Jochum was such a magnificent conductor! He knew how to achieve a very characteristic smooth, lovely sound, without compromising pacing and rhythmic variety. I particularly love his later EMI recordings - the London Brahms cycle, the Dresden Bruckner cycle - which benefit from EMI’s very warm analog sound at the time. Great, great stuff.
Thanks to your wonderful review, I purchased this box. I am endlessly amazed by its warmth, musicality, and seamless understanding of structure. I would not have looked into it without your guidance. Thank you very much.
I heartily recommend Jochum's Bruckner 5 (live, excellent stereo recording on Tahra 661-2) with the Concertgebow from December, 1986. One of his last concerts... and a stunner. For me, it's Jochum's finest Bruckner recording, although I would not wish to be without his Dresden/EMI cycle. I remember that Jochum's concerts in Boston with the BSO in the early 70s got very mixed press (especially from Michael Steinberg, Boston Globe). Yet his BSO recordings of the Schubert Unfinished and Mozart Jupiter for DGG are indeed keenly felt, beautifully projected, and wonderfully played-- as they were (to my then college-student ears) in the live concerts preceding the recordings.
I went as a 21yo guy to this concert with Bruckner 5 in december 1986, or better, to the last one of the three. It was part of the subscription series I bought. I can still remember Jochum sitting on a bench before the orchestra, but at the end of the 4th movement he went up and the orchestra played immediately louder.
Dave, it's gratifying to come across a critic nowadays who has such enthusiasm for Eugen Jochum, a gentleman of the old school in the best sense. I think most readers/ viewers here will be familiar with the notoriously curmudgeonly reviewer on Amazon (now writing for Fanfare) who disparages Jochum at every opportunity, dismissing him as a mere Kapellmeister and hack and expressing disdain for anyone who would venture a positive opinion of any Jochum recording. Thanks for correcting the balance in Jochum's favor. I don't know Jochum's Concertgebouw Beethoven cycle as well as his earlier, mixed mono/stereo Berlin/ BRSO cycle for DG and his later LSO set, both of which I enjoy very much. (Years ago I had a couple of the Philips LPs, but by no means the full complement.) "Eloquence" is the perfect name for a line of CD reissues that includes classic recordings by the likes of Jochum, Monteux, Krips, et al.; and this box definitely is on my list of future purchases. In the meantime, I've got to go dig out a recording of the Consecration of the House Overture; I've got one lurking about somewhere. (Klemperer, if I recall correctly.) Why is that overture recorded far less often than the Coriolan, Egmont, Fidelio & the Leonores, etc.? ~ John Drexel
I know it was already mentioned, but Jochum's recordings of Bach's passions (both St. Matthew and John) on Philips are simply divine. In my opinion, they're the go-to modern instrument versions. I highly recommend listening to them. And thank you, Dave, for another fine video!
Thanks Mr H... I checked out the Jochum set on Primephonic - wow that Consecration of the House is something else; it has a real sense of occasion and as you said Handelian splendour near the end!
Dave - greetings. I think you are 100% correct re this Beethoven cycle. If lyricism is keynote, this Beethoven 6th from December 1968 is world-beater which I love to bits. Best wishes, B
I have this set, and I agree about the Beethoven symphonies. However, the Fifth just didn't cut it for me--it felt underpowered. I have had Jochum's Mozart symphonies on LP for yearsm and they are really well-done. His two recordings of the Bach Mass in B Minor (one issued here on Epic, the other on EMI) are my favorite big-band versions of this music, so much better than the lugubrious Klemperer recording.
Completely in agreement. His Beethoven Symphonies performances are excellent except the Fifth indeed. His Bruckner with the BPO in my opinion moves along more... although some of you may like Dresden better.
Eduardo Poblete de Chile, excelente director, el maestro Jochum es, sin lugar a dudas el mejor en la música de Bruckner, logra interpretar el espíritu bruckneriano como nadie.... gracias por este aporte....un abrazo fraterno
Thanks David for bringing my attention to the Eterna Jochum Haydn recordings. This via a rave review on the website. Only 4 London symphonies but my what performances. 93 stands out as one of Haydns best. 88 + 91 with the BPO also smokers.
@@shostakovich343I have a two disc set Philips released in 1995 (442 727-2) of Szell's Concertgebouw recordings. Great performance obviously of the famous Sibelius' 2nd, but also Schubert's Rosamunde, Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mozart's Symphony No.34 and an absolutely wonderful Beethoven 5th. It reminds me of Szell's famous quote about striving for perfection: "Where others have finished rehearsing, we are just beginning"
@@allthisuselessbeauty-kr7 I know the one, but it is incomplete (Dvořák 8 and Brahms 3 are missing) and has been out of print for ages. There used to be a complete "Decca Original Masters" set, but that is gone too. So before this Eloquence issue comes along, my worn-out Philips records of the Sibelius and Beethoven + Mozart 34 will have to suffice.
@@shostakovich343 much to my shame I didn't know about the Dvorak and Brahms! Perversely they also split the Mozart over two discs, but the Bitstream processing (as it was in the Philips' Monteux set) is fabulous.
You can purchase this whole set as a download (in flac) from Presto Music for 13 dollars! www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8773272--eugen-jochum-the-orchestral-recordings-on-philips
I tried to collect Jochum's Concertgebouw Beethoven Symphonies set when they appeared on individual CDs in Philip's budget Concert Classics label in the early '90s. However, in a strange marketing decision the CD containing symphonies 4 and 7 was NOT available in the U.S. I even had a Philips CD catalogue which showed the CD case and catalogue number; but stated "Not available in U.S." No idea why.
At this writing (*12/2021) the box is unavailable. Surely a sign of success for Eloquence. I suspect good business' men who love music run that while Universal is run by accountants and marketers. Amazing how they don't learn after all these years.
Jochum was such a magnificent conductor! He knew how to achieve a very characteristic smooth, lovely sound, without compromising pacing and rhythmic variety. I particularly love his later EMI recordings - the London Brahms cycle, the Dresden Bruckner cycle - which benefit from EMI’s very warm analog sound at the time. Great, great stuff.
Totally agree! Also Eugen Jochum's Beethoven cycle with the LSO on EMI is definately one of my personal favourites!
Can't get this without paying Big Bucks! Hope this will be available again.
Thanks to your wonderful review, I purchased this box. I am endlessly amazed by its warmth, musicality, and seamless understanding of structure. I would not have looked into it without your guidance. Thank you very much.
You're very welcome!
Wonderful conductor indeed and gratified that you praise him so warmly and sincerely.
I heartily recommend Jochum's Bruckner 5 (live, excellent stereo recording on Tahra 661-2) with the Concertgebow from December, 1986. One of his last concerts... and a stunner. For me, it's Jochum's finest Bruckner recording, although I would not wish to be without his Dresden/EMI cycle.
I remember that Jochum's concerts in Boston with the BSO in the early 70s got very mixed press (especially from Michael Steinberg, Boston Globe). Yet his BSO recordings of the Schubert Unfinished and Mozart Jupiter for DGG are indeed keenly felt, beautifully projected, and wonderfully played-- as they were (to my then college-student ears) in the live concerts preceding the recordings.
I went as a 21yo guy to this concert with Bruckner 5 in december 1986, or better, to the last one of the three. It was part of the subscription series I bought. I can still remember Jochum sitting on a bench before the orchestra, but at the end of the 4th movement he went up and the orchestra played immediately louder.
Dave, it's gratifying to come across a critic nowadays who has such enthusiasm for Eugen Jochum, a gentleman of the old school in the best sense. I think most readers/ viewers here will be familiar with the notoriously curmudgeonly reviewer on Amazon (now writing for Fanfare) who disparages Jochum at every opportunity, dismissing him as a mere Kapellmeister and hack and expressing disdain for anyone who would venture a positive opinion of any Jochum recording. Thanks for correcting the balance in Jochum's favor.
I don't know Jochum's Concertgebouw Beethoven cycle as well as his earlier, mixed mono/stereo Berlin/ BRSO cycle for DG and his later LSO set, both of which I enjoy very much. (Years ago I had a couple of the Philips LPs, but by no means the full complement.) "Eloquence" is the perfect name for a line of CD reissues that includes classic recordings by the likes of Jochum, Monteux, Krips, et al.; and this box definitely is on my list of future purchases.
In the meantime, I've got to go dig out a recording of the Consecration of the House Overture; I've got one lurking about somewhere. (Klemperer, if I recall correctly.) Why is that overture recorded far less often than the Coriolan, Egmont, Fidelio & the Leonores, etc.?
~ John Drexel
I know it was already mentioned, but Jochum's recordings of Bach's passions (both St. Matthew and John) on Philips are simply divine. In my opinion, they're the go-to modern instrument versions. I highly recommend listening to them. And thank you, Dave, for another fine video!
Thanks for elaborating one of my favorite Beethoven Overture.
Thanks Mr H... I checked out the Jochum set on Primephonic - wow that Consecration of the House is something else; it has a real sense of occasion and as you said Handelian splendour near the end!
Dave - greetings. I think you are 100% correct re this Beethoven cycle. If lyricism is keynote, this Beethoven 6th from December 1968 is world-beater which I love to bits. Best wishes, B
I have this set, and I agree about the Beethoven symphonies. However, the Fifth just didn't cut it for me--it felt underpowered. I have had Jochum's Mozart symphonies on LP for yearsm and they are really well-done. His two recordings of the Bach Mass in B Minor (one issued here on Epic, the other on EMI) are my favorite big-band versions of this music, so much better than the lugubrious Klemperer recording.
Completely in agreement. His Beethoven Symphonies performances are excellent except the Fifth indeed. His Bruckner with the BPO in my opinion moves along more... although some of you may like Dresden better.
Eduardo Poblete de Chile, excelente director, el maestro Jochum es, sin lugar a dudas el mejor en la música de Bruckner, logra interpretar el espíritu bruckneriano como nadie.... gracias por este aporte....un abrazo fraterno
De nada!
Thanks David for bringing my attention to the Eterna Jochum Haydn recordings. This via a rave review on the website. Only 4 London symphonies but my what performances. 93 stands out as one of Haydns best. 88 + 91 with the BPO also smokers.
I have the Jochum Beethoven Missa Solemnis which is pretty good and he did some other choral stuff on Phillips. Wonder why they are not included.
As I said, the choral works are in the DG box.
@@hectorberlioz1449 Yes, but they were already in the DG boxes.
I love the packaging on the recent Decca boxes.
I wish they'd finally reissue Szell's Concertgebouw recordings. Why on earth are those hardly available? There are some best-ever recordings in there!
It's coming from Australian Eloquence, I believe.
Lord, let it be so.
@@shostakovich343I have a two disc set Philips released in 1995 (442 727-2) of Szell's Concertgebouw recordings. Great performance obviously of the famous Sibelius' 2nd, but also Schubert's Rosamunde, Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mozart's Symphony No.34 and an absolutely wonderful Beethoven 5th. It reminds me of Szell's famous quote about striving for perfection: "Where others have finished rehearsing, we are just beginning"
@@allthisuselessbeauty-kr7 I know the one, but it is incomplete (Dvořák 8 and Brahms 3 are missing) and has been out of print for ages. There used to be a complete "Decca Original Masters" set, but that is gone too. So before this Eloquence issue comes along, my worn-out Philips records of the Sibelius and Beethoven + Mozart 34 will have to suffice.
@@shostakovich343 much to my shame I didn't know about the Dvorak and Brahms! Perversely they also split the Mozart over two discs, but the Bitstream processing (as it was in the Philips' Monteux set) is fabulous.
How is the sound on the mono recordings?
Fine.
You can purchase this whole set as a download (in flac) from Presto Music for 13 dollars! www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8773272--eugen-jochum-the-orchestral-recordings-on-philips
You've linked the wrong video on the website Insider.
Thanks! All fixed.
I tried to collect Jochum's Concertgebouw Beethoven Symphonies set when they appeared on individual CDs in Philip's budget Concert Classics label in the early '90s. However, in a strange marketing decision the CD containing symphonies 4 and 7 was NOT available in the U.S. I even had a Philips CD catalogue which showed the CD case and catalogue number; but stated "Not available in U.S." No idea why.
Yes, it was very annoying.
At this writing (*12/2021) the box is unavailable. Surely a sign of success for Eloquence. I suspect good business' men who love music run that while Universal is run by accountants and marketers. Amazing how they don't learn after all these years.
It’s a shame he didn’t record any Dvorak. I think he would have been wonderful.
Dirt cheap as a download ($10 from prestomusic.com), and mp3 sounds fine for recordings of this vintage. No booklet, though.
I just listen again your commentaries, and i misunderstood you . Sorry. You were talking of Haitink, Please , accept my excuses
Sure. No problem.