Complete Decca Recordings

You’ll need a pretty big desert island to accommodate this box, but there’s nothing in it I’d leave behind. Katchen, who spent most of his adult years in Paris (as Weissenberg later would) is usually remembered as part of an American stable - the ‘50s quick draw cowboys. But that image was always a caricature. The Russians recognized Cliburn as a direct descendent of Liszt and Anton Rubinstein via Van’s mother, a pupil of Arthur Friedheim. Fleisher channeled Schnabel and Szell . Though known for hard charging warhorses, Janis believed he had a mystical tie to Chopin. Listen to his late EMI recordings and you’ll believe it too. Kapell may have been the most American of the bunch, a magnificent melting pot. And though he’s less honored today, I think Katchen was equally magnificent, a unique combination of innig and swagger. I bet D’Albert played the Brahms concertos (under the composer) with this same dash and poetry. The smaller Brahms pieces are gorgeous - what here is not? Katchen stayed mostly in Europe because he was and still is valued there, not just an American in Paris (had Gene Kelly been a pianist he would have played Gershwin like Julius) but a musician in Paris, one of the greats. Grab this before it’s even more expensive.

Along with William Kapell, Leon Fleisher, and Van Cliburn, Julius Katchen was one of the most promising American pianists of his generation. He unfortunately succumbed to cancer at the mere age of 43 in 1969. Decca signed him at the mere age of 20 as he demonstrated promise to become a major star for the label. In a short time span he recorded with some of the greatest conductors including Boult, Argenta, Kertész, Monteaux, and Gamba to name a few. He focused primarily on the Romantic repertoire, but also recorded composers such as Albeniz, Bach and modern composer Ned Rorem. This set does not encompass his entire discography, but it is certainly the majority.To commemorate the 90th anniversary of his birth, Decca released this box set. which currently represents as advertised, Katchen's complete Decca discography. I was surprised to see this was a 35 disc set. The relative breakdowns of this boxset in comparison with Katchen’s previous CD releases are as follows:Decca previously released 8 double cd volumes labeled “The Art of Julius Katchen”.Vol. 1/2 – Beethoven Concertos 1 - 5, Rondo, Fantasy with Gamba/LSO (460 822-2)Vol. 2 – Mozart Concertos 13,20,25 with Maag/NLSO, Munchinger/Stuttgart, Sonata No. 11 (460-825-2)Vol. 3 – Brahms Concertos 1&2, Monteaux, Ferencsik/LSO, Schumann Fantasie, Concerto with Kertesz/ISO (460 828-2)Vol. 4 - Grieg/Liszt Concertos with Kertesz/IPO and Argenta/LPO, Solo Piano from Liszt, Balakirev, Mussorgsky (460-831-2)Vol. 5 - Dohnanyi,Liszt,Tchaikovsky,Prokofiev,Rachmaninov Concertos wiith Boult/LPO, Gamba, Solti, Kertez with LSO (460 834-2)Vol. 6 - Bartok, Britten,Gershwin, Ravel Concertos with Mantovani/Manvovani Orch, Kertez, Britten with LSO (460 837-2)Vol. 7 - Beethoven Sonatas 23 & 32, Diabelli Variations, Polonaise, Bagatelles, Mozart Sonatas 13 & 16 (466 714-2)Vol. 8 - Chopin Sonatas 2&3, Schumann Carnaval, Toccata, Encores from Schubert, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Chopin (466 717-2)This represents 16 discs and the 6 CD set Brahms Complete Solo Works for piano (455 247-2) combine for a total 22 discs. There was also an 8 Disc Original Masters set (475 2221) which covered many of his rarer recordings between 1949 through 1968. What is left are the Brahms Chamber recordings with Janos Starker and Josef Suk, and a few unreleased recordings which are described in Amazon's product description.Katchen’s talent was undeniable and he demonstrated a level of maturity that was well beyond his years. He played the hardest works such as Balakirev Oriental Fantasy with relative ease. His recordings of Brahms had a perfect blend of intellect, romanticm, warmth and clarity that is matched by few. I would not say that many his concertos are definative recordings, but they are very welcome additions. His Liszt Concertos with Ataúlfo Argenta conducting London Philharmonic are among some of my personal favorite recordings of these works. His Chopin recordings have too much of a rushed and agitated like sound to them for my liking, but his Schumann recordings fare far better.This boxset really is a great encapsulation of a great pianist who was cut down in his prime. His output is certaintly astounding for a short time. At the time of this review, this set was going for around 75 bucks for this 35 CD set, so at just over 2 bucks per CD, this is a quite bargain. For those who really enjoy Katchen, or are interested in his other recordings, invest in his Audite Berlin Recordings which include the Liszt Sonata, a Brahms Fantasia set, Beethoven's 32 Variations on an Original Theme and some Chopin works. A Doremi CD (DHR-7936) and ICA Classics ICAC 5048 are also worth mentioning to round Katchen's discography even more.Complete list of works and recordings for this set can be found here:pianistdiscography.com/discography/pianistLabel.php?cdnum=3934&labRich=32&PIANIST=24

This 36 disc set (an "extra" disc is included) displays Katchen's fast, powerful, often virtuosic playing. His Beethoven and Brahms concertos and Rachmaninoff and Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky all work splendidly, but sometimes Katchen can overpower some works like the Chopin and Mozart. And his solo Brahms, long praised, is certainly well played, but sometimes it sounds too fast and misses some other elements that other pianists bring. It's good to have, certainly, but it doesn't seem quite as reference level as its long standing reputation suggests.

100% recomendado.

Fantastic playing. He's right up their with Horowitz, Rubinstein, Richter, Gilles.

Quite simply amazing. Puts all others in the shade. A genius, and that is not a term to be used lightly. Beethoven Concertos I thought especially fine. Decca recordings at their finest despite being from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Orchestral playing (especially from LSO) remarkable. Giving everything they’ve got. Not like today when it seems “it’s just a job” . This music is so much more than a job !

Lasciatemi spiegare il perché delle 4 stelle e non 5 a questo cofanetto. Sì perché per il basso prezzo, per la completezza della discografia con molte incisioni scomparse da decenni dal commercio, per l'interesse editoriale di ricoperta di questo pianista americano (allora negli anni '50-'60 una delle icone più promettenti) le stelle sono sicuramente cinque.Poi però si deve tener conto della qualità tecnica di incisione, che pur essendo con marchio Decca, in generale non é all'altezza della fama di questa mitica casa discografica inglese, in parte perché molte delle incisioni qui contenute sono monofoniche, ma in generale perché la qualità audio non é eccellente come mi aspettavo. Quindi dal punto di vista audio, per la qualità del suono, le stelle sono 3.Come ultima valutazione lascio la qualità artistica, su cui vorrei soffermarmi con due parole di più.Di sicuro con Julius Katchen ci si trova davanti ad un pianista di rilievo, uno degli esecutori più geniali di quegli anni. Nato "enfant prodige", ha mantenute intatte le promesse negli anni della sua giovane maturità, con esecuzioni di gran pregio specialmente nel repertorio brahmsiano per pianoforte solo.Esecuzioni come quelle di Katchen del repertorio, peraltro abbastanza poco eseguito, cioé delle composizioni per pianoforte solo di Brahms, rimangono per rigore e profondità interpretativa ancora di riferimento, nonostante gli oltre cinquanta anni trascorsi. E di notevole c'é che in questo box é contenuta proprio l'integrale dell'opus di Brahms che include il pianoforte (dai due concerti, ai trii e quartetti fino ai pezzi per pianoforte solo appunto).Certo che nei concerti per piano e orchestra di Brahms i nomi della concorrenza si fanno agguerriti e il nostro Katchen cede terreno rispetto alle mitiche prove di Rubinstein, di Gilels e di Pollini.É un pò quello che accade con i cinque concerti per piano e orchestra di Beethoven, dove le esecuzioni di Katchen, seppure di spessore e di interesse, non arrivano a competere con quelle di riferimento corrente (almeno per me ancora Pollini, ancora Gilels, e poi Zimerman, e Arrau e..ovviamente Michelageli).Di sicuro interesse c'é Gershwin eseguito con una Jazz Band originale, invece che in compagnia dell'orchestra classica come al solito. E poi Mozart, incantevole. E Bartok di rilievo, con il terzo accompagnato una volta da Ansermet e un'altra da Kertesz.Certo in generale i "nome del podio" che accompagnano Katchen non sono quelli altisonanti delle altre esecuzioni sopra citate, e questo ha sicuramente il suo peso. Infatti quando ad accompagnare Katchen c'é un genio del podio prematuramente scomparso come Kertesz o un grande della bacchetta come Solti il risultato finale é assai diverso rispetto a quando sul podio ci sono Argenta, Boult e il nostro Gamba.Per il repertorio completo basta fare click con il mouse sulla seconda immagine qui su Amazon, quindi non sto a riportare un noioso elenco.In definitiva un box molto interessante per gli appassionati più "eruditi" che vogliono ascoltare "la voce" di interpreti meno noti e spesso ingiustamente dimenticati.Buon ascolto a tutte e tutti voi...

Ad un prezzo assai abbordabile si può portare a casa questo preziosissimo scrigno, e conoscere in tal modo un'artista spesso trascurato e noto solo per le interpretazioni di Brahms. Ovviamente la lettura che Katchen offre di Brahms resta unica e probabilmente la migliore, ma qui vengono presentati anche un magnifico Beethoven, un profondo Mozart e un romantico Chopin, oltre a tanti altri compositori. 5 stelle meritatissime.

arrived in good condition as advertised

Perfetto !