For the very first time, the complete studio recordings made by the iconic conductor Carlo Maria Giulini for Columbia and HMV (plus the two for Pathé and Electrola) have been remastered in high definition from original tapes and put together in a 60-CD box. Some recordings never published before are also included in the box: a Freischütz Overture from 1969, the stereo version of ‘Spring’ and ‘Summer’ Concertos from the 4 Seasons, plus a rehearsal of ‘Winter’ (1955), and excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s 5th Symphony (1962).
This wide-ranging collection provides a comprehensive testimony of Carlo Maria Giulini’s collaborations with London’s most distinguished orchestras, his beloved Philharmonia Orchestra, and the London Philharmonic, later recordings made during his legendary partnership with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra – a relationship that was marked by mutual respect and affection and resulted in some of the greatest performances in the orchestra’s history, and a few others with the orchestras from la Scala, the Royal Opera House, la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire or the Wiener Symphoniker.
The sheer quality and breadth of Giulini’s recorded legacy, including reverential and deeply felt readings of Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann, the legendary 1959’s Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro, both to the firmament, thrilling performances of overtures by Verdi and Rossini, vivid and colourful Debussy, Ravel, Falla and Stravinsky, some iconic concertos performances with the stellar Itzhak Perlman or Mstislav Rostropovich, magisterial and intensely expressive readings of Berlioz, Bruckner and Mahler, all led with the utmost flair and commitment… all this and much more makes this anthology an absolutely indispensable testimony to the art of one of the greatest conductors of our time.
Treasured by orchestral players and soloists alike for his humility and sensitivity, Carlo Maria Giulini was a consummate accompanist. As he said with his legendary humility: ‘I prefer not to say I conducted them, rather that I made music with these marvellous musicians and human beings.’
Remastering in HD 192kHz/24-bit from original tapes by Art & Son Studio
All recordings newly remastered, except CDs 18-19 remastered in 2022 (Arrau Remastered Edition), CDs 52 & 55-56 remastered in 2020 (Philharmonia Box)
Artists
Carlo Maria Giulini, Claudio Arrau (piano), Alexis Weissenberg (pianos), Itzhak Perlman (violin), Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), János Starker (cello), Montserrat Caballé (soprano), Joan Sutherland (soprano), Placido Domingo (tenor), Robert Tear (tenor), Sherill Milnes (baritone), Nicolai Ghiaurov (bass), Philharmonia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Symphoniker, Orchestra del Teatro della Scala Milan, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden
