A reissue, of course - but apparently exclusive to jpc and a steal at around EUR3 per CD + p & p:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/saemtliche-sinfonien-konzerte/hnum/8621697 (https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/saemtliche-sinfonien-konzerte/hnum/8621697)
Arghh! That's less than what I paid for just two of the original releases. Not surprised and nothing to do about it. At least I can get once expensive Hyperion releases from Berkshire for 75% off.
Yes, I bought the entire cycle as it came out, CD by CD. Never mind. At least some others should benefit from this tempting bargain - as should the composer's reputation.
A box set's been available for quote a few years (I own it), but it looks like this one re-orders stuff.
It's a good set but not as good as the one by Jarvi.
That's a matter of opinion. Serebrier is superb.
He is, but so is Järvi, to be fair. It's pretty much of a dead-heat IMHO.
Jarvi's set is quite uneven. 2, 3, 6, and 8 are duds. Probably done too quickly with insufficient prep by the conductor.
Anyway, the point is: the Serebrier set's a steal.
Not heard Serebrier's reading of the 7th before. Looking forward to it...
May I put in a recommendation for the set lead by Fedoseyev- also a bargain on Brilliant Classics. The recordings were made between 1974-1982 so the sound is not "state of the art" but very serviceable. The orchestra had a very idiomatic sound, without coarseness, and Fedoseyev's realizations are excellent, outstanding in 5 and 7. Indeed in 5 and 7, [two of my favorites] I find him unsurpassed. All are very good.
But it's Fedoseyev - one of the most vulgar, unmusical barbarians ever to wield a baton. Anyone who would butcher Tchaikovsky's Manfred the way he did should be banished from concert halls forever.
There are so many excellent Glazunov sets now; a generation ago recordings of the symphonies were scarce. I've picked them all up, save the Fedoseyev and frankly, there's a lot to enjoy in every set - no one gets everything perfectly. But if I had to live with just one, it would be the late Gennady Rozhdestvensky recordings, overly-bright Melodiya sound and all.
Fedoseyev is great, particularly the 6th.
I may be repeating myself from an earlier posting, but I quite like the Tadaaki Otaka complete Glazunov Symphonies box on BIS. My favourite is, still, Svetlanov. But Serebier's Glazunov recordings are excellent in another way too; I only changed my opinon of Serbrier as a person, after having heard from musicians who played under his baton that he behaved in a most unfriendly, insulting and arrogant way.
I agree with MartinH on Fedo. I was involved in his Zurich's Opera Productions Of Verdi's "Otello" and Massenet's "Don Quichotte" - it was a nightmare, he had no idea. He was better off with some of our Russian Opera productions. The last thing he did in Zurich was Dvorak's "Rusalka"; in the intermission of the dress rehearsal, the singers rushed to Mr. Pereira (Manager) begging him to beg Fedo that he should play at least 50% softer and to increase his tempi in order they may be able to make it until the end.
His recording of Rimsky's "Snow Maiden" is quite good and that's why Melodiya re-issued it on CD. Tchaikovsky's "Cereviki" was re-issued in a pompously called "Silver Edition" by the Swiss label Relief, supported by a mysterious (and probably not all too legal) Lichtenstein Funding Corporation, including also some more recent live recordings, with some of Fedo's clumsy Beethoven, Mozart, Sibelius a.o., besides Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and other Russians. On the same label there is also a 2002 live "Jolantha" which I "eliminated" after buying Kitaenko's recent version - and still keeping the old Ermler one.
Oh, and there is that 3CD Koch-Schwann set with Tchaikovsky's "Unabridged Original Versions" of his "Four Piano Concertos" etc., - and thsoe 3 Tchaikosky Concertos with Pletnev on Vorgin Classics - also conducted by Fedo - and which got tremendously good reveiews....
Can you imagine? Fedo was also awarded the International Mahler Society Gold Medal - a honour which Kondrashin and Svetlanov would have deserved before him (if they ever got it).
In Moscow they used to call Fedo "Bayan Karajan" - after he was allowed to swich over from Folk music to symphonic. He owes a lot to his wife Olga, who is well-connected in Moscow and who manages him.
Not, apparently, exclusive to jpc! MDT are now advertising the Serebrier set for £13.70, i.e. at £1.71 per CD!!!
I enjoyed reading MartinH's reply " But it's Fedoseyev - one of the most vulgar, unmusical barbarians ever to wield a baton. Anyone who would butcher Tchaikovsky's Manfred the way he did should be banished from concert halls forever." Of course, now I want to hear what Fedoseyev does with, or to- Manfred, perhaps my favorite of the Tchaikovsky symphonies.
Manfred is something of a special case since there is a tradition of conductors making changes to it-particularly the last movement. I have attended performances where the end of the last movement- the peroration with organ- was replaced with a reprise of the coda of the first movement. The magnificent conclusion of the first movement is so good, I was happy to hear it repeated! Is this barbarism? Perhaps- but it was wonderful to hear.
That's pretty much what he does with it: takes out the quiet ending and replaces it with the loud first movement ending. Other changes in orchestration are uncalled for, too.
That makes me curious but Tchaikovsky-Research (http://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/pages/Manfred) says nothing about any composer revision or anything of the kind so... grrr, indeed.
And so back to the topic, please.
The Glazounov series on Naxos, including all of the symphonies lead by Alexander Anissimov are also well worth investigating. His recording of the Symphony Number 6 is very good, in that he takes the middle movements slowly which really imparts a weight to these movements that can sound like charming parts of a ballet, particularly after the magnificent first movement.
I can't see the point of buying any of the Naxos series when you can get the lot with Serebrier so ridiculously cheaply.
Quote from: Alan Howe on Tuesday 17 July 2018, 18:16
I can't see the point of buying any of the Naxos series when you can get the lot with Serebrier so ridiculously cheaply.
May I suggest two reasons, one general, one specific. This may be my "madness" but when I become interested in a composer, or work, I want to have more than one recording, to compare different approaches. I am certainly going to add the complete set by Serebrier despite the fact that I have his recordings of the Glazunov 4, 5, 7 and 8. The specific problem is with Serebrier's recording of the Glazunov Fifth [widely considered his symphonic masterpiece], which [in my opinion] is unsuccessful: his continuous and exaggerated changes of tempo , accelerations followed by big ritards, ruins the grand sweeping themes of the first movement. Perhaps an excess of love? I hate to be critical because Serebrier is clearly a champion of Glazunov. In any event, I would not suggest Serebrier as a one and only recording for ones collection, but instead as a second set. Fedoseyev [also available at a bargain price] or Rozdestvensky provide solid alternative performances. Anissimov on Naxos may have fixed bag sonics, but I have greatly enjoyed his approach to the works of Glazunov, also.
Finally... My biggest disappointment with Serebrier was his reading of the 5th Symphony. As @mjmosca says his tempo swing nearly kills the symphony. Besides my obvious Jarvi bend, I like this recording by Sinaisky - A very powerful reading https://www.allmusic.com/album/glazunov-symphony-no-5-mw0001852661 (https://www.allmusic.com/album/glazunov-symphony-no-5-mw0001852661)
I discarded my one Naxos/Anissimov CD because I found it so dreary. Just shows how much opinions can vary.
Yeah, the discs of the Naxos series with the symphonies are pretty bleh...but the non-symphonic works tend to hold up much better, and AFAIK it has the only recording of Masquerade and the only modern one of Raymonda.
Fedotov's recording of the complete Raymonda (Brilliant Classics, other labels) seems to be fairly recent, I'm not sure?...)
Well I did say "as far as I know..."
It was, apparently, released in 2004
I think I may have found on Worldcat releases of the Fedotov as early as 1996, now that I look, unless that's something else. Not sure what the barrier is for recent though!...
I thought the Anissimov recordings were not good at all. Dull, as Alan said.
I very rarely throw CDs away, but the Anissimov had to go. Sorry!
So did I, Alan, with all of his Glazunov CDs :-)
The complete Orfeo set of the symphonies is now available.
-->https://www.amazon.com/Glazunov-Symphonies-Bamberger-Symphoniker/dp/B07KZKCFYF/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=glazunov&qid=1550169183&s=music&sr=1-2
This is an amazing set.
But far too expensive (well over £40 in the UK) for a re-issue of 35 year-old recordings.
Actually Presto...
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8519976--glazunov-the-symphonies
...are selling the set at £34.50 - maybe because they believe it's a 4-CD set, when it's actually 5?
...and Amazon.co.uk are selling the complete symphones and concertos under Serebrier for £15.69 - that's under £2 per CD.
I have to admit that, despite the critical acclaims of "reference" that saluted Serebrier's cylcle since the beginning, I still keep going back to Jarvi.
The German orchestras (at least, the Bayerischen Rundfunks) sound that tad more sophisticated than the very good Scots, and Jarvi's clarity and driving energy (that sometimes turns into aggressiveneness, but not here) really brings home these wonderful symphonies like no one else.
Sometimes the difference is small, but sometimes not: for example the gleaming grandeur that Jarvi gives to the 8th..I just do not find in Serebrier's.
I really love my Glazunov, and I treasure both cycles, but as I said it's good old Jarvi I more often return to.
Also, I think Orfeo's sound is great considering its early digital vintage, and has not dated much.
The only thing I eventually found that I clearly prefer to Jarvi (it's only one symphony, though) is the Japanese Exton's CD with the 5th, the direction is good not exceptional, but the Czech Philharmonic's playing is absolutely breathtaking.
These days - and probably also back in the day - the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra would be considered one of the world's great orchestras, but the Bamberg Symphony were always more variable. The RSNO (for Serebrier) are somewhere in between, I'd say.
I think I am going to buy that Järvi set too - and have Otaka's taken out. It's really incredible what Järvi achieves, no matter in which musical style, so I am confident without even needing to listen to samples. Svetlanov's version (in the complete 18-CD Glazunov set) will, of course, remain in my collection - and always be cherished.
The Bamberger Symphoniker was Joseph Keilberth's orchestra from 1950 till 1968 (the year of his death).
I am fortunate that I bought the Orfeo discs back in the day when they were new releases, though I suppose that was still a considerable outlay of money thinking about it. I do like these performances and the sound is very good. I bought the Serebrier when it came out as a boxed set because of the many laudatory reviews. I return to the Jarvi more often though.
@hadrianus I return to Järvi's Glazunov and Berwald set more than any other recording in my collection. His take on Glazunov's Symphony no. 6 is as perfect as it can get.
@hadrianus: if you're accustomed to Otaka, you're in for a shock.
I found his versions decently played, very well recorded, but plodding, pulseless to the point of lethargic.
Don't get me wrong, there is something to be said for stately, luxuriant Glazunov, in the way Yondani Butt did with various London "Rolls-Royce" orchestras on ASV, (on the right day, a guilty pleasure of mine) but Otaka was too much..
Anyway, Jarvi is on another plane altogether.
Actually, I think that this cycle is one of his top 10 accomplishments,
Hundreds of cd's, brilliant traversals of lesser known and hence more difficult repertoire, what a musical mind Jarvi père must be!
@ hyperdanny & FBerwald
I was never accustomed to Otaka, I had listened to it years ago just once, and the impression was good, but there are more Svetlanov listenings stored in the memory. So I am anxiously looking forward to the Järvi set :-)
@hadrianus...oh , ok, I just (wrongly) inferred it was your benchmark because you said you were going to remove it from your collection..anway: I cannot possibly think you're going to be disappointed by Jarvi senior.
PS actually, when anybody gets the new reissue set, could you let me know if it's been remastered? I have the original issues . and the sound was terrific, but, just because it was good to begin with, a 2018-technology remastering could make it even better.
There's no mention of re-mastering either on the reverse of the box or at Orfeo's website.
@Alan
yes I had seen the pictures but you know, sometimes the booklets reveal more info not immediately apparent..and the Orfeo website is not exactly one of the best or most detailed around...we'll see.
Indeed.
Thanks for recommending me the Järvi Glazunov box! I am enjoying it these days immensely! And the sonics are really super!
I've ordered it too - but it's out of stock at the UK suppliers...
Just wanted to continue listening - and had to find out that two CDs are defective - they show scratches and signs of wear, probably caused during the packing process. SO I have to order a replacement :-(
That's not good news. Hope it's not a 'batch fault'.
It is, Alan!
After checking the replacement - the same error occurs at the very same place (Disc 4, track 5, after 5:00 minutes). It sounds like a laser swish, or jump. I've just written an email to the production manageress in Munich to see what she thinks. I've checked it on 3 different players and also with an iPod transfer from my iMac through iTunes. At least the replacement box has no unscratched discs...
Oh dear. Let's hope this fault can be rectified.
Adriano: Do you think the fault lies with the production of CD4 or with the master recording?
Such kind of laser mistakes with data losses) almost surely happen during the disc manufacturing. A studio master cannot have such swishes. Typical studio tape flutter sounds differently. The balance engineer would notice this immediately by running the master through the usual control filters. So the next step after the original master would be the glass mastering - and the printing.
To be sure, one could eventually check this, if he has the old (single) ORFEO recording of Symphony No. 8. Anyway, let's see what Munich answers me.
Generally, all CDs have minor laser transfer/reading mistakes, but today's players can overcome them automatically (including dust particles), except if it is a "bigger case" - which I bet it is here - after also playing the disc on my Sony studio recorder/player.
But it also happens that such printing mistakes do not necessarily affect a complete printing lot. It can appear in just a part of it, caused by a minimal disturbance, so I am not sure if now we have a 100% case.
Another example: A 2003 Inedita CD containing my own orchestral arrangement of Respighi's 4-hand piano pieces displays a horrible tape flutter for a long time in its first track. During years I was trying to convice the producer to check this, and if it was possible at least to find the orginal tapes or so. He promised to contact the Austrian Sony factory, but nothing happened. Now the label manager is dead, Inedita has closed down and this shameful CD is irreparable. Not to speak about the fact that artistically it is no great revelation - and, tecnically, many amateurish edits are hearable - and takes and balance also differ in various places...
Naxos never wanted me to conduct this arrangement and one day an offer just came in came from Inedita, but its producer (and conductor) wanted to do it himself with his orchestra - and with his own recording team.
Incidentally, the CD got excellent reviews as far as its repertoire and its sound (!) were concerned.
The company with whom I placed my order for the Järvi set on Orfeo has confirmed that there is indeed a batch fault and that this is why they are out of stock:
QuoteWe are aware of the issue and this is why we don't have any stock. We are just waiting to hear from the suppliers when a new print is being made.
My strong advice is (a) if you have already purchased the set, to check CD4, track 5, after 5:00 minutes - as indicated by Adriano, and (b) if you have not purchased the set, NOT to place an order until the fault has been rectified by Orfeo.
If you find that your copy has the fault, return it immediately to your retailer and request a refund, explaining that a batch fault has been discovered.
Oh, that's interesting, Alan. Thanks. The lady in Munich seems having a bad conscience for still not replying to me :-)
I have been in touch with Presto Classical about the Glazunov/Järvi set. This was their reply:
QuoteI have now heard back from the supplier who has informed me that the fault has been rectified
Let's hope this is truly the case. Only one problem: How are we to know whether we're buying a new rectified set or a faulty old one?
I have emailed Presto back asking whether they've actually checked the CD in question.
... and I have written to Mrs. Wörner of Orfeo on this very same subject last week - and wait for her reply...
I'll keep us all informed if and when I get a reply.
Since Orfeo's reponsibles still do not bother to answer to my (third) request about an eventual new pressing of the Glazunov set, I have cloned myself a new master CD (with identical "red" label artwork), using the corresponding track of the old single CD issue. In other words, I have now a clean CDR. Anyone needing a copy, I'll be delighted to send it. Pls. write me an internal message or an email and you will get this free of charge.
Yes, the silence has been deafening. Extremely annoying.
Quote from: hadrianus on Monday 24 August 2020, 07:25
Since Orfeo's reponsibles still do not bother to answer to my (third) request about an eventual new pressing of the Glazunov set, I have cloned myself a new master CD (with identical "red" label artwork), using the corresponding track of the old single CD issue. In other words, I have now a clean CDR. Anyone needing a copy, I'll be delighted to send it. Pls. write me an internal message or an email and you will get this free of charge.
Doubtless well-intended, but does that infringe copyright?
If they can't be bothered to respond they clearly don't care so I wouldn't raise the issue.
In any case, remember: the Serebrier/Warner set is available from Amazon at around £2 per CD. And it's superb!
No Christopher; you can make free of charge private CD copies in a small quantity (in my case 5) - just for a few friends. And, should I learn that there is a clean reprint, I would immediately withdraw from my offer.
This box still costs 50 Euros, and I even bouth 2 copies, in order to be sure about that faulty pressing.