Review: Julius Katchen's Complete Decca Recordings

[@jdistler2]

Thanks for mentioning my review. I’m very proud of what I wrote in my review of Katchen’s stereo Prokofiev 3rd Concerto: Argerich smokes, but Katchen inhales!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Indeed, although we're getting a bit old and I don't expect everyone will remember the reference!

[@richardfrankel6102]

​@@DavesClassicalGuideoh, yeah? Speak for yourself there, sonny! ; )

[@leestamm3187]

​@@richardfrankel6102 Yeah! I love it when these young punks try to play the age card. ;-)

[@ThomasBakerH]

I imprinted on Katchen's Brahms recordings in the early 1970s - wonderful. Thank you for calling out his fresh and exciting Carnaval. Carnaval seems deceptively hard to get right. I have heard many many recordings over the years and keep returning to Robert Casadesus but will now return to this one too.

[@davidaiken1061]

Many thanks for this review. Katchen is one of those distinguished artists who are in some danger of being forgotten today. His Beethoven concerto cycle with Gamba is very exciting indeed, and one of the few I return to with as much frequency as Fleisher/Szell. It's rarely cited by critics, though. Ditto his thrilling and thoughtful Rach 2. I hope your review piques the interest of younger listeners. I grew up with many of these recordings, and am glad to see a Katchen box exists. Do I need another box? No. Am I sorely tempted to get this. Yes.

[@Danzig987]

The Katchen Dohnanyi Nursery and Rach Paganini Variations with Sir Adrian Boult is a complete winner. What's interesting is that the 1959 stereo remake sounds identical to the 1954 mono recording, revealing that Katchen had definitive ideas on how he wanted this music to sound -- and never second-guessed his interpretation for even an instant.

[@robertmrozek1454]

Thank you so much for reviewing this set. Like an earlier commenter for this video, when I was discovering classical music as a teenager, I bought a couple of the Beethoven piano concerto discs on Decca's Ace of Diamonds label: No 1 coupled with the Choral Fantasia and Nos. 2 and 4, both recommended recordings from Gramophone magazines 'Recommended Recordings' booklet. I loved these recordings and played and played them. Thank you, dear Julius Katchen!

[@curseofmillhaven1057]

I got to know the Prokofiev 3rd Piano Concerto through the Katchen/Kertesz recording (it was included in the Decca Favourite Composer 2lp series). It's aw suggested something special. The slow movement I find particularly moving - when the piano makes that final low note, it chills to the bone. Great stuff.

[@mauriciocortez4582]

Center Stage Classical has one of its periodical sales of box sets. Julius Katchen's box on sale for $60. Just ordered mine.

[@Randy-Wright_Edt]

Thank you so much! I am so glad Katchen is getting more recognition from critics. I got a lot of these when they were originally released on LP. Reviews were definitely mixed. I actually prefer the later Diabelli Variations. There's a chapter about Katchen in Gary Graffman's book "I really Should Be Practicing." He says that Katchen memorized the Diabelli Variations in 3 Days!

[@itsagasgasgas]

Julius Katchen can also be seen (and heard of course) playing Mozart in the bonus materials of the Rolling Stones Rock’n’roll Circus Blu-ray. Not to be missed in the main programme however is Ivry Gitlis attempting to improvise to Yoko Ono’s shrieks without losing his composure. I hope for him the paycheck was worth it. A splendid time is guaranteed for all! 😂

[@christopherpickles7541]

I have this box. As good a purchase as I ever made, and the 'hit rate' is tremendous.

[@zdl1965]

This is a great box-set! The modern-day pianist I would compare him with was Nicholas Angelich, who was American and lived in Paris, a great Brahms player and also died young.

[@grahamcombs4752]

Mr. Hurwitz, Thank you so much for this posting. I was uncertain of the provenance; I'm unfamiliar with Julius Katchen. I have the Paul Paray 1953-1957 box so I'm always curious about pre -sixties recordings. (Paray is a favorite of my former pastor at the Assumption Grotto parish on Detroit's eastside. Father had met Paray as a boy and was photographed with him. ) I also like to stretch into unfamiliar territory. I googled your postings and sure enough you'd recorded a video on it. I've ordered it and am looking forward to it.

[@johncoutlakis265]

The Arietta of Katchens Beethoven Sonata no 32 is out of this world. I agree too about the Brahms, got the box vinyl record set, also the vinyl of the Beethoven 32 with the op 126 tagged on.

[@hendriphile]

The London [USA] LP edition of Beethoven’s first piano concerto, had as its disc mate the Choral Fantasia, also with LSO forces conducted by Gamba (Pierino as he was known and listed on the LP in those days). I don’t believe it was mentioned in this review, I certainly hope it’s in the box. It’s an excellent performance of the Choral Fantasia.

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

As to box still available …Kempff, please!!

[@kaswit007]

Can you review Arthur Rubinstein: The Complete Album Collection? I know it's out of print for so long. But I want to listen to your opinion about this early complete boxset that Sony Classical produce that become standard practice in later colection.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I have talked about it that box, although not in its own video.

[@silentlyunsteadycollecting]

Amazon Australia has this set for $15 today…so I guess u cannot go wrong with that! Looking forward to hearing what he has to offer. A blind buy…but at that price - why not.

[@leestamm3187]

A great pianist playing great music. What's not to like?

[@RCO-lr4xt]

Hi Dave, I am off topic but I have just read that Apple Music has bought BIS records. What is your reaction to that news ? I am at a loss to explain what is Apple’s objective. I am also concerned that this is the end of BIS issuing their releases in CD/SACD format. Thanks

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

At first sight is an unquestionably bad news…but, it could also be a move by BIS management to help the company to survive. Time will tell!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I really have no opinion. We'll see what happens when it happens.