EUGEN JOCHUM The Complete EMI Recordings BACH/BEETHOVEN/BRUCKNER/BRAHMS 19CDs

Eugen Jochum The Complete EMI Recordings 19 CD boxset plus booklet. In 1926 Eugene Jochum made his successful concert debut as a conductor. He acquired a repertory of over 50 operas and conducted concerts all over Germany. The acknowledgment of his excellence led to his appointment as musical director for Berlin radio. His reputation grew particularly in the field of the German Romantic Symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner and was presented with the Brahms medal by the city of Hamburg. This series is a compilation of his complete EMI recordings delivered with exceptional audio quality and artistic integrity. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 December 2014. While the EMI (now Warner) "Icon" Series has proven very variable, there should be absolutely no hesitation here.

The Beethoven cycle is magnificent and it's amazing that it took EMI this long to issue it in its entirety. Disky did a good job some years back, but that release was quickly withdrawn. While this is definitely "big band" Beethoven, Jochum keeps textures and tempos remarkably fluid. He's very scrupulous about repeats.

I can't think of a single performance among the nine which isn't truly fine. I've even come to understand Jochum's view that No.

4 isn't a "little" score after all, and he was remarkable over the years in sustaining that view. The jewel in this crown is undoubtedly this glorious Fifth, but as I say, this entire cycle is a winner. The Brahms was never a favorite of mine when first issued, but the lighter textures and fairly swift tempos Jochum adopts grew on me over the years and I would single out Nos. 2 and 4 for special praise. But this too (along with the Overtures) is, like the Beethoven, a very fine cycle. It should be noted that what helps to make these two cycles so thoroughly splendid is the glorious playing of two of London's top orchestras, and the really excellent sound.

The sound was the work of the now legendary pair of "Two Christophers", Bishop and Parker, working in the resplendent acoustics of the Kingsway Hall. Often I wondered how this EMI Jochum Bruckner cycle would have sounded had it been played by the LSO (probably near-definitive) but, alas, that was not to be. Funding came in part from the now defunct East German VEB label, and naturally they were eager to promote an East German Orchestra. Leipzig was already working on Bruckner, so it was Dresden.

While I still strongly prefer Jochum's DG 1, 4, 7 & 9 with Berlin, the Dresden 2 pity it's Nowak, however! And 5 are very fine indeed, helped by the latest (1980) recordings which sound better than the rest. I also prefer Dresden 8. Jochum's earlier 8 with Berlin for DG was surprisingly tense sounding, and the Dresden is much better paced overall. Also, DG had recorded No.

8 in the then newly finished Philharmonie, and the sound was terrible. It's little wonder that the rest of the Bruckner Jochum did with Berlin for DG was back in the Jesus Christus Kirche. The massed Dresden brass (no small thing in Bruckner) can sound rather blowsy, often recalling a military brass band. But, I don't want to make too much of this as personal taste becomes a factor.

This box comes into almost direct competition with the recently issued DG box, and at present, the prices are nearly identical and the EMI contains some very fine Mozart and a good Bach b minor Mass as well. While the Bruckner maight be a "tossup" (I'd give DG a score of 6, the EMI 5 in overall readings) the Beethoven and Brahms in the DG box I think will be more to the taste of the "specialist" than to that of someone just wanting good solid performances in stereo sound. While there are some good things in Jochum's DG Beethoven and Brahms, you'll have to put up with less than good sound. Some of the Berlin recordings in the DG box date from the early 1950's when Furtwaengler was still alive the the orchestra was very much still his. Also interesting is the fact that while Jochum was always welcome in Berlin while Furtwaengler was still there, a certain Austrian was not! Why, in heaven's name, didn't DG include Jochum's fine Haydn done with the LPO at around the very same time he was doing his Beethoven and Brahms for EMI? It certainly would have made the DG box more desirable. But, make no mistake, this fine EMI box is not to be missed if you are interested in a "cornerstone" for your library. The price was worth it for the Brahms 4 alone - a wonderful performance.

The Beethoven symphonies proved to be as.. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 December 2014. Well, the price was worth it for the Brahms 4 alone - a wonderful performance. The Beethoven symphonies proved to be as good.

I was especially surprised by the Pastoral - the'Scene by the Brook' usually makes me nod off eventually (even Bohm) but not here - Jochum brings air and light into the score as well as water! And kept my interest throughout; wonderful woodwind.

The 9th was as incandescent as one could wish - indeed, I was surprised that some movements were faster than in the recent Haitink LSO recording. The overtures are wonderful too. I reckon these performances could scarcely be bettered. Pity the Brahms and Bruckner have not been remastered - generally good sound but still a rather horrid opening to Brahms 1 and the wonderful Bruckner 9 seems shallower in recording than some of the others.

Apart from just a little edge on the string tone the Beethoven recordings are very impressive and the choral contribution to the 9th very present and exciting. I haven't got round to the Bach or Mozart yet! Everyone should have this set. The photos form part of the description please message me if you need any further information. Disc number 15 is missing from this boxset hence my description of 19 CDs.

All discs have been checked and are in near mint condition. The cardboard sleeves and booklet are in excellent condition. The outer cardboard box shows minimal signs of wear.

I have hundreds of new and used classical CDs being listed.