Some of Barbirollis EMI recordings (and others, like Klemperer) with The Philharmonia sport some of the finest sonics ever offered. It’s crazy how so many of todays recordings don’t match those of the 60’s and 70’s.

I took the plunge and bought this because I thought you were never going to get round to reviewing it. Oh me of little faith! But I've really enjoyed it, including some of the little snippets from the 78's. And there's still plenty more to go at so it's all good. I was surprised at how well some of the 78's came up and it was fascinating to hear some of those inter war singers.

Barbirolli, Janet Baker & Mahler - Heaven!

I love Sir John Barbarolli and he will always have a special place in my musical heart. That said I don't need this box, but so happy to see it available and very well put together. Luv Dave's enthusiasm in presenting it to us. Hope people will get it and enjoy it.

As always with these large artist box reviews, I loved this video!!!

Whew! Thanks for this great, even scintillating survey. I have the box but it's been sitting here longer than it took you to actually play it. And now that I know what the turkeys are, I won't waste my time vs. those that reward close absorbed listening that I didn't already know.

Oh my. What did I get into. Not for immediately after a heavy meal, but love you ("Sir") for taking us through this Barbirolli extravaganza, not that I would ever be able to afford it or even have space for it. Now back to the Elgar box after a strong espresso.

thank you mr hurwitz for peer gynt ....my best version ( with beecham...) ....when i listen this music by barbirolli,i always fell like barbirolli tells us a story....and the voice of sheila amstrong in the solveig song is wonderfull

I have to say, Dave, I’ve always considered Elgar a “national-genius” provincial composer who is generally worth skipping, but it is singularly thanks to your presentations about Elgar and Barbirolli that I’ve finally seen the light! It wasn’t helping me that I’ve never been exposed to good performances of Elgar’s music. I’ve been going through a bunch of this Barbirolli/Elgar stuff over the past few days, and this is just a revelation for me. Maybe someday I’ll have a similar conversion with Sibelius. Just goes to show the importance of “Keep On Listening”!

In your last two entries you talked about my two favourite conductors, Barbirolli and Jochum, and I totally agree with your opinions (I would add some live recordings in those lists, that's all). I love them because their way of making music seems to be nearly extinguished. Nobody would dare today to be as shamelessly romantic and passionate as Barbirolli, they would be too afraid to have an accident if they let the orchestra soar. And Jochum was always so good-natured and spiritual, and we live in a more cynical world.

Neville Cardus was a music critic and I don’t know whether you know this,Dave, but he was a brilliant writer about cricket. He came from very humble beginnings and became a wonderful writer and critic. Cricket has been blessed by some truly wonderful writers and journalists and Cardus was one of them. I’m sorry this may not be of interest but it is worth investigating his writings about music and cricket (even if you don’t understand cricket). I admit cricket and music are two of my passions….

Great talk as usual. At 29 minutes, was that "March Slob" with the Hallé?

Great 10 you picked on CT. Glad you picked Mahler 6 instead of 5. As you say itˋs so much more special. The Alma theme-omg. 4 movemovent beginning so slowly that it barely hangs together before that trudging German march breaks through. Crazy brass sounds there. The scherzo is as nasty as Soltis in 9 ( thanks for bringing my attention to that). Also the Butterfly. The first 15 minuttes are often a snooze. ( ex Karajan as good as the rest of it is) - Barbirolli has the orchestra chomping at the bit making it exciting as hell. Always laugh at the ˋ Yankee vagabondo´ line😀 You’ve been on a rolll lately Dave. Fallen in love?

I've just been going through this box, and almost fell off my chair when I heard the Haydn 88. He not only takes the 1st mvt expo repeat but the development and recap repeat! Who else was doing that then? Especially since the old scores don't generally even show one, only the Robbins-Landon which wasn't even published until decades later.

I have many of the recordings in the box, and am not that interested in the historical recordings. I would like to have the remasterings, though that alone is not enough to encourage a purchase. That being said, you did a great susrvay of the box. When I see one of these boxes, and I have bought some, I wonder if I should have just waited!

Define doughy for me! Ha! 😅😅😅

Wow! Another behemoth box conquered! Starting with the Verdi Requiem. There are very few performances of it where all the soloists deliver. There’s always a weak link; Sutherland on the Solti, the tenor on the newest Muti in Chicago, Schwartzkopf on Giulini, or the Gergiev recording where the recording executive whose ideal it was still should be shot for putting Andrea Bocelli on a performance with Renee Fleming, Olga Borodina and D’Arcangelo. THIS Barbirolli performance has as great a quartet of soloists that was ever assembled who ALL delivered and lived up to their potential. Caballe sounds MUCH better here than she did on the Mehta/NY performance (it was a weird off day for her) and this is bar none the greatest Libera Me anyone has EVER recorded, and it should be heard for that reason alone. Vickers sings the most BEAUTIFUL hostias complete with a trill. The Pie Jesu at the end of the lacrymosa is a real ensemble, not four soloists blasting their way through it like on Reiner. It’s a much better requiem than people give credit. Whenever I’ve listened to that Otello, the problem for me was always Fischer-Dieskau, not anything Barbirolli did. Barbirolli and McCracken really do some fantastic work together in the later acts, and for serious Otello fans, this is one that is appreciated. A first choice? Of course not, but I don’t think it Barbirolli is the biggest problem. A fantastic review! Now I’m going to watch the 10 best video. Hey Free-Loaders, pay your damn $50 and subscribe!

The Butterfly with Renata Scotto and Carlo Bergonzi is the benchmark . Barbrolli and the Tome opera orchestra are absolutely superb, never bettered. The only other Butterly comparable is also with Bergonzi but this one with Renata Tebaldi.