Review: Arrau's Complete Warner Recordings

This 24-CD set supplants the prior, incomplete 12-CD set issued several years ago, but as usual the 12-disc difference in deceptive. Either way, Arrau is essential, one of the titans of 20th-century piano music.

[@tuttifrutti2229]

He did a marvelous Schumann-Grieg concerto recording. His tone was , is still amazing. Golden tone. One of the greats in his time for sure.

[@joshuafruend3348]

Yes, I very much agree with your words regarding Arrau's interpretation of the Waldstein. I myself take it a bit faster, but there are too many pianists who think it's a sprint all the way through! Arrau really planned his playing very well.

[@ulfwernernielsen6708]

This box have 3 recordings previously unpublished: Beethoven sonata op 109 and two Liszt pieces : Valse oubliette no.1 and “ Au bord d’une source “ None of the 1947-1951 are in the earlier box and only a few of the prewar recordings are in the earlier box.

[@zdl1965]

Thanks for the timely review. I already own the Icon box, so now I know won't need the new "big" box. Especially when the CDs in the Icon box are well packed, whereas the "big" box has original covers and sparsely filled discs. I'll save the cash for something else!

[@cmtwei9605]

They market the new set as 'HD' (meaning high resolution) remastering from the best source so it'd be important to compare the sound for the works that are in both sets. There's another release 'the LP era' from later dates but only as digital downloads, not CDs.

[@huismanq]

I'm working through this box right now. It strikes me that there are so many mono recordings in it, even from 1957 and 1958, while other artists at EMI were already recording stereo as early as 1955 (eg Gieseking, Klemperer and Solomon).

[@CortJohnson]

In your face serious! Love it 😁😁😁

[@FelipeMarinPerucci]

Thanks for this review! Can you (or have you?) review the DG Berliner Philharmoniker Centenary edition? Love the channel!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks. I don't have plans to do that set right how.

[@stefanskoglund2156]

Tack!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you very much for your kindness!

[@brunoluong7972]

Is the 3-5 concerti with Klemperer are the same published by Testament label?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes

[@nicolasbrochet2147]

I should have wait you review instead of ordering that box in advance but I am still sad to have miss the big Philips box so I jumped on that new one. The sound of the "old stuff" is so bad, it does not make much difference who is playing (the worst is the first CD, sound gets a bit better for the 3 others). Beside the Beethoven - Klemperer piano concerti, the old Icon box has what really matters in it.

[@bunbie]

Is Jed’s review on the site yet?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Whoops. In but not yet posted. Coming shortly.

[@zaoria123]

It's up now. Great review.