Deutsche Grammophon Centenary Collection 1898-1947

Advantages: A most powerful and unique work in the annals of music
Disadvantages: Will not appeal to the cutesy-cutesy people

...recording by Herbert von Karajan with the Berliner Philharmoniker on Deutsche Grammophon. Very much a milestone, the first movement has such amazing power that is very difficult top, the Scherzo gives the "old-fashioned" music a great sense of nostalgia, the slow movement is wonderfully spacious, so that the music has a very natural flow with plenty of space to breath, and the Finale takes you on a ride you'll never forget, keeping you with the music to the very end. It is aptly coupled with the Kindertotenlieder, and the recording overall, though it could use slightly more reverberation, is detailed and clean. (Deutsche Grammophon Originals, 2GOR2 457-716) The stressing rhetoric of Benjamin Zander's new recording with the Philharmonia is one of the most furious accounts ever made. It could use a lot less of the self... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Wonderful Recording, rich strings and great dynamics
Disadvantages: All other versions you hear will disappoint

...is the Nutcracker suite, partiularly the last track, which gets my spine tingling every time. This music is perfect for a nice quiet evening in, it's relaxing yet enaging, and will not have you falling asleep but nicely chilled out. If you are going to buy one version of these works, I would highly recommend deutsche grammophon recording, you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended. 5 stars... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great performances of popular favourites and some rare gems
Disadvantages: Barely none, with perhaps slight issues with sound.

...'t seen this around and can't comment on it too much. As part of Deutsche Grammophon's Panorama series (cheap 2 CD collections of famous and not so famous music), the recordings are generally very good, mostly performed by top ensembles like the Berliner Philharmoniker, Boston Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and Orpheus Chamber Orchestras among others, under people like Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, Daniel Barenboim and Seiji Ozawa. The recordings themselves range from the early 1960s to the late 1990s and all feature clean and well-recorded sound with minimal hiss or other distracting anomalies. With this much talent involved, you can be sure there is not much to be disappointed as far as the performances are concerned. Beginning in high style by a wonderful performance of Hugo Alfvén's Swedish Rhapsody No.1, "Midsommarvaka... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful