DG’s Big Bernstein Box, Vol. 1

Jeremy Lee writes

I will start this review with a bold statement:  of all the oft-recorded conductors that have ever lived, no-one has had such a high proportion of great musicianship, great playing and great sonics in their discography than Leonard Bernstein on Deutsche Grammophon.  This is particularly remarkable given

Bernard Haitink: The Symphony Edition

Jeremy Lee writes

Hard to believe, but Bernard Haitink has already been conducting for almost 60 years, and his time as the chief conductor of the Concertgebouw Orchestra (possibly the orchestra that he is most associated with) spanned a good 25 years.  To commemorate the Dutch maestro’s 85th birthday, Decca has

Late Giulini and the Concertgebouw in Debussy and Ravel

Jeremy Lee writes

Compared to the Austro-Germanic classics, Giulini’s did not record nearly as much French music, and yet he evidently felt quite sympathetic to the colorful French style, as shown by the fact that he has recorded most of the works featured on this disc more than once.  As with all remakes,

Eloquence short reviews, Vol. 2

Jeremy Lee writes

Australian Eloquence, one of the most intelligent reissue labels around, has invaded the Hong Kong market some while ago and my colleague Leonard reviewed 5 releases here.  Following up is this second set of short reviews, from Brahms to…er…Mahler…

This is a reissue of a full-priced London Decca disc with the exact same repertoire released in 1996 which lasted in the catalogue for the amount of time it takes you to read this sentence.  Piano mavens should be happy that

The Too-Terrific Turangalîla?

Jeremy Lee writes

Recorded in 1992 and having gone through a CD and SACD release before appearing at present in Universal’s 20C series, I present you the absolute textbook Turangalîla.  Chailly and his Concertgebouw deliver a ravishingly played performance:  it is well-paced, detailed, finely-hued, and impeccably

Haitink’s Shostakovich 5 and 9

Jeremy Lee writes

Bernard Haitink’s Shostakovich symphonies, if not placed on a par with Barshai’s and Rostropovich’s, has been generally acclaimed. Nevertheless, listeners curious about Haitink’s way with the symphonies but don’t want to invest in the whole set can purchase most of them individually.  Most readily available is