Fritz Reiner – The Complete RCA Collection (63 CD box set, FLAC)

Conductor: Fritz Reiner
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 63 CD box set
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: Sony Classical
Size: 12.7 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
Richard Strauss
Also sprach Zarathustra op. 30
01. Einleitung | Introduction
02. Von Den Hinterweltlern | Of The Backworldsmen | De Ceux Du Monde De Derrière
03. Von Der Großen Sehnsucht | Of The Great Longing | De L’Aspiration Suprême
04. Von Den Freuden Und Leidenschaften | Of Joys And Passions | Des Joies Et Des Passions
05. Das Grablied | The Song Of The Grave | Le Chant Du Tombeau
06. Von Der Wissenschaft | Of Science And Learning | De La Science
07. Der Genesende | The Convalescent
08. Das Tanzlied | The Dance-Song | Le Chant De La Danse
09. Das Nachtwandlerlied | Song Of The Night Wanderer | Chant Du Somnanbule
10. Salome op. 54

CD 02
Richard Strauss
Ein Heldenleben op. 40
01. Der Held / The Hero
02. Des Helden Widersacher / The Hero’s Adversaries
03. Des Helden Gefahrtin / The Hero’s Companion
04. Des Helden Waltstatt / The Hero’s Battlefield
05. Des Helden Friedenswerke / The Hero’s Works of Peace
06. Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung / The Hero’s Retreat from the World and Fulfillment

John Weicher violin

CD 03
Johannes Brahms
Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in D Minor op. 15
01. Maestoso – Poco piu moderato
02. Adagio
03. Rondo. Allegro non troppo

Arthur Rubinstein piano

CD 04
Rolf Liebermann
01. Concerto for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra

The Sauter-Flnegan Orchestra

Richard Strauss
02. Don Juan Op. 20

CD 05
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major op. 55 “Eroica”
01. Allegro con brio
02. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai
03. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
04. Finale. Allegro molto

CD 06
Johannes Brahms
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major op. 77
01. Allegro non troppo
02. Adagio
03. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace

Jascha Heifetz violin

CD 07
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 1 in B-Flat Minor Op. 23
01. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso
02. Andantino simplice
03. Allegro con fuoco

Emil Gilels piano

CD 08
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Divertimento No. 17 in D Major K.334 (320b)
01. Allegro
02. Tema con variazioni – Andante
03. Menuetto
04. Adagio
05. Menuetto
06. Rondo: Allegro

Serenade No.13 K. 525, in G Major “Eine kleine Nachtmusik”
07. Allegro
08. Romanze: Andante
09. Menuetto: Allegretto – Trio
10. Rondo: Allegro

CD 09
Bela Bartok
Concerto for Orchestra Sz.116
01. Introduzione: Andante non troppo – Allegro vivace
02. Giuoco delle coppie: Allegretto scherzando
03. Elegia: Andante non troppo
04. Intermezzo interrotto: Allegretto
05. Finale: Pesante; Presto

CD 10
Richard Strauss
Elektra op. 58
01. Elektra’s Soliloquy: Allein! Weh, ganz allein
02. Recognition Scene: Was willst du, fremder Mensch?
03. Finale: Elektra! Schwester! Komm mit uns!

CD 11
Richard Strauss
Suite from the Incidental to Moliere’s op. 60
01. Overture to Act I
02. Menuett
03. The Fencing Master
04. Entrance and Dance of the Tailors
05. Entrance of Cleonte
06. Prelude to Act II (Intermezzo)
07. The Dinner

Salome op. 54
08. Final Scene: Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund

Inge Borkh soprano
Frances Yeend soprano
Paul Schöffler baritone
Chicago Lyric Theatre Chorus

CD 12
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 7 in A Major Op. 92
01. Poco sostenuto – Vivace
02. Allegretto
03. Presto – Assai meno presto
04. Allegro con brio
05. Fidelio. Overture Op. 72b

CD 13
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
01. Ouvertüre solennelle “1812” op. 49

Franz Liszt
02. Mephisto Waltz No. 1 S 110/2

Jaromir Weinberger
03. Polka and Fugue

Bedrich Smetana
04. The Bartered Bride: Overture

Antonin Dvorak
05. Carnival – Concert Overture op. 92

CD 14
Sergei Rachmaninov
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C minor op. 18
01. Moderato: Allegro
02. Adagio sostenuto
03. Allegro scherzando

Arthur Rubinstein piano

CD 15
Sergei Rachmaninov
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini op. 43
01. Introduction
02. Variation I (Precedente)
03. Theme
04.-26. Variation II~ Variation XXIV

Manuel de Falla
Noches en los jardines de España
27. M. de Falla – Nuits dans les Jardins d’Espagne – En el Generalife
28. Danza lejana
29. En los jardines de Córdoba

Arthur Rubinstein piano
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Enrique Jorda conductor

CD 16
Johann Strauss II
01. Morgenblätter – Walzer op. 279
02. Kaiser-Waltez op. 437
03. An der schönen, blauen Donau – Walzer op. 314

Carl Maria Von Weber
04. Aufforderung zum Tanz op. 65

Josef Strauss
05. Dorfschwalben aus Österreich – Walzer op. 164

Richard Strauss
06. Der Rosenkavalier: Waltzes

CD 17
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major op. 35
01. Allegro moderato
02. Canzonetta: Andante
03. Allegro vivacissimo

Jascha Heifetz violin

CD 18
Sergei Rachmaninov
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in F-Sharp minor op. 1
01. Vivace
02. Andante
03. Allegro vivace

Richard Strauss
04. Burleske for Piano and Orchestra in D minor

Byron Janis piano

CD 19
Richard Strauss
Symphonia Domestica op. 53
01. Bewegt
02. Scherzo
03. Wiegenlied
04. Adagio
05. Finale

CD 20
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 36 in C Major, K.425 “Linz”
01. Adagio – Allegro spiritoso
02. Poco Adagio
03. Menuetto – Trio
04. Finale. Presto

Symphony No. 39 in E-Flat Major, K. 543
05. Adagio – Allegro
06. Andante con moto
07. Menuetto – Allegretto
08. Finale. Allegro

CD 21
Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
01. Molto allegro
02. Andante
03. Menuetto – Allegretto – Trio
04. Finale. Allegro assai

Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K.551 “Jupiter”
05. Allegro vivace
06. Andante cantabile
07. Menuetto – Allegretto – Trio
08. Molto allegro

CD 22
Sergei Prokofiev
Lieutnant Kije op. 60
01. The Birth of Kije
02. Romance
03. Kije`s Wedding
04. Troika
05. The Burial of Kije

Igor Stravinsky
Chant du Rossignol / Son of the Nightingale
06. Presto
07. Chinese March
08. Song of the Nightingale
09. The Mechanical Nightingale – The Mechanical Nightingale
10. The Emperor’s Displeasure at the Departure of the Real Nightingale
11. The Emperor’s Sickroom
12. The Real Nightingale Returns to Thwart Death
13. Funeral March and Finale

CD 23
Johannes Brahms
Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-Flat Major op. 83
01. Allegro non troppo
02. II. Allegro appassionato
03. III. Andante
04. IV. Allegretto grazioso

Emil Gilels piano
Janos Starker cello

CD 24
The Reiner Sound
Maurice Ravel
Rapsodie espagnole
01. Prelude a la nuit
02. Malaguena
03. Habanera
04. Feria
05. Pavan for a Dead Princess

Sergei Rachmaninov
06. The Isle of the Dead op. 29

CD 25
Modest Mussorgsky
Pictures at an Exhibition
01. Promenade
02. Gnomus
03. Promenade
04. Il vecchio castello
05. Promenade
06. Tuileries
07. Bydlo
08. Promenade
09. Ballet of the Chicks in Their Shells
10. Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
11. The Marketplace at Limoges
12. Catacombae, sepulchrum romanum
13. Con mortuis in lingua mortua
14. The Hut on Fowl’s Legs
15. The Great Gate at Kiev

CD 26
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 3 in F Major op. 90
01. Allegro con brio
02. Andante
03. Poco allegretto
04. Allegro
05. Tragic Overture op. 81

CD 27
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 “Pathetique”
01. Adagio; Allegro non troppo
02. Allegro con grazia
03. Allegro molto vivace
04. Adagio lamentoso

CD 28
Claude Debussy
Ibéria (Images pour orchestre)
1. Par les rues et par les chemins
2. Les parfums de la nuit
3. Le matin d’un jour de fete

Maurice Ravel
Valses nobles et sentimentales
04. Modere – tres franc
05. Assez lent
06. Modere
07. Assez anime
08. Presque lent
09. Vif
10. Moins vif
11. Epiloque. Lent
12. Alborada del gracioso (Miroirs)

CD 29
Antonin Dvorak
Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”
01. Adagio; Allegro molto
02. Largo
03. Scherzo: Molto vivace
04. Allegro con fuoco

CD 30
Spain
Enrique Granados
01. Intermezzo (Goyescas)

Manuel de Falla
La vida breve
02. Interlude
03. Dance

El sombrero de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat) – Suite No. 2
04. Danza de los vecinos (Seguidilla) – Dance of the Neighbours
05. Danza del molinero (Farruca) – Dance of the Miller
06. Danza final (Jota) – Final Dance

Isaac Albéniz
Orchestrations: Enrique Fernandez Arbos Iberia
07. Book 4 – Navarra
08. Book 1 – Fete-dieu a Seville
09. Book 2 – Triana, No. 3

CD 31
Alan Hovhannes
Symphony No. 2 op. 132 “Mysterious Mountain”
01. Andante
02. Double Fugue: Moderato maestoso
03. Allegro vivo
04. Andante espressivo

Igor Stravinsky
Divertimento – Concert Suite from Le Baiser de la fee
05. Sinfonia
06. Danses suisses
07. Scherzo
08. Pas de deux

CD 32
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
01. Ouvertüre solennelle “1812” op. 49

Felix Mendelssohn
02. Ouverture “The Hebrides” (Fingal’s Cave), Op. 26

Franz Liszt
03. Mephisto Waltz No. 1 S 110/2

Johannes Brahms
04. Tragic Overture op. 81

CD 33
Gioacchino Rossini
Overtures
01. Guillaume Tell
02. La scala di seta
03. Il signor Bruschino
04. Il barbiere di Siviglia
05. La gazza ladra
06. La Cenerentola

Mihaly Virizlay cello

CD 34
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
01. Allegro con brio
02. Andante con moto
03. Allegro
04. Allegro maestoso
05. Coriolan Overture, Op. 62

CD 35
Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 4 in G Major
01. Bedachtig. Nicht eilen
02. In gemachlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast
03. Ruhevoll
04. Sehr behaglich

Lisa Della Casa soprano

CD 36
Bela Bartok
Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta Sz 106
01. Andante tranquillo
02. Allegro
03. Adagio
04. Allegro molto

Hungarian Sketches (Magyar kepek) Sz 97
05. An Evening in the Village
06. Bear Dance
07. Melody
08. Slightly Tipsy
09. Swineherd’s Dance from Urog

CD 37
Gustav Mahler
Das Lied von der Erde
01. Das Trinklied vom Jammer der Erde (The Drinking Song of Earth’s Sorrow)
02. Der Einsame im Herbst (Autumn Loneliness)
03. Von der Jugend (Of Youth)
04. Von der Schonheit (Of Beauty)
05. Der Trunkene im Fruhling (Wine in Spring)
06. Der Abschied (The Farewell)

Maureen Forrester contralto
Richard Lewis tenor

CD 38
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 88 in G Major Hob. 1:88
01. Adagio – Allegro
02. Largo
03. Menuetto – Allegretto – Trio
04. Finale. Allegro con spirit

CD 39
Richard Strauss
Don Quixote op. 35
01. Introduction
02. Theme: Don Quixote, the Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance
03. Sancho Panza
04. The Adventure with the Windmills: Variation I
05. The Battle with the Sheep: Variation II
06. Dialogue of the Knight and Squire: Variation III
07. The Adventure with the Penitents: Variation IV
08. The Knight’s Vigil: Variation V
09. The False Dulcinea: Variation VI
10. The Ride Through the Air: Variation VII
11. The Adventure with the Enchanted Boat: Variation VIII
12. The Combat with the Two Magicians: Variation IX
13. The Defeat of Don Quixote by the Knight of the White Moon: Variation X
14. The Death of Don Quixote: Finale

Antonio Janigro cello
Milton Preves viola
John Weicher violin

CD 40
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 25 in C Major, K. 503
01. Allegro maestoso
02. Andante
03. Allegretto
04. Don Giovanni, K. 527, Act I: “Overture”

André Tchaikovsky piano

CD 41
Sergei Prokofiev
Alexander Nevsky op. 78
01. Russia Under the Mongolian Yoke
02. Song About Alexander Nevsky
03. The Crusaders in Pskov
04. Arise, Ye Russian People
05. The Battle on the Ice
06. Field of the Dead
07. Alexander’s Entry Into Pskov

Rosalind Elias mezzo-soprano
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hillis chorus master

CD 42
Dmitri Kabalevsky
01. Colas Breugnon, Op. 24 – Overture

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
02. Marche slave, Op. 31

Alexander Borodin
03. Prince Igor – Polovtsian March

Modest Mussorgsky
04. Night on the Bare Mountain

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
05. Suite No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 43 – March miniature

Mikhail Glinka
06. Russlan and Ludmilla – Overture

CD 43
Robert Schumann
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 54
01. Allegro affettuoso
02. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso
03. Allegro vivace

Van Cliburn piano

CD 44
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Nutcracker, Op. 71 (excerpts)
01. Overture
02. Christmas Tree Scene
03. March – Divertissement
04. Chocolate: Spanish Dance
05. Coffee: Arabian Dance
06. Tea: Chinese Dance
07. Trepak: Russian Dance
08. Dance of the Flutes
09. Mother Gigogne and the Clowns
10. Waltz of the Flowers – Pas de deux
11. Dance of the Prince and the Sugar-Plum Fairy
12. Variation I: Tarantella
13. Variation II: Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
14. Coda
15. Final Waltz
16. Apotheosis

CD 45
Ottorino Respighi
Pini di Roma / Pines of Rome / The Pines of the Villa Borghese / Die Pinien von Rom
01. The Pines of the Villa Borghese
02. Pines Near a Catacomb
03. The Pines of the Janiculum
04. The Pines of the Appian Way

Fountains of Rome
05. The Fountain of Valle Giulia at Dawn
06. The Triton Fountain at Morning
07. The Fountain of Trevi at Midday
08. The Villa Medici Fountain at Sunset

CD 46
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Scheherazade op. 35 –
01. The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship
02. The Story of the Kalender Prince
03. The Young Prince and the Young Princess
04. Festival in Bagdad – The Sea – The Ship Goes to Pieces on a Rock Surmounted by a Bronze Warrior

Sidney Harth violin solo

CD 47
Richard Wagner
Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (excerpts)
01. Prelude to Act I / Vorspiel 1. Aufzug
02. Prelude to Act III / Vorspiel 3. Aufzug
03. Dance of the Apprentices / Tanz der Lehrbuben
04. Procession of the Meistersingers / Aufzug der Meistersinger

Gotterdammerung (excerpts)
05. Siegfried’s Rhine Journey / Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt
06. Siegfried’s Funeral Music / Trauermarsch

CD 48
Claude Debussy
La Mer
01. From Dawn Till Noon on the Sea
02. Play of the Waves
03. Dialogue of the Wind and the Sea

Richard Strauss
04. Don Juan, Op. 20

CD 49
Johann Strauss II
01. Vienna Blood, Op. 354
02. Kunstlerleben, Op. 316

Josef Strauss
03. Mein Lebenslauf ist Lieb’ und Lust, Op. 263

Johann Strauss II
04. Roses from the South, Op. 388 (From The Queen’s Lace Hankerchief)
05. Treasure Waltz, Op. 418 (From The Gypsy Baron)
06. Thunder and Lightning, Op. 324

CD 50
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8 in B minor D. 759 – “Unfinished”
01. Allegro moderato
02. Andante con moto

Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, D. 485
03. Allegro
04. Andante con moto
05. Menuetto – Allegro molto
06. Allegro vivace

CD 51
Franz Liszt
01. Totentanz, S. 126, R. 457 Danse macabre

Sergei Rachmaninov
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in F-Sharp minor, Op. 1
02. Vivace
03. Andante
04. Allegro vivace

Byron Janis piano

CD 52
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 5 in E-Flat Major , Op. 73 “Emperor
Beethoven: Konzert für Klavier und Orchester Nr. 5 ‚Emperor‘ –
01. Allegro
02. Adagio un poco mosso
03. Rondo: Allegro

Van Cliburn piano

CD 53
Johannes Brahms
Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 83
01. Allegro non troppo
02. Allegro appassionato
03. Andante
04. Allegretto grazioso

Van Cliburn piano
Robert La Marchina cello

CD 54
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 – “Choral”
01. Allegro ma non troppo – un poco maestoso
02. Molto vivace
03. Adagio molto e cantabile – Andante moderato
04. Presto – Allegro assai

CD 55
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21
01. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
02. Andante cantabile con moto
03. Menuetto – Allegro molto e vivace
04. Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace

Phyllis Curtin soprano
Florence Kopleff contralto
John McCollum tenor
Donald Gramm bass
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Margaret Hills chorus master

CD 56
Richard Strauss
Also sprach Zarathustra op. 30
01. Introduction
02. Of the Inhabitants of the Unseen World
03. Of the Great Longing
04. Of Joys and Passions
05. Dirge
06. Of Science
07. The Convalescent
08. Dance Song and Night Song
09. Night Wanderer’s Song

CD 57
Sergei Rachmaninov
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C minor op. 18
01. Moderato – Allegro
02. Adagio sostenuto
03. Allegro scherzando

Van Cliburn piano

CD 58
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
01. Allegro moderato
02. Andante con moto
03. Rondo – Vivace

Van Cliburn piano

CD 59
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 6 in F Major op. 8 “Pastorale”
01. Erwachen heiterer Gefuhle bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande
02. Szene am Bache
03. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute
04. Gewitter, Sturm
05. Frohe, dankbare Gefuhle nach dem Sturm

CD 60
Hector Berlioz
Les Nuits d’été op. 7
01. Villanelle
02. Le spectre de la rose
03. Sur les lagunes
04. Absence
05. Au cimetiere (Claire de lune)
06. L’ile inconnue

Manuel de Falla
El amor brujo
07. Introduction and Scene
08. In the Cave
09. Song of Love’s Sorrow
10. The Ghost
11. Dance of Terror
12. The Magic Circle
13. Midnight
14. Ritual Fire Dance
15. Scene
16. Song of the Will-o’the Wisp
17. Pantomime
18. Dance of the Game of Love
19. The Bells of Morning

Leontyne Price soprano

CD 61
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 101 in D Major “The Clock” Hob. 1:101
01. Adagio – Presto
02. Andante
03. Menuetto – Allegretto – Trio
04. Finale. Vivace

Symphony No. 95 in C Minor Hob. 1:95
05. Allegro moderato
06. Andante cantabile
07. Menuetto – Trio
08. Finale. Vivace

New York Philarmonic, the Symphony of the Air
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

CD 62
Robert Schumann
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in A Minor op. 54
01. I. Allegro affettuoso
02. II. Intermezzo. Andantino grazioso
03. III. Allegro vivace

Franz Liszt
04. Totentanz, S. 126, R. 457 Danse macabre

Byron Janis piano

CD 63
Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto for Harpsichord and Strings No. 5 in F minor BWV 1056
01. Adagio – Allegro
02. Largo
03. Presto

John Stafford Smith

04. The Star-Spangled Banner

05. Fritz Reiner discusses Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony No. 7

Ludwig Van Beethoven
06. Symphony No. 7 in A Major op. 92: III. Allegro con brio (beginning)

André Tchaikovsky piano

Fritz Reiner was one of the foremost conductors of his time. Crowning his long career in Europe and America was the decade from 1954 to 1963 as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra an illustrious partnership that ranks along such other historical tenures as Karajan’s in Berlin, Szell’s in Cleveland and Bernstein’s in New York.
Luckily for posterity, Reiner’s legendary interpretations at the helm of the Chicago Symphony which no less than Igor Stravinsky called “the most precise and flexible orchestra in the world” were captured on record by RCA Victor. Now for the first time ever, they are being issued together in a single Sony Classical box set of 63 re-mastered CDs.
A champion of 20th-century music, he could also give incomparably lilting performances of Strauss waltzes. In both Pittsburgh and Chicago, Reiner recorded works by his former teacher Bartók, and he was instrumental in convincing Serge Koussevitzky to commission Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra in 1943. His classic 1955 Chicago recording of that masterpiece is among the glories of this new set.
Every recording in this new 63-CD set comes from the best re-mastered source. A third have been newly re-mastered from the original tapes. This Reiner/Chicago Symphony edition is destined to become a cornerstone of serious record collections around the world.

Here it is … the good, the better, and the tiny bit ugly

This is fantastic! Reiner was one of the great conductors of the 20th Century, and here is his Chicago RCA legacy. This is like some of the Columbia or RCA “Original Jackets” collections of the past, but on steroids. That is its strength as well as its weakness. Yes, you get all the original album art, notes, etc. Major plus. The downside is that this set could have fit on far fewer CDs. For example, I have the Beethoven 5 & 7, Corolian & Fidelio overtures on a previous release all on one CD. Here they are scattered about on three. Same goes for the Strauss tone poems. So, if you are a Reiner fanatic and have many of the previous Living Stereo or DSD releases, you will notice this scattering. That being said, who cares? The old Dvorak Symphony 9 had a bunch of CD “fillers.” Now those are back in their original context. So, a few nitpicks, but everything is in order here, a fantastic legacy set. All of the Living Stereo recordings recently released on DSD are here in Red Book CD mix, and they DO sound better than much of the rest. But, hey, it all sounds great for its age, and many of these recordings have NEVER been surpassed – like the Strauss, Bartok, and many of the “Pops” CDs like Vienna, Iberia and Spain. The physical box presentation is very much like the recent RCA Toscanini set – sturdy box, nice book, but about 3-4 inches shorter than that set in size.