EMI Icon Series

[cloughie]

And fourthed or fifthed.

One of the recordings I'm after is the Tortelier / Philharmonia / Sargent of Dvorak's cello concerto, in excellent EMI early stereo. To my knowledge, this has appeared the once on CD in stereo, in a box released by EMI France and now long unavailable.

My LP is in quite good condition but not pristine. The Naxos Historical Archive download seems to be a transfer from the mono LP - it's possible the stereo release has a much later copyright date.

I do have two Royal Classics 2CD sets; at the time they were excellent value and released under licence.

The Beethoven Violin Concerto with Campoli on EMI may be with Sir John Pritchard.

I stand corrected it was indeed Pritchard - perhaps a Pritchard Icon box would be a good idea including:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MENUHIN-Beethoven-Romances-Philharmonia-Pritchard/dp/B005RRFEFW/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1368531615&sr=1-2&keywords=menuhin+pritchard

I would also favour a decently priced reissue of the Tortelier/Sargent Dvorak - the other vintage version id Rostropovich/Boult which would be another good call at the right price. There seem to be plenty of Tortelier/Previn and Rostropovich/Giulini reissues. EMI have given us some good 'uns over the years but seem intent on forever recycling certain recordings whilst stubbornly not troubling the CD burning machinery with others.

Edit - perhaps Warner as new custodians of the catalogue should employ an advisory panel from the forum.

[Barbirollians]

I stand corrected it was indeed Pritchard - perhaps a Pritchard Icon box would be a good idea including:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MENUHIN-Beethoven-Romances-Philharmonia-Pritchard/dp/B005RRFEFW/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1368531615&sr=1-2&keywords=menuhin+pritchard

I would also favour a decently priced reissue of the Tortelier/Sargent Dvorak - the other vintage version id Rostropovich/Boult which would be another good call at the right price. There seem to be plenty of Tortelier/Previn and Rostropovich/Giulini reissues. EMI have given us some good 'uns over the years but seem intent on forever recycling certain recordings whilst stubbornly not troubling the CD burning machinery with others.

Edit - perhaps Warner as new custodians of the catalogue should employ an advisory panel from the forum.

The Rostropovich/Boult is available on Testament . The Tortelier/Sargent ( much beloved of salymap) however is nowhere to be seen save as a Naxos download - I cannot seem to find that at present .I should be fascinated to hear the Tortelier/Sargent as his account with Previn was much introduction to the piece and it is a performance of which I remain very fond.

I had that old Menuhin CFP LP - charming .

Anyone bought the Silvestri ICON and any comments ?

[Pabmusic]

The Rostropovich/Boult is available on Testament . The Tortelier/Sargent ( much beloved of salymap) however is nowhere to be seen save as a Naxos download - I cannot seem to find that at present .I should be fascinated to hear the Tortelier/Sargent as his account with Previn was much introduction to the piece and it is a performance of which I remain very fond.

I had that old Menuhin CFP LP - charming .

Anyone bought the Silvestri ICON and any comments ?

Here's a blog with a flac download of Tortelier and Otto Ackerman (the record sleeve says Walter Goehr, but apparently that's wrong) playing the Dvorak in Zurich in 1951:

http://satyrlp.blogspot.com/2012/10/paul-tortelier-walter-goehr-dvorak-mms.html

[visualnickmos]

Anyone bought the Silvestri ICON and any comments ?

Yes - but I have dipped in and out of it rather than a chronological analytical listening process. So far I am really enjoying what I hear - certainly an idiosyncratic conductor, and I mean that in a positive sense. I particularly enjoyed Scheherezade, In the South, Manfred Symphony......

I haven't got to the Dvorak yet - but am looking forward to that treat.

I'm sorry I can't be more helpful..... I'm no musical expert, merely an enthusiastic amateur who loves classical music and all it entails.

This will be the only Icon set I will have bought, as the financial constraints play a big part, as well as duplication and some stuff that I wouldn't necessarily be desperate to have. But the Silvestri didn't have these impediments, and as it was cheap as chips - well, you can guess the rest!

[silvestrione]

Anyone bought the Silvestri ICON and any comments ?

I have it, but ashamed to say have not listened to much of the new material on it yet. I played the Tchaikovsky 5th, which is a blistering account, the Manfred, which I'd heard before (as someone else said, the BBC Legends version is better), the Elgar In the South, glorious. The VW Tallis Fantasia is also a glorious recording, from Winchester Cathedral.

[Bamig]

I'm definitely going to give the Silvestri box a go.

I've been listening to the Cantelli set for the last few weeks. In the past, I'd read articles suggesting that he died before he became a fully-formed musical personality, but I've been struck by just how well thought-through these performances are. There's a lot of loving care in the way he shapes a phrase (and a movement), AND so much of it is extremely exciting. The Debussy is lovely, and I would especially recommend the disc of Brahms' 1st and 3rd Symphonies (I particularly love the 3rd, and on Saturday, I treated myself to back to back performances - the 50s Philharmonia / Cantelli and the live 80s LPO / Tennstedt account that came out fairly recently on the LPO's own label - I wouldn't want to be without either disc). I've really enjoyed the Cantelli Mendelssohn 4th too - wonderfully played - I've not heard loads of the 50s Philharmonia before - any other recommendations?.

[BBMmk2]

I bought the Rudolf Kempe box and very good it is too. I have been thinking about the Silvestri and now I might just! What a treasure trove this series is!

[Ruhevoll]

Does anyone know what the difference is between these two Francois Samson Chopin box sets, apart from the price:

EMI Icon Series http://www.amazon.co.uk/ICON-Samson-...amson+francois

Erato/Warner Bros box http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chopin-Piano...in+piano+works

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Does anyone know what the difference is between these two Francois Samson Chopin box sets, apart from the price:

Different cover.


(The small print on the back of both boxes reads "This compilation 1999" - it's the same set in the same remastering; only the cover design and price are different. I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of this sort of thing.)

[verismissimo]

Different cover.


(The small print on the back of both boxes reads "This compilation 1999" - it's the same set in the same remastering; only the cover design and price are different. I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of this sort of thing.)

That's right. Warner Classics being the new owners.

[Ruhevoll]

Thanks!

[vinteuil]

Thanks!

... but if you are really keen on Samson François : there is also a 36 CD box on EMI.

Search on amazon under "samson francois integrale"

[Ruhevoll]

... but if you are really keen on Samson François : there is also a 36 CD box on EMI.

Search on amazon under "samson francois integrale"

Indeed I am. He is a recent discovery for me - it's a wonder I've never seen his name featured more in the classical press or in forums such as this considering his expansive repertoire.

Thanks for the tip.

[hafod]

... but if you are really keen on Samson François : there is also a 36 CD box on EMI.

Search on amazon under "samson francois integrale"

I bought this set almost a year ago to the day and dip into it regularly - a veritable box of delights and worth far more than the ridiculous £29.29 I paid for it. Much more expensive now - Am.de seems to be cheapest at the moment even allowing for the delivery charge.
A review of the 'Intégrale' box:

http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-15740/

and one of the Icon:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2010/DEC10/Chopin_Francois_4553572.htm

[Dave2002]

Shame about the higher pricing now, but it's still only around £2 per CD - if one wants them all. I don't know Samson well, but some performers and/or composers are good in small doses.

I'm easing up on purchases now, as box sets often contain too much, and I don't have time to listen to everything. I have so far not bought the EMI Poulenc box set which is arguably even better on a cost per CD basis, though I have listened to substantial parts of it on Spotify.

Some might also buy largish boxes as a possible investment, but I've come to the conclusion that might not work out. For every box or CD which may end up at a high ebay or Amazon used price there are almost certainly many others which go to charity shops, boot sales or even landfill.

I suspect the best thing to do with large boxes is actually to play them, which in my case quite often means in my car - not my preferred "listening room" but I can easily rack up an hour or two that way, though it's hopeless for some pieces, such as the recent Gorecki symphony Prom, as the background noise level exceeds the signal level. Unlike others here, I do rather like the Gorecki 3rd symphony, but it requires patience, time, and a quiet background. Car listening is almost never ideal, but at times it's the best one can do.