Schumann Kubelik

Rafael Kubelik and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra explore Mahler's expressivity to the depths here as they have already done in many symphonies issued by audite, in all of its facets and without falling into hollow pathos.

With all of Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, and Philips catalogs to choose from, why did producers pick for re-release Christoph von Dohnányi and the Cleveland Orchestra's recordings of Schumann's Second and Third symphonies? Among many others, they had Karajan and the Berlin, Solti with the Vienna, and Haitink with the Concertgebouw, so why pick Dohnányi and the Cleveland? Because they are digital recordings? Perhaps: the very word "digital" is still a potent talisman for listeners looking for a first and perhaps only recording.

Rafael Kubelik truly remains a conductor for the here and now, with his classic recordings of Beethoven, Dvorak, Mahler, Janáček, Orff and Smetana cycles setting the gold standard. His approach to phrasing and keen attention to orchestral inner frameworks left no musical stone unturned. Kubelík is the last of the great conductors from Deutsche Grammophon's early stereo age to receive the "Complete Edition" treatment. This 64CD + 2DVD box set gathers the entirety of Kubelík's recordings for the Yellow label which are united for the first time in one package. All of the albums are presented with their original cover.

This set represents Rafael Kubelik’s art in a wholly positive way. His Mahler and Dvorák cycles are very well-known. The Dvorák remains, along with those by Rowicki and Kertesz, one of the three reference editions of the complete symphonies, and the only one featuring a Czech conductor.

Pierre Fournier was born in Paris on 24 June in 1906 the son of a French army general. He was known for his lyrical playing and his impeccable artistic sensitivity and this, during his lifetime, earned him the title 'the aristocrat of cellists'.
Fournier was first taught piano by his mother but at the age of nine he suffered a mild case of polio and lost some of the agility in his legs and feet. He was no longer able to master the use of the piano pedals and so turned to the cello.

The first complete Schumann symphony cycle on disc, this set was recorded in Tel Aviv in 1956 by one of the most highly respected conductors of the post-war period. Paul Kletzki (1900–1973) brings out the fundamental strangeness and feverish excitement of Schumann’s orchestral writing. His readings of these iconic works are key to understanding the path they have travelled towards the recognition they enjoy today.

2013 marked the 100th anniversary of recording between the Berliner Philharmoniker and Deutsche Grammophon, two giants in music. DG celebrated by releasing a hugely successful limited edition 50 CD Centenary Edition, with content chosen by public vote. New for 2014 is a more bite-size box 8 CDs honouring the same iconic relationship between label and orchestra, at a fantastic price. The featured maestros at the helm of the orchestra include Karajan, Abbado, Rattle, Böhm, Giulini, Kubelik and Furtwängler.

The Radio Legacy is a compilation of the seven part Anthology of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the four box sets devoted to the orchestra s chief conductors Willem Mengelberg, Eduard van Beinum, Bernard Haitink and Riccardo Chailly, and also featuring more recent recordings with Mariss Jansons.