Review: Ozawa's Complete Warner Recordings--Happily Still With Us

OK, not everything in here is great, but much of it on these 25 CDs is very good, and it's nice to see Ozawa's Warner legacy, including his excellent early recordings in Chicago, still available (as of May 2024).

[claytonfarmer]

You mentioned the sonics of the Orchestre de Paris, and it gives me an idea: sometime, it could be worth talking about recording sonics, audio engineering, and physical acoustics (as presented in a recording). I think this is something we don’t always pay attention to, even though it can have a huge effect on what we’re actually hearing!

[robhaynes]

Thank you, Dave, for fulfilling the request! Maybe the Sony/BMG box some day. 😉 And yes, the complete DG is long out of print.

[sleepjar]

Dave great quoting that commercial with the “Polovtsian Dances by Borodin” 😂😂😂. It’s indelibly burned into my brain.

[timothyweir]

Thanks for the review. Glad to have this and the Sony Japan reissue box of his work on Columbia Masterworks and Sony Classical. Sorry the Philips and DG sets are tough to find now.

[barryguerrero]

This was a really nice walk down memory lane. I won't buy the box, but I certainly wouldn't tell someone else not to buy it. I've forgotten how good those early Chicago items really were. Funny how all the Chicago recordings I really like weren't conducted by a man who's last names starts with 'S'. And they're usually recorded somewhere other than Orchestra Hall as well.

[chrisdurham]

Got this on eBay second hand for about 32 dollars, very happy to have it!

[geertdecoster]

Only last year Ozawa was left in tears following a performance of Beethoven's Egmont which was broadcast live to outer space, for astronaut Koichi Wakata on the ISS. Happily still with us those dear romantic souls!

[joetucker]

I really like this set for the variety of repertoire it contains. No Beethoven or Brahms here, but a lot of interesting selections. And way more hits than misses, in my opinion.

[eisenaechery]

Hey Dave, could you talk about the new Lars Vogt Box? It's just come out on Warner, I'd love to hear what you think about Vogt and his artistry. Also since he recently left us.

[notmytempo]

Still excited for this pletnev rach concerto release to be reviewed by the big man...

[compositortiagoprado]

Thank you for talk about this box. Could you talk about the othe Ozawa box "The Philips years"?

[jesus-of-cheeses]

I don’t think it’s still around. it’s sold in very few places at more than twice its original retail price.

[johnanderton]

Weissenberg performed the Gershwin in Berlin with Karajan of all people at around the same time and it was not a happy occasion

[andrewfeazelle]

Are you allowed to play clips of any of these recordings, or will you get a copyright strike?