The Most Important Recording Projects Ever (No. 6: EMI's Elgar Edition)

[@sppolly81]

Getting in a shout for Hyperion’s Romantic Piano Concerti series. A fascinating range of lesser known, and some well-known, works, usually in excellent performances which show the works in their best possible light. A brilliant endeavour that aims to broaden our listening-at-home experience even if they cannot influence concert hall listening experience

[@timothyweir8790]

Thanks for highlighting this historically important EMI set, Dave. You've reminded me that I had wanted to add it to my collection while it's still available (and it is).

[@goethemephisto]

You’re the best, David!

[@tom6693]

Highlighting this EMI Elgar set brings to mind another big EMI recording project that's likely to qualify for inclusion in your series: The EMI RECORD OF SINGING. Certainly it's "important" to voice fanciers. It began as an LP set in 4 volumes, 47 discs (issued 1977-89) and with two accompanying books by Michael Scott. Not all of the recordings made it to CD transfer (Volumes 1 & 2, 1899-1925), but the bulk of them did, first Volume 4 (1939-end of '78 era) on EMI, then Volume 3 (1926-1939) on Testament, and a Volume 5 (from LP to digital era) on EMI. 27 CDs in total, complete with booklets, introductions, and bios. What distinguished this series was its comprehensive coverage, going far beyond the singers whose recordings have been readily available or who became figures of international status in opera and song. Those voices are included, of course, but along side the more familiar names are the many artists whose careers didn't perhaps have that kind of scope but without whose recordings the history of 20th century vocalism would be incomplete. It's a real trove of marvelous singing, an illuminating record of stylistic changes and national schools, and--for me--the source of many treasured discoveries.

[@jensguldalrasmussen6446]

I think one could argue for the complete recordings of Vaughan Williams' symphonies, Job, etc. by Boult ought to be included in this series. After all Boult recorded the first set of the complete symphonies, many with RVW present during the sessions; he premiered the symphonies 3. 4 and 6; and was the dedicatee of Job.

[@robhaynes4410]

This is an excellent choice. I would also nominate the Chandos Bax recordings. They exposed many, many thousands to a neglected "kleinmeister" and served as an inspiration/model to other labels (and to Chandos itself) that there was a voracious market for the untrodden path.

[@ThreadBomb]

The Chandos recordings were issued several times, but never in a box!

[@gavingriffiths2633]

You mention Britten- his recording of the War Requiem topped the charts, extraordinary for a piece of contemporary classical music; not until Gorecki's 3rd symphony would this happen again....(gone out of fashion a bit?)

[@mangstadt1]

As a fan of big box sets, a few years ago I bought the Adrian Boult complete recordings of Elgar issued by EMI, 19 CDs. Many of the works are recorded more than once--no problem with that. I am not one to shy away from "ancient" recordings, i.e., from the 1920s or 1930s. I once attended an open-air concert by a chamber ensemble in the town where I have lived for the past 21 years, south of Madrid in Spain. The strings are hardly audible in the open air. Brass carries much better, and of course marching bands are heavy in wind instruments and percussion and have little or no string instruments. Anyway, they had a loudspeaker system in place to aid the strings in being audible. It was obviously not state-of-the-art hardware they were using. The live performance reminded me of recordings from the early days that I own, so right then and there I grasped why old recordings sound the way they do, no matter the extent of the remastering. It's a sound I don't mind listening to every now and then, not something for every day. Call it musical archaeology.

[@timyork6150]

This is undoubtedly a very important set from a historical point of view. I have volume 1 of a 1992 compilation containing the two symphonies, Falstaff and excerpts from The Dream and Music Makers as well as separate CDs of the two concertos. I have to admit that the only one I am likely to stretch for when I want to hear the music is the Violin Concerto with the young Menuhin. Otherwise I go for Barbirolli, Boult, Handley...... In more or less the same generation but living some 15 years longer was Richard Strauss, who had the reputation of being a fine conductor. AFAIK, there exist very few recordings of his conducting his own music in the 30s and 40s when German recording technology was probably better than elsewhere. A compilation covering much the same ground as Kempe did so wonderfully at Dresden would be an invaluable historical document.

[@jimcarlile7238]

I feel bad. Is it OK if I care about his Piano Quintet? I love that piece!

[@robkeeleycomposer]

It's a marvellous piece, even if the combination doesn't work quite as well as in the orchestral music. ! The String Quartet and the Violin Sonata are also very fine works.

[@chazinko]

Alkan's rediscovery by Ronald Smith in the 70s and his recording projects of all the Etudes could be worth a revisit.

[@parfreysounds6841]

I’d suggest the RCA Living Stereo project of the 1950s. When you consider the lineup of artists like Rubinstein, Reiner, Munch, Heifetz, Monteux…etc. And when you think about how well those records sold and how they introduced classical music to the masses with audiophile stereo sound, it’s hard for me to think of a more important series of classical recordings in the US. To my ear, the Reiner Heldenleben and Munch Schubert 9 still sound as good as any orchestral recording today.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That was not a project. It was a label.

[@williamfredscott6904]

I enjoy your comments very much. Thanks! And this is a wonderful idea for a series. Is it true that the HMV Abbey Road studio was created for (or maybe inaugurated by) Elgar's recordings?

[@bbailey7818]

Inaugurated by Elgar recording his Falstaff. George Bernard Shaw was present at the session.

[@jgesselberty]

Hi, Dave. As you did with the iconic works of composers, can you list the projects as you add to them? Thanks.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

There's a built-in list here--just have a look at the full playlist.

[@morrigambist]

An excellent set. May we have Dvorak/Kertesz?

[@dmntuba]

I really enjoy this series, and you chooses have been perfect 👌 Can't remember the name of it, but you reviewed it...Naxos box set/collection of early vocal music.

[@MartinRobidoux]

Bonjour Dave, Just before you mentioned it, I was thinking about Stravinsky conducting his own Sacre du printemps. Would be an other interesting topic : « Composer conducting/recording there own work ». I’m curious about what you think about this particular one. Anyways, thanks a lot for your great work 👍🏻

[@anttivirolainen8223]

You must have an abundance of ideas already, but may I suggest Ana-Marija Markovina's recordings of the complete CPE Bach solo piano works?

[@jeffheller642]

Dave, apropos of another thread, do you plan to do a Rossini opera survey? My guess is you rate him up there with Verdi and Puccini, and I'd love to hear that case made. At the moment, I know and like his early comedic tetralogy and three of his seria works (Tancredi, Semiramide, William Tell) very much. But as towering a figure as he remains, I sometimes think of him as little more than Mozart raised to the Italia-nth degree. Can u help?.

[@jensguldalrasmussen6446]

Puccini ain't up there with the Holy Trinity of Italian opera: Verdi, Rossini and Bellini! I hate to leave out Donizetti, whom I love and adore, and who contributed invaluably to the development of 19th century, Italian opera - hard pressed, though, I might have to admit, that he did not quite reach the height of mastery of the aforementioned triumvirate. More often than not, though, I would rather reach for an opera of Donizetti, than put on one of Puccini's...except when I'm in the mood for pathos in extremis and set on sobbing like a seamstress! 😅 Allow me, by the way, to point to the succinct exchange on Puccini between Shostakovich and Britten as relayed by the late Lord Harewood: DSCH: "What do you think of Puccini?" Britten: "I think his operas are dreadfull" DSCH: "No, Ben, you are wrong. He wrote marvelous operas, but dreadful music!"

[@jeffheller642]

@@jensguldalrasmussen6446 Ah Bellini, possibly the greatest melodist in all of opera. As to Rossini, I know he mastered both comic and serious opera and paved the way for Grand Opera. But I guess I need to hear what people love about his music. Like I said his signature rapid patter stuff, which I love, can sound to me like Mozart on steroids.

[@flexusmaximus4701]

Another good choice! I have 2 suggestions, the RCA set of Beethoven nine symphonies with toscanini and the NBC symphony. This was for my parents generation the classical set to have, if you wanted these works, and even if you were just dipping into the classical world. Growing up in the 1960s, it seemed everyone's parents had this set on LP. By the 70s, there were always used sets popping up 2nd hand everywhere. Also, these works have it seems always been in production through the LP and CD era. Paul G

[@bbailey7818]

I ran across a deluxe set of the 9 that RCA issued in a limited edition in a second hand shop. It's a padded leather album with a bronze medallion inset. The inside has an elaborate booklet. I was able to get it for a few bucks. Columbia issued their stereo set of the 9 by Bruno Walter also in a lavish album with an incredible book on the symphonies.

[@Mezzotenor]

Since I know you love hearing from the Peanut Gallery: Am I wrong to think that Yvonne Loriod deserves props for her recordings of works by Olivier Messiaen, her husband? I don't know if she has her own box of CDs, apart from the Vega recordings.

[@markwolf1374]

On the subject of Elgar - do you, or any other commenters, have a recommendation for a biography of him?

[@alanmillsaps2810]

Jerrold Northrop Moore's "Edward Elgar: A Creative Life" is the standard bearer. Michael Kennedy's "Portrait of Elgar" is also excellent.

[@richardmarkel9695]

How much better classical recordings from England during this era sounded than their American counterparts. The most part anyway. Somewhere in the original notes and perhaps also in these, the unwillingness of EMI to pay Western Electric royalties on their ribbon microphone led the British to develop their own and the difference shows! As an inexperienced classical novice, I notice a differing in the bowing from modern orchestras. Unfortunately this edition does not include all of the notes and illustrations from the three volume series this box is taken from. None the less much interesting information on recording in the 78 era as well as the transferring of the material to digital. Interesting and fun!!

[@chriskim7359]

Excellent series: I have one project that is on your wishlist for recordings: Scott Joplin’s Piano works by Dick Hyman in the 1970’s. I had the Greatest Hits album that I was amazed. But I could never get the Complete Piano Works. These recordings allowed the birth of other pianists to record Joplin’s piano works at the time of “The Sting.”

[@jaykauffman4775]

I read the complete set will be reissued shortly

[@chriskim7359]

🙂🤞!

[@bbailey7818]

I have the lp set. It's wonderful and IMO far superior to the Rifkin performances on Nonesuch with the rags treated as if they were Chopin Nocturnes and sleepy readings of those. Joplin certainly didn't want his music rattled off at top speed, but Rifkin went too far while Hyman strikes the perfect balance.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

When it comes out...I've been screaming at RCA about it for decades. And it is finally coming, hopefully with the Eubie Blake bonus material.

[@peterboer9572]

Good choice, Dave. Richard Strauss?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No.

[@colinwrubleski7627]

No "Polonia"-? What a bummer...

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yeah, life's a bitch sometimes.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Just imagine the entire works of JS Bach on 78s.

[@bbailey7818]

I have the Koussevitzky set of the St. Matthew Passion. Three big, thick, heavy 78rpm albums taking a significant amount of acreage on the shelf. The first complete recording of the WTC 48 was with Edwin Fischer and took years to finish. At that, it was one of those Society set affairs so you couldn't just go to your local shop and pick it up.

[@erikdaumann8589]

"Everywhere else he is a Kleinmeister", you say, Dave. This time I have to object. Here in Germany he is not regarded as a Kleinmeister. Only "Kleingeister" regard him as a "Kleinmeister"... At least in Germany 😊

[@henrygingercat]

And Pfitzner and Reger to you.

[@bbailey7818]

Richard Strauss recorded a great deal of his own music over a period of years, even decades. But Elgar treated recording seriously and Strauss did not. For Strauss it was only a matter of getting in and out of the studio as fast as decently possible and collecting his fee.