Igor Stravinsky - The Complete Columbia Album Collection

56 CDs + One DVD for $143 NewRemarkable bargain.Back in 1991, Sony issued the 22 CD "Igor Stravinsky: The Edition" -  Igor Stravinsky: The Recorded Legacy reissued in 2007 as "Works of Igor Stravinsky" -  Works of Igor Stravinsky Unlike that one, this new box is absolutely complete- Every recording that Stravinsky made for Columbia Records (US) and RCA between 1940 and 1967- One third of the contents of this new box are the mono recordings (CDs 1-18) that were slighted in 1991.- Some performances are conducted by Robert Craft "under the supervision of Igor Stravinsky".- Stravinsky had approval of the solo and chamber recordings:--- Charles Rosen played most of the piano works.--- Gold & Fizdale played the two-piano works (but not the two-piano version of the Rite of Spring, which has only become popular in the years following Stravinsky's death).The new box includes both the mono and stereo recordings of Oedipus Rex and The Rake's Progress, plus the ballets and symphonies.PACKAGING AND SOUND:"Original jacket" format with original cover art and album notes on the back of most of the cardboard sleeves, plus a 254 page hardcover book.[some backs are blank or just have additional artwork - the original LP notes were on a separate insert, which is not reproduced.]The book is a tribute to Stravinsky the man.For information about the music, you mostly have to read the original jackets (use a magnifying glass).Surprisingly, everything was newly remastered for this new collection (24bit/96kHz)22 CDs remastered by Sony regulars Andreas Meyer and Jeanne Montalvo33 CDs remastered by Martin Kistner1 CD remastered by Richard KingAbsolutely no complaints about the soundPOINTS OF INTEREST-- Both the 1940 mono and 1960 stereo recordings of the Rite of Spring feature the New York Philharmonic, but in 1960 it was recorded under the pseudonym "Columbia Symphony"Recording session photos show the same musicians who participated in Leonard Bernstein's 1958 Philharmonic recording (also same recording venue - The St. George Hotel in Brooklyn).Columbia actually paid the musicians more to record as the "Columbia Symphony", but saved money on future royalties.There was also a California-based version of the "Columbia Symphony" - mostly Los Angeles Philharmonic musicians-- Several editing errors have been corrected.Movements for Piano and Orchestra (with Charles Rosen) is now correctly edited for the first time on CD (the repeat is included).-- The 1953 recording of "The Rake's Progress" was recorded at the Metropolitan Opera shortly after the American premiere, with the original Met cast (Hilde Gueden, Eugene Conley, Mack Harrell and Martha Lipton).The American premiere was prepared and conducted by Fritz Reiner.The actual world premiere was in Venice in 1951, conducted by the composer (with Elizabeth Schwarzkopf, Ottakar Krauss, Robert Rounseville and Jennie Tourel) *-- The 1957 recording of Persephone with the New York Philharmonic (CD 19) is issued in stereo for the first time.Stravinsky re-recorded it in 1966 (CD 43)-- There are four different stereo recordings of Les Noces:The familiar 1923 version was recorded twice:----- in 1959 by Stravinsky (CD 31) with pianists Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Lukas Foss and Roger Sessions (sung in English)----- in 1965 by Robert Craft (CD 45) with four anonymous pianists (sung in Russian)The unpublished 1917 and 1919 versions (without the four pianos) were conducted by Robert Craft in 1973 (CD 54)-- The complete version of the Soldier's Tale (CD 56) took 44 years to complete.A curious hybrid with two conductors:In 1961 Stravinsky recorded the instrumental suite.Only later did Columbia decide to issue a complete recording with narrator.In 1967 Robert Craft went into the recording studio to record the few instrumental passages not in the suite.Columbia planned to add the narrator at some future date, but didn't get around to it until 2005 (narrated by Jeremy Irons)-- The "original jacket" layout is not strictly enforced. Some odds and ends are scattered throughout the set.----- Two audio documentaries about The Rite of Spring are on CD 1 and CD 53.----- The Stravinsky rehearsal tapes are on CD 53.----- A 1940 recording of the Baiser de la fee Divertimento with the Orquestra Sinfonica de Mexico (on CD 2) was previously available only on 78s.-- There are some posthumous recordings in this box [Stravinsky died in 1971]CD 55 is a 1976 RCA LP by the chamber ensemble "Tashi" - included because it features several works that Stravinsky never got around to recording.-- The DVD is not a comprehensive look at Stravinsky's career.It concentrates on his American period, beginning with the brief flirtation with Hollywood.From the Symphony in C (1940) through Requiem Canticles (1966)It does a good job of explaining the role of Robert Craft in Stravinsky's later years.-- The 1991 box included a selection of pre-1940 chamber music recordings with Stravinsky and violinist Samuel Dushkin, but they were borrowed from EMI and are not in the new box. **-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------This new collection was an extravagant decision on Sony's part, but I'm glad they did it.I'm not sure how they will ever recoup the cost at the low price asked - they will have to sell a lot of boxes.Two complaints:- Sony should have included the date of composition after each piece in the contents listing and index (Stravinsky has no Opus numbers to guide the listener)- There are no texts or translations for the vocal worksThey were included with the 1991 box (but not the 2007 reissue).Surely Sony could at least have posted them on their website.I will have to keep my booklets from the 1991 boxed set.* The 1951 Venice world premiere of "The Rakes's Progress" is available on  Igor Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress ** Pre-1940 EMI recordings:  Composers in Person: Igor Stravinsky

If, like me, you have become a Stravinsky person over the years, you no doubt have a number of these recordings. I have a batch of the original releases on LP, the German pressings for the "complete" LP series from back in the '80's, the first "complete" CD edition in its large cumbersome box with CD jewel cases, and the later reissue in a small box at a budget price. Over those many years, my hi-fi has gotten better and better, which also means more revealing of detail...such that I can now tell with all-too-much ease how problematic the original releases were, sound-wise. Compared to the legendary RCA, Decca or EMI pressings, the Columbia pressings were overly bright and edgy to the point of not just being irritating, but sometimes unlistenable on 21st Century gear.Part of the issue has been my own problem, in that I have chosen to have a hi-fi that sometimes tells me more than I really want to know. For that reason, I set up a 2nd system in my study that is a more or less upgraded version of the hi-fi I listened to in the early 80's. And I'm really glad that I did, because one of the immediate fruits of the arrangement has been listening to this set and coming to re-learn these performances with great pleasure.Stravinsky did an excellent job with most of these pieces. I'm as happy with his Firebird as with anybody's, and I would say the same for the Symphonies, most of the other ballets, and a number of the vocal pieces -- particularly one of my great favorites -- often overlooked -- Requiem Canticles. Indeed, in many cases it was through Stravinsky's recordings that I got to know his music. Stravinsky as a conductor focused on the structure of the music. He tended not to linger over the details -- though the color and gestures are certainly there -- but instead, kept the forward motion going from one signpost to the next, leading the musical argument to its emotionally satisfying conclusion.My sense, too, is that the musicians he led often felt that they were taking part in an historic enterprise -- which they were -- and responded in kind. In his day, Stravinsky was to "classical" music what Picasso was to art -- an acknowledged Grand Master the likes of which we don't have in our current pluralistic musical culture (not that I regret the incredibly broad range of options we have now -- it's just a different world than it was in the middle 20th Century...REALLY different.)Hard core audiophiles may not be altogether happy with the sound on a number of these CDs, though it is not the fault of the mastering of this set -- which seems at least as good as the last reissue. Fine; they can stick with their Decca Ansermet versions of the greatest hits, or whomever works for them. And sure, it is really worth hearing Boulez and some of the other great Stravinskians for their takes on much of this work. But, in the meantime, the rest of us can -- and I recommend should -- enjoy hearing how Stravinsky approached his own music. And, with this set, we now have an excellent opportunity to hear Stravinsky's earlier thoughts on the music, with the remasters of his early recordings.

Esta compilación fue de mi agrado, y con ella he podido apreciar muchas obras que desconocía de Stravinsky. No le pongo cinco estrellas porque creo que en las más obvias obras, como la Consagración de la Primavera, el excelente catálogo de Deustche Grammophon tiene mejores versiones.

Are you a Stravinskian? Do you bop around the kitchen to the rhythms of Le Sacre du Printemps as you wash dishes? To those of Les Noces as you prepare dinner? Yes? Then read further.A splendid collection that belongs in the music library of anyone who thinks Stravinsky is at all important. Perhaps some don't think that; they are being expelled into the Outer Darkness, there to moan and gibber in sorrow.It really is complete afaict! The artists are largely top line from the DG roster, with lots of Boulez, though various rarities were licensed from other labels. The performances are fantastic and the sound, even when rather old, is top notch.Don't be one of those slated for removal to the Outer Darkness. Buy this. You will be happy you did.To be somewhat less silly, the obvious comparison is with Stravinsky's own recordings, mostly made for Columbia. There are two distinct Sony collections of those: the set containing only the later stereo recordings, and the one containing the earlier mono recordings as well. This set and the Sony set are not competitors. Sony presents the composer as a conductor, whereas the set under review is performer oriented. It's the old story: sometimes composers are not their works' best interpreters. Still, both are valuable and desirable.Incidentally, the stereo-only Sony set has been issued twice, the first (which I have) coming with quite thick booklets of texts and notes. I don't think the newer set has such lavish documentation. Correct me if I'm wrong.

最近発見されて収録されているアップデート版があります。パッケージに黄色い縁取りをした白いボックスです。間違えないようにしましょう！　　　　内容的には文句無し。その点だけ減点！星4つ！

Un des meilleurs coffrets de Stravinsky!

ストラヴィンスキーの歴史が詰まった、圧巻のコンプリートアルバム素晴らしいです。火の鳥　ペトル　春祭は超有名ですが。入手困難な貴重作品が聴けるのが大満足です。興味深い、偉大なる音楽家の作品集を楽しみたいと思います。