Giulini: The Complete Sony Recordings

I don't have this exact box, but have everything on it in the larger Asian release "big Giuliani" box. I like the delicious, charming energy of HIP, and I like the traditional grandiosity of "Big Teutonic" classical music. Giulini, however, represents a "3rd way"--focus on the flowing beautiful line, the charm, and elegant aesthetic character of the classics, but without making them gooey. Every disc deserves careful listening--preferably during a sunset while holding a glass of red wine. All of his stuff is now available in boxes at prices so low it is almost sad. I suggest you get all of them as quickly as possible.

[hint: for ease of navigation, read the review though to the end, then come back and click on the links.]Carlo Maria Giulini first came to the attention of the international record-buying public in a series of recordings that EMI made in London, beginning in 1956: Carlo Maria Giulini Centenary Edition - The London YearsBetween 1969 and 1981, he transferred his attention to America, making records with the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic:Carlo Maria Giulini Centenary Edition - The Chicago YearsGiulini in America (Chicago, Part 2)Giulini in America - Complete Los Angeles Philharmonic RecordingsIn his late sixties, midway through the Los Angeles period, Giulini's interpretations became more serious and thoughtful.Detractors would say stodgy.His internal clock certainly slowed down.After retiring from Los Angeles, Giulini returned to the continent where he guest-conducted most of the great orchestras.Documented by Sony and Deutsche Gramophon (now Universal).Both companies are reissuing their recordings in inexpensive boxed sets.The following is a discography of Giulini's European recordings, 1975-1995, on Sony (*) ,and Deutsche Gramophon (** Giulini In Vienna: The 100th Anniversary Tribute ) , (*** additional DG recordings):- Bach: Mass in B Minor BWV.232 -- Bavarian Radio Symphony *- Beethoven: Symphonies 1-8, Coriolan & Egmont Overtures, Violin Concerto & Romances w/ Salvatore Accardo -- La Scala Philharmonic *- Beethoven: Symphony 9 -- Berlin Philharmonic ***- Beethoven: Piano Concerti 1,3,5 w/ Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli -- Vienna Symphony **- Brahms: 4 Symphonies, Haydn Variations, Tragic Overture, German Requiem -- Vienna Philharmonic **- Bruckner: Symphonies 7,8,9 -- Vienna Philharmonic **- Debussy: La Mer, Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun -- Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra *- Dvorak: Symphonies 7,8,9 -- Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra *- Einem: An die Nachgeborenen Op.42 -- Vienna Symphony **- Faure: Requiem -- Philharmonia Orchestra ***- Franck: Symphony in D Minor, Psyche et Eros -- Berlin Philharmonic ***- Franck: Symphony in D minor, Symphonic Variations w/ Paul Crossley -- Vienna Philharmonic *- Liszt: Piano Concerti w/ Lazar Berman -- Vienna Symphony **- Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde -- Berlin Philharmonic ***- Mozart: Symphonies 39,40,41, Sinfonia Concertante K.543 -- Berlin Philharmonic *- Mozart: Requiem -- Philharmonia Orchestra *- Mozart: Piano Concerto 23 w/ Vladimir Horowitz -- La Scala Philharmonic ***- Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition -- Berlin Philharmonic *- Ravel: Ma Mere l'Oye, Pavane -- Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra *- Ravel: Pavane -- Philharmonia Orchestra ***- Rossini: Stabat Mater -- Philharmonia Orchestra ***- Schubert: Symphonies 4,8,9, Mass in E-flat D.950 -- Bavarian Radio Symphony *- Schumann: Piano Concerto w/ Evgeny Kissin -- Vienna Philharmonic *- Stravinsky: Firebird Suite -- Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra *- Verdi: Quattro Pezzi Sacri -- Berlin Philharmonic *- Verdi: Requiem -- Berlin Philharmonic ***- Verdi: Rigoletto -- Vienna Philharmonic **- Verdi: Il Trovatore -- Santa Cecilia Orchestra ***- Vivaldi: Credo RV.591 -- Berlin Philharmonic *Most were re-recordings; but there are significant additions to his London, Chicago and Los Angeles discographies:- Bach: Mass *- Beethoven: Symphonies 1,2,4, Coriolan Overture, Romances *, Piano Concerti 1,3,5 **- Brahms: German Requiem **- Bruckner: Symphonies 7,8 **- Einem: An die Nachgeborenen **- Faure Requiem ***- Franck: Symphonic Variations *- Liszt: Piano Concerti **- Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde ***- Mozart: Symphony 39, Sinfonia Concertante *, Piano Concerto 23 **- Rossini: Stabat Mater ***- Schubert: Mass *- Verdi: Rigoletto ** , Il Trovatore ***- Vivaldi: Credo *_ * "Giulini: The Complete Sony Recordings" - the box under review._** Giulini In Vienna : Deutsche Gramophon recordings*** DG recordings not yet collected in a box - mostly Berlin Philharmonic (this would be a 9 CD set)-----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMPLETE SONY RECORDINGS: This is Late Giulini: Slow, Serious, Thoughtful. Not Excitable.Two-thirds of the 22 CDs in this box are devoted to re-makes of music that Giulini had recorded earlier in his career (vs. one-third in DG's "Giulini in Vienna" box).Of all the re-makes, only one - the Bruckner 9th in the "Giulini in Vienna" box - would I count as an absolute improvement over his earlier recording.Maybe the Mozart Requiem in Sony's box.Unlike the DG box, which had recordings dating back to 1975, the Sony box is strictly late Giulini, 1989-1995.The Sony box does have approximately seven CDs of material new to Giulini's discography.Best of all, it doesn't cost a lot of money to introduce yourself to the special pleasures of Late Giulini.- Beethoven: Giulini was unique among conductors of his generation in never having recorded the complete Symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven.Sony set out to remedy this omission.Earlier, between 1968 and 1981, he had recorded Symphonies 3, 5, 6 (twice), 7, 8 and 9, in London, Chicago and Los Angeles.This was middle-period Giulini. In his prime.Unlike some composers (Bruckner, Mahler) the serious, world-weary approach of Late Giulini was not always a good match for Beethoven.Exception: the 1990 re-make of the Ninth Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic (DG).A spiritual experience,though not necessarily preferable to his more vigorous 1972 London recording.Between 1991 and 1993 Sony recorded Symphonies 1 through 8 with the La Scala Philharmonic.Presumably they planned to complete the set with the Ninth, but the project fell through.Twenty years ago, I would have described these performances as "arthritic".On second hearing, this Beethoven sounds a lot more congenial - I guess I'm getting pretty arthritic myself.I only wish he had recorded Symphonies 1, 2 and 4 earlier in his career.- Beethoven's Violin Concerto with Salvatore Accardo is more successful.The first movement (25:49) stresses lyricism over drama.Beautiful performance, if you don't mind two slow movements and a finale (I don't).- The Franck d Minor Symphony works at Giulini's slow tempo.First movement = 21:30, which brings out brings out all the doom and gloom in this manic-depressive music,even if I ultimately prefer dry-eyed Pierre Monteux's peppy performance (18:02) : Franck: Symphony in D MinorNot to mention that speed demon Otto Klemperer (17:53) : Otto Klemperer: Romantic Symphonies- Mozart Requiem: To my mind, Giulini's 1978 EMI recording: Mozart: Requiem / Exsultate Jubilate (54:44) was the best of the traditional big orchestra, big chorus performances.Preferable to Bernstein, Bohm, Karajan or Solti.This 1989 performance (60:15) may be even better. Close call.Dramatic and awe-inspiring.Great chorus, great soprano (Lynne Dawson), great bass (Simon Estes).Presentation: Everything comes in an attractive cardboard box with a nice booklet.Original jacket format with cover art on the front and track listings on the back.Minimal program notes, no texts or translations for the vocal works (standard Roman Catholic liturgy).Sound: Unlike other Sony boxes, nothing here is newly remastered. Still, the sound is quite good - most are original 20-bit masterings.I was particularly impressed with the Amsterdam Concertgebouw recordings.Gorgeous.Especially Ravel's Ma Mere l'Oye and Dvorak's New World Symphony.The brass playing in the finale of the Dvorak is enhanced by the hall's long reverberation time, but the strings are not overpowered(this probably involved some tricky microphone placement - normally something I would disapprove of, but it works here).--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A number of Giulini's concert performances with the Berlin Philharmonic have also been issued on the Testament label.Pricey, but nice.Some feature composers new to his discography (Gabrieli, Geminiani, Webern), but most are alternate views of music he had already recorded for the major labels.On the Amazon search bar, enterMusic: Giulini TestamentSometimes this duplication got out-of-hand.There are three recordings of Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" to choose from - All with Brigitte Fassbaender and Francisco Araiza.- 1984: Berlin Philharmonic, DG studio recording Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde- 1984: Berlin Philharmonic in concert, live on Testament- 1987: Vienna Philharmonic in concert, live on OrfeoOne could almost justify this if different singers were involved.To see your options, on the Amazon search bar, enterMusic: Giulini Lied von der Erde

Typical of late Giulini, this Sony box has recordings notable for slow tempi and formidable power, both in terms of weight and interpretation. The liturgical works are very fine, and the Schubert and Dvorak symphonies work very well, even with the slow tempi. Probably a set mostly for Giulini collectors, but for them, this is very fine.

After having heard some of the cd's of this box that had been issued before as separate cd's , I must agree with those who find this set rather disappointing : the recording is no match for the EMI now Warner and the DG recordings .Or for that matter , the Concertgebouw collection of live concerts - a huge box of some 150 cd's , worth every penny .Anyway ,in his later years the great master showed a tendency to record again works that he had recorded before .So , all in all , a disappointing issue .