An essential Strauss box set. If you've got Kempe on EMI and Reiner on RCA, you've got the best of the very best. Thanks Dave for advocating for a box, while in all our collections I'm sure, needs to be in many more. This is a perfect example of what I hope younger collectors will seek out and enjoy as much as the rest of us did in the 1970s. A sterling "fave" recommendation.
More great laughs from Dave! [smack smack smack] Kempe at his best is one of the great guilty pleasures in classical music. Total man crush. But I came for the pretzels and stayed for the marvelous lecture on Strauss!
Ah Kempe and Strauss it’s like a guilty secret. I bought the LPs nearly 50 years ago and helped me discover and love the music. On second thoughts no guilt, it’s just wonderful
For more than twenty years I have had the three boxes with three CDs each in my collection, but I'm missing the Auntie Anne's that I think I won't be able to get here and they look very good 🤤
David Hurwitz might be the only person on earth from whom I tolerate eating and then speaking with his mouth full. On camera. It’s just too rich and vintage David. Having said this, I agree on the magnificence of this box. The Don Juan is beyond incredible, it will scorch your cd player with its speed and fire.
I have the three orchestral boxes on vinyl but nothing to play them on. Did buy the concerti box. Saw him do Electra at Covent Garden, of I remember with Mastilovic and Meyer. Both wonderful. What an experience.
I've heard most every Strauss recording that Kempe did and he was exceptional. I agree that much of Strauss's music is ear candy, but several of his pieces I find very moving. ( A good performance of "Death and Transfiguration" always put a lump in my throat.)
Dave you just crack me up constantly. I can’t get my hands on that SNACK, but I hope to purchase that boxed set. I’ll report back. Despite his self deprecation, despite the uneven quality, Strauss remains my conception of musical genius. Many of his achievements simply beggar belief, even now. Don Quixote, Elektra, even Daphne…my God.
Just got this box set recently and I love the energy and clarity. I also like the tempi, which remind me somewhat of Strauss's in his 1944 recordings of a lot of this material
This is a set so well lauded that I think many of us take it for granted. I heard it years ago but put it back on because of this video. Wow! I've had a great time the last few days enjoying these recordings again. I must say there were times I missed the intelligence of Clemens Krauss, but the recorded sound is much better here. Plus Kempe gets most of these right on and is especially persuasive in the early and late works. I even enjoyed the Alpine Symphony and Symphonica Domestica, which I usually despise. Thanks for the suggestion!
The 2013 remastering is a REAL improvement over all the earlier editions. Greater warmth AND greater transparency - and in any Strauss, transparency is essential. This is one instance in which a remastering isn't hype but substance. Buy the newest edition WITHOUT HESITATION.
Everybody, including Auntie Anne, should enjoy watching this episode. I have the release of this set on the Musical Heritage label, and the sound on some of the works has a bright high end and lots of reverb, as if too much compression was used in the originals. Like you say, it's a rip-roarin' tour through most of Strauss' big works, thoroughly rewarding. Glad you own up to liking the Symphonia Domestica, which has always been my "fave" of the tone poems. Similarly, the Panathenaenzug is, for me, one of Strauss' most immediately appealing works, relatively straightforward harmonically, beautifully structured, and generally good-natured and joyous in character; the opening Passacaglia is Strauss at his most genial and witty, and the duet for Piano and Harp that follows is gorgeous. Schlagobers is a big, gooey, 70+ minute monstrosity with a silly plot (essentially a poor man's Nutcracker), but it's still filled with a TON of colorful, splashy music, including Strauss' own Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, etc dances with liqueurs, beer and crackers tossed in for extra stomach- churning fun. Some of it is really excessive, but no worse in quality than most of the Alpine Symphony. (Kempe's set only includes the big Act 1 Waltz). BUT...this is a great set of CDs. LR
Oh, yes. Auntie Anne's brings a big food through town every couple of weeks. YUM! I don't have the box, but I have some singles from Kempe/Staatkapelle Dresden. Great stuff!
I should have had the pretzels, they look yummy. I got sick once listening to the Alpine Symphony while eating salami and provolone. I don’t know if it was the provolone or vertigo.
I know nothing about music. The ending of the Sinfonia Domestica sounds like the old NBC chime tune that was used to identify the network. I read somewhere that the notes were G-E-C that stood for The "G"eneral "E"lectric "C"ompany, NBC's parent company at that time. I'm sure Dave or someone else will give me the low down. I know Strauss composed this when radio and eventually television was in its infancy or even earlier. Another good video Dave !!!!!
Now you're talking. Looking forward to your Kempe review. Untouchable in Strauss and Brahms imho. His visit to Liverpool with the Munich Phil (Haydn 94, Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis and Brahms 1) remains my all-time top concert (along with Yes late-'70s in Vancouver). However, in Mahler there's something missing. In everything I've read about him he comes across as a very decent man.
Probably been mentioned already but Peter Damm has another Strauss Concerto recording with Heinz Rögner and Dresden. In my opinion, it's a far superior recording to the Kempe with much better classical transparency and articulation that is absolutely delightful. Check it out! Highly recommended!!
It's sad that we have six live recordings of the Ring conducted by Kempe, and none of them have a great sound or a great orchestra to appreciate what we could do with Wagner's orchestration.
So glad for your talk about this terrific collection. You note that it has been Warner-ized. Well, for some reason in that re-issue Warner decided to "re-master" the set, and having listened to both boxes I prefer the old one. Some selections on the recent re-issue have annoyingly-boosted high frequencies. Still the same great performances, but the sound is not to my liking. As always, your results may vary...
Agree about the Kempe box. I had some from the first issue but replaced them with this box. Not sure about your quote which I thought was from Saint-Saens 'I may not be a first rate composer but I am in the front rank of the second rate'. Probably also Apocryphal?
When Kempe conducted Strauss with the Berlin Phil the results were marvellous, just like Dresden. Maybe Karajan was the issue, not the band. Just a thought. Anyway, this box is musically sensational.
I love this box though I don't love all the pieces. Best thing about Domestica is it ends with the NBC chimes. When you covered Perahia's Goldbergs I immediately went to order though I have both of Gould's. Lo and behold Sony has an eight CD Perahia complete Bach box for less than $30. I snapped it up but it would be great if you could review the entire box for us? 😃
I wash my hands before I touch my collection. Few years later, you may find some dirty stains on Kempe’s face. It could happen to you. And it happened to me. I sold that green EMI box and got blueish Warner box.
Good old artery-clogging American mall food (you can also get them in airports, rail and bus terminals, and last but not least, the Fulton St. Subway station).
The new Warner box has a superb photo of the conductor in action, and original jackets.
An essential Strauss box set. If you've got Kempe on EMI and Reiner on RCA, you've got the best of the very best. Thanks Dave for advocating for a box, while in all our collections I'm sure, needs to be in many more. This is a perfect example of what I hope younger collectors will seek out and enjoy as much as the rest of us did in the 1970s. A sterling "fave" recommendation.
More great laughs from Dave! [smack smack smack] Kempe at his best is one of the great guilty pleasures in classical music. Total man crush. But I came for the pretzels and stayed for the marvelous lecture on Strauss!
There is nothing guilty about a phenomenally good recording.
Have it. Love it. Enough said.
I had these recordings on LP. They're as good as advertised.
Ah Kempe and Strauss it’s like a guilty secret. I bought the LPs nearly 50 years ago and helped me discover and love the music. On second thoughts no guilt, it’s just wonderful
For more than twenty years I have had the three boxes with three CDs each in my collection, but I'm missing the Auntie Anne's that I think I won't be able to get here and they look very good 🤤
I recently obtained the Warner reissue set, and it's an excellent value.
David Hurwitz might be the only person on earth from whom I tolerate eating and then speaking with his mouth full. On camera. It’s just too rich and vintage David. Having said this, I agree on the magnificence of this box. The Don Juan is beyond incredible, it will scorch your cd player with its speed and fire.
I have the three orchestral boxes on vinyl but nothing to play them on. Did buy the concerti box. Saw him do Electra at Covent Garden, of I remember with Mastilovic and Meyer. Both wonderful. What an experience.
We had that pretzel franchise nearby but for some reason they closed. Now I know where they went. Thanks a lot!
I've heard most every Strauss recording that Kempe did and he was exceptional. I agree that much of Strauss's music is ear candy, but several of his pieces I find very moving. ( A good performance of "Death and Transfiguration" always put a lump in my throat.)
For sure!
Dave you just crack me up constantly. I can’t get my hands on that SNACK, but I hope to purchase that boxed set. I’ll report back. Despite his self deprecation, despite the uneven quality, Strauss remains my conception of musical genius. Many of his achievements simply beggar belief, even now. Don Quixote, Elektra, even Daphne…my God.
I couldn't agree more.
Just got this box set recently and I love the energy and clarity. I also like the tempi, which remind me somewhat of Strauss's in his 1944 recordings of a lot of this material
This is a set so well lauded that I think many of us take it for granted. I heard it years ago but put it back on because of this video. Wow! I've had a great time the last few days enjoying these recordings again. I must say there were times I missed the intelligence of Clemens Krauss, but the recorded sound is much better here. Plus Kempe gets most of these right on and is especially persuasive in the early and late works. I even enjoyed the Alpine Symphony and Symphonica Domestica, which I usually despise. Thanks for the suggestion!
The 2013 remastering is a REAL improvement over all the earlier editions.
Greater warmth AND greater transparency - and in any Strauss, transparency
is essential. This is one instance in which a remastering isn't hype but substance.
Buy the newest edition WITHOUT HESITATION.
Everybody, including Auntie Anne, should enjoy watching this episode. I have the release of this set on the Musical Heritage label, and the sound on some of the works has a bright high end and lots of reverb, as if too much compression was used in the originals. Like you say, it's a rip-roarin' tour through most of Strauss' big works, thoroughly rewarding. Glad you own up to liking the Symphonia Domestica, which has always been my "fave" of the tone poems. Similarly, the Panathenaenzug is, for me, one of Strauss' most immediately appealing works, relatively straightforward harmonically, beautifully structured, and generally good-natured and joyous in character; the opening Passacaglia is Strauss at his most genial and witty, and the duet for Piano and Harp that follows is gorgeous.
Schlagobers is a big, gooey, 70+ minute monstrosity with a silly plot (essentially a poor man's Nutcracker), but it's still filled with a TON of colorful, splashy music, including Strauss' own Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, etc dances with liqueurs, beer and crackers tossed in for extra stomach- churning fun. Some of it is really excessive, but no worse in quality than most of the Alpine Symphony. (Kempe's set only includes the big Act 1 Waltz). BUT...this is a great set of CDs. LR
Oh, yes. Auntie Anne's brings a big food through town every couple of weeks. YUM! I don't have the box, but I have some singles from Kempe/Staatkapelle Dresden. Great stuff!
Nom, nom, nom. The Dave-reviews-mall-junk-food edition. I'm in.
I should have had the pretzels, they look yummy. I got sick once listening to the Alpine Symphony while eating salami and provolone. I don’t know if it was the provolone or vertigo.
I know nothing about music. The ending of the Sinfonia Domestica sounds like the old NBC chime tune that was used to identify the network. I read somewhere that the notes were G-E-C that stood for The "G"eneral "E"lectric "C"ompany, NBC's parent company at that time. I'm sure Dave or someone else will give me the low down. I know Strauss composed this when radio and eventually television was in its infancy or even earlier. Another good video Dave !!!!!
Now you're talking. Looking forward to your Kempe review. Untouchable in Strauss and Brahms imho. His visit to Liverpool with the Munich Phil (Haydn 94, Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis and Brahms 1) remains my all-time top concert (along with Yes late-'70s in Vancouver). However, in Mahler there's something missing. In everything I've read about him he comes across as a very decent man.
Probably been mentioned already but Peter Damm has another Strauss Concerto recording with Heinz Rögner and Dresden. In my opinion, it's a far superior recording to the Kempe with much better classical transparency and articulation that is absolutely delightful. Check it out! Highly recommended!!
Dave, you are much loved. How about putting together a "Dinner with Dave" in Brooklyn?
That would be fun. If someone organizes it, I would show up with pleasure, but I'm not the one to make the plans.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Hi Dave, I have some Brooklyn contacts (I'm in Philly) and am on it!
It's sad that we have six live recordings of the Ring conducted by Kempe, and none of them have a great sound or a great orchestra to appreciate what we could do with Wagner's orchestration.
How about the ‘57 Covent Garden Ring on Testament?
@@barbaricyawper14 It has a bad sound, worse than the contemporary Rings at Bayreuth.
Glenn Gould considered him one of, if not the, greatest composer of the 20th century. Interested me anyway.
So glad for your talk about this terrific collection. You note that it has been Warner-ized. Well, for some reason in that re-issue Warner decided to "re-master" the set, and having listened to both boxes I prefer the old one. Some selections on the recent re-issue have annoyingly-boosted high frequencies. Still the same great performances, but the sound is not to my liking. As always, your results may vary...
Sorry to hear that. The old box has perfectly decent sound but far from ideal depth or presence or dynamic range. Was hoping for some improvement
I found the warner box much, much better.
Agree about the Kempe box. I had some from the first issue but replaced them with this box. Not sure about your quote which I thought was from Saint-Saens 'I may not be a first rate composer but I am in the front rank of the second rate'. Probably also Apocryphal?
No. Strauss said it.
When Kempe conducted Strauss with the Berlin Phil the results were marvellous, just like Dresden. Maybe Karajan was the issue, not the band. Just a thought. Anyway, this box is musically sensational.
Absolutely. The joy of having the amoral herbert out of the way.
I love this box though I don't love all the pieces. Best thing about Domestica is it ends with the NBC chimes.
When you covered Perahia's Goldbergs I immediately went to order though I have both of Gould's. Lo and behold Sony has an eight CD Perahia complete Bach box for less than $30. I snapped it up but it would be great if you could review the entire box for us? 😃
I wash my hands before I touch my collection. Few years later, you may find some dirty stains on Kempe’s face. It could happen to you. And it happened to me. I sold that green EMI box and got blueish Warner box.
Of course Kempe's Strauss is simply wonderful...in my humble opinion, Kempe's Brahms Munich Symphony cycle is also terrific...your opinion?
Tasty talk! I know Strauss and I know Strauss conducted by Kempe (and by others) - but what are these Pretzels?
Good old artery-clogging American mall food (you can also get them in airports, rail and bus terminals, and last but not least, the Fulton St. Subway station).
@@DavesClassicalGuide Seems they are worth holidays in the USA.
Dave, you went for the junk food two episodes too early :)
There's so much to choose from...
Mine is a Brilliant Classics edition, super cheap.