum:

Robert Russ has produced all the Sony big boxes of the last 7 or 8 or so years. Including obtaining Japanese XRCD masters for Rubinstein and Toscanini boxes.

Looks like a good chance then that a number of these recordings will be remastered. I am working on the last batch of the machine-translated table-of-contents list (discs 76-106) and will post it ASAP.

[Lance]

One of the compositions that stood out was the Dvorak Piano Concerto with Szell, Rudolf Firkusny, pianist. I have that on a Columbia LP [ML-4967], and don't believe that has ever been transferred to CD until now. Anybody know for sure? Of course Firkusny has made many recordings of this concerto. I recall this LP as being extraordinary in its interpretation.

All the Rudolf Serkin his complete recordings on Sony [40406], and Robert Casadesus with Szell has been issued on CD near as I know. Years ago a 19-CD set [5034002] of Casadesus was issued by Columbia/France of some pretty rare material from early in his career. This was before the days of "mega-sets" that are so common today.

It's compositions like those and other collaborations that will make collectors want to acquire this set. I do wonder, however, whether the price will come down given the fact that many collectors already have a substantial portion of Szell's works on CDs. If so, the market will be flooded with individual Szell CDs where that repertoire appears in the forthcoming "big box."

[T. Schurk]

The date info on the HMV/Japan disc listing for disc 14, Dvorak Slavonic dances is incorrect. This first complete set by Szell, in mono, was recorded over 2 different sessions - Feb. 24 -26 and March 16 - 17, 1956. And for Lance - the Dvorak Piano Concerto was issued on CD in United Archives Szell edition volume 5, a 3 CD set.

[jserraglio]

The rest of the discography for this issue, Discs 76-106, with apologies for any errors in translation from the Japanese:

Disc 76
1. Bizet: "Arlesienne" Suite 1
March 25, 1965
2. Bizet: "Farandole" from "Arlesienne” Suite 2
March 25, 1965
3. Grieg: "Peer Gynt" Suite 1
February 16, 1965
4. Grieg: "Solveig’s Song" from "Peer Gynt" Suite 2
February 16, 1965

Disc 77
1. Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 (1889 3rd ed. Novak version)
January 28 - 29, 1966

Disc 78
Wagner:
1. "Flying Dutchman" Overture
2. "Faust" Overture
3. "Lohengrin" Prelude to Act 1
4. "Rienzi" Overture
December 10, 1965

Disc 79
Prokofiev:
1. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major Op.26
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major Op.10
Gary Graffman (piano)
March 26, 1966
3. Piano Sonata No. 3 in A Minor "From Old Notebooks" Op 28
Gary Graffman (piano)
December 26, 1962

Disc 80
Beethoven:
1. "Egmont" Overture Op. 84
October 8, 1966
2. "Coriolan" Overture Op.62
October 29, 1966
3. "King Stephen” Overture Op. 117
October 29, 1966
4. "Leonore" Overture No. 2 Op. 72b
October 8, 1966
5. "Leonore" Overture No. 1 Op.138
August 25, 1967
6. "Fidelio" Overture Op. 72b
August 25, 1967

Disc 81
1. Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor Op. 68
October 7, 1966

Disc 82
Brahms:
1. Symphony No. 2 in D Major Op. 73
January 6, 1967
2. Academic Festival Overture Op.80
October 28, 1966
3. Tragic Overture Op.81
October 28, 1966

Disc 83
1. Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in C minor Op. 98
April 8, 1966

Disc 84
1. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major Op. 83
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
January 21-22, 1966

Disc 85
1. Mendelssohn: "Midsummer Night's Dream" Overture Op.21
2. Mendelssohn: From Incidental Music to 'MND’ Op. 61 (Scherzo, Nocturne, Interlude, Marriage March)
January 13, 1967
3. Schubert: From Incidental Music to "Rosamunde" D.797 Op 26 (Overture, Interlude 3, Ballet Music 2)
January 7, 1967

Disc 86
Rossini:
1. "Viaggio a Reims" Overture
January 14, 1967
2. "Scala di sieta" Overture
May 27, 1967
3. Overture 'Italiana in Algieri'
May 5, 1967
4. "Turco in Italia" Overture
January 14, 1967
5. "Thieving Magpie" Overture
May 5, 1967

Disc 87
1. Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in minor, Op.15
Rudolf Serkin (piano)
April 19 - 20, 1968

Disc 88
1. Haydn: Symphony No. 93 in D major
April 19, 1968
2. Haydn: Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise"
May 5, 1967

Disc 89
1. Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by C.M. von Weber
October 10, 1964
2. Walton: Variations on a Theme by Hindemith
October 9, 1964

Disc 90
1. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 15 Bloomberg major, K.450
October 18, 1968
2. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K. 453
October 18, 19, 21, 1964
Robert Casadesus (piano)

Disc 91
1. Mozart: Serenade No. 13 K.525 "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"
October 7, 1968
2. Mozart: Serenade No. 9 K.320 "Posthorn"
January 10, 1969

Disc 92
Wagner:
1. "The Entrance to Valhalla" from "Rheingold "
2. "Valkyrie's Ride" from "Walkure"
3. "Magical Fire Music" from "Walkure"
4. “Forest Murmurs” from "Siegfried"
5. "Siegfried’s Rhine Journey” from “Gotterdammerung"
6. "Siegfried's Funeral March" from “Gotterdammerung"
October 7, 11. 12, 1968

Disc 93
1. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor Op.23
Gary Graffman (piano)
January 24 - 25, 1969, March 20

Disc 94
1. Kodaly: "Hary Janos" Suite
January 10 - 11, 1969
2. Prokofiev: Suite "Lieutenant Kije"
January 17-18, 1969

Discs 95-96
1. Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 in C major (1890 2nd Novak version)
3, 6, 10, 13 October 1969

Disc 97
1. Haydn: Symphony No. 95 in C minor
January 17-18, 1969
2. Haydn: Symphony No. 96 in D major "Miracle"
October 11 - 12, 1969

Disc 98
1. Haydn: Symphony No. 97 in C Major
October 3, 6, 1969
2. Haydn: Symphony No. 98 in B-flat Major
October 10, 1969

Disc 99
1. Mahler: Symphony No. 6 in Minor "Tragic"
October 1967 (live)

Disc 100
1. Smetana: "Moldau" from "My Country"
January 7 - 8, 1951
2. Smetana: "From the Bohemian Forest and the Prairie" from "My Country"
January 8, 1951
3. Mendelssohn: "Midsummer Night's Dream" Overture Op.21
4. Mendelssohn: From "MND" Op. 61 (Scherzo, Nocturne, Interlude, Marriage March)
January 8, 17, 1951
New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Disc 101
1. Wagner: Prelude to Act 1 of "Die Meistersinger"
January 8, 1951
2. Wagner: "Rienzi" Overture
3. Wagner: "Tannhäuser" Overture
4. Wagner: "The Fying Dutchman" Overture
January 4, 1951
5. Weber: "Der Freischutz" Overture
6. Weber: "Oberon" Overture
January 8, 1951
New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Disc 102
1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major Op. 68 "Pastoral"
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
December 5, 1955

Disc 103
1. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor Op.23
Vladimir Horowitz (piano)
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
January 12, 1953 (live)

Disc 104
1. Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor K.478
2. Mozart: Piano Quartet No.2 in E-flat major K.493
George Szell (piano)
Budapest String Quartet
August 19 - 20, 1946

Disc 105
Mozart:
1. Violin Sonata in F major, K.376
2. Violin Sonata in G major, K.301
3. Violin Sonata in E minor K.304
4. Violin Sonata in C major, K.296
Rafael Druian (violin)
George Szell (piano)
1-3 August 1967

Disc 106
1. Trad: Happy Birthday (Hershey Kay)
2. Trad: Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly (Hershey Kay)
3. Trad: Patatan (Hershey Kay)
May 12, 1967

4. George Szell interview: Talking about 1947-1970 with the Cleveland Orchestra
5. George Szell interview: Talking about "R. Strauss: Domestic Symphony"
6. George Szell interview: Talking about "Mozart: Symphonies No. 28 & 33"
7. George Szell Interview: Talking about "Bruckner: Symphony No. 3"
8. George Szell interview: Talking about "Brahms: Variations on the Theme of Haydn, Tragic Overture"
9. George Szell and Producer Paul Myer: Discuss music, musicians, conductor's life

[Lance]

Joe, many thanks for translating all the Szell recordings in three nice groups! Much appreciated.

[RebLem]

One of the most amazing recording Szell ever made is of the Tchaikovsky 4th with the LSO. As it's a Decca recording it's not in the box.

Another is his Dvorak Cello Concerto with Pierre Fournier and the Berlin Phil.

[Lance]

Fortunately the Dvorak Cello Concerto was issued twice on CD with Szell conducting:

a) Pierre Fournier Edition, DGG 479 6909, 25 CDs (Fournier's complete Decca & DGG recordings)
b) DGG 478 4233 Dvorak/Szell on a single CD coupled with Kubelik conducting the Dvorak Symphony #8 with the Berlin Philharmonic

On another note: Today the 3 CD set arrived on United Archives (Volume 5, 013) transfered by Lani Sphar. I believe all the CDs have been transferred from the original LPs. I was particularly interested in the Dvorak Piano Concerto with Rudolf Firkusny. I know Spahr's transfers are excellent. Another reason (I suppose) NOT to go after the 106 CD set though it would also be grand to hear the transfer made by Sony off original masters.

Another is his Dvorak Cello Concerto with Pierre Fournier and the Berlin Phil.

[jserraglio]

and this . . .

[maestrob]

One of the most amazing recording Szell ever made is of the Tchaikovsky 4th with the LSO. As it's a Decca recording it's not in the box.

Another is his Dvorak Cello Concerto with Pierre Fournier and the Berlin Phil.

To this day Fournier/Szell is my favorite recording of the Dvorak Cello Concerto.

[Mookalafalas]

Price already down to 199 Euros from Amazon.de (Germany). They actually take off the VAT when you order, so it gets cheaper, thought they charge a lot for shipping...

[Lance]

No doubt the price will continue to come down as time moves on. The many Szell record collectors (and there are many, including me), have much on CD of what is involved in the new 106-CD set. Most likely, I will NOT be getting this one myself ... far too much duplication with what already exists. On the other hand, there are many of the older (mono and early stereo recordings) that are making their first appearance from the original tapes. There are always a handful of items in these mega-sets one wishes he or she had. None of us can have everything but I'm very happy I have what I have.

[jserraglio]

pre-order price is $221.98 on amazon.com.us today.
too pricey for me at this juncture.

https://www.amazon.com/George-Szell-Com ... B079VD2YRP

[maestrob]

pre-order price is $221.98 on amazon.com.us today.
too pricey for me at this juncture.

https://www.amazon.com/George-Szell-Com ... B079VD2YRP

Yes, that's just the opening bid. I'll wait as well.

[T. Schurk]

For those who have Spotify, the first dozen and a half discs in the Szell box are available in their new remasterings, and from my samplings ( not withstanding Spotify's bit rate) my verdict is they've done a wonderful job. I listened to the 1957 Brahms 1 ( rec. March 1& 2, '57, a week after the first stereo Epic label Szell/Cleveland recording - Beethoven's Eroica) and the sound is quite astonishing - warm, balanced, in a rather generous acoustic (was this Masonic auditorium and not Severance hal?), with hardly any of the distortion and wow that I've found on numerous copies of the original Epic LP's I've owned over the years. It's really a revelation, as well as one of Szell's most magnificent recorded interpretations. I'm blown away. Try to hear if you can.

[jserraglio]

I listened to the 1957 Brahms 1 ( rec. March 1& 2, '57 . . . and the sound is quite astonishing - warm, balanced, in a rather generous acoustic (was this Masonic auditorium and not Severance hal?), with hardly any of the distortion and wow that I've found on numerous copies of the original Epic LP's I've owned over the years. It's really a revelation, as well as one of Szell's most magnificent recorded interpretations. I'm blown away. Try to hear if you can.

Thanks.
Brahms 1 (1957)

https://open.spotify.com/album/1cHqJDVf ... bgSxr?fo=1

[Lance]

Nice this finally showed up on Amazon. $221.98 plus 8% tax isn't a bad price for 106 discs and all the packaging/book that comes with this set. I was thinking the retail on this product would be at least $3/USD per CD. Like you, I am still teetering since I already have probably all the important material of Szell on CD and still much on LPs as well. Too many times I have seen the prices rise considerably for mega-sets after a couple of months. One just doesn't know for sure.

pre-order price is $221.98 on amazon.com.us today.
too pricey for me at this juncture.

https://www.amazon.com/George-Szell-Com ... B079VD2YRP

Yes, that's just the opening bid. I'll wait as well.

[jserraglio]

Correction to the TOC I posted above.

Disc 89
2. Walton: Variations on a Theme by Hindemith
October 9, 1964

instead of . . .

2. Janacek: Variations on a Theme by Hindemith
October 9, 1964

[jserraglio]

This interesting comment comes from a seasoned listener on RMCR who has auditioned all the free tracks available in advance of the release of the megabox.

I have the complete Szell box on order at bullmoose.com, but in the meantime I have been listening to those of the individual disks that have appeared on Napster.com and Amazon.com. If you have not heard them, you really must. The seemingly intractable defects that have plagued those recordings through decades of format changes and remasterings seem at last to have been overcome. For example, I have both the Sony Original Jacket Collection of the Beethoven Symphonies, and the version of the same recordings in the Korean "Szell Edition" box. Though both are markedly superior to the Essential Classics edition, they pale before the remasterings in the new box. The papery quality of the violins'upper partials has vanished, as has the glutinous, monochrome tone of the 'cellos and violas. In their place, warmth and color. What was suavity and discipline is now passion and humane expressivity. I just listened to the Pastoral Symphony, and, as you may have been able to detect, can hardly contain my excitement.

Now selling for under 2 bucks per disc with free shipping at several outfits.

[Lance]

The price on this set is becoming more enticing. Under $2/disc for such a deluxe box as this is quite a value considering the cost of original LPs and CDs already issued on the retail market. I am really pondering this one! And the Alicia de Larrocha on Decca even though I have most everything she recorded. There are a few surprises in her edition, however. The only problem is will we live long enough to traverse all this fabulous material? Probably not.

[T. Schurk]

It seems that the Szell box has been expanded by 6 discs to a total of 112 according to quite a few pre- order sites, that now list (from disc 100 through 112, 1 through 99 remaining the same) the last 12 discs as follows...
CD 100:
Smetana - Má Vlast, JB1:112: II. Vltava
Smetana - Má Vlast, JB1:112: IV. From Bohemian Fields and Groves
Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream: Incidental Music, op.61

CD 101:
Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Prelude to Act I
Wagner - Rienzi: Overture
Wagner - Tannhäuser: Overture
Wagner - Der fliegende Holländer: Overture
Weber - Der Freischütz, op.77: Overture
Weber - Oberon, J306: Overture

CD 102:
Beethoven - Symphony no.6 in F major, op.68 "Pastoral"

CD 103:
Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto no.1 in B flat minor, op.23 (Vladimir Horowitz, piano)

CD 104:
Mozart - Piano Concerto no.9 in E flat major, K271
Mozart - Symphony no.41 in C major, K551 "Jupiter"

CD 105:
Mozart - Symphonie no.35 in D major, K385 "Haffner"
Mozart - Violin Concerto no.5 in A major, K219
Haydn - Symphony in G major, Hob.I:92 "Oxford"

CD 106:
Beethoven - Egmont Overture, op.84
Beethoven - Symphony no.3 in E flat major, op.55 "Eroica"

CD 107:
Bruckner - Symphony no.3 in D minor

CD 108:
Bruckner - Symphony no.7 in E major

CD 109:
Mozart - Piano Quartet in G minor, K478 (George Szell, piano)
Mozart - Piano Quartet in E flat major, K493 (George Szell, piano)

CD 110:
Mozart - Violin Sonata in E flat major, K481 (Joseph Szigeti, violin; George Szell, piano)
Mozart - Violin Sonata in B flat major, K454 (Joseph Szigeti, violin; George Szell, piano)

CD 111:
Mozart - Violin Sonata in F major, K376 (Rafael Druian, violin; George Szell, piano)
Mozart - Violin Sonata in G major, K301/293a (Rafael Druian, violin; George Szell, piano)
Mozart - Violin Sonata in E minor, K304/300c (Rafael Druian, violin; George Szell, piano)
Mozart - Violin Sonata in C major, K296 (Rafael Druian, violin; George Szell, piano)

CD 112:
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly
Joy to the World
Pat-a-pan
George Szell talks with Columbia Records producer Paul Myers about Music, Musicians and his Life as Conductor
George Szell Speaks
George Szell in Interview, Winter 1964/65
George Szell in Interview, Summer 1966
George Szell in Interview, Autumn 1966
George Szell in Interview, Spring 1967 (the added 6 discs are 5 live Salzburg concerts - with various orchestras, and 1 disc of Mozart piano and violin sonatas w/J. Szigeti. I'm trying to get some confirmation from Sony Classical on this. We'll see. The release date is approaching, August 10!

[jserraglio]

Thanks! Target now has the set listed for preorder at $158.69, exclusive of shipping.

[maestrob]

Thanks! Target now has the set listed for preorder at $158.69, exclusive of shipping.

That's a good price, better than amazon's $195. I'm waiting to see what lower prices third party sellers will offer on amazon, as I have a gift card to redeem.

[Lance]

Thanks! Target now has the set listed for preorder at $158.69, exclusive of shipping.

Joe, can you point me to a Target site that offers this. We do have a Target in town but I have never known them to stock classical CDs.

[jserraglio]

Thanks! Target now has the set listed for preorder at $158.69, exclusive of shipping.

Joe, can you point me to a Target site that offers this. We do have a Target in town but I have never known them to stock classical CDs.

It's being offered online not in store. the price might include shipping.

https://www.target.com/p/george-szell-g ... A-53787844

[T. Schurk]

And I just received confirmation from Sony Classical that the box is indeed 106 discs, not the expanded 112. So no Salzburg and Szigeti, and the original list is the correct one. (From the Sony Classical Facebook page).

[John F]

Listening to records I bought wa-a-ay back when, I've just finished with one involving Szell that impresses me less than it originally must have. It's recordings with Robert Casadesus of Weber's Konzertstück and Liszt's concerto no. 2. They're in such a hurry that maybe they had a train to catch, and in the Weber, Casadesus' playing can be pretty clumsy. Could have been just an off day. Unusual repertory for both of them, and not potential best-sellers when Columbia recorded them, so it makes me wonder.

I'm not a great fan of Casadesus in general. The only recordings I really like are the Ravel solo piano music; "Tombeau de Couperin" is just about ideal. I know many regard his Mozart concertos highly, but those I've heard seem rather heartless to me.

[jserraglio]

Qtd from a listener on another forum:

I'm listening [on Amazon and Apple music] to 256 kbps mp3s of the "Merry Overtures" LP from the forthcoming big box. The sound blows away every other version of this material that I have ever heard. The brass in particular has presence and timbral accuracy way beyond any previous incarnation in any format. Everything is in better focus, fuller sound, just breathtaking

[jserraglio]

Sony promo for the Szell box:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTAlPoQCyiU



_________________________________________


PLAYLISTS

Mahler: Symphony No. 4 (Remastered)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41b0Jh8 ... bs_rYaxO9I

Bohemian Carnival (Remastered)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtmKIFQ ... ttx5EUPv-q

Wagner Overtures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6xM-tf ... E4wS-oUQXH

Smetana: The Moldau & From Bohemians Fields and Groves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOfZTuQ ... bEMFdQYEM-

Brahms: Symphony No. 3, Op. 90 & Haydn Variations, Op. 56a (Remastered)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRk9HhL ... dvRqWpctf0

Szell Conducts Beethoven Overtures (Remastered)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0TZgjg ... xon7WLsnm0

Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D Minor (Remastered)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc3CxN6 ... sJDHS6LQDd_

George Szell & The Cleveland Orchestra "One Hundred Musicians and a Perfectionist"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6V927x ... iALFny6e0j

Bizet: L'Arlésienne - Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEsdMdI ... DJuELiWNMd

Mozart: Piano Quartets 1 & 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-aNvTJ ... RoW0YsuaRE

Mozart: Violin Sonatas, K. 296, 301, 304 & 376
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gQbHX6 ... Oi8j2Qv7vg

Christmas Melodies & Interviews
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... oMBBdykyj6

[Lance]

I tried to order the Szell set through Target and since I have one of their credit cards (that doesn't get used very often), I could have saved an additional 5%. Unfortunately, they are not shipping it right now. Actually, even the retail price is not that extraordinary for such a plush edition!

[jserraglio]

I tried to order the Szell set through Target and since I have one of their credit cards (that doesn't get used very often), I could have saved an additional 5%. Unfortunately, they are not shipping it right now. Actually, even the retail price is not that extraordinary for such a plush edition!

According to posters on rmcr, the demand for this set is so high that giants like Amazon are having their orders fulfilled first. Target and the other small fry and their customers are out of luck for now. Amazon has raised its price from $198 to $222.

But Classic Select has it in stock for $200 minus a 25% discount after you register with them. Net price = $150 which includes shipping. There might or might not be some tax added depending on where you are ordering from. https://www.classicselect.com/products/ ... on-112-cds

[maestrob]

I ordered my copy from amazon just to be sure, and it was shipped today. Will report on arrival. It seems there's a lot of buzz about this box, and I wanted to be sure to have a copy. Szell wasn't a perfect musician, but he one of the greats, and I'm glad to have this on my shelves next to the Bernstein Sony boxes.

Incidentally, I note that the Heifetz box is now selling for $1400 on amazon!

[Lance]

Joe, you are a PRINCE! This is the best price yet that I have seen, thanks to you. So, guess what? I should be receiving the set soon, hopefully. I am also thinking about dispensing all individual CDs for mega-boxed sets selling them on Amazon or eBay. And, of course, all those CDs are in immaculate condition. Not everyone I know is eager to have everything great artists have recorded. Some of us are exceptions to that, however, including me!

I tried to order the Szell set through Target and since I have one of their credit cards (that doesn't get used very often), I could have saved an additional 5%. Unfortunately, they are not shipping it right now. Actually, even the retail price is not that extraordinary for such a plush edition!

According to posters on rmcr, the demand for this set is so high that giants like Amazon are having their orders fulfilled first. Target and the other small fry and their customers are out of luck for now. Amazon has raised its price from $198 to $222.

But Classic Select has it in stock for $200 minus a 25% discount after you register with them. Net price = $150 which includes shipping. There might or might not be some tax added depending on where you are ordering from. https://www.classicselect.com/products/ ... on-112-cds

[jserraglio]

Lebrecht
August 14

http://slippedisc.com/2018/08/was-georg ... described/

[T. Schurk]

I'd like to add a specific example of the superiority of at least one remastering in the new Szell box. It concerns the Smetana Bartered Bride overture. In the older Masterworks Heritage release (with the last 3 Dvorak syms, etc) the sound in this piece is very center, almost mono sounding, especially on headphones, where in the new issue (on the "Merry Overtures" disc, the stereo field opens up much wider so that you can hear the string entrances very clearly from left (high strings) to right (low strings) in a natural stereo spread. It's so much better. There's plenty more examples like this one

[Mookalafalas]

This may be getting tiresome, but another price update, for those to whom this is central to buying or not buying. I live in Taiwan, and the box just came out for $180 (US). There is no tax. This is not a sale price--the price here tends not to go up or down once something is out. My experience is that the starting price here is what the US price will be after everything settles down. Certainly the box is a bargain at $221, but if $40, either in principle or reality, is very important to you, I suggest you wait a while before purchasing.

[Lance]

I eagerly await my copy for $150/USD, which includes postage. Not Amazon, who apparently gets the lion's share of the sets for distribution. It may be a wait but if it gets here soon, I'll be very happy. I also have on order the Alicia de Larrocha set, which I think I got a good deal on, too. In comparison to list prices, the Amazon prices are not all that endearing so it pays to go shopping.

This may be getting tiresome, but another price update, for those to whom this is central to buying or not buying. I live in Taiwan, and the box just came out for $180 (US). There is no tax. This is not a sale price--the price here tends not to go up or down once something is out. My experience is that the starting price here is what the US price will be after everything settles down. Certainly the box is a bargain at $221, but if $40, either in principle or reality, is very important to you, I suggest you wait a while before purchasing.

[T. Schurk]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/george-sze ... 1534971598

[Lance]

Has anyone received their SZELL set yet? I am still awaiting mine.

[T. Schurk]

Yes indeed! I received mine from ClassicSelect 2 weeks ago on August 23. Fantastic box, sturdy, great hardbound book, terrific sound work, most impressive!

[maestrob]

Yes, Lance, I agree! I ordered from amazon & paid a higher price just to guarantee that I would get the set, considering what it will be worth in the future, a few dollars extra didn't matter to me. Beautifully done, it's not quite a 12" box, but it fits nicely on my shelves.