Beethoven: Symphony No 7; Haydn: Symphony No. 101; Mendelssohn: Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Toscanini's justly famous 1936 Beethoven Seventh was a bestseller in its day, and its formidable virtues continue to hold their own in the digital age. The New York Philharmonic's unanimity of ensemble, rhythmic acuity, tonal allure, and sheer power attest to Toscanini's exacting standards. The present transfer reveals a more massive, yet flexible orchestral image, built from the bottom up, that will surprise listeners accustomed to Toscanini's leaner, more astringent later NBC Beethoven recordings. These qualities apply as well to the Maestro's 1929 Philharmonic Haydn "Clock" Symphony and Mendelssohn Midsummer Night's Dream Scherzo. All of the Maestro's New York Philharmonic recordings are important, but this is the one with which to start your collection. --Jed Distler

Tracks:

Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
Violin Concerto In E First Movement
Prelude In C minor
Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
Easter Oratorio - Overture
Minuet In D minor
Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
Water Music - Air
Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
Piano Concerto in A - second movement
Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
Serenade - Minuet
Violin Concerto - first movement
Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
Clarinet Concerto - second movement
Turkish March
Divertimento - Minuet
Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
Overture
O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
German Dance No. 1 In C
Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
Heidenroslein
Ave Maria
Der Lindenbaum
Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
German Dance No. 2 In G
Piano Sonata In B-Flat
Nachtgesang Im Walde
Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
Violin Concerto - second movement
The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
Swan Lake - Waltz
Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
Hungarian Dance No.5
Lullaby
Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
Die Fledermaus - Overture
Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
AnnenPolka, Op. 117
Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
Don Juan, Op. 20
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
Angelus
Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
Les Préludes
Boléro
Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
Rhapsodie Espagnole
Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
La Valse
Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
Humoresque, Op. 101
Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
Carneval Overture, Op. 92
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
Nordic Melody Op. 63
Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
Frühlingsgruss
Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
Manfred Overture, Op. 115
Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
Die Rose stand im Tau
Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.

Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music (Collectors Edition) (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music (Collectors Edition) (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
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Classical Moods
Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]
Masters of Classical Music (Box Set)

ASIN: B00008L428
Release Date: 2003-02-13

The Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Decent Quality, But a Little Rushed
Decent, but not exciting
Decent, but not exciting
Sounds good to me.
Wonderful Selection

The Top 100 Masterpieces of Classical Music (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Minuets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polonaises | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Toccatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Russian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Choruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]
Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series

ASIN: B000001VUG
Release Date: 1994-07-14

Tracks:

Toccata In D Minor: Toccata In D Minor (1709) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
Canon In D: Canon in D (1698) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, 1st Movement: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, 1st Movement (1721) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
Water Music, Suite No. 2 In D: 4.1 1st Movement - 4.2 Alla Hornpipe - 4.3 Minuet - 4.4 Lentement - 4.5 Bourree - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
Trumpet Tune And Air: Trumpet Tune And Air (1685) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D: Air - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
The Four Seasons - Spring: The Four Seasons - Spring (1725): 7.1 Allegro - 7.2 Largo e painissimo - 7.3 Allegro Bela Banfalvi - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
Adagio: Adagio (1730) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
Mandoline Concerto In C, RV 425: 9.1 Allegro - 9.2 Largo - 9.3 Allegro - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor: Minuet and Badinerie (1721) : - 10.1 Minuet - 10.2 Badinerie - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 1 (1685-1730)

Tracks:

Messiah: 'Hallelujah' (1742)
'Orpheus and Eurydice': Dance Of The Blessed Spirits (1762)
'Christmas Oratorio': Sinfonia In G (1734)
Violin Concerto No.3 in G: Violin Concerto No.3 In G, 1st Movement (1775)
'Xerxes': Largo (1734)
Flute Concerto In G 'La Notte': VI. Allegro (1731)
'Solomon': Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba (1749)
Oboe Concerto In D Minor: Oboe Concerto In D Minor, 2nd Movement (1731)
Concerto grosso In A Minor Op.6 No.4: 9.1 Larghetto affettuoso - 9.2 Allegro - 9.3 Largo Piano - 9.4 Allegro
Violin Concerto No.5 In A, 2nd Movement: Violin Concerto No.5 In A, 2nd Movement (1775)

Tracks:

Eine kleine Nachtmusik: 1st movement (1787)
Piano Concerto No. 21 in C: 2nd Movement (Elvira Madigan)
The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture (1786)
Flute Concerto No. 2 In D: 2nd Movement (1778)
Piano Sonata In A (1778): Rondo Alla Turca
Don Giovanni: Overture (1787)
Horn Concerto No. 3 In E Flat: 2nd Movement
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A: 1st Movement (1786)
The Marriage Of Figaro: March (1786)
Serenata Notturna: 10.1 Marcia. Maestoso - 10.2 Menuetto - 10.3 Rondeau. Allegretto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 40: 1st Movement (1788) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
'Moonlight' Sonata: 1st Movement (1801) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
Symphony No. 94: 'Surprise' ,2nd Movement (1791) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
The Magic Flute: Overture (1791) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
Fur Elise: Fur Elise (1810) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
String Quartet In C: Emporor's Hymn - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
Symphony No. 5: 1st Movement (1808) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
Clarinet Concerto In A: 2nd Movement (1791) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
Minuet In G: Minuet in G (1796) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)
Trumpet Concerto In E Flat: 3rd Movement - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 4 (1788-1810)

Tracks:

The Barber Of Seville: Overture (1821)
Symphiny No.8 In B Minor: 'Unfinished' 2nd Movement (1822)
Spring Song: Spring Song (1841)
Polonaise In A, Op.40 No.3: 'Military'
Rosamunde: Ballet Music In G
Der Freischutz: Overture (1820)
Ave Maria: Ave Maria (1825)
Symphony No.4 In A: 'Italian', 1st Movement (1833)
Traumerei: Traumerei (1838)
German Dance No. 1: German Dance No. 1 (1811)

Tracks:

A Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March (1843) - 100 Masterpieces
Liebestraum No. 3 In A flat: Liebestraum No. 3 In A Flat (1847) - 100 Masterpieces
Nabucco: Overture (1842) - 100 Masterpieces
The Merry Peasant: The Merry Peasant (1848) - 100 Masterpieces
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2: Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (1847) - 100 Masterpieces
Lohengin: Prelude to Act 3 (1850) - 100 Masterpieces
La Traviata: Prelude to Act 1(1853) - 100 Masterpieces
Tannhauser: Arrival Of The Guests At Wartburg (1845) - 100 Masterpieces
Violin Concerto In E Minor: Violin Concerto In E Minor, 2nd Movement (1845) - 100 Masterpieces
Poet And Peasant: Overture (1846) - 100 Masterpieces

Tracks:

Orpheus In The Underworld: Overture (1858)
Melody In F: Melody In F (1858)
Les Preludes: Les Preludes (1854)
Waltz In A Flat: Waltz In A Flat (1865)
The Force Of Destiny: Overture (1862)
I Love You: I Love You (1864)
The Bartered Bride: Overture (1866)
The Tales Of Hoffmann: Barcarolle (1864)
Tritsch Tratsch Polka: Tritsch Tratsch Polka (1858)
Light Cavalry: Overture (1866)

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In B Flat Minor: 1st Movement (excerpt) (1875) - 100 Masterpieces
Cradle Song: Cradle Song (1868) - 100 Masterpieces
The Moldau: The Moldau (1875) - 100 Masterpieces
The Valkyrie: Ride Of The Valkyries (1870) - 100 Masterpieces
Peer Gynt: Morning (1876) - 100 Masterpieces
Carmen: Les Toreadors (1875) - 100 Masterpieces
Coppelia: Notturno (1870) - 100 Masterpieces
Marche Slave, Op. 31: Marche Slave, Op. 31 (1876) - 100 Masterpieces
L'Arlesienne: Intermezzo (1872) - 100 Masterpieces
The Blue Danube: Waltz (1867) - 100 Masterpieces

Tracks:

Eugene Onegin: Polonaise (1878) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
Symphony No.9 'From The New World': 2nd Movement (1893) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
The Nutcracker: Waltz of the Flowers (1892) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
Capriccio espagnol: Alborado (1887) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
The Last Spring - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
Slavonic Dance No. 2: Slavonic Dance No. 2 (1886) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
The Sleeping Beauty: Introduction (1889) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
Twilight Of The Gods: Siegfred's Death And Funeral March (1877) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
Songs My Mother Taught Me: Songs My Mother Taught Me (1880) - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9
Emperor Waltz - 100 Masterpieces Vol. 9

Tracks:

Also sprach Zarathustra: Fanfare (1896)
Symphony No.5: Adagietto (1902)
Finlandia: Finlandia (1899)
Dance Of The Bumble Bee: Dance Of The Bumble Bee (1900)
'Thais': Meditation
Pomp amd Circumstance: March No.1 (1901)
Humoresque: Humoresque (1894)
Valse Triste: Valse Triste (1903)
Vienna Blood: Vienna Blood - Waltz (1899)
Bolero: Bolero (1928)

Customer Reviews:

Decent Quality, But a Little Rushed.......2002-09-20

I have to agree that this is a good collection of music for the money, especially if you are a novice at the Classics like me. Each disc covers a 40 year period with an hour of music and a little bit of history in the cover slip. However, there were some oddities that made me question the quality of this product. First, a few of the songs seemed like the conductor was hurrying them along so the songs on a disc would add up to exactly one hour -- where's the love? I know I'm a novice, but there are just some songs that are so famous that you can pretty easily tell when they are being butchered or compressed. Second, the quality of the product was suspect. Some of the discs looked like they were manufactured in 1990 and some in 1994. The older ones just had the titles on the discs and the newer ones had a screen-printed color change with no information. They couldn't even use the same type of Jewel Case throughout the collection. In total, it's good for beginners and the money, but not much else.

Decent, but not exciting.......2002-09-01

Not bad, but not a perfect as well. The music selection is very questionable for my taste. The performers are not always very suitable for specific masterpieces. It is inherently, just because such mix of names cannot be bad ;). If I will compose such set a lot of forgotten things should take their place.

Decent, but not exciting.......2002-09-01

Sounds good to me........2002-07-25

Bought this CD to calm and relax myself after a hard days work. CD seems like a great collection to me. It's got a lot of songs that I recognize and some that I don't. It does sooth me a bit after the the many stresses of everyday life.

I'm not really a classical music nut like "Frasier Crane" so I'm not sure how much merit I can bring to the table with this review. But I think it's great..!!!

Wonderful Selection.......2001-05-13

Some of the world's truly finest musicians perform some of the all time greatest and most loved musical masterpieces. The CD makes for easy and peaceful listening of an evening.

Beethoven: Symphony No 7; Haydn: Symphony No. 101; Mendelssohn: Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Average customer rating:

Toscanini with the New York Philharmonic
Emotion and sense of noblesse
Precise and Deeply Psychological.
Toscanini at his best
The Touchstone of Performances of the Seventh!

Beethoven: Symphony No 7; Haydn: Symphony No. 101; Mendelssohn: Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003EYA
Release Date: 1992-06-09

Tracks:

Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: Poco Sostenuto; Vivace
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: Allegretto
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: Presto; Assai Meno Presto; Presto
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.101 in D, 'Clock': Adagio, Presto
Sym No.101 in D, 'Clock': Andante
Sym No.101 in D, 'Clock': Minuetto: Allegretto; Trio
Sym No.101 in D, 'Clock': Finale: Vivace
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.21: Scherzo

Amazon.com essential recording

Toscanini's justly famous 1936 Beethoven Seventh was a bestseller in its day, and its formidable virtues continue to hold their own in the digital age. The New York Philharmonic's unanimity of ensemble, rhythmic acuity, tonal allure, and sheer power attest to Toscanini's exacting standards. The present transfer reveals a more massive, yet flexible orchestral image, built from the bottom up, that will surprise listeners accustomed to Toscanini's leaner, more astringent later NBC Beethoven recordings. These qualities apply as well to the Maestro's 1929 Philharmonic Haydn "Clock" Symphony and Mendelssohn Midsummer Night's Dream Scherzo. All of the Maestro's New York Philharmonic recordings are important, but this is the one with which to start your collection. --Jed Distler

Customer Reviews:

Toscanini with the New York Philharmonic.......2006-01-21

Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) conducted the New York Philharmonic from 1926 to 1936 and later returned to make guest appearances until 1945. He resumed making commercial recordings, too, after having made a series of acoustical recordings in 1920 and 1921 with the Scala Orchestra for the Victor Talking Machine Company. He had not been terribly happy with the results of the acoustical process, which forced the musicians to crowd around a horn, because of its limited frequency range.

The advent of electrical recording, which was finally perfected in early 1925, enabled a full orchestra to be recorded with much greater fidelity (as high as 10,000 cycles per second). Using one carbon microphone, it was possible to achieve amazing results, compared to the limited possibilities with the old acoustical process.

Toscanini made his first electrical recordings in 1926 with the New York Philharmonic for the Brunswick company. Using a large room in Carnegie Hall, the orchestra recorded the Scherzo and Nocturne from Felix Mendelssohn's incidental music for the Shakespeare comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream." These recordings were later included in the RCA Victor compact disc set of the complete New York Philharmonic recordings conducted by Toscanini.

This compact disc included three outstanding examples of Toscanini's New York Philharmonic recordings for the Victor company, made between 1929 and 1936. The results were quite good, even if Toscanini hated having to stop every four to five minutes while the engineers changed the master for the 78-rpm discs. Despite still limited fidelity, the recordings benefited from being recorded on the stage of Carnegie Hall, longtime home to the Philharmonic (until Philharmonic Hall was completed in 1962).

His recording of Beethoven's seventh symphony remains an amazing document. There is a great flexibility and variety in the performance. It was probably never excelled in his later performances with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, even RCA achieved higher fidelity in the commercial recording made in the early 1950's. It is a very exciting and powerful performance. One is particularly moved by the second movement, with its deeply tragic and emotional funeral march. The scherzo of the third movement seldom was played with more energy, while the first and fourth movements have an intensity rarely surpassed by other conductors and other orchestras.

Haydn's "Symphony No. 101," is also called "The Clock" because of its mechanical-sounding tune in the second movement. Toscanini was very selective in conducting a relatively few of the composer's 100-plus symphonies. He clearly enjoyed this work and later included it in NBC broadcast concerts, finally making a commercial recording in one of the NBC studios (not the spacious 8-H) that had particularly dull acoustics. This performance is energetic, enthusiastic, and highly enjoyable. The third movement is played with appropriate intensity (somewhat faster) because Haydn tended to use an Austrian folk dance rather than the traditional minuet employed by most composers of the time.

This performance of the Scherzo from Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is more precise and more delightful than the 1926 recording for Brunswick. It benefits, of course, from somewhat better sound at the hands of the RCA engineers.

These are indeed a good sampling of Toscanini's work with the New York Philharmonic, even if the sound is not up to his later commercial recordings with the NBC Symphony.

Emotion and sense of noblesse .......2005-12-22

This kinetic and passionate version of the Seventh Symphony is simply electrifying, though it does not overcome to his version of 1939.

Toscanini conferred Beethoven that dignity that has been gradually decreased. This absence of grandness and lack of noblesse and wildness has been possible thanks to the notable efforts of Mr. K conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. And many other directors have simply extracted the Dionysian essence of the work, decreasing the fortissimos and reducing the fierceness and intensity in many passages, to avoid perhaps to saturate the audience with such will sounds. When you think and play Beethoven under this approach, you are murdering the most important values implicit inside Beethoven 's work.

So if you want to know how Beethoven should sound, please return to the classic directors who were perhaps less indulgent and unmerciful with the audience.

Precise and Deeply Psychological........2005-01-31

The struggle is terrible.

Toscanini shows us why Beethoven was the very first composer to introduce psychoanalytics in his compositions. The furious, perfect, poetic and justly famous seventh symphony receives its objective due. The final movement, an ode to the enormous struggle of life, the timeless battle of the angelic and tenebrous, the conscious and unconscious, the mind and the soul, teaches us multitudes. Here the lesson is very clear; the inspiration has never been more precise.

Beethoven's 9 (kabbalistic) symphonies should be studied in meditation. As the Sage Samael Aun Weor once said, we must "imbibe ourselves within the music, as the bee does within the honey, which is the product of his whole labour."

Highly, highly exhalted and recommended.

Toscanini at his best.......2001-08-11

There is no question of the absolute power and control Toscanini had over every orchestra he directed. His extreme dictatorship, musicianship, intense personality, and servitude to the composer's score made him the greatest Maestro, both past and present, and revolutionized the way present maestri conduct.

If you are a fan of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, this is the recording to own. Obviously the sound is not great, but it is very good and easy to listen to. Toscanini's interpretation was probably the basis of the majority of recordings after him, as it was the one that followed Beethoven's tempos the closest, if not exactly (particularly the 2nd movement "walking tempo" Allegretto, and the famous correct tempo he took in the trio of the third movment). Here he had a virtuoso ensemble of players. The unanimity of the attacks, the warmth and weight of the sound, the intensity in which they played makes this a remarkable recording. The fourth movement is EXACTLY the tempo Beethoven indicated and the coda is absolutely triumphant and hair-raising.

A word on the Mendelssohn...much more fleet and virtuosic than the 1926 version, Toscanini truely does wonders to this classic score. It's magical in a way that cannot be described and you can almost see pictures in your mind of the characters from Shakespeare's play. This is a brilliant recording.

The Touchstone of Performances of the Seventh!.......1998-09-18

At last, an even finer musical experience than can be obtained by auditioning a mint copy of the 78s, which I once owned.

This incandescent 1936 reading comes from a recording session at Carnegie Hall during the Maestro's last season with the Philharmonic- Symphony Orchestra of New York. Robert C. Marsh, in his admirable book of reviews of the Toscanini repertoire, remarked that this may have been the greatest classical music recording event of all time! Such hyperbole aside, the performance preserved here is of such unassailable classical honesty, and has such incomparable polish and sense of musical truth, that -- as one might assume -- all further attempts by the Maestro would never measure up (he did the work nearly a dozen times after this waxing, and recorded it again onto magnetic tape in a poor, overdriven 1951 account.)

Only the Franklin Mint LP transfer had the body and clarity of this present CD release, rivalling the original 78s. Made with a special technique using two cutting machines in long, extended takes, the shellac disks featured many seconds of silent grooves while the engineer synchronized his "switch over" to preserve a complete performance (of course, these disk pauses are edited out.) Thus, there is no hint of the "start and stop" effect present on many old 78 rpm recordings, where certain conductors endulged in ritards at the ends of sides, or had difficulty in resuming a movement at a disk break. One simply experiences here a continuous performance with Toscanini's incomparable sense of musical line and architecture.

During the conductor's lifetime, his tempo for the second movement was controversial, as many of his predecessors had adopted an almost funereal pace. The "walking tempo" chosen by Toscanini is now considered entirely appropriate, and has influenced most interpreters to this present day. The pacing for the remaining movements blends energy with a sense of natural flow, so that one never experiences any feelings of strain or contrivance (it might be noted that Leopold Stokowski directing an almost equally- convincing account of the Seventh with his Philadelphia Orchestra in 1927, now available in an excellent transfer on Biddulph. Not until the appearance of the superb 1950 performance by Furtwaengler and the VPO was there a Beethoven A-Major symphony reading to rival these two Victor phonographic classics.)

No attempts at fancy noise reduction have been made by the wise engineers who produced this superb issue. The equalization is correct, and there is full body and sheen to the sound of the orchestra, though highs above about 5 to 6 kHz were not engraved. The low frequency response is rich and deep, so that the growl of the double basses in the finale is dramatic and impressive. I measured a true electrical dynamic range (using a special metering system) at nearly 40 dB: this is about the absolute limit of a good 78 mastering. If any "monitoring" of audio peak levels was done during the recording session, it was accomplished by careful manual adjustments: there is no "squashing" sound of electronic limiters, and the sforzandi and climaxes are aggressive and powerful.

RCA now redresses past sins: the old Camden LP issue of the late fifties was nasty and thin, with a filtered lack of realism. I am delighted to report that here on this new CD transfer the producers eschewed fake stereo, added ambience, or rechannelling.

The companion works are not nearly as well recorded: the 1929 Haydn and Mendelssohn are very dim in comparison, but have a natural acoustical balance from the Carnegie Hall mike pickup that is better than the typical Studio 8-H claustrophobia of the later Toscanini broadcasts. The Haydn "Clock" symphony is more relaxed and sunny than the 1946 revisitation by the Maestro (though the constant shellac hiss is a bit fatiguing); the Mendelssohn Scherzo is a tour de force of virtuosity at an ideal tempo, compared to the slower 1926 PSNY recording, or the slightly faster 1947 NBC version.

Tracks:

Sym No.5: I. Allegro - Dresden Staatskapelle Orch/Herbert Blomstedt
The Four Seasons, Spring: I. Allegro - Camerta Bern/Thomas Zehetmair
Salzburg Sym No.1: III. Presto - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Hungarian Dance No.5 - Guher And Suher Perkinel
Water Music Ste 1: III. Allegro - C.P.E. Bach CO/Hartmut Haenchen
The Nutcracker: Russian Dance - Wind Soloists Of The German C Phil
Capriccio Espagnol: III. Alborada - Dresden PO/Jorg-Peter Weigle
Pno Son No.11: III. Turkish March - Rolf-Dieter Arens
Con No.8 in g: IV. Vivace - Virtuosi Saxonia/Ludwig Guttler
Pno Son No.8, 'Pathetique': II. Adagio - Dieter Zechlin
Vn Con in g: II. Largo - Amsterdam Bach Soloists/Thomas Zehetmair
Ob Con No.12: II. Adagio - Hans Werner Watzig
Pno Con No.19: II. Allegretto - New Bach Collegium Musicum/Burkhard Glaetzner/Christine Schornsheim
The Sleeping Beauty: Waltz - Berlin Radio SOHeinz Rogner
Calm, Peace, Joy And Bliss: I. Son - Camerara Musica/Axel Kohler
Etude No.2 - Andreas Postorius
Fl Son in C: I. Andante - Eckhart Haupt
Ob Con No.3: IV. Allegro - BurkhardGlaetzner
Liebestraum No.3 - Jutta Zoff
Sym in C: II. Andante - Dresden Staatskapelle Orch/Otmar Suitner
Ob D'amore Con in A: I. Siciliano - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Con Grosso No.1, Op.6: III. Adagio - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Prld No.17 - Andreas Lorenz/Marc LaForet
Tpt Son No.3 in C: III. Adagio - Ludwig Guttler
Jesu, Joy Of Men's Desiring - Guher And Suher Perkinel

Tracks:

Eine Kleine Nachtmusic: I. Allegro - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Sym No.3: III. Scherzo - German C Phil/Heinrich Schiff
Fight Of The Bumble Bee - Leipzig Gewandhaus Orch/Gerhard Weisenhutter
Light Blood Polka - Dresden Staatskapelle Orch/Rudolf Kempe
Pno Son No.23, 'Appassionata': III. Allegro - Dieter Zechlin
Ste No.2: II. Rondeau - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Tpt Con in D: I. Allegro - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Fl Con in a: II. Largo - Dresden Baroque Soloists/Peter Schreier/Eckhart Haupt
Prld No.4 - Marc Laforet
Sym No.3: III. Poco Allegretto - Berlin SO/Gunther Herbig
Brandenburg Con No.4: II. Andante - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Pno Con No.27: I. Allegro (Exc) - Dresden PO//Kurt Masur/Annerose Schmidt
Rosamunde. Entr'acte, Act 3 - Dresden Staatskapelle Orch/Willi Boskovsky
Ser: II. Waltz (Exc) - Dresden Staatskapelle Orch/Otmar Suitner
Polovtsian Dances. Moderato - Dresden PO/Jorg-Peter Weigle
Sym No.94: II. Andante - Berlin Staatskapelle Orch/Gunther Herbig
Tpt Voluntary - Ludwig Guttler Brass Ens
Vc Con No.2: II. Adagio - Leipzig CO/Georg Moosdorf/Jurnjakob Timm
Songs Without Words. Ventian Gondola Song - Peter Anne Rohde
Tpt Con in D: II. Largo - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Swan Lake. Intro - Berlin Radio SO/Heinz Rogner
Sym No.23: II. Andantino - Berlin Academy Of Ancient Music
Pno Son No.17: III. Allegretto - Peter Rosel
Con in E, RV270: II. Adagio - Virtuosi Saxoniae/Ludwig Guttler
Sym No.9, 'Choral': IV. Presto - Dresden Staatskapelle Orch/Herbert Blomstedt

Toscanini and the New York Philharmonic, 1926-36

Average customer rating:

Toscanini and the New York Philharmonic, 1926-36

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000000WU9
Release Date: 1992-08-26

Arturo Toscanini: The New York Philharmonic Recordings

Average customer rating:

Toscanini with the New York Philharmonic
Toscanini's best work of the RCA Gold Seal series.
The great era of orchestral performance in America

Arturo Toscanini: The New York Philharmonic Recordings

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003EYM
Release Date: 1991-10-04

Tracks:

Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: Poco Sostenuto, Vivace
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: Allegretto
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: Presto, Assai Meno Presto, Presto
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.101 in D, 'Clock': Adagio, Presto
Sym No.101 in D, 'Clock': Andante
Sym No.101 in D, 'Clock': Minuetto: Allegretto; Trio
Sym No.101 in D, 'Clock': Finale: Vivace
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.21: Scherzo

Tracks:

Sym No.35 in D, K.385 'Haffner': Allegro Con Spirito
Sym No.35 in D, K.385 'Haffner': Andante
Sym No.35 in D, K.385 'Haffner': Menuetto - Trio
Sym No.35 in D, K.385 'Haffner': Finale: Presto
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.21: Scherzo
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.21: Nocturne
Vars On A Theme: Chorale St. Antoni: Andante
Vars On A Theme: Var I: Poco Piu Animato
Vars On A Theme: Var II: Piu Vivace
Vars On A Theme: Var III: Con Moto
Vars On A Theme: Var IV: Andante Con Moto
Vars On A Theme: Var V: Vivace
Vars On A Theme: Var VI: Vivace
Vars On A Theme: Var VII: Grazioso
Vars On A Theme: Var VIII: Presto Non Troppo
Vars On A Theme: Finale: Andante
Siegfried Idyll
The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Tracks:

Orfeo Ed Euridice: Act II: Dance Of The Blessed Spirits - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini
Il Barbiere Di Sivglia: Ov - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini
L 'Italiana In Algeri: Ov - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini
Semiramide: Ov - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini
La Traviata: Act I Prld - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini
La Traviata: Act III Prld - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini
Gotterdammerung: Dawn And Siegfried's Rhine Journey - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini
Lohengrin: Vorspiel 1. Act I Prld - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini
Lohengrin: Vorspiel 3. Act III Prld - New York Phil/Arturo Toscanini

Customer Reviews:

Toscanini with the New York Philharmonic.......2006-02-14

This four-disc set documents Arturo Toscanini's 10-year tenure with the New York Philharmonic, from 1926 to 1936. They were memorable years because Toscanini revolutionized orchestral playing in America, helping the Philharmonic to achieve greatness that still amazes us. The Philharmonic has had reputation for being hard on conductors, but the musicians greatly admired (and even feared) Toscanini.

One elderly woman, who had sung in New York's Schola Cantorum during the years they performed with Toscanini, said the Maestro was a formidable conductor. She attested to his legendary temper, which sometimes resulted in him breaking batons, tossing scores, and even breaking chairs! The Philharmonic management threatened to fine Toscanini if we kept breaking chairs.

Toscanini hated the recording processes involved in making 78-rpm discs. Nevertheless, he sought the highest standards in playing from the musicians and he tried to persuade Victor to do the best with its recording equipment in Carnegie Hall.

Most of the music recorded is quite familiar and represents works that Toscanini loved. The performances are uniformly top-notch, even if there is some surface noise at times from the surviving discs. (It's unlikely that the original masters have survived, so RCA had to resort to whatever discs it had or could obtain from collectors.)

The Beethoven seventh symphony is one of the most famous of these recordings; it was reissued numerous times during the LP era and it remains an astonishing performance. The energy and intensity of the playing is incredible. I also particularly enjoy his excerpts from Wagner's operas and the 1929 recording of Paul Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice." Many times the performances with the New York Philharmonic are superior to those he recorded with the NBC Symphony.

Only a year after Toscanini left the Philharmonic, he began conducting the NBC Symphony and he rerecorded most of the music included in these discs. However, despite lower fidelity, these are still excellent recordings. Toscanini always strived for perfection, even when he had to contend with the periodic breaks when the masters were changed for the 78-rpm discs.

Many of these performances were never issued on LPs. RCA preferred to promote the NBC recordings. Their release on CDs has made it possible to compare the work of Toscanini with one of America's finest orchestras.

The very first recordings by Toscanini and the Philharmonic were made for the Brunswick company in 1926; they were Toscanini's first electrical recordings and included the Scherzo and Nocturne from Felix Mendelssohn's incidental music to "A Midsummer Night's Dream." They remain very charming performances of delightful music, even if there appears to be some stiffness because of the restraints of early electrical recording. The other recordings, made in 1929 and 1936, have much better sound.

Toscanini's best work of the RCA Gold Seal series........1999-01-18

The NY Philharmonic plays freely but with precision, balance and fine tone. Toscanini merits his reputation with these recordings as the music evokes emotion and excitement. Quality of sound is not perfect; surface noise on some numbers but it does not diminish from enjoyment of the music.

The great era of orchestral performance in America.......1998-09-10

These discs document the miracles of ensemble and beauty of orchestral sound whichToscanini created with the Philharmonic during his tenure with this orchestra.. Recorded at the peak of his career, these performances are far more relaxed than his later recorded performances with the NBC and other ensembles. The Philharmonic plays with precision, great beauty and refinement of tone at all dynamic levels. The piani are full bodied; the fortissimi are unforced. The Beethoven Seventh is one of the great recorded performances of the century.

The recordings are great achievements for their time, capturing the sound of this orchestra with a naturalness of balance and depth that Toscanini's later recordings never quite matched, in spite of their wider frequency and dynamic range.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

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