Review: The Complete Vienna Octet Decca Recordings

This 27-CD set contains all of the Vienna Octet's Decca recordings, from 1948-1972, beautifully packaged and annotated. You'll find classic versions of masterpieces for large chamber ensemble by Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Spohr, as well as a surprising selection of one-offs and rarities--a true collector's edition.

[@mhc2231]

Thanks for the great review. I’m looking forward to the NEW Vienna Octet box discussion

[@healthrisingMECFS-FM-longCOVID]

They did “tets” 😅. I’ve been wondering about this set and the other one. Thanks for reviewing them.

[@adamfrye246]

And the slow movement of that American Quintet is a gripping theme and variations.

[@stefanhuber7651]

Is it actually "The Complete..." The press blurb isn't clear about that: "The most comprehensive collection of the Vienna Octet’s albums ever issued, this set chronicles 25 years of recording, from shellac (July 1948) to stereo (November 1972)." "Most comprehensive" obviously is not the same as complete, but rather suggests that it is not complete.

[@morrigambist]

Tovey dismisses the Dvorak Sextet, but it's one of my favorites. It sounds very "Slavonic".

[@markpullinger2500]

The Adagio from the Heinrich Baermann Clarinet Quintet No.3 was (at that time) attributed to Wagner(!)

[@richardevans3624]

Yeah. It is a noted solo work for clarinet.

[@goonbelly5841]

A veritable "Tet" offensive !

[@stevecook8934]

No, No, Nonet!

[@jeffreylevy1108]

Here we go again......eloquence issued almost all of this as a series of duos several years ago. Some 20 FULL cds worth. They were not cheap back then. I cant see spending over a hundred dollars to pick up a few items, as much as I would like the missing items. It gets rediculous. I presume, that the disks are not as full as they were in the duo series which accounts for the extra disks. They also issued a series of duos of the Melos ensembe. And then the Netherlands ensemble box.
I need to review the "new vienna" box...not sure what that is.....

[@stephenkeen2404]

Would you mind adding a review of the best Mendelssohn Octet recordings to your to do list? There are so many recordings to sort through.

[@TOONACEDRELA]

I would suggest The Vienna Octet! Been my 'go to' forever.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Exactly, and so many of them are excellent. It's a problem (for me, not for you).

[@herbchilds1512]

Did they sneak in a few more instruments, and record Mozart's Gran Partita?

[@michaweinst3774]

Actually it's most likely in the other box. The New Vienna Octet box also has the recordings of the Vienna Wind Soloists, which did some of those Mozart wind stuff.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

That's a pretty nice set of tets. (Sorry, someone had to say it.)

[@bbailey7818]

But they didn't do PDQ Bach's No No Nonette.

[@LyleFrancisDelp]

@@bbailey7818 Or his Schleptet.