Treats for the telly and stars of the past
This month’s round-up includes DVD and Blu-ray sets of great works
Staatskapelle Dresden has over 100 years of experience performing the symphonies of Anton Bruckner, and in Bruckner Symphonies 1-9 (Unitel 757504) the orchestra brings audiences bang up to date. This nine-disc Blu-ray collection features the entire symphony cycle, conducted by Christian Thielemann and filmed over a decade from 2009-19. It’s a high-quality set, captured on stage at the Semperoper Dresden, Gasteig Munich and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.
Also for home viewing is Great Bach Basics (Euroarts 8024253736), a 12-DVD set of some of the most celebrated works by father and son composers JS and CPE Bach. The elder Bach takes up ten discs, with filmed performances of important works such as the St John Passion, Well-tempered Clavier and the Brandenburg Concertos just some of the highlights. CPE, on two discs, is represented by his Ascension Oratorios and Die letzten Leiden des Erlösers. The performing line-up is impressive, with the likes of the Akademie für Alte Music Berlin and Bach Collegium Japan, plus conductors including Abbado and Blomstedt.
Bach organ works make an impact in Jeanne Demessieux – The Decca Legacy (Eloquence 4841423). Marking the legendary French organist’s centenary year, this eight-disc set features remastered recordings and rarities, including a number making their first appearance on CD. Aside from Bach, there’s Franck, Widor, Mozart, Messiaen and more, taken from Demessieux’s years with the label – she signed with them just a year after her 1946 debut. A further highlight is a previously unreleased BBC radio performance.
Another star of the past is honoured in Joseph Szigeti – The Complete Columbia Album Collection (Sony Classical 19075940352). Szigeti was one of the great all-rounders with a huge love for Beethoven and Brahms, but also a passion for new music. Such variety is evident in this eight-disc set, which sees the Budapestborn violinist performing everything from Bach partitas to Debussy sonatas. A champion of the likes of Bloch and Bartók, his recording of the latter’s Contrasts features Benny Goodman on clarinet.
A further highlight is a previously unreleased BBC radio performance