Eugene Ormandy: The Original Jacket Collection (10 CD box set, APE)

Performer: Mstislav Rostropovich
Composer: Ottorino Respighi, Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sergey Rachmaninov, Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky, et al.
Audio CD
SPARS Code: A-D
Number of Discs: 10 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Sony Classics
Size: 3.18 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD1
RESPIGHI
1-4. Pini di Roma
Recorded at Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia, 23.03.1958
5-8. Fontane di Roma
Recorded at Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia, 14.04.1957
9-12. Feste Romane
Recorded at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia

CD2
MUSSORGSKY
1-15. Pictures at an Exhibition, Orch. Maurice Ravel
Recorded at Town Hall, Philadelphia, 21.04.1966
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
16-19. Scheherazade, with Anshel Brusllow – violin
Recorded at Town Hall, Philadelphia, 11.02.1962

CD3
RACHMANINOV
1-4. Symphony No.2
Recorded at Philadelphia, 19.04.1959
5. Vocalise, Op.34 No.14
Recorded at Town Hall, Philadelphia, 18.10.1967

CD4
TCHAIKOVSKY
1-4. Symphony No.5
Recorded at at Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia, 25.01.1959
5-8. Serenade in C Major for String Orchestra, Op.48
Recorded at Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia, 10.04.1960

CD5
BARTOK
1-5. Concerto for Orchestra
Recorded at Town Hall, Philadelphia, 13.10.1963
6. Miraculous Mandarin Suite, Sz.73
Recorded at Town Hall, Philadelphia, 15.11.1962
7-8. Two Pictures, Sz.46
Recorded at Philadelphia Athletic Club, Philadelphia, 31.03.1963

CD6
MENDELSSOHN
1-3. Concerto un E Minor for Violin and Orchestra
TCHAIKOVSKY
4-6. Concerto un D Major for Violin and Orchestra
Recorded at Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia, 23-24.03.1958
With Isaac Stern – violin

CD7
SHOSTAKOVICH
1-4. Symphony No.1
5-8. Concerto un E-Flat Major for Cello and Orchestra,
with Mstislav Rostropovich – cello, Mason Jones – french horn
Recorded at Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia, 8.11.1959

CD8
THE BACH ALBUM
J.S.BACH, Arr. Ormandy
1. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565
J.S.BACH, Arr. William Smith
2. Arioso
J.S.BACH, Arr. Thomas Frost
3-6. Little Suite from The Anna Magdalena Notebook
J.S.BACH, Arr. Arhur Harris
7. A Mighty Fortress is our God
J.S.BACH, Arr. Lucien Cailliet
8. Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata No.147
J.S.BACH, Arr. William Smith
9. Fugue in G Minor, „The Little”
J.S.BACH, Trans. Ormandy
10. Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor
J.S.BACH, Arr. Fritz Kreisler, William Smith
11. Preludium in E Major
J.S.BACH
12. Air from Suite No.3 „Air on the G String”
J.S.BACH, Arr. & Adapt. Sir William Walton
13. Sheep May Safely Graze from Cantata No.208
J.S.BACH, Arr. Jesse Taynton
14. Come, Sweet Death
J.S.BACH, Arr. Ormandy
15. Sleepers Awake from Cantata No.140

CD9
THE BACH ALBUM
J.S.BACH, Arr. Ormandy
1. Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major, BWV 564
J.C.BACH, Arr. William Smith
2-4. Sinfonia for Double Orchestra in E-Flat Major, Op.18 No.1
J.C.BACH, Arr. Ormandy
5-7. Sinfonia for Double Orchestra in D Major, Op.18 No.3
W.F.BACH
8. Sinfonia in D Minor for two Flutes and Strings, F.65
C.F.E.BACH, Arr. Maximilian Steinberg
9-11. Concerto for Orchestra in D Minor

CD10
THE ROMANTIC PHILADELPHIA STRINGS
BORODIN, Arr. Malcolm Sargent
1. Nosturne for String Orchestra
MASCAGNI
2. Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana
TRADITIONAL, Arr. Arthur Harris
3. Londonderry Air
SAMUEL BARBER
4. Adagio for Strings, Op.11
TCHAIKOVSKY, Arr. Thomas Frost
5. Andante Cantable
JEAN SIBELIUS
6. Valse Triste from Kuolema, Op. 44 No.1
EDVARD GRIEG
7. Notturno No.5 from Lyric Suite, Op.54: Andante
8. The Last Spring from Two Elegiac Melodies, Op.34
JULES MASSENET, Arr. Thomas Frost
9. Elegie
EDWARD MACDOWELL, Arr. Thomas Frost
10. To a Wild Rose, Op.51 No.1, from Woodland Sketches
R.V.WILLIAMS, Arr. Ralph Greaves
11. Fantasia on Greensleeves from Sir John in Love
R.V.WILLIAMS
12. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis: Largo Sostenuto

Now for a Volume 2

Having read all reviews I will not repeat what has been already said, but rather, complement with a few observations. It remains interesting how those early Stereo recordings from the late 50s and early 60s sound so much better than the ones following (late 60s an so on). Be it recording venue, producer or miking, the lush and bloom of the former is noticeable and a pleasure to hear.
Some of these performances have a very romantic portamento which, given the Philadephia strings, is rather nice; especially since it is not done anymore.
There are masterpieces here, some best recordings and morsels. So it is a great representation of the Philadelphia under Ormandy. But, to my taste, the Rachmaninoff 2nd is tops. With so many recordings available (and in my collection) this one goes to the top. Lush, romantically milked, and beautifully recorded. Also Ormandy’s Bartok is spectacular, from the point of interpretation, execution and recording (after all, Ormandy was Hungarian!)
Knowing how much more there is of Ormandy and Philly, I hope there is a Volume 2 in the works. This one was lovingly done.