Sir Adrian Boult – From Bach to Wagner (11 CD box set, APE)

Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 11 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: EMI
Size: 3.51 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto no. 1
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto no. 2
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto no. 3
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto no. 4

CD 02
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto no. 5
Bach – Brandenburg Concerto no. 6
Mozart – Symphony no. 41 in C, K551 “Jupiter”

CD 03
Mozart – Symphony no. 35 in D, K385 “Haffner”
Beethoven – Symphony no. 6 in F, op. 68 “Pastoral”

CD 04
Shubert – Symphony no. 9 ‘Great C major’ D 944
Beethoven – Die Ruinen von Athen, op. 113
Strauss -Radetzky-Marsch
Suppe – Dicher und Bauer

CD 05
Wagner – Eine Faust – Ouvertüre
Wagner – Rienzi
Wagner – Der Fliegende Holländer
Wagner – Tannhäuser
Wagner – Lohengrin

CD 06
Wagner – Lohengrin
Wagner – Tristan und Isolde
Wagner – Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Wagner – Das Rheingold
Wagner – Die Walküre
Wagner – Siegfried
Wagner – Götterdämmerung

CD 07
Wagner – Parsifal

CD 08
Brahms – Symphony no. 1 in C minor op. 68
Brahms – Variations on a Theme by Haydn, op. 56a ‘St Antoni Chorale’

CD 09
Brahms – Symphony no. 2 in D op. 73

CD 10
Brahms – Symphony no. 3 in F op. 90
Brahms – Symphony no. 4 in E minor op. 98

CD 11
Brahms – Serenade no. 1 in D Major, Op.11
Brahms – Serenade no. 2 in A, Op.16

Boult’s German Repertoire

Sir Adrian Boult is known to most people as the conductor of the soundtrack to David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia,” even though he in fact didn’t conduct a single note of the soundtrack (the whole thing was actually conducted by composer Maurice Jarre. Boult’s name appeared in the film credits only in order to secure a recording grant from the British government, while at the same time, Jarre’s name was featured prominently as conductor on the soundtrack recording LP. Apparently, no one noticed the discrepancy!).

Boult was primarily a conductor of classical music, and he had an incredibly wide repertoire, a fact which may surprise those who consider him a British music specialist. That’s probably due to the fact that Boult’s non-British recordings never had wide release outside of the UK. Save for his cycle of Brahms symphonies and a couple of LPs-worth of Wagner bleeding chunks, his presence on US record shelves was confined primarily to the music of RVW, Elgar, Holst and other Brits.

So it’s very nice that EMI (now Warner) has seen fit to release an entire 11-CD box of his German repertoire (the box cover proclaims “from Bach to Wagner,” even though Wolf’s short “Italian Serenade” is included as well). In general, the recordings and performance come off as sober, middle-of-the-road affairs, with a fairly high standard of orchestral execution in variable recorded sound. Winds tend to be very forward, which makes for interesting listening in the Brahms Symphonies, for example.

There is a lot of Wagner in this set. A LOT. And although most of it is well-played, there’s nothing interpretively special about it that will make one forsake their Furtwängler and Karajan recordings (also on EMI). Boult provides interesting, low-key endings to both the Parsifal and Tristan Act I preludes, and the Good Friday Music comes off very nicely here. Recorded sound is a mixed bag, though.

I am a fan of Boult’s way with the Bach Brandenburgs, which are a big-band affair, though informed with what was the then-emerging HIP movement ideals. The recordings feature the late-lamented David Munrow on recorder in both the 4th and 2nd concertos, a feat in the 2nd that is aided by some subtle spotlighting in the mix.

Boult’s Mozart and Beethoven is also big band, which is alright with me. He draws a fine singing quality from the orchestra in these recordings which are damned for today’s audiences by their extreme competence and excellent balances. Such things are – sadly – no longer admired in our thrill-a-second entertainment environment. His Schubert 9th gains traction as it moves along and is entirely satisfying.

Sir Adrian was the Ever-ready Bunny of classical music. Forced into mandatory retirement from his post at the BBC in 1950 at age 61, he spent the final 28 years of his long life recording and performing just about everywhere else, primarily with the LPO – and occasional even with the BBC! – with whom he made the majority of his EMI recordings. Those recordings do him proud, and it’s very nice to have access to his German rep recordings through this box set.

Recommended. Grab it while it’s available.