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Kurt Masur - The Complete Warner Classics Edition 70CD boxed set
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Oscar
Oct 19, 2023, 1:21:13 AM10/19/23
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Has anyone bought this? I am not familiar with the vast majority of recordings herein. It is the integrale of Masur's Teldec and EMI Classics recordings. Strongly considering a purchase based on one single review on Ama-zon, from user 'FB':
<< Amazing recordings from an amazing maestro
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2022
Verified Purchase
Thanks to Warner for the great set of Masur's work. I have been a NY Phil subscriber over the years starting at the end of the Bernstein reign. Whatever you might think of Bernstein, attending his performances was always exciting and the NYP was in brilliant form. Even as the orchestra seemed in decline under Boulez and Mehta, when Bernstein guest conducted, they would rise to the occasion and become the brilliant orchestra I had known from earlier. As mentioned, I felt during the Boulez and Mehta years the performances were lackluster and the orchestra's sound tired. When Masur was hired, I was one of those thinking "this is the best we could get" and I really didn't expect a lot of improvement, but boy was I wrong. From the first performance I attended, was surprised at the change in quality of the orchestra and performance. My wife even remarked about how wonderful they sounded. For the next 10 years, I always looked forward to attending concerts again. Even on programs that didn't interest me that much, I wound up really enjoying works that I had previously blown off. Masur is the rare conductor that could put all the musical elements together (music. orchestra, audience) and deliver. You hear most conductors say the serve the composer, but I've found most are self-serving. Masur is one who truly serves the music and composer. Just listen to his interpretations of Mendelssohn to prove this point. I was fortunate to hear many of the performances in this box set in person. Listening to them many years later, they do not disappoint. The worst decision ever made by the NYP (thank you Deborah Borda) was to not renew Maestro Masur after 2002. Maazel, Gilbert and van Zweden have been fine, but we really need the next Toscanini, Bernstein, Masur to inspire/lead the orchestra into the future!
Get this set while it lasts! >>
What do you think?
<< Amazing recordings from an amazing maestro
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2022
Verified Purchase
Thanks to Warner for the great set of Masur's work. I have been a NY Phil subscriber over the years starting at the end of the Bernstein reign. Whatever you might think of Bernstein, attending his performances was always exciting and the NYP was in brilliant form. Even as the orchestra seemed in decline under Boulez and Mehta, when Bernstein guest conducted, they would rise to the occasion and become the brilliant orchestra I had known from earlier. As mentioned, I felt during the Boulez and Mehta years the performances were lackluster and the orchestra's sound tired. When Masur was hired, I was one of those thinking "this is the best we could get" and I really didn't expect a lot of improvement, but boy was I wrong. From the first performance I attended, was surprised at the change in quality of the orchestra and performance. My wife even remarked about how wonderful they sounded. For the next 10 years, I always looked forward to attending concerts again. Even on programs that didn't interest me that much, I wound up really enjoying works that I had previously blown off. Masur is the rare conductor that could put all the musical elements together (music. orchestra, audience) and deliver. You hear most conductors say the serve the composer, but I've found most are self-serving. Masur is one who truly serves the music and composer. Just listen to his interpretations of Mendelssohn to prove this point. I was fortunate to hear many of the performances in this box set in person. Listening to them many years later, they do not disappoint. The worst decision ever made by the NYP (thank you Deborah Borda) was to not renew Maestro Masur after 2002. Maazel, Gilbert and van Zweden have been fine, but we really need the next Toscanini, Bernstein, Masur to inspire/lead the orchestra into the future!
Get this set while it lasts! >>
What do you think?
Oscar
Oct 19, 2023, 1:25:20 AM10/19/23
to
P.S. I saw Van Zweden and the New Yorkers play Bruckner 7 last November—can't believe it's been a year already!—right after Geffen Hall or Avery Fisher Hall or CHINA Hall or whatever it's now called, re-opened after a lengthy renovation. The performance left _much_ to be desired. I was not satisfied. Tempos rushed, no glow, orchestra sounded just 'fine', but the magic of NYPO was not on offer. It's Bruckner, for cryin' out loud! Do better.
Dan Koren
Oct 19, 2023, 1:28:51 AM10/19/23
to
On Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 10:21:13 PM UTC-7, Oscar wrote:
> Has anyone bought this? I am not familiar with the vast majority
> of recordings herein. It is the integrale of Masur's Teldec and EMI
> Classics recordings. Strongly considering a purchase based on one
> single review on Ama-zon, from user 'FB':
>
> Has anyone bought this? I am not familiar with the vast majority
> of recordings herein. It is the integrale of Masur's Teldec and EMI
> Classics recordings. Strongly considering a purchase based on one
> single review on Ama-zon, from user 'FB':
>
> Get this set while it lasts! >>
>
> What do you think?
Plenty of Masur's recordings can be sampled on YT, Amazon and
>
> What do you think?
other websites. Listen before buying. Relying on a single Amazon
review makes no sense. Who knows how his/her ears are shaped
or what lies between them.
Cheers
Dan Koren
Oct 19, 2023, 1:30:06 AM10/19/23
to
On Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 10:25:20 PM UTC-7, Oscar wrote:
>
> the magic of NYPO was not on offer.
ROTFL !!! What magic ?!? NYPO ?!?
>
> the magic of NYPO was not on offer.
Cheers
Herman
Oct 19, 2023, 3:13:27 AM10/19/23
to
On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 7:21:13 AM UTC+2, Oscar wrote:
> Has anyone bought this? I am not familiar with the vast majority of recordings herein. It is the integrale of Masur's Teldec and EMI Classics recordings. Strongly considering a purchase based on one single review on Ama-zon, from user 'FB':
>
>
> What do you think?
> Has anyone bought this? I am not familiar with the vast majority of recordings herein. It is the integrale of Masur's Teldec and EMI Classics recordings. Strongly considering a purchase based on one single review on Ama-zon, from user 'FB':
>
>
I have seen Masur on the podium many times. However, seventy cds - among which probably two Beethoven cycles... What are you going to do with that? If you have Masur's Mendelssohn, his Four Letzte and Babi Yar, you're pretty much set.
Chris J.
Oct 19, 2023, 6:10:50 AM10/19/23
to
On 18 Oct 2023 Oscar wrote:
> What do you think?
That Kurt Masur was an uninteresting conductor (from a musical
perspective) and that producing this set is a waste of raw materials and
energy.
Chris
> What do you think?
That Kurt Masur was an uninteresting conductor (from a musical
perspective) and that producing this set is a waste of raw materials and
energy.
Chris
Alex Brown
Oct 19, 2023, 1:25:45 PM10/19/23
to
> I have seen Masur on the podium many times. However, seventy cds - among which probably two
> Beethoven cycles... What are you going to do with that? If you have Masur's Mendelssohn, his
> Four Letzte and Babi Yar, you're pretty much set.
wkasimer
Oct 19, 2023, 2:37:08 PM10/19/23
to
On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 3:13:27 AM UTC-4, Herman wrote:
> I have seen Masur on the podium many times. However, seventy cds - among which probably two Beethoven cycles...
Both cycles were issued by Philips, so probably not.
> I have seen Masur on the podium many times. However, seventy cds - among which probably two Beethoven cycles...
> If you have Masur's Mendelssohn, his Four Letzte and Babi Yar, you're pretty much set.
mswd...@gmail.com
Oct 20, 2023, 4:33:14 PM10/20/23
to
His son, Ken-David Masur is the conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony and Civic Orchestra of Chicago (the training orchestra of the CSO). The latter's concerts are free, and under Masur, consistently first class. He probably gets a lot more rehearsal time with the kids in Civic than the CSO does with its own guest conductors, and it shows. Masur follows in the conducting manners of his father not at all- his performances are taut and dramatic. Fantastic Taras Bulba.Bartok Cto. for Orchestra last Feb. - far more interesting than the Bartok I heard under Zweden some years ago.
Gerard
Oct 21, 2023, 5:48:38 AM10/21/23
to
Op vrijdag 20 oktober 2023 om 22:33:14 UTC+2 schreef mswd...@gmail.com:
> On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 1:37:08 PM UTC-5, wkasimer wrote:
> > On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 3:13:27 AM UTC-4, Herman wrote:
> >
> > > I have seen Masur on the podium many times. However, seventy cds - among which probably two Beethoven cycles...
> > Both cycles were issued by Philips, so probably not.
> > > If you have Masur's Mendelssohn, his Four Letzte and Babi Yar, you're pretty much set.
> > I'm not even sure you need the VLL or the Mendelssohn. Babi Yar is pretty good, though.
> I do like the Mendelssohn string symphonies. There's so much energy there that even a really mellow take is going to be pretty fun.
I like the Mendelssohn string symphonies as well. But Masur's recording of those not very much. He is much more indolent/tardy than any other recoding I know (e.g. Markiz or Raudales of Orpheus Chamber Orchestra).
> > On Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 3:13:27 AM UTC-4, Herman wrote:
> >
> > > I have seen Masur on the podium many times. However, seventy cds - among which probably two Beethoven cycles...
> > Both cycles were issued by Philips, so probably not.
> > > If you have Masur's Mendelssohn, his Four Letzte and Babi Yar, you're pretty much set.
> > I'm not even sure you need the VLL or the Mendelssohn. Babi Yar is pretty good, though.
> I do like the Mendelssohn string symphonies. There's so much energy there that even a really mellow take is going to be pretty fun.
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