Review: Pinnock's Momentous, Monumental Archiv Legacy

[@alanmcginn4796]

Dave. You know you say some times on your channel. How kind of sad it is that we are putting peoples lives in a box. Or something like that. I think this is a triumph. Pinnock was one of my real first followings way back when I started listening to classical music. His Mozart symphony box was the first thing of his that I bought. I am just going thru my iTunes collection now. I have many of these recordings and love them so. What an achievement. What an artist. What a legend. This box and his work deserves to be in the home of everybody who remotely likes baroque music. Bravo maestro Hurwitz for affording Pinnock his rightfully deserved long video on your amazing channel. God I love this music.

[@philippecassagne3192]

Trevor Pinnock's recordings are remarkable for their rich and delightful sonorities. Almost all his Vivaldi, Handel and Haydn records are reference recordings.

[@eugenebraig413]

I got a vicarious hernia just watching you hoist this box. I always loved Pinnock's approach to directing Handel's organ concerti: crisp and sprightly.

[@vKarl71]

Love this! The Pinnock recordings of the Brandenburgs is the one I always go back to. There are many wonderful recordings but this is my favorite by far. So exciting, well recorded, perfectly timed. Thrills me every time.

[@davidaiken1061]

Thanks so much for the effort involved in reviewing this behemoth. I've always regarded Pinnock as the best of the bunch of early music purveyors in the UK during the period in which the "period instrument movement" became more professionalized and listener-friendly. Comparing, say, Pinnock's Brandenburgs with Harnoncourt's first effort shows just how much progress had been made toward refinement in playing the old instruments. Pinnock's Vivaldi, Bach, Handel and Haydn have lingered long in my collection, unlike almost all of Hogwood and much of Gardiner.

[@YusufYalcin83]

I have almost all of his cd recordings. I was a child in the 1990s and since then my passion for old music has been based on Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert community. Just think, every newly released record was a new source of excitement and curiosity. That was a real reason for happiness that never ends for years... I can't thank enough.

[@claudiofornasari1263]

Totally agree with you!

[@janantonbrouwer3971]

I bought a lot of these recordings in earlier boxes; some cd's when they were released in the 80'ies and 90'ies (and they are all still fantastic) . I have the Vivaldi concerti box in my car; when driving to the supermarket or wherever i just pick 'blind' one of the cd's out, put in the cd player of my old Saab and it's great joy. The organ concerto's are perfect when preparing dinner or waiting at the gate for a delayed flight - anmd during the flight as well. Pinnock is a (ir)regular guest conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra; heard him there a few times. He's is the most fresh happymaking musician I ever saw. He's almost the best medicine against depression. Thank you David for this great review!

[@michaelotruba1308]

Like many others here, his Bach and Handel offerings got me hooked back in the ‘80s, and led me to explore his other recordings over the years. I particularly enjoyed listening to the Bach Harpsichord Concerti while commuting every-something about the driving rhythms in some of them (like 1052-Allegro)seemed perfect for dealing with cars moving at high speeds! Somehow it seemed to sharpen my driving focus. Listening to your review, and reading the comments here, I found myself agreeing with most if not all the comments that have been made. Pinnock’s work certainly forms the backbone and bulk of my baroque collection. I was never disappointed. Huzzah!

[@chrismusic1180]

Love it. His Brandenburg Concertos and Orchestral Suites set were what first got me hooked on classical music. It’s been a great ride ever since. Thanks, Trevor (and Dave for the review)!

[@TheManWithaHarmonica]

Same for me! Coincidence, or perhaps not?

[@markmiller3713]

Trevor Pinnock is a true musical genius. I do not say that lightly. He along with Karl Richter are for me two of the finest exemplars of baroque musicians of the twentieth century. My first recording of "Messiah" was Pinnock's and it was thrilling. That was the first time I heard Arleen Auger sing - what a gem she was. As soon as this box was available for pre-order, I got it! Should be shipping next week. :-)

[@claudiofornasari1263]

Dear David, I couldn't agree more with you: Trevor Pinnock contribution to (re)discovery of 17th and 18th centuries music is really momentous! Thanks for your review!

[@EyeShotFirst]

Historically Informed Performance is usually a mixed bag. I enjoy hearing baroque and classical works on period instruments, but conductors can be a tad...stiff and unfeeling. Pinnock brings all the lush feeling to the works. Pinnock being an incredible performer, he conducts with the mind of a performer. I've not heard a Pinnock performance that I didn't enjoy. His work at Archiv deserves to be Archived and preserved for the ages. The sound is always top notch on those recordings. His HIP performances don't sound small and distant, they're full and exciting. I absolutely love his Mozart symphony set. He's also my go-to Vivaldi performer. When I was in collector mode, I would reach for performances with his name on the Archiv label. Built up quite the Baroque collection thanks to Pinnock.

[@francoisjoubert6867]

I got to know the Brandenburgs and the concertos from Pinnock. And I particularly love the oboe concertos, as well as the skeleton one. These are sone of my deserted island discs. Great tribute to a great artist. By you, word and knowledge artist!

[@geertdecoster5301]

First class review anew! 🎉the more I get older the less I regard Mozart greater than any other composer. Your comment about his Haendel transcriptions was so true. Likewise how Pinnock moved marvellous music like Purcell's King Arthur to the front of both our liking and memory

[@neilford99]

I'm a big fan of Pinnock too. I've got some Bach, Handel, Corelli, Haydn by him. All superb. The Nelson Mass is a particular favourite recording of mine. He lives near me in London, and is seen at a local music venue by fans. Oh DH reminded me of the Handel Ode for St Cecilia’s day. Another great recording.

[@fredericmorris2931]

In addition to providing reliably fine performances, Pinnock was almost always beautifully recorded, whether on analog LP, digital LP, or CD.

[@1984robert]

My problem with these huge boxes: they may reproduce original jackets but excludes the even more important content: original notes and other data. I have Pinnock's Mozart complete symphonies box and Haydn Sturm und drang box. These contain essays written by Tim Carter and others, contain scoring for each symphony and even name of members of the English Concert. If I buy this huge complete box, I would have the musical content duplicated but If I sell early releases (because these are in the big box) I would loose written content. This is my biggest problem with these big boxes.

[@dandiehm8414]

I was hoping all of that data would be in the generously sized book (which should be hardcover), but the book appears to be just a giant book of track listings, with a few essays and pictures thrown in.

[@1984robert]

@@dandiehm8414As usual. I've never seen a big complete box where they included earlier essays from previous booklets.

[@jeffheller642]

I love Pinnock the conductor (e.g., Haydn and Vivaldi), but find his harpsichord rather low in the mix on his Bach harpsichord concertos. So I bought Leonhardt's set and sure enough his harpsichord is considerably more prominent and feels right where it's supposed to be. Wonder what y'all think?

[@hendriphile]

Agree: I have this set on LPs and yes the harpsichord is quite faint.

[@viningscircle]

I have a bunch of the smaller box sets, all essential for me. Apart from Archiv, on Hannsler, Pinnock's Bach Partitas on harpsichord are especially beautifully performed and recorded. I can attest to the perils of foam padding use in CD sets. My (Archiv) Bach Complete Organworks by Walcha (the earlier 80's release of the stereo recordings) had ruined all the CDs from the melted "protective" pads. Lesson learned.

[@timothyweir8790]

This set is a treasure trove. One to buy for any of the discs not already owned.

[@markdecker2112]

my first purchase of a classical CD was Pinnock's 3 and 4 keyboard concerti of Bach due only to Fanfare or Penguin's (I forget which) 10/10 rating. That album is still in heavy rotation close to 40 years later. I am definitely getting this set, but a little bummed that the book is not a hardcover.

[@tuttifrutti2229]

Pinnock, Bruggen or Weil for Haydn symphonies. Can’t decide which one to get? Difference between the three of them ? I already have Dorati cycle…

[@UlfilasNZ]

A strong vote for Weil here, and Kuijken for the London Symphonies.

[@murraylow4523]

I have both the Pinnock and the Bruggen in the “Strurm und Drang” works. I like them both,. Pinnock has the harpsichord going on (well, that’s what he does) and ideally it’s not necessary. But his performances are generally tighter, neater and more polished than Bruggen. Have a listen and maybe you’ll hear what I mean!

[@tuttifrutti2229]

After strong deliberations, I bought Bruno Weil 6 paris symphonies, 15 symphonies vivarte. Waiting 2 days to try it. There was something strange of a bit off in Pinnock but I can’t quite pinpoint it. Anyway thank you …

[@TimSwensen]

I must say that Arkiv (DG) gave Pinnock good recorded sound. And this is one reason I enjoyed his Water Music so much. That and his wind players’ wonderful skill. David, I hope you don’t mind my asking, but are you purchasing all the discs in your astonishing collection? This only slightly less remarkable than your savant-like recollection of all these recordings. Bravo!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Something like 90%. Labels don't give out promos the way they used to, and when they do they often come so late that it's annoying to have to wait for them. I'd rather just buy them.

[@marshallwise8845]

I was almost ready to take this plunge but then realized it did not include his solo keyboard recordings. I have too many of the orchestra recordings already to buy this, though i like them all very much. Is there a solo pinnock box?

[@markmiller3713]

There's a 3-disc set of the Bach harpsichord concertos.

[@dandiehm8414]

@@markmiller3713Concertos are not solo works.

[@stevemcclue5759]

I love The English Concert. I well remember the impact of hearing their Brandenburgs back in the 80s. If you'd been brought up on the Bach of (say) Karajan or Klemperer this was a bolt from the blue, music with verve, passion and yes, funk! And why did the pitch sound so weird? This was electrifying stuff. I'm really attracted to getting this box, despite already having much of what's in it. Go figure.

[@zamplify]

I just enjoy Pinnocks continuo so much I don't mind how high it is in the mix. Anyone else playing I couldn't listen to it.

[@antonioantonio-no2uc]

Un genio musical humilde y trabajador,.

[@mangstadt1]

I used to have the box with his Haydn Sturm und Drang symphonies, which I loaned to a friend when he gave me a monetary loan. He didn't accept my paying it back so I never again mentioned the boxed set. To sum it up, I don't remember what it cost me but I resold it for 1,500 euros. This friend of mine is a big fan of Haendel, which I am not--more of a Bach person. Anyway, those symphonies were beautiful, especially the slow movements when in a state of midwake, i.e., when in the process of waking up from a siesta on the sofa. "Duermevela" is the word we use in Spanish for that state of light slumber when your mind is very sharp and perceptive. I have the Dorati 33-CD Haydn symphonies set, but Pinnock sounds much better

[@haroldvail395]

Pinnock/English Concert records have always been the easiest listen among the period instrument hordes. They're mellifluous as well as pungent and lively. The playing is so refined and rich - almost like modern instruments. Fair to say he's the Karajan of period conductors? Well, probably not, but to make original instruments sound so sheerly beautiful is magic.

[@neilford99]

I was thinking of the Karajan analogy too 😊 hope that’s a big compliment.

[@edgecroft]

The mixed nuts observation made me laugh out loud.

[@ericleiter6179]

Skeletons copulating on a tin roof...thats what got me!!!

[@ftumschk]

@@ericleiter6179 That's a famous quip from Sir Thomas Beecham.

[@allthisuselessbeauty-kr7]

Thought I heard Hellendaal mentioned towards the end? He's well worth getting to know.if you like, say Handel in Concerti Grossi mode. There is a delightful selection of his pieces on a miscellaneous collection of Dutch Baroque music with Combattimento Consort Amsterdam, conducted by Jan Willem de Vriend on Brilliant Classics

[@FREDGARRISON]

GEE DAVE, looks like your videos are DRIVING YOU TO DRINK!!!!! Sure glad it's not the same for all of us viewers. Since you mentioned the PACHELBEL: Canon, have you ever noticed that near the end of this piece, the violins play a tune that closely resembles that old BURGER KING commercial heard here in The United States. You know, HOLD THE PICKLE, HOLD THE LETTUCE, SPECIAL ORDERS DON'T UPSET US. Guess Pachelbel has been around a lot longer than Burger King has. Another GREAT video, Dave....

[@steveschwartz8944]

Pinnock swings!

[@JanPBtest]

11:34 Which Jordi? 2006 (Astree) or 2010 (Alia Vox)?

[@murraylow4523]

They are almost certainly the same recording as the astree things got transferred over largely

[@UlfilasNZ]

Would also mention the two great North American groups, Tafelmusik and Boston Baroque, whose recordings are at least as good, and very well recorded (Sony Vivarte and Telarc respectively).

[@dem8568]

Well I probably won't be buying this, but I do intend to try and pick off a lot of these gradually. Just ordered the Haydn symphonies and I'm excited to hear them. I actually came here to hear your thoughts on them specifically but now I want to spend $300 I shouldn't be spending...

[@mpmternst]

I’ll have to dig into my Bernstein box later today and pull out that Vivaldi RV558 disc.

[@ilunga146]

Did they leave out the Mozart PCs with Malcolm Bilson?

[@marshallwise8845]

I had to look that up myself and saw it was Gardiner and his group

[@ilunga146]

@@marshallwise8845 Thank you Marshall for the correction.

[@ilunga146]

@@loganfruchtman953 Yes, I heard. Thanks.

[@albertpianist]

A terrific collection indeed. Now the floodgates of boxed sets have opened (and some of your wishes have come true), would you like to update your greatest list from almost 3 years ago?

[@walterht8083]

My favorite classical works are the Bach harpsichord concertos performed by Pinnock, although Levin's is imo just as good.

[@psono429]

awesome career!

[@JamesAdams-ev6fc]

Dave: forgive me, but was that REALLY a swastika format?

[@dandiehm8414]

I thought the same. It looked like an efficient way to package such a huge set. I did not get a swastika vibe at all.

[@markmiller3713]

Dave: Were any of the recordings re-mastered?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Not that I could tell. I don't think so. They always sounded pretty good.

[@inarcadia3296]

06:04 😄

[@paulbrower]

The only faults that I can see with this collection is the absence of Couperin and Rameau. Otherwise perfect.

[@dandiehm8414]

I think these are ALL of the released orchestral recordings on Archiv. Are you referring to the solo works for Couperin and Rameau?