I've had this set for a couple of weeks now, and have had time to listen to quite a few of the items that I had not heard before.
By and large it's a good selection, but I have to say that the most famous recordings such as Daphnis and Swan Lake are superior to some of the others, the Berlioz for example. I'm rather surprised at the distinctly variable recording quality.Some of the earliest digital recordings have a rather glassy top, and Decca obviously wanted to make full use of a wide dynamic range with the result that some of the very quiet playing is almost inaudible unless the listening level is set very high.
I can't escape the feeling that many of the performances are nice, but not engrossing, as in the Berlioz that I have already mentioned. I keep feeling that there could be a little more tension, surely Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture should have a bit more grandeur than it does here?
Of course, the Ravel is superb, and the Saint-Saens 3rd goes very well with Peter Hurford at the organ,but overall I can find many of the works in this box in more convincing performances elsewhere, and often at bargain price.
By and large it's a good selection, but I have to say that the most famous recordings such as Daphnis and Swan Lake are superior to some of the others, the Berlioz for example. I'm rather surprised at the distinctly variable recording quality.Some of the earliest digital recordings have a rather glassy top, and Decca obviously wanted to make full use of a wide dynamic range with the result that some of the very quiet playing is almost inaudible unless the listening level is set very high.
I can't escape the feeling that many of the performances are nice, but not engrossing, as in the Berlioz that I have already mentioned. I keep feeling that there could be a little more tension, surely Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture should have a bit more grandeur than it does here?
Of course, the Ravel is superb, and the Saint-Saens 3rd goes very well with Peter Hurford at the organ,but overall I can find many of the works in this box in more convincing performances elsewhere, and often at bargain price.
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