Review: DG's Mostly Splendid Complete Kubelik Box

There's some great stuff in here--complete symphony cycles by Mahler, Beethoven, Dvořák and Schumann, plus reference recordings of works by Smetana and Janáček, terrific Wagner and Verdi, and a splendid array of rare and unusual repertoire. If you missed this collection the first time around, here's your chance (at least as of 12/23).

[@fred6904]

Dear Dave! Thank you so very much for making this review of the Kubelik box on DG. 🙏👍👏😃🌟💙 Best wishes Fred from Kristianstad.

[@giveall9695]

WOW, Thank you so much for covering this :) To me he's quite remarkable conductor. Each time I listen to his Dvořák or Smetana (or others as well) I'm always slightly suprised by his small changes of tempi, for instance a bit of rittarnando here and there towards the end of the phrases... It always catches me unprepared. Not that other conductors would not do that, but Kubelik always does it cleverly - in second repetitions etc., yet NOT on a too big scale. These are always nice little details one can forget after some time. I only wish that Orfeo would release another box of his work (they already did not so complete munich symphonic recordings, but we need the rest as well).

[@classicallpvault8251]

If you live in Europe you could get all of his Orfeo releases on LP on the used market. Probably cheaper than brand-new CD releases would be.

[@robertjones447]

Looks like you hit the jackpot - Kubelik-wise. Keep it going, Buddy boy!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

Oh my, you mentioned his Mathis der Maler. On a whim, I picked it up in a Houston record shop on the EMI import, and I was totally entranced with the music. That recording convinced me that this was, along with Peter Grimes, one of the two great operatic masterworks of the 20th century. (Yes, I now have the CD issue, but I've kept the LPs.)

[@ZviSRosen]

This is only $100 on Universal's "Center Stage" store for the holidays, at least in the USA.

[@CortJohnson]

Thanks so much! Twice as much as at Amazon - and there are some other great deals there😊

[@dmntuba]

I cut my teeth on Kubelik's Mahler 1...on cassette which I picked up from a cut out bin @ Camelot Music in early 80's while in undergrad. 4 years later (while in grad school @ university of Miami) the local classical station (which was wonderful) did a meet & greet promotion with my favorite CD store on a Saturday. Ended up having that day off so I attended the promotion and to shock/surprise nobody showed up except for a couple blue haired ladies. They were giving away CD's as door prizes and I won Kuberlik Mahler 8. Because there was nobody else there I got to spin a lot of quality time with the program director(I believe he was happy to have someone that knew music better than the average listener so he also gave me Kuberlik Mahler 1 & 4 😊 I scored big that day & was very pleased 👍

[@paulbrower]

If there is any fault it is the gaps in his repertory as recorded. I was waiting to hear about Brahms, Tchaikovsky, A Schubrt 8th and 9th, and maybe a Symphonie Fantastique, a Sheherezade, and a La Mer. When that is your complaint, you have greatness. This review is so laudatory that I almost expect a bribe to have been paid... except that I remember Kubelik as great as you say he was on his DG recordings. Grab this, folks.

[@CortJohnson]

Oyyy - so many great boxes - and the Andsnes box is coming out next month…but it’s only $100 at Classical Center Stage. “I’m sold at the first disc” ha! 🤗

[@wortleyclutterbuk7347]

For whatever it's worth, my strategy for this box, and other ones with the glued-on contents is to trim them down and stick them inside the box. But I also often stick the sales spiel that's on the plastic wrapping to the inside top of the box, so I suppose you could say I'm a bit obsessive.

[@jankucera8180]

Yep, I did the same... it contains a valuable overview of the contents, after all...

[@bbailey7818]

Exactly the same here.

[@Stanvansandt]

I've just started on it, after listening to big chunks of the Mercury and Decca Kubelik boxes (your review of those was spot on). I've only heard Beethoven, Dvorak, and Mahler's first symphonies (because I can do it that way, for the first time) and though I have a few nits to pick, I really enjoyed the Beethoven and Mahler. The Dvorak 1, I confess, is not a work that grabs me at all, and I think I have heard recordings I liked better, but that's not really saying much. I love his Beethoven 2 - no reservations there - and look forward to the 2's of D. and M. I learned Mahler 2 from Solti's recording, so I hope I find Kubelik's less ginormous approach refreshing. If not, well, there are plenty of alternatives now.

[@frankbruno8556]

Thanks for the review!

[@bbailey7818]

I had the symphony cycles in the DG Kubelik Symphony box. Otherwise, I'm a good third of the way through and enjoying it immensely. The Falla really was a revelation. I also loved the "big band" Handel disc played with little attempt to ameliorate vibrato--and I'd bet Handel would have too. I thought the Mozart choral works were fine but I have to agree with Dave after seeing and hearing the Prague symphony on the DVD. The tempi were well judged but it just wasn't inspired or out of the ordinary. Speaking of the DVDs, the Beethoven from the Concertgebouw is not just annoying to watch, it's unwatchable. If you can shut off your monitor and just listen, do it!

[@MorganHayes_Composer.Pianist]

Perhaps because I imprinted on his version as a teenager, but I’ve always liked Kubelik’s way with Mahler 8. He keeps it moving along but with no lack of gravitas. The 6th Symphony is another matter.

[@tenorette2003]

I regularly come back to Kubeliks Mahler 8 and his Gurrelieder because of the magnificent singing he gets from the soloists. I don't think there's a better team recorded in Mahler than that with Arroyo, Fischer-Dieskau ect. And Inge Borkh passionate intense Tove will stay my favourite!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Fair enough.

[@MarauderOSU]

Another big box that's still available is the Isaac Stern Complete Columbia Analogue Recordings box. It's one that I've been pondering for quite some time. Can we get a talk about that one?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I'll think about it!

[@fred6904]

​@@DavesClassicalGuidePlease🙏Mr Hurwitz!

[@CortJohnson]

Would love to hear that 🙏

[@djquinn4212]

Another box that you can still find (and would qualify for ripe for reissue) is the Philips Brahms Chamber Music Box. Beaux Arts Trio doing the trios and the piano quartets, Grumiaux doing the Violin sonatas etc etc. A fantastic set!

[@classicallpvault8251]

The complete Brahms chamber music on Philips is available on the used LP market for around 50 to 60 euros. Absolute bargain.

[@djquinn4212]

@@classicallpvault8251 it’s on Amazon in CD form for reasonable prices but it’s still in the Philips form and it should still be in print

[@michaelhartman8724]

If you research this box carefully online the cds can be had for 100 bucks!

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

OK...I'm convinced. I will shortly be $200 dollars the poorer, but musically, so much the richer.

[@classicallpvault8251]

Too bad you don't live in Europe. All these recordings are available dirt cheap from German Discogs sellers. On LP.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@classicallpvault8251 I realize that. But I need to save shelf space.

[@giveall9695]

Go for half the price on center stage - 99 dollars.

[@analogueanorak1904]

Wonderful. I was hoping Dave would do a Kubelik DG overview mainly to start to get a grasp of which later records to look out for rather than to get the box. Very interesting to hear the positive feedback about his Wagner as I had come across a story that during the occupation Kubelik refused to play Wagner putting him at risk and needed help to disappear into the countryside for a while.

[@grahamcombs4752]

Amazon shows the box is available -- 2 left -- $199.98 and can be shipped by December 16th. . Not in my budget at the moment. I've been spending on classical cds and box sets like a drunken usher at Carnegie Hall (or my favorite venue, Orchestra Hall in Detroit.)

[@Stanvansandt]

I just got mine from Center Stage for half price - $99.98, and they still show it available today, 12/11/23. Recommend that source while they last.

[@grahamcombs4752]

Thank you so much. I really have to begin checking on sources other than Amazon. Have a Very Good Christmas!@@Stanvansandt

[@grahamcombs4752]

I've just checked out the site -- unbelievable! And the prices! Thanks again. @@Stanvansandt

[@CortJohnson]

Great prices at center stage - the Ashkenazy too…wow . Just got it😊

[@petercable7768]

Hi Dave, ref the Carl Orf I think it's the worst piece of music I've ever heard. Kubelik gives it his all but nothing can save this music. I bought this box when it first came out and I have found it quite treasurable (apart from the Orf of course). Kubelik, like Klemperer divides his first and second violins and this, for me pays huge dividends in the Mahler. You have to be prepared to sit down between your two speakers to get the full benefit of this. I love this cycle including symphonies nos. 2 and 8. Completely different to the CBS Bernstein that I also love, diametrically opposed but there is room for both conceptions. And, as you say many of us love the Schumann symphonies, so fresh and uneffected. Sadly without divided violins as, in 1963 the Berlin Philharmonic was very much Karajan's orchestra and as I understand it Kubelik at this time did not feel he could request the change in seating positions.

[@robhaynes4410]

I thought that "Parsifal without the laughs" was a Noel Coward quip!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Who knows?