120-disc Ormandy Columbia Legacy box is in the works

[maestrob]

If I were Philly and had to choose between getting royalties and not getting royalties on USA sales from recordings that are about 3/4 of a century old, I know which I would choose. I’m betting this set will appear in the US.

For me the issue is moot. If the set turns out to be unavailable in the States, I will order it from Germany or France. It is the most interesting mega box I have run across so far.

Agree. Ormandy's mono recordings have been in hiding for many decades, and this is the first time I've been aware of them being made available commercially in any authorized edition, especially a complete one such as this.

I also think that we'll see this box on amazon USA soon. They just have to ramp up production to make enough copies to satisfy the American collectors' market.

[jserraglio]

The non-Ormandy items, courtesy of Frank Berger @RMCR:

Gliere Russian Sailor's Dance from Red Poppy Suite Philadelphia O Caston 1945
Fernandez Batuque Philadelphia O Caston 1945
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto D major op. 35 Philadelphia O Hilsberg Stern 1949
Saint-Saens Cello Concerto A minor 1 op. 33 Philadelphia O Hilsberg Piatagorsky 1949
Haydn Symphony G major 92 Cleveland O Szell 1949
Honegger Concertino for Piano and Orchestra Columbia SO Reiner Levant 1949
Gould (Morton) Fall River Legend: Suite N.Y. PO Mitropoulos 1952
Walton Four Dances from Façade Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952
Bernstein Fancy Free: Three Dance Variations Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952
Thomson (Virgil) Three Pictures for Orchestra Philadelphia O Thomson (Virgil) 1954
Harris Symphony 1933 1 Boston SO Koussevitzky 1934
Kirchner Piano Concerto 1 N.Y. PO Mitropoulos Kirchner 1956
Sarasate Zigeunerweisen op. 20 Columbia SO Smith (William) Francescatti 1957
Saint-Saens Havanaise op. 83 Columbia SO Smith (William) Francescatti 1957
Beethoven Symphony F major 6 op. 68 Philadelphia O Walter 1946
Schubert Symphony B minor 8 D759 Philadelphia O Walter 1947
Various Symphonic excerpts Columbia SO O'Connell 1945
Berners Triump of Neptune - suite Philadelphia O Beecham 1952
Kern Kostelanetz O (N.Y. PO) Kostelanetz 1951
Rodgers Kostelanetz O (N.Y. PO) Kostelanetz 1951
Rossini Semiramide Overture Philadelphia O Beecham 1953

Aside: Quite a few of the includes presumably mono recordings from 1957 seem also to have been released in vinyl in stereo.

And I found two more:

cd 23 Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. George Szell, Cleveland Orch. November 25, 1947, Cleveland, Severance Hall.

cd 27 Harl McDonald: Children's Symphony. Harl McDonald Philadelphia Orch. March 3, 1950, Philadelphia, Academy of Music.

[jserraglio]

Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952 (miscredited to Ormandy in Sony's box listing)

Suppe Light Cavalry Overture Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952

[maestrob]

Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952 (miscredited to Ormandy in Sony's box listing)

Suppe Light Cavalry Overture Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952

We are obsessing about this box, aren't we?

Associate Conductor William Smith joined the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1952 as, IIRC, principal keyboard player, and often led the summer concerts at the Robin Hood Dell. In my youth, I always thought he did well on the podium, but I never saw his name on any LP releases. Too bad.

He died in 1993 after a series of strokes, leading his final concert with the orchestra in 1985.

https://www.philadelphiamusicalliance.o ... p?id=101

[slofstra]

The non-Ormandy items, courtesy of Frank Berger @RMCR:

Gliere Russian Sailor's Dance from Red Poppy Suite Philadelphia O Caston 1945
Fernandez Batuque Philadelphia O Caston 1945
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto D major op. 35 Philadelphia O Hilsberg Stern 1949
Saint-Saens Cello Concerto A minor 1 op. 33 Philadelphia O Hilsberg Piatagorsky 1949
Haydn Symphony G major 92 Cleveland O Szell 1949
Honegger Concertino for Piano and Orchestra Columbia SO Reiner Levant 1949
Gould (Morton) Fall River Legend: Suite N.Y. PO Mitropoulos 1952
Walton Four Dances from Façade Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952
Bernstein Fancy Free: Three Dance Variations Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952
Thomson (Virgil) Three Pictures for Orchestra Philadelphia O Thomson (Virgil) 1954
Harris Symphony 1933 1 Boston SO Koussevitzky 1934
Kirchner Piano Concerto 1 N.Y. PO Mitropoulos Kirchner 1956
Sarasate Zigeunerweisen op. 20 Columbia SO Smith (William) Francescatti 1957
Saint-Saens Havanaise op. 83 Columbia SO Smith (William) Francescatti 1957
Beethoven Symphony F major 6 op. 68 Philadelphia O Walter 1946
Schubert Symphony B minor 8 D759 Philadelphia O Walter 1947
Various Symphonic excerpts Columbia SO O'Connell 1945
Berners Triump of Neptune - suite Philadelphia O Beecham 1952
Kern Kostelanetz O (N.Y. PO) Kostelanetz 1951
Rodgers Kostelanetz O (N.Y. PO) Kostelanetz 1951
Rossini Semiramide Overture Philadelphia O Beecham 1953

Aside: Quite a few of the includes presumably mono recordings from 1957 seem also to have been released in vinyl in stereo.

And I found two more:

cd 23 Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. George Szell, Cleveland Orch. November 25, 1947, Cleveland, Severance Hall.

cd 27 Harl McDonald: Children's Symphony. Harl McDonald Philadelphia Orch. March 3, 1950, Philadelphia, Academy of Music.

I'm not getting why some of these items are in an 'Ormandy' box. Odd.

[maestrob]

The non-Ormandy items, courtesy of Frank Berger @RMCR:

Gliere Russian Sailor's Dance from Red Poppy Suite Philadelphia O Caston 1945
Fernandez Batuque Philadelphia O Caston 1945
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto D major op. 35 Philadelphia O Hilsberg Stern 1949
Saint-Saens Cello Concerto A minor 1 op. 33 Philadelphia O Hilsberg Piatagorsky 1949
Haydn Symphony G major 92 Cleveland O Szell 1949
Honegger Concertino for Piano and Orchestra Columbia SO Reiner Levant 1949
Gould (Morton) Fall River Legend: Suite N.Y. PO Mitropoulos 1952
Walton Four Dances from Façade Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952
Bernstein Fancy Free: Three Dance Variations Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952
Thomson (Virgil) Three Pictures for Orchestra Philadelphia O Thomson (Virgil) 1954
Harris Symphony 1933 1 Boston SO Koussevitzky 1934
Kirchner Piano Concerto 1 N.Y. PO Mitropoulos Kirchner 1956
Sarasate Zigeunerweisen op. 20 Columbia SO Smith (William) Francescatti 1957
Saint-Saens Havanaise op. 83 Columbia SO Smith (William) Francescatti 1957
Beethoven Symphony F major 6 op. 68 Philadelphia O Walter 1946
Schubert Symphony B minor 8 D759 Philadelphia O Walter 1947
Various Symphonic excerpts Columbia SO O'Connell 1945
Berners Triump of Neptune - suite Philadelphia O Beecham 1952
Kern Kostelanetz O (N.Y. PO) Kostelanetz 1951
Rodgers Kostelanetz O (N.Y. PO) Kostelanetz 1951
Rossini Semiramide Overture Philadelphia O Beecham 1953

Aside: Quite a few of the includes presumably mono recordings from 1957 seem also to have been released in vinyl in stereo.

And I found two more:

cd 23 Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. George Szell, Cleveland Orch. November 25, 1947, Cleveland, Severance Hall.

cd 27 Harl McDonald: Children's Symphony. Harl McDonald Philadelphia Orch. March 3, 1950, Philadelphia, Academy of Music.

I'm not getting why some of these items are in an 'Ormandy' box. Odd.

These were all fillers on the original LPs, which is therefore true to the "original jacket" format Sony chose to market the contents.

[jserraglio]

The Harl McDonald Symphony is a delight. I’ve heard it many many times. It’s a worthy addition to an Ormandy box b/c EOr liked to promote those like McDonald who were associated with the Philly O, cf. the stunning First Chair series.

[slofstra]

The non-Ormandy items, courtesy of Frank Berger @RMCR:

Gliere Russian Sailor's Dance from Red Poppy Suite Philadelphia O Caston 1945
Fernandez Batuque Philadelphia O Caston 1945
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto D major op. 35 Philadelphia O Hilsberg Stern 1949
Saint-Saens Cello Concerto A minor 1 op. 33 Philadelphia O Hilsberg Piatagorsky 1949
Haydn Symphony G major 92 Cleveland O Szell 1949
Honegger Concertino for Piano and Orchestra Columbia SO Reiner Levant 1949
Gould (Morton) Fall River Legend: Suite N.Y. PO Mitropoulos 1952
Walton Four Dances from Façade Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952
Bernstein Fancy Free: Three Dance Variations Philadelphia Pops O Hilsberg 1952
Thomson (Virgil) Three Pictures for Orchestra Philadelphia O Thomson (Virgil) 1954
Harris Symphony 1933 1 Boston SO Koussevitzky 1934
Kirchner Piano Concerto 1 N.Y. PO Mitropoulos Kirchner 1956
Sarasate Zigeunerweisen op. 20 Columbia SO Smith (William) Francescatti 1957
Saint-Saens Havanaise op. 83 Columbia SO Smith (William) Francescatti 1957
Beethoven Symphony F major 6 op. 68 Philadelphia O Walter 1946
Schubert Symphony B minor 8 D759 Philadelphia O Walter 1947
Various Symphonic excerpts Columbia SO O'Connell 1945
Berners Triump of Neptune - suite Philadelphia O Beecham 1952
Kern Kostelanetz O (N.Y. PO) Kostelanetz 1951
Rodgers Kostelanetz O (N.Y. PO) Kostelanetz 1951
Rossini Semiramide Overture Philadelphia O Beecham 1953

Aside: Quite a few of the includes presumably mono recordings from 1957 seem also to have been released in vinyl in stereo.

And I found two more:

cd 23 Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber. George Szell, Cleveland Orch. November 25, 1947, Cleveland, Severance Hall.

cd 27 Harl McDonald: Children's Symphony. Harl McDonald Philadelphia Orch. March 3, 1950, Philadelphia, Academy of Music.

I'm not getting why some of these items are in an 'Ormandy' box. Odd.

These were all fillers on the original LPs, which is therefore true to the "original jacket" format Sony chose to market the contents.

Ah, never thought of that. This makes perfect sense.

[Lance]

Joe, obviously, you will be looking for the best source for the Ormandy set. Judging from the number of hits on this thread, many people seem very interested in it. Me too. I like the fact that there are some non-Ormandy performances included, especially for Mitropoulos and others thus making the set all that much more worthwhile.

If you find a good source - and reasonable price - would you please let us all know (maybe even let me know first!!!)

[jserraglio]

Joe, obviously, you will be looking for the best source for the Ormandy set. Judging from the number of hits on this thread, many people seem very interested in it. Me too. I like the fact that there are some non-Ormandy performances included, especially for Mitropoulos and others thus making the set all that much more worthwhile.

If you find a good source - and reasonable price - would you please let us all know (maybe even let me know first!!!)

Sure, but I’m betting Maestrob finds it first.

[slofstra]

As a reference point, here is the listing on jpc.de. Also shows all contents.

For me to obtain it from there will cost 176.46 EURO plus 62.50 EURO shipping.

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail ... m/10394239

[Lance]

Yes, I caught that, too, on the JPC website/Germany. As I noted previously, Amazon/Germany would not ship it to the US for some reason. The German postal fee is very high, but then the size/weight of this box may warrant the fee. I kind of think, too, that Amazon/USA will carry this ... perhaps they are waiting to see how their German branch shows interest. If I find more attractive pricing, I will alert all.

[jserraglio]

Thanks to Bryan Bishop, Frank Berger and Richard Kaplan on RMCR, here’s a TOC with the catalog numbers of the original Columbia shellacs & mono LPs:

CD 1 (from 78s)
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole (w. Milstein) (M 564)
Borodin: Polovetsian Dances (12269-D)
Respighi: Arie de Corte (12973-D)
Gluck: Dance of the Blessed Spirits (w. Kincaid) (filler for MM 894)
Suppe: Poet and Peasant Overture (13155-D)

CD 2 (from 78s)
McDonald: My Country at War (M 592)
White: Sea Chanty (X 259)
Hanson: Serenade (w. Kincaid) (filler for MM 841)
Kennan: Night Soliloquy (w. Kincaid) (filler for MM 940)

CD 3 (ML 4011 [& ML 4017])
Beethoven: Symphony No. 7
Brahms: Symphony No. 4

CD 4 (ML 4014 [& ML 4041])
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 (w. Serkin)
Schumann: Piano Concerto (w. Serkin)

CD 5 (ML 4015)
Brahms: Violin Concerto (w. Szigeti)

CD 6 (ML 2017)
Six Dances (some cond. Caston)
Debussy: La Damoiselle Elue (w. Sayao) (from ML 4075)

CD 7 (ML 4020)
Debussy: Nuages & Fetes
Respighi: Pines of Rome

CD 8 (ML 4022)
Dvorak: Cello Concerto (w. Piatigorsky)
Bruch: Kol Nidrei (w. Piatigorsky) (from 12882-D)

CD 9 (ML 4023)
Dvorak: New World Symphony

CD 10 (ML 4024)
Franck: Symphony in D minor

CD 11 (ML 4044)
Strauss: Rosenkavalier Suite
Strauss: Tod und Verklarung
Strauss: Salome's Dance (from 13162-D)

CD 12 (ML 4050)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings (from ML 4121)

CD 13 (ML 4074)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 (w. Casadesus)
Ravel: Concerto for Left Hand (w. Casadesus) (from ML 4075)

CD 14 (ML 4088 [& ML 2066])
Brahms: Symphony No. 3
Brahms: Haydn Variations
Liszt: Les Preludes

CD 15 (ML 4089)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade

CD 16 (ML 4096)
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 (w. Levant)
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue (w. Levant) (from ML 4026)

CD 17 (ML 4103/4 [SL-50])
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9

CD 18 (ML 4131)
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2

CD 19 (ML 4132)
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies Nos. 1 & 2

CD 20 (ML 2041 [& ML 2043])
J. Strauss: 2 Overtures and 2 Waltzes
Glinka: Russlan and Ludmilla Overture
Weber: Freischutz Overture
Weber: Invitation to the Waltz
Weinberger: Schwanda Polka and Fugue

CD 21 (ML 4142)
Prokofiev: Scythian Suite
Respighi: Feste Romane

CD 22 (ML 2054 & ML 2058)
Bach Program
Handel: Water Music Suite
Corelli: Suite for Strings

CD 23 (ML 4177)
Hindemith: Nobilissima Visione
Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis (Cleveland/Szell)

CD 24 (ML 4239)
Bartok: Piano Concerto No. 3 (w. Sandor)
Miaskovsky: Symphony No. 21

CD 25 (ML 4247 [& ML 2035])
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky (w. Tourel & Westminster Cho.)
Prokofiev: Classical Symphony
Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture

CD 26 (ML 4232)
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto (Stern; Hilsberg cond.)
Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1 (Piatigorsky; Hilsberg) (first official rel.)

CD 27 (ML 2087)
Thomson: Louisiana Story
Thomson: Five Portraits (cond. Thomson)
Berg: Wozzeck - 3 Scenes (w. Ribla) (from ML 2140)
McDonald: Children's Symphony (cond. McDonald) (from ML 2141)
Brand: The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay (from ML 2141)

CD 28 (ML 4268)
Haydn: Symphony No. 92 "Oxford" (Cleveland/Szell)
Haydn: Symphony No. 101 "Clock"
Haydn: Symphony No. 88 (from ML 4109)

CD 29 (ML 4306)
Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite
Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole

CD 30 (ML 4316)
Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe Suites 1 & 2
Schoenberg: Verklarte Nacht

CD 31 (ML 2156 & ML 2158)
Debussy: Afternoon of a Faun
Dukas: Sorcerer's Apprentice
Honegger: Concertino (Levant, pf. & orch./Reiner)
Sibelius: Finlandia & Swan of Tuonela
Rachmaninoff: 3 Preludes

CD 32 (ML 4328)
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6

CD 33/34 (ML 4377/8 [SL-108])
J. Strauss: Die Fledermaus (Met. Op., w. Pons, Welitsch, Tucker et al)

CD 35 (ML 4371)
Beethoven: Violin Concerto (w. Francescatti)
Saint-Saens: Rondo Capriccioso (w. Francescatti) (from ML 2194)
Chausson: Poeme (w. Francescatti) (from ML 2194)

CD 36 (ML 4373)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 (w. Serkin)
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 (w. Serkin) (from ML 4424)

CD 37 (ML 4400)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5

CD 38 (ML 4413)
William Schuman: Symphony No. 3
Debussy: Iberia (from ML 4434)

CD 39 (ML 4433)
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2

CD 40 (ML 4467)
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique

CD 41 (ML 4472)
Brahms: Symphony No. 1

CD 42 (ML 4544)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6

CD 43 (ML 4589)
Music of Johann Strauss
Beethoven: Coriolan and Egmont Overtures (from AAL 15)

CD 44 (ML 4616)
Gould: Fall River Legend (PSONY/Mitropoulos)
Gottschalk-Kay: Cakewalk
Walton: Facade, four dances (cond. Hilsberg) (from AAL 17)
Bernstein: Fancy Free, three dances (cond. Hilsberg) (from AAL 17)

CD 45 (ML 4629)
The Philadelphia Orchestra - First Chair

CD 46 (ML 4651)
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 (w. Sandor)

CD 47 (ML 4672)
Sibelius: Lemmenkainen Suite

CD 48 (ML 4673)
Haydn: Symphony No. 45, "Farewell"
Haydn: Symphony No. 7, "Le Midi"

CD 49 (ML 4669/70 [SL-178])
Honegger: Jeanne d'Arc au Bucher (w. Zorina, Temple U. Choir et al)

CD 50 (ML 4665)
Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 (w. Arrau)
Liszt: Hungarian Fantasia (w. Arrau)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 (w. Arrau) (from ML 4302)

CD 51 (ML 4683*)
Prokofiev: Symphony No. 7
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet (from ML 4997)
1812 Overture (from ML 4997)
March Slave (from ML 4997))

*The other side of ML 4683 was Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije" Suite (RPO/Kurtz) which presumably is owned by EMI. ML 4997 also contained Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave and it is unclear which CD of the present set this is included with (likewise the; best candidates would be CD 54 or 58 below.

CD 52 (ML 4686)
Music of the Strauss Family

CD 53 (ML 4700)
Moussorgsky-Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition
Stravinsky: Firebird Suite

CD 54 (ML 4729)
Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite
Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty Suite

CD 55 (ML 4742)
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde - Prelude and Liebestod
Wagner: Gotterdammerung - Funeral Music and Immolation (w. Harshaw)

CD 56 (ML 4816)
Hindemith: Mathis der Maler
Hindemith: Concert Music, Op. 50

CD 57 (ML 4827)
Brahms: Symphony No. 2

CD 58 (ML 4856)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnole
Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumblebee
Rimsky-Korsakov: Dance of the Tumblers
Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien
Andante Cantabile (from ML 4955)

CD 59 (ML 4865)
Wagner: Preludes and Orchestral Excerpts

CD 60 (ML 4893)
Waltzes of Waldteufel and Lehar

CD 61 (ML 4887)
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben

CD 62 (ML 4888)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade

CD 63 (ML 4895)
Chopin: Les Sylphides
Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne

CD 64 (ML 4919)
Thomson: Five Songs from William Blake (w. Harrell)
Thomson: Three Pictures (cond. Thomson)

CD 65 (ML 4914 [& ML 4738])
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 (w. Serkin)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 (w. Serkin)

CD 66 (ML 4939)
Franck: Symphony in D minor

CD 67 (ML 4961)
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 3 & Vocalise

CD 68 (ML 4983)
"Ports of Call" - Ravel, Debussy, Ibert, Chabrier

CD 69 (ML 4973)
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra

CD 70 (ML 4991)
Yardumian: Violin Concerto (w. Brusilow)
Yardumian: Armenian Suite
Yardumian: Psalm 130

CD 71 (ML 4992)
William Schuman: Symphony No. 6
Piston: Symphony No. 4

CD 72 (ML 5030)
Stravinsky: Petrouchka Suite
Stravinsky: Rite of Spring

CD 73 (ML 5035)
Bizet: L'Arlesienne Suites Nos. 1 & 2
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suites Nos. 1 & 2

CD 74 (ML 5037)
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 4 (w. Serkin)

CD 75 (ML 5045)
Sibelius: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

CD 76 (ML 5043)
Rachmaninoff: The Bells (w. Yeend, Lloyd, Harrell)
Rachmaninoff: The Isle of the Dead

CD 77 (ML 5074)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

CD 78 (ML 5065)
A Bach Program

CD 79 (ML 5087)
Bach: Violin Concerto No. 1 (w. Stern)
Bach: Violin Concerto No. 2 (w. Oistrakh)
Vivaldi: Concerto in A minor (w. Stern, Oistrakh)
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto (w. Stern) (from ML 4363)

CD 80 (ML 5080)
Wagner: Parsifal - Orchestral Excerpts

CD 81 (ML 5085)
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto (w. Oistrakh)
Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 (w. Oistrakh)
Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 (w. Francescatti) (from ML 4315)

CD 82 (ML 5103)
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 (w. Istomin)
Rachmaninoff: 2 Preludes (Istomin, piano)

CD 83 (ML 5095)
Harris: Symphony No. 7
Harris: Symphony 1933 (BSO/Koussevitzky)

CD 84 (ML 5098)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
Mozart: Symphony No. 40

CD 85 (ML 5108)
Persichetti: Symphony No. 4
Gesensway: Four Squares of Philadelphia

CD 86 (ML 5112)
Debussy: Afternoon of a Faun
Debussy: Nocturnes
Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe Suite No. 2

CD 87 (ML 5097)
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole (w. Stern)
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 (w. Stern)

CD 88 (ML 5114)
Brahms: Violin Concerto (w. Francescatti)
Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 4 (w. Francescatti) (from ML 5184)

CD 89 (ML 5115)
Dvorak: New World Symphony

CD 90 (ML 5117)
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 (w. Serkin)

CD 91 (ML 5129)
Virtuosi di Philadelphia

CD 92 (ML 5017/8 [M2L 237])
Albeniz: Iberia

CD 93 (CL 917)
Khatchaturian: Gayne Ballet Suite
Kabalevsky: The Comedians Suite

CD 94 (ML 5157)
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Copland: Billy the Kid - Suite

CD 95 (ML 5166 & ML 5238)
Strauss (Johann Jr.) Die Fledermaus - overture 1952
Strauss (Johann Jr.) Die Fledermaus - suite 1955
Strauss (Johann Jr.) 1001 Nights Waltz 1955
Strauss (Johann Jr.) Emperor Waltz op. 437 1957
Strauss (Johann Jr.) Blue Danube Waltz op. 314 1957
Strauss (Johann Jr.) Roses from the South Waltz op. 388 1957
Strauss (Joseph) Music of the Spheres-Waltz op. 235 1952
Strauss (Joseph) Sword and Lyre 1952

CD 96 (ML 5168)
Schumann: Piano Concerto (w. Serkin)
Strauss: Burleske (w. Serkin)

CD 97 (ML 5177)
Strauss: Don Juan
Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel
Strauss: Rosenkavalier Waltzes
Strauss: Feuersnot - Love Scene

CD 98 (ML 5185)
William Schuman: Credendum
Kirchner: Piano Concerto (composer & PSONY/Mitropoulos)

CD 99 (ML 5187)
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings
Barber: Adagio
Borodin: Nocturne
Vaughan Williams: Greensleeves

CD 100 (ML 5189)
Gliere: Symphony No. 3, "Ilia Murometz"

CD 101 (ML 5201)
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, excerpts

CD 102 (ML 5206)
Rossini: William Tell Overture
Overtures by Offenbach, Smetana, Thomas, Suppe, Berlioz (some cond. Hilsberg)

CD 103 (ML 5208)
Wieniawski: Violin Concerto No. 2 (w. Stern)
Saint-Saens: Rondo Capriccioso (w. Stern)
Ravel: Tzigane (w. Stern)

CD 104 (ML 5212)
Saint-Saens: Symphony No. 3 (w. Biggs)

CD 105 (ML 5221 - stereo MS 6042 was unissued)
Schubert: Unfinished Symphony
Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream

CD 106 (ML 5223)
Dances for Orchestra (Gliere, Smetana, Brahms, Khatchaturian)

CD 107 (ML 5249)
Sibelius: En Saga, The Oceanides, Pohjola's Daughter, and Tapiola
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Alfven: Midsummer Vigil

The Grieg and Alfven are probably the 1952 recordings from AAL 35, a rare 10" record.

CD 108 (ML 5242)
Enesco: 2 Roumanian Rhapsodies
Dvorak: Carnival Overture
Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini

CD 109 (ML 5253)
Chausson: Poeme (w. Francescatti)
Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen (w. Francescatti, cond. Smith)
Saint-Saens: Rondo Capriccioso (w. Francescatti)
Saint-Saens: Havannaise (w. Francescatti, cond. Smith)

CD 110 (ML 5261)
Smetana: Die Moldau
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Berlioz: Damnation of Faust excerpts
Weber: Invitation to the Dance

CD 111 (ML 5263)
Dello Joio: Variations, Chaconne and Finale
Vincent: Symphony in D

CD 112 (ML 5289)
Bizet: Symphony in C
Prokofiev: Classical Symphony
Weinberger: Schwanda Polka and Fugue

CD 113 (ML 5292)
Strauss: Don Quixote (w. Munroe)

CD 114 (ML 5316)
Haydn: Symphony No. 99
Haydn: Symphony No. 100 "Military"

CD 115 (ML 5318 - stereo MS 6021 was unissued)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 (w. Istomin)

CD 116 (ML 5333 - stereo MS 6054 was unissued)
Strauss: Rosenkavalier Suite
Strauss: Frau ohne Schatten Suite

CD 117 (ML 5376 by way of AAL 21, 29)
Music of Victor Herbert

CD 118 (ML 4010)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 (cond. Walter)
Schubert: Unfinished Symphony (cond. Walter) (from ML 2010)

CD 119 (ML 4514)
Kern: Showboat Scenario (Pops/Kostelanetz)
Rodgers: South Pacific excerpts (Pops/Kostelanetz)
Berners: Triumph of Neptune (cond. Beecham) (from ML 4593)
Rossini: Semiramide Overture (cond. Beecham) (from AAL 27)

CD 120 (ML 2127)
Symphonies in Brief ("Columbia Sym." [73 Phila. players]/O'Connell)

[maestrob]

Wonderful to have that complete listing to refer to at last, Joe. Many thanks! I had many of those when but a lad: your post brought back many memories!

I'm operating on the assumption that Amazon USA will have this available by sometime in March, just on a hunch. Will keep everyone posted if I find it first!

[barney]

Some great Ormandy quotes. I have more, if anyone wants them. My favourites are the ones in bold.

Now we will play something we have never played before. I didn't mean that. Mahler wrote it as the 3rd Movement of his 4th Symphony. I mean the 4th Movement of his 1st Symphony - we play it third. The trumpet solo will be played by our solo trumpet player. It's named "Blumine" - which has something to do with flowers.

With us tonight is William Warfield, who is with us tonight. ... He is a wonderful man and so is his wife.

(On the occasion of the death of David Oistrakh) I told him he'd have a heart attack a year ago, but unfortunately he lived a year longer.

I conduct faster here so you can see my beat.

The next movement is still in the factory.

Think of your girlfriend or boyfriend or whomever you want to.

At every concert I've sensed a certain insecurity about the tempo. It's clearly marked quarter note = 80, uhh, 69.

All of you are ready to start so I must be ready.

It's not important. It's only important when it's late.

It's difficult to remember when you haven't played it before.

I'm conducting slowly because I don't know the tempo.

I don't want to repeat this 100 times. When you see crescendo, it means p.

I cannot give it to you so try to watch me.

I was trying to help you so I was beating wrong.

The minute you slow down a fraction, you're behind.

I wrote it the right way so it was copied the wrong way right - I mean the right way wrong.

Who is sitting in that empty chair?

Bass Clarinetist: What note do I have? EO: The score is written out the way you hear it the way you play it - and I have to transpose back to normal.

Tubist: Long note? EO: Yes, make it seem short.

I guess you thought I was conducting, but I wasn't.

The notes are right, but if I listened they would be wrong.

You have to do two things. Watch it and me.

Even if the right instruments are not here, we will play it anyway. It's only a short piece.

I am thinking it right but beating it wrong.

I can conduct it better than I count.

Intonation is important, especially when it is cold.

It is not together, but the ensemble is perfect.

Don't ever follow me because I am difficult.

I purposely gave you a slower tempo, because I did not know what the right one was.

Suddenly I was in the right tempo -- but it wasn't.

Brass, stay down all Summer.

My bowings are only general.

After two minutes after this time, and I am already there.

This is one bar you should take home.

I never know where I am.

Tonight is the night when 300 years ago Johann Strauss was born. That's why this year is important.

Something went wrong. It was correct when I studied it.

There was confusion since I stood here 35 years ago.

During the rests -- pray.

It has no rhythm, but it will because it's so much faster.

Don't play louder, just give it more.

[jserraglio]

Presto Classical gives a release date of April 9 and a price of $367.25. https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/p ... bia-legacy

[maestrob]

Barney:

Absolutely brilliant! Every one of them!

I, too, enjoyed the one about William Warfield best.

Where is heaven's name did you find those/

Joe:

Thanks for that link to Presto. That means that amazon will surely have it soon here. Judging by the level of interest, I imagine that Sony will need some time to ramp up production for the U. S. market, so we'll probably have a later delivery date than April 9. Still, it's good to know.

[slofstra]

Some great Ormandy quotes. I have more, if anyone wants them. My favourites are the ones in bold.

Now we will play something we have never played before. I didn't mean that. Mahler wrote it as the 3rd Movement of his 4th Symphony. I mean the 4th Movement of his 1st Symphony - we play it third. The trumpet solo will be played by our solo trumpet player. It's named "Blumine" - which has something to do with flowers.

With us tonight is William Warfield, who is with us tonight. ... He is a wonderful man and so is his wife.

(On the occasion of the death of David Oistrakh) I told him he'd have a heart attack a year ago, but unfortunately he lived a year longer.

I conduct faster here so you can see my beat.

The next movement is still in the factory.

Think of your girlfriend or boyfriend or whomever you want to.

At every concert I've sensed a certain insecurity about the tempo. It's clearly marked quarter note = 80, uhh, 69.

All of you are ready to start so I must be ready.

It's not important. It's only important when it's late.

It's difficult to remember when you haven't played it before.

I'm conducting slowly because I don't know the tempo.

I don't want to repeat this 100 times. When you see crescendo, it means p.

I cannot give it to you so try to watch me.

I was trying to help you so I was beating wrong.

The minute you slow down a fraction, you're behind.

I wrote it the right way so it was copied the wrong way right - I mean the right way wrong.

Who is sitting in that empty chair?

Bass Clarinetist: What note do I have? EO: The score is written out the way you hear it the way you play it - and I have to transpose back to normal.

Tubist: Long note? EO: Yes, make it seem short.

I guess you thought I was conducting, but I wasn't.

The notes are right, but if I listened they would be wrong.

You have to do two things. Watch it and me.

Even if the right instruments are not here, we will play it anyway. It's only a short piece.

I am thinking it right but beating it wrong.

I can conduct it better than I count.

Intonation is important, especially when it is cold.

It is not together, but the ensemble is perfect.

Don't ever follow me because I am difficult.

I purposely gave you a slower tempo, because I did not know what the right one was.

Suddenly I was in the right tempo -- but it wasn't.

Brass, stay down all Summer.

My bowings are only general.

After two minutes after this time, and I am already there.

This is one bar you should take home.

I never know where I am.

Tonight is the night when 300 years ago Johann Strauss was born. That's why this year is important.

Something went wrong. It was correct when I studied it.

There was confusion since I stood here 35 years ago.

During the rests -- pray.

It has no rhythm, but it will because it's so much faster.

Don't play louder, just give it more.

He would have had a great conversation with Yogi Berra. (I'm just going to assume you're familiar with Berra's litany of actual and attributed quips). The only question is whether that would have been at a ballgame or a concert.

[Lance]

I see JPC has raised their price in Euros to around 210 plus shipping. Presto has really started to raise their prices noticeably and if you add the FedEx fee, that makes the set really pricey. Looking through the Ormandy collaborative discs, and I am very involved in collecting collaborations, most/all of those with the pianists, i.e., Serkin, Casadesus, Levant, etc. have already been reissued in their own boxes, and I believe other collaborations have as well. Even so, the number of solely orchestral and choral works still make this set a must-have. No doubt Amazon/USA is watching their other online sites and competitors to see how the pricing goes as to what they will charge in the USA. This is a major set, for sure.

[Lance]

L@@K at this! Heading for 3,800 hits on Mr. Ormandy. Looks like he still has a most interested following. He would be proud!

[maestrob]

L@@K at this! Heading for 3,800 hits on Mr. Ormandy. Looks like he still has a most interested following. He would be proud!

I've noticed that, Lance, and it makes me very happy. Ormandy made some really outstanding recordings, many of demonstration quality, but since we were flooded with them when he was in charge in Philadelphia, we often just took him for granted then, even though many of his stereo recordings grace my shelves in CD format. Not any more, it seems, and that's a good thing.

Amazon now has 163 pages of his recordings available (and those are 99% in stereo!), an astonishing figure that rivals Bernstein's even more amazing 348!

It seems that our orchestras were doing something right back then, and people around the world certainly seem to appreciate it today.

[jserraglio]

$200.91 + tax & shipping 4/9/2021

https://www.importcds.com/columbia-legacy/19439757482

[maestrob]

$200.91 + tax & shipping 4/9/2021

https://www.importcds.com/columbia-legacy/19439757482

Now, that's more reasonable!

Thanks, Joe!

[jserraglio]

Now, that's more reasonable!

Listed https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Beethov ... 264&sr=8-2

[maestrob]

Now, that's more reasonable!

Listed https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-Beethov ... 264&sr=8-2

Fascinating!

Seconds before I saw your post, I searched for "Ormandy Box," & got nothing new.

Amazon has to fix that, as well as their price!

[slofstra]

I just ordered mine from amazon.ca. The price here is $CDN 233.88 with free delivery. Amazon.com is showing a price of $US299.98 + $72.59 for shipping. With an 80 cent dollar right now that works out to - (8 + 9) x 5 / 4, carry the 7, et cetera - twice as much!

[maestrob]

I just ordered mine from amazon.ca. The price here is $CDN 233.88 with free delivery. Amazon.com is showing a price of $US299.98 + $72.59 for shipping. With an 80 cent dollar right now that works out to - (8 + 9) x 5 / 4, carry the 7, et cetera - twice as much!

You got an excellent deal there, Henry! U. S. Amazon often starts out high, but they usually lower their price as other suppliers compete. So far, yours is quite a good deal.

Enjoy!

[maestrob]

Just pre-ordered the Ormandy Columbia Legacy Box from Import CDs today for $201 base price, along with the Rodzinski and Grumiaux boxes. The Ansermet in Russia Box also is on backorder. Saved about $55 on the total bill with the 10% coupon good for a first order.

All items should be in hand by early April.

Much great listening ahead!

[maestrob]

Having ordered the Ormandy box from importcds.com a while back, I was dismayed to receive an email from them canceling the order for two boxes I made at the same time: those from Amsermet and Grumiaux. The email, sent at 2AM in the morning, says, and I quote:

Thank you for your recent order. All orders are subject to credit approval. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain approval for these backordered items and have cancelled them.

This, in spite of the fact that my credit card approved the transaction yesterday afternoon! To try and resolve the situation, I called my bank this morning and was told in no uncertain terms that they had indeed approved the transaction yesterday, and that importcds.com was dead wrong.

I then called importcds.com at 1-855-258-9850 after googling for their phone number which was not listed on their website. I spoke to a customer service representative who confirmed that the two items in question had indeed been canceled, but she said she could not help me further until her supervisor would arrive at the office two hours later.

So, I did this and spoke to a lovely young woman named Mary who explained that their system had canceled the order automatically due to the length of time involved that they could not ship the items, and would I please re-enter the order. She also figured out a way that I could still receive the 10% discount for my inconvenience, and now all is well. The Grumiaux is still on backorder, but the Ansermet will now be shipped as it is in stock.

That said, I'm still not clear on why the Ansermet was canceled.

So, if anyone here has not received their items, this is how to follow up with them and have a successful outcome.

[slofstra]

Having ordered the Ormandy box from importcds.com a while back, I was dismayed to receive an email from them canceling the order for two boxes I made at the same time: those from Amsermet and Grumiaux. The email, sent at 2AM in the morning, says, and I quote:

Thank you for your recent order. All orders are subject to credit approval. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain approval for these backordered items and have cancelled them.

This, in spite of the fact that my credit card approved the transaction yesterday afternoon! To try and resolve the situation, I called my bank this morning and was told in no uncertain terms that they had indeed approved the transaction yesterday, and that importcds.com was dead wrong.

I then called importcds.com at 1-855-258-9850 after googling for their phone number which was not listed on their website. I spoke to a customer service representative who confirmed that the two items in question had indeed been canceled, but she said she could not help me further until her supervisor would arrive at the office two hours later.

So, I did this and spoke to a lovely young woman named Mary who explained that their system had canceled the order automatically due to the length of time involved that they could not ship the items, and would I please re-enter the order. She also figured out a way that I could still receive the 10% discount for my inconvenience, and now all is well. The Grumiaux is still on backorder, but the Ansermet will now be shipped as it is in stock.

That said, I'm still not clear on why the Ansermet was canceled.

So, if anyone here has not received their items, this is how to follow up with them and have a successful outcome.

This just in: Container of Ansermet and Grumiaux CD boxes has just cleared the Suez Canal!

Brian, I thought I would check on my Ormandy order after reading your post, and see the price on amazon.ca has increased to C$338.68 from my purchase price of C$233.88.
This illustrates how wise it is to pre-order. From my author daughter I've learned that pre-orders are used as a gauge by distributors to set inventory levels, so it's in their interest to stimulate pre-orders by offering an attractive price.

[maestrob]

Good point, Henry. I see that the price on American Amazon is now also about $300. Let's hope that importcds doesn't cancel my order for a second time. If they do, I simply will not do business with them again, and will advise others to avoid them as well.

Not keeping your word in business is really anathema to me.

Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on me.

[Lance]

Well, guess what arrived in the early afternoon of April 12, 2021? Yes! The Ormandy Legacy Box! Arrived in perfect condition. It's a wonderful presentation with a massive book inside the box. So those that have ordered it, be prepared for a LOT of listening!

[maestrob]

Well, guess what arrived in the early afternoon of April 12, 2021? Yes! The Ormandy Legacy Box! Arrived in perfect condition. It's a wonderful presentation with a massive book inside the box. So those that have ordered it, be prepared for a LOT of listening!

Wonderful news, Lance! At last!

Mine is on its way as well from Deep Discount. Let's hope it arrives in as good condition as yours did.

Holding my breath......

[maestrob]

Just letting everyone know that the saga with the Ormandy Box is now over. It arrived yesterday late afternoon from Deep Discount in excellent shape, all 120 CDs of it. It's a massive box, and I had to find room in my closet for it, but at least it's here.

Still waiting for the Grumiaux to be shipped from amazon.uk, that was ordered weeks ago, even though the Barbirolli arrived on Monday from the same source.

Even though they are owned by the same umbrella corporation as importcds, at least when they say they have an item in stock, they ship it, and quickly.

[maestrob]

Postscript:

Just to hammer home how incompetent importcds.com is, a credit from them just appeared in the pending column on my account for #212.68 from my pre-order that they cancelled (see above). They did this once before, and it disappeared in a few days, so I'm assuming that the same thing will happen again.

Something is really wrong with that company.

[slofstra]

Lance and Brian,
Great you received your sets. I just checked my order and its set for release April 30. I haven't had much time for posting about classical music the last few weeks, but things may open up again soon.

[Lance]

Well, some of us have had the enormous Ormandy box now for about two weeks. I've had a chance to delve into it somewhat carefully selecting certain items to play, such as anything by Virgil Thomson, and those recordings that only appeared on the 10-inch LPs. Will any of us ever get through everything in this massive boxed set? Much depends on how much time we will consign to this pleasure (not task!). I think Ormandy would be pleased to know that this set was released in his honor and Sony Classical has done a remarkable job in issuing it.

So what have you "discovered" in this box that might be a revelation?

[maestrob]

Well, some of us have had the enormous Ormandy box now for about two weeks. I've had a chance to delve into it somewhat carefully selecting certain items to play, such as anything by Virgil Thomson, and those recordings that only appeared on the 10-inch LPs. Will any of us ever get through everything in this massive boxed set? Much depends on how much time we will consign to this pleasure (not task!). I think Ormandy would be pleased to know that this set was released in his honor and Sony Classical has done a remarkable job in issuing it.

So what have you "discovered" in this box that might be a revelation?

Lance, this box is a real treasure-trove of Ormandy's massive legacy, and I have only recently been browsing through the contents, looking for those few LPs that I grew up with. I'm quite sure it will take me some years to fully appreciate the contents. Much has been made of Leonard Bernstein's championing of contemporary music, yet Ormandy also made many LPs of music by XXth Century composers around the world, not only the great Russians, Prokofiev and Shostakovich, but many American composers as well. While much of the core repertoire was re-recorded in stereo a decade later, these recordings were not, and I'm sincerely glad to see them finally remastered on CDs.

Right away though, my immediate interest was to hear three gems that I had grown up with and played over and over: 1) The Strings of the Philadelphia Orchestra (Tchaikovsky/Borodin/Barber/Vaughan-Williams, 2) Rachmaninoff II, 3) The only recording of Leon Kirchner's Piano Concerto with the composer at the piano (Mitropoulos/NY Philharmonic), paired with Ormandy leading William Schuman's early work, Credendum.

Each was quite special to me as a youngster, and I'm so very glad to see them reappear at last in such fine sound.

I'll have more later.

[jserraglio]

Apparently, Sony has made available a digital promo copy of the booklet in PDF format. Handy for doing fast searches.

https://sm01.app.box.com/s/4jtpcnem02cm ... acws4iqunt

Also, with thanks to an expert over at RMCR, a list of the mono recordings in the set that were never reissued in stereo: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Fk ... lrjcY/edit

[maestrob]

Apparently, Sony has made available a digital promo copy of the booklet in PDF format. Handy for doing fast searches.

https://sm01.app.box.com/s/4jtpcnem02cm ... acws4iqunt

Also, with thanks to an expert over at RMCR, a list of the mono recordings in the set that were never reissued in stereo: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Fk ... lrjcY/edit

All excellent information to have.

Thanks, Joe!

[slofstra]

Amazon.ca informed me that my shipping date is now 14th June. Originally I was to receive this in April.
Amazon here in Canada is in disarray because of COVID-19 outbreaks at their shipping facilities.

[maestrob]

Amazon.ca informed me that my shipping date is now 14th June. Originally I was to receive this in April.
Amazon here in Canada is in disarray because of COVID-19 outbreaks at their shipping facilities.

OUCH! That must be frustrating, to say the least.

I do wish that these megaboxes would be made available for streaming while you wait, but that would defeat the purpose, I guess.

Amazon hasn't been perfect for me either. I've had them cancel some items that they said were available from England, only to be told that they were out of stock. It's been rare, but it has happened.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[slofstra]

Actually not much of a problem. I actively resist buying boxes because I really don't have time to listen to all of them. For Ormandy I make an exception.
I think my collection is in a nice space. Every once in a while I look through the virgin CD boxes I have and crack into another one. But I don't want to get to the point of having so many CD boxes that I have no hope of listening to them in my lifetime.
I also have a rule that I don't listen to new CDs until I've catalogued them. My next listening project is going to be the 50 CD Decca vocal recital box. Boy, that took a while to catalog. Before I embark on this I am watching a number of operas so that I have a bit more context in listening to the arias. Over the years, I have tended to watch La Traviata for the Nth time rather than try something new. I also purchased a big fat book of libretto's for reference as I listen. I believe that this particular box represents an unmatched opportunity to sample the vocal greats of a certain era. I despise bleeding chunks collections of arias, of which I purchased a few as a completely naive listener. But a vocal recital is another thing entirely.

[Lance]

That 50-CD set of the vocal recitals is a jewel. I got them when they were individually released. And cataloguing them is nightmarish as I discovered. Cataloguing the Ormandy box will be no easy task either. I hope you can type 120 words/minute! And then cataloguing the Arthur Grumiaux box is yet another matter. There was also a 55-CD Decca boxed set [478 9679] that was a limited edition but I cannot recall if it duplicated many of those in the "50" series. Have you also considered getting the Suzanne Danco 8-CD set [Decca Eloquence, 484 0868] her complete recitals? Decca has done a great service for vocal aficionados! More $$$ going out it seems, all the time.

Actually not much of a problem. I actively resist buying boxes because I really don't have time to listen to all of them. For Ormandy I make an exception.
I think my collection is in a nice space. Every once in a while I look through the virgin CD boxes I have and crack into another one. But I don't want to get to the point of having so many CD boxes that I have no hope of listening to them in my lifetime.
I also have a rule that I don't listen to new CDs until I've catalogued them. My next listening project is going to be the 50 CD Decca vocal recital box. Boy, that took a while to catalog. Before I embark on this I am watching a number of operas so that I have a bit more context in listening to the arias. Over the years, I have tended to watch La Traviata for the Nth time rather than try something new. I also purchased a big fat book of libretto's for reference as I listen. I believe that this particular box represents an unmatched opportunity to sample the vocal greats of a certain era. I despise bleeding chunks collections of arias, of which I purchased a few as a completely naive listener. But a vocal recital is another thing entirely.

[maestrob]

Lance, I have that Suzanne Danco mini-collection and can attest that it is certainly a treasure-trove, including what I believe to be the first recording of Berlioz's "Nuits d'ete" recorded in, of all places, Cincinnati by Decca engineers. She had that rare light voice that could also draw on reserves of expression so that she was never overwhelmed by the drama in what she sang.

Another French soprano that I love from that era is Janine Micheau, but I haven't seen a box for her yet. She also recorded Bizet's Pearlfishers for HMV in competition with the husband and wife team of Pierrette Alarie & Georges Simoneau for Phillips.

But we're now far afield from the topic of this thread, which is Eugene Ormandy, so I'll stop now.

About cataloguing: I've given up on the big boxes entirely. As it is, I have so much to get to during the rest of my lifetime without struggling to enter each Cd in a data base. Perhaps I'll eventually find someone willing to do so, but I freely admit that I lack the patience. Ormandy's box has so many new treasures that it would take me forever to even begin to catalog them all in some way.

[whitesheik]

I've managed to get through the first 101 discs - simply put, it's the set of the year. So many magnificent performances and the sound is exceptional for most but not all of it. And some of the repertoire is rare and fantastic. Looking forward to the rest, but had to take a little hiatus to listen to the sixteen CDs in the Rodzinski set, which is also fantastic.

[Lance]

Bruce, welcome to CMG!

You mentioned the Rodzinski set. I am still waiting for it and ordered it when first issued. Do you know when it was finally available to the CD-buying public?

I've managed to get through the first 101 discs - simply put, it's the set of the year. So many magnificent performances and the sound is exceptional for most but not all of it. And some of the repertoire is rare and fantastic. Looking forward to the rest, but had to take a little hiatus to listen to the sixteen CDs in the Rodzinski set, which is also fantastic.

[whitesheik]

I ordered mine two weeks ago from Amazon US even though it was coming from Amazon Global UK - shipping was free, too - I think that may still be the case. It got here much quicker than the time frame they originally gave, a week. I really loved it. I hope we get a slight break now so we can replenish the coffers, but I do have the Previn set (the EMI stuff) on its way. I got the big RCA Previn set the week it came out and that puppyis going for over a grand now and that happened very quickly. It's interesting which sets skyrocket quickly and which don't (the Bruno Walter comes to mind).

[maestrob]

I ordered mine two weeks ago from Amazon US even though it was coming from Amazon Global UK - shipping was free, too - I think that may still be the case. It got here much quicker than the time frame they originally gave, a week. I really loved it. I hope we get a slight break now so we can replenish the coffers, but I do have the Previn set (the EMI stuff) on its way. I got the big RCA Previn set the week it came out and that puppyis going for over a grand now and that happened very quickly. It's interesting which sets skyrocket quickly and which don't (the Bruno Walter comes to mind).

Welcome, whitesheik, to our corner of the musical universe. Please post often and frequently.

I also ordered the Rodzinski box through amazon to be shipped from England. Glad to know yours arrived quickly, as I am, like Lance, awaiting its arrival.

I also received the Previn box last week, and, since I had only a few of his EMI recordings, was quite happy to do so, especially with new remasterings. I was a bit disappointed in the booklet that came with zero information about the recording sessions, but was happy that it at least included an index and many photos. Having the original LP covers was welcome also, and the price was certainly right. I'm planning on hearing his London Shostakovich recordings first this week, as I'm an admirer of those he made in Chicago.

[slofstra]

The Ormandy box here is now over $450. CDN, almost double my purchase price. This won't mean much if I never get it. Shipping date is mid-June.