Notable Classical Music Box Sets, February 2025

Bruno Walter Conducts Mozart & Haydn

Bruno Walter’s late recordings with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, made between 1958 and 1961 in Hollywood’s American Legion Auditorium, capture the warmth and lyricism that characterized his interpretations. This remastered collection improves upon recordings that were already of high quality, enhancing their clarity while preserving their natural acoustic.

The 6 CDs set includes Walter’s stereo recordings of Mozart’s last six symphonies (Nos. 35-41), along with overtures to Così fan tutte, Le nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte, and Der Schauspieldirektor, as well as Eine kleine Nachtmusik and the Masonic Funeral Music. Also featured are Mozart’s Violin Concertos Nos. 3 and 4 with Zino Francescatti, and two Haydn symphonies (Nos. 88 and 100).

Walter’s approach differs from later historically informed practices, favoring flowing tempos and a broader orchestral sound. His Mozart readings, in particular, highlight his ability to balance structure with expressive phrasing, making this set a compelling document of his late-period artistry.

Joshua Bell – Complete Decca Recordings

This 14-disc collection explores Joshua Bell’s early years as a recording artist, covering the first decade of his career with Decca. Signed at 19, Bell quickly established himself with a series of concerto recordings that showcased his refined technique, expressive phrasing, and versatility. His early performances of Bruch, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Wieniawski highlight a confident and charismatic musical voice, while his Kreisler Album reflects his appreciation for the violin’s lyrical and virtuosic possibilities.

Beyond the core violin repertoire, this set features Bell’s collaborations with Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Olli Mustonen, and Steven Isserlis, performing works by Chausson, Ravel, and Messiaen. His interpretations of Prokofiev’s violin concertos and sonatas, along with concertante works by Saint-Saëns, Lalo, and Bloch, add further variety. Presented with original cover artwork, this set provides a full portrait of Bell’s formative years, capturing the breadth and depth of his developing artistry.

Carlos Kleiber – Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon

Carlos Kleiber’s aversion to recording was well known—he once remarked that “every unproduced record is a good record.” Yet, the few recordings he did make remain some of the most revered in the Deutsche Grammophon catalog, reflecting his rare combination of intellectual rigor, passion, and perfectionism. This new edition compiles all of Kleiber’s recordings for the label, presented on 12 CDs and two Blu-ray Audio discs: one featuring high-resolution stereo and the other, for the first time, offering Dolby Atmos mixes.

The set includes his celebrated interpretations of Beethoven’s Fifth and Seventh Symphonies, Brahms’ Fourth, and Schubert’s Third and Unfinished Symphonies with the Vienna Philharmonic, as well as complete opera recordings of Die Fledermaus, La Traviata, Tristan und Isolde, and Der Freischütz. Kleiber’s recordings, though few, continue to captivate for their precision and expressive intensity, reaffirming his singular place in conducting history.

George Szell – The Complete Columbia Album Collection

This 106-disc collection, long recognized as a cornerstone of the recorded orchestral repertoire, is not new, but once again available. Documenting George Szell’s tenure with the Cleveland Orchestra, these recordings capture the extraordinary precision and interpretative depth that defined his approach.

Spanning 1947 to 1970, the set presents Szell’s work in both mono and stereo, including celebrated performances of Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and Haydn, alongside his definitive accounts of Dvořák and Schumann. While most of the recordings feature the Cleveland Orchestra, the collection also includes select performances with the New York Philharmonic and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra.

Szell’s meticulous attention to detail shaped the Cleveland Orchestra into one of the world’s finest ensembles, a transformation reflected in these performances. The box also features collaborations with Leon Fleisher, Rudolf Serkin, Isaac Stern, and Robert Casadesus, as well as his own recordings as a pianist. With carefully remastered sound and original cover artwork, this remains an essential release, reaffirming Szell’s enduring legacy in some of the most impeccably crafted orchestral recordings ever made.

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