Itzhak Perlman: The Complete Warner Recordings

Itzhak Perlman (REVIEWS BELOW) was born in Tel Aviv on 31st August 1945 to a Polish Jewish family. He was drawn to the violin from the age of three, but when he was four, he contacted polio, thus losing the use of his legs. Despite his handicap, he began learning the violin a year later. Barenboim states "I've known Itzhak since we were children- we were neighbours in Tel Aviv. The courage with which he's faced his disability is truly extraordinary-so many people told him it would be impossible to be a professional musician if he couldn't perform standing up". Gidon Kremer wrote "Itzhak's sweet sound and warm attitude allowed him to send out an important message to the World, underlining in music how beautiful life is, must and can be. In otherwords, Never give up! Be strong enough to share beauty with others". He has organised various initiatives Worldwide for disabled people. Perlman plays sitting down, when he walks he uses crutches and has become the most beloved and admired violinist still living.BOX SET:This ultramarine blue tough cardboard box, has a lid that covers it. Approximately 12 inches across and 8 inches wide and tall, exactly like the Warner Red Maria Callas remastered box set. But I shall assume that you do not own or have seen that set. Along the sides is Perlman's signature in orange. Blue and orange in artistic terms are complementary colours, that means a lot of thought has gone into this set. Inside the box are two compartments, one side with the first 24 ADD (STEREO) CDs, the other DDD (Digital) CDs. The floor is slanted so the sleeves go from low to high, so you can view them all at once. Also included is a black thick rubber block to protect the sleeves from the lid. On the spine of the cardboard sleeve are the composer's, music, conductor or piano accompanist and CD number. The front has the original album artwork, with music played and artists, plus orchestra. On the back is the CD number and composer, track numbers plus music to be played. The background reflects the colour of each of the CDs and each of their paper sleeves, with CD number, music to be played and Track numbers. The colours are as varied as the paint on a artists palette. One sleeve can hold 2-3 CDs, which does away with a folding sleeve. Those sleeves are fatter then the single disc sleeve. The CDs are easy to retrieve. Also included in each sleeve is a booklet with information about the composer and the history of the music. Translated into English, German and French. There are 77 CDs in the box set, although there are 59 sleeves. The recordings are taken from the recordings Perlman made for EMI Classics, Erato and Teldec Classics over a period of 30 years.SOUND: This is an important feature and reviewers take time to find out as much as we can about the sound, which you the reader will wish to know about. 24 sleeves are ADD, the rest DDD. According to each stereo booklet they have been digitally remastered. The digital sleeves booklet do not mention this. Well, on the DDD complete Beethoven piano trio's they do mention that it has been remastered. Published 1982 and 1986. However, the details on the information page, attached to the box set via the plastic covering states "New transfers from the original master tapes, made at Abbey Road studios using 24 bit 96kHz remastering." This is the exact wording that was used about the Maria Callas Remastered box which everyone raved about, including me. However, it may mean only the analogue ADD CDs have been remastered, yet the DDD recordings have good sound and three CDs which have been remastered.BOOK: At the back of the box set is a space created for the ultramarine blue hard covered book. Inside are pictures in black and white and colour, tributes for Perlman's 70th Birthday. Biography. Interview with Perlman. Notes on the discography. Complete discography of Perlman. Next to the recordings in the box under the composers name is the CD number in red. However, sometimes there is no red number and that means the recordings are not in the box, such as the Decca Beethoven works for piano and violin, with Perlman and Ashkenazy. Translated into English, French and German. Is the hype and spin about this box just that? NO! For you get an overview of Perlman's playing across all sorts of musical disciplines.RECORDINGS:Placed in the order they are in the box set, with a few comments from me and the Gramophone and Penguin Classical year books.PAGANINI:(1972) Violin Concerto No 1. SARASATE: Carmen Fantasy. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Cond Foster. Offers both dazzling brilliance and enticing lyricism. Perlman produces a gleaming rich tone with warmth. Carmen fantasy played with panache, with lustrous tone. Penguin guide gave both works a rosette which means they are excellent.J.S BACH: (1972) (1975) Double Violin Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1043. Perlman and Zuckerman are inspired to give a magic performance of this work, one in which their artistry is beautifully matched in all its intensity. The slow movement has rarely sounded so ravishing on record. The Violin Concerto in E major BWV 1042. Perlman is most impressive in the slow movement. Violin concerto in G minor, arranged from the F minor Harpsichord concerto. Violin concerto in A minor, BWV 1041. Perlman plays Bach with great naturalness of feeling and his account of this concerto can scarcely be faulted. The D minor Concerto BWV 1052. Slow movements are eloquent. Concerto for violin and oboe in C minor, BWV 1060. Neil Black is the distinguished oboist in this work. Barenboim with the English Chamber orchestra is sympathetic.PAGANINI:(1972) 24 Caprices. There is a specific technical challenge in these pieces, from which Perlman emerges triumphant but also tells a story with every piece. WIENIAWSKI: (1973) Violin Concerto Nos 1 & 2. London Symphony Orchestra cond Ozawa. The second concerto is memorable, but the first but the central Preghiera is darkly intense, and the finale is full of the showmanship. Perlman gives scintillating performances, full of flair. MENDELSSOHN: (1973) Violin concerto in E minor. Penguin classical Guide 1977 writes that this is a first recommendation. BRUCH: Violin Concerto No 1. Many violinists have recorded this pairing, but Perlman with his romantically soaring line and unfailing sense of poetry, ensures that his interpretations are both inimitable and irreplaceable. London Symphony Orchestra cond Previn.BARTOK: (1974) Violin Concerto No 2. London symphony Orchestra cond Previn. Gramophone states that this recording is a classic. As a performance it has never been surpassed. Penguin Classical Guide 1977, this is a superb performance, totally committed and full of youthful urgency.ENCORES:(1974) Perlman has enchanted audiences with the dazzling and dlicious encore pieces that top off his recitals. Here are a lavish selection of his favourite miniatures. Kreisler, Sarasate, Debussy, Tartini, Rachmaninov Vocalise, Paganini Sonata No 12. Foster, Jeanie with the light brown hair. Piano Samuel Sanders.(1937-1999) Perlman's accompanist of choice from 1966-1999. He taught for three decades at the Julliard school where he pioneered the Masters degree for Collaborative Pianists. However, an early champion for piano accompanists rights was English Pianist Gerald Moore. Then Sanders took up the cause, and introduced the term "collaborative pianist". He paved the way for solo pianists to collaborate like Barenboim, Ashkenazy and Argerich. Perlman feels its about a team. Someone who is pleasant to work with, apart from being a great pianist.DVORAK:(1975) Violin Concerto in A minor, Romance in F minor. London Symphony orchestra cond Barenboim. In this recording both in warmth and virtuosity he comes very close to the Czech master Suk. And was considered a clear first choice by the Penguin guide in 1977. SAINT- SAENS: (1975) Introduction& Rondo capriccioso. Havanaise. Plays these pieces with splendid panache and virtuosity CHAUSSON: Poeme. What a glorious and inspired piece it is when played with such feeling. RAVEL. Tzigane.A brilliant account. Amazing! Orchestre de Paris cond Jean Martinon, who played the violin himself.JOPLIN:(1975) The Ragtime dance. The easy winners. Bethena-a concert waltz. magnetic rag. The strenuous life. The entertainer. Elite syncopations. solace. Pineapple rag. sugar cane. Perlman violin. Andre Previn he had been a jazz pianist. These are Joplin's most naggingly haunting rags. this is very much Previn's country, and his rhythmic zest infects his brilliant partner. STRAVINSKY:(1976) Divertimento is arranged from movements of the Tchaikovsky-inspired ballet the Fairy's kiss. Suite Italienne was arranged from the Pergolesi-based ballet Pulcinella. All this music Perlman plays with warmth and understanding, and the achievement in the Duo concertante, which has often seemed a dry work, is particularly remarkable. Bruno Canino makes a sympathetic partner.KREISLER:(1976) Original compositions and arrangements. Scarcely a single violinist of Perlman's stature has recorded more of Fritz Kreisler's compositions-barring Kreisler himself. If for generations of music-lovers Casals was the iconic representative of the cello, or Caruso of the voice, Kreisler was the violinist. Never in history has a violinist been so cherished by audiences and admired by his peers. Indeed for half a century this was the case, yet he left no heir which left a void. He was an innovator in matters of tone and expression. Piano Sanders VIVALDI:(1976) The four seasons. Perlman violin and direction. London Symphony Orchestra.BRUCH: (1977) Scottish Fantasy. Violin Concerto No 2. New Philharmonia orchestra Cond Jesus Lopez-Cobos. Superlative playing from Perlman invests the first movement of the second violin concerto with such warmth that it compares with the more famous No 1. His rendition of the Scottish fantasy is wholly delectable. Given a Rosette for excellence by Penguin Guide 1977. BRAHMS:(1977) Violin Concerto. Chicago Symphony Orchestra cond Giulini. Both capture the spirit of the piece. Perlman's playing of the slow movement is beautiful.DUETS for two Violins:(1977) Perlman and Zukerman. LECLAIR: Sonata No 5. WIENIAWSKI: Etudes-Caprices,op 18. HANDEL: Passacaglia in G minor. SPOHR: Duo Concertante in D major. GOLDMARK:(1977) Violin Concerto No 1 in A minor. The concerto is beautifully played by Perlman. This is very charming and likeable music, and Perlman plays it winningly. SARASATE: Zigeunerweisen. VIEUXTEMPS:(1978) Violin Concerto No 4 & 5. Orchestra de Paris cond Barenboim. The fifth is the most frequently performed of the two and Perlman is authentic and flamboyant. TCHAIKOVSKY:(1979) Violin Concerto in D major. Serenade melancolique. Philadelphia orchestra cond Ormandy. Ormandy is very energetic and Perlman brings sensitivity to his interpretation. The finale is exhilarating.PERLMAN & ZUCKERMAN PLAY MUSIC FOR TWO VIOLINS:(1981) MOSZKOWSKI Suite for two violins & piano. SHOSTAKOVICH: Three violin duets. PROKOFIEV: Sonata for two violins. BARTOK 44 duos. Samuel Sanders piano.SIBELIUS:(1980) Violin Concerto. SINDING: Suite in A minor. Pittsburgh symphony Orchestra cond Previn. Perlman plays the concerto as a full blooded virtuoso showpiece. He underlines the slow movements passion and gives us an exhilarating finale. BRAHMS:(1980) Concerto for violin and Cello. Perlman and Rostropovich cello. Concertgebouw Orchestra cond Haitink. Powerful and sincere.THE SPANISH ALBUM:(1980) DE FALLA: Suite populaire espagnole. GRANADOS: Andaluza 12 danzas espanolas. SARASATE: Habanera. Playera. Habanera. Malaguena. Caprice Basque. A DIFFERENT KIND OF JAZZ:(1980) Two Albums of jazz composed by Previn. Perlman Violin, previn Piano. Shelly manne drums. Jim Hall guitar. Red Mitchell bass. The BAROQUE ALBUMS:(1981) Oboe Quartets & trio Sonatas. Mozart Quartet k 370. STAMITZ: Quartet in E flat major. J.C BACH Quartet in B flat major. VANHAL Quartet in F major. C.P.E BACH Trio Sonata in G major. J.C BACH: Trio Sonata in B flat major. J. G GOLDBERG: Trio Sonata in C major. Perman, Zuckerman, Still oboe, Harrell cello. Eddy Cello Sanders Harpsichord. This is new territory for Perlman. TCHAIKOVSKY:(1981) Piano trio in a minor. A tribute yo a friend and mentor Nikolai Rubinstein who had died in 1881. Ashkenazy piano, Perlman violin, Harrell cello.KORNGOLD:(1981) Violin Concerto. Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra cond Previn. Perlman finds extra tenderness in the slow movement. As a child Korngold had impressed Mahler and had been taught by Zemlinsky, before seeking refuge in the US from the Nazi regime. Although he was a gifted film composer, he continued to develop his melodic gifts in his own classical idiom, after all he had written the opera Todt stadt when a young man. The violin concerto was dedicated to Alma Mahler and Heifetz gave the Premiere of the violin concerto in 1947. BEETHOVEN:(1981) Violin Concerto. Philharmonia orchestra cond Giulini. Perlman describes this concerto as a journey that will last you for the rest of your life and is among the greatest masterpieces, yet you cannot hide behind this work. In this magnificent recording conducted with Nobility by Giulini, Perlman's playing is fearless and beautiful. The slow movement is almost as good as Schniederhan's version.PROKOFIEV:(1982) Violin Concerto No 1 & 2. BBC Symphony Orchestra Cond Rozhdestvensky. This conductor had already recorded the first concerto in 1967 and the second with Szeryng in 1965, and so Perlman felt his experience in this repertoire was second to none. One can see this in these concerto's. KHACHATURIAN:(1984) Violin concerto. TCHAIKOVSKY: Meditation op 42 No 1. Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Cond Metha. In the concerto Perlman is superb in every way, lyrically persuasive in the Andante and displaying great fervour and rhythmic energy in the finale. J.S BACH. (1984) Violin Concerto in D Minor BWV 1052R. Concerto for violin and Oboe BWV 1060. Violin Concerto in g minor BWV. 1056. Perlman violin and direction. Ray Still oboe. Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. VIVALDI:(1984) The four Seasons(2nd version in this set) also. RV 199 "Il sospetto"., RV 317. RV 356.RV 347. MENDELSSOHN:(1984) Violin concerto in E minor. BRUCH: Violin concerto No 1. Concertgebouw cond Haitink. (The first version in this set is the best).BRAHMS:(1985) Violin Sonata No 1-3. Ashkenazy piano. They both bring out the trouble-free happiness of these lyrical inspirations. The Gramophone praises Perlman's seemingly endless flow of full blooded lyricism. Both artists play with a depth of identification with the idiom that makes the performances distinctive. DVORAK:(1985) Sonatina in G major, op 100. SMETANA: from my homeland. DVORAK: Four Romantic pieces, op 75. Samuel Sanders piano. Perlman's readings are irreproachable characterised by golden tone and wholehearted response to every romantic gesture. BEETHOVEN:(1986) Complete piano trios. Ashkenazy piano. Perlman violin and Lynn Harrellcello. Recorded over five years from 1979-1984. The playing is unfailingly perceptive and full of musical insights that make you want to return to the set. KLEZMER:(1987 CD 1) (1995 CD 2) (1996 CD 3) Traditional Jewish melodies. Israel Philharmonic orchestra cond Dov Seltzer. In the fiddler's house. Live in the fiddler's house. The Klezmer conservatory Band. The Klezmatics. Perlman's parents were from Poland and in these albums he explores the secular music of Eastern Europe's Jews. The harmonies fuse elements of Slavic, Balkan, Greek and Turkish music and even in its American evolution- even Jazz.BRUCH:(1988) Scottish Fantasy. Violin Concerto No 2. Israel Philharmonic Orchestra cond Metha. This is the second version in this set and is not as good as the first. BEETHOVEN:(1989) Violin Concerto. Romance No 1-2. The first version in this set was more spiritual, this version has a different approach, but is still good. Berlin Philharmonic Cond Barenboim. A TRIBUTE TO HEIFETZ:(1989) A selection of 20 of the master's 150 transcriptions or arrangements.Samuel Sanders-piano. Perlman says that Heifetz created a tradition for himself. SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin concerto No 1. GLAZUNOV:(1989) Violin concerto in A minor. Perlman performs live before an audience which ends in a ovation. Gramophone describes Perlman's interpretation of Glazunov richly lyrical concerto as " irresistable"LIVE IN RUSSIA:(1990) TCHAIKOVSKY: violin concerto given live in Leningrad. Totally different to the Ormandy version in this box set. The slow movement is sensitively played and the final swift. Israel Philharmonic Orchestra cond Metha. Then there is the recital he had given a few days earlier in Moscow's famous Tchaikovsky Hall. He announces each piece to the audience and at the end they go beserk. TARTINI: Violin Sonata " Devil's Trill". KREISLER: Liebesleid. PROKOFIEV: March. The love for three Oranges.arr Heifetz. BLOCH Nigun Baal shem. WIENIAWSKI: Caprice in A minor. TCHAIKOVSKY: Andante cantabile. BAZZINI: La Ronde des lutins. Piano Janet Guggenheim. TOGETHER:(1991) Placido Domingo & Itzhak Perlman. The new York studio Orchestra. Conducted and arranged by Jonathan Tunick. TOSELLI Serenata. PONCE: Estrellita. MASSENET: Elegie. KREISLER: The old refrain. OFFENBACH: Barcarolle. TOSTI: Ideale. TRAD Danny Boy. HANDEL: Ombra mai fu serse. ROMBERG: SERENADE The Student Prince. TCHAIKOVSKY: None but the lonely heart.BEETHOVEN:(1992) Complete String trios. 1-5. Perlman-violin. Zuckerman viola. Lynn Harrell Cello. live recordings made in New York. They exude intense, youthful energy. BRAHMS: (1992)Violin Concerto. Berlin Philharmonic cond Barenboim. The slow movement is tender and the final swift. Second recording of this concerto. The Giulini version is a classic. THE AMERICAN ALBUM:(1995) BERNSTEIN: Serenade. BARBER: Violin Concerto. The slow movement is haunting and lyrical. FOSS Three American pieces. Boston Symphony orch cond Ozawa A LA CARTE:(1995) MASSENET: Meditation(Thais). GLAZUNOV: Mazurka. RACHMANINOV: Vocalise. GLAZUNOV: Meditation. TCHAIKOVSKY: Scherzo. The Abbey Road Ensemble cond Foster.BEETHOVEN:(1995) Triple Concerto. Perlman. Yo Yo Ma. Barenboim. With such starry soloists, it is not surprising that these are strongly characterized, spontaneous sounding performances which compel attention. Choral fantasia Barenboin conveys the impression of a Beethovenian improvisation. Berlin philharmonic. BEETHOVEN:(1999) Violin Sonata no 9 "Kreutzer". FRANCK: Violin sonata in A major. Perlman and Argerich-piano. I prefer the Decca Ashkenazy Perlman versions. THE ERATO AND TELDEC RECORDINGS:(1993) STRAVINSKY: Violin concerto in D. PROKOFIEV: Violin Concerto No 2. Passionate and beautiful, possibly more then the Rozhdestvensky version in this box set. Chicago Symphony orchestra. Cond Barenboim. MOZART: (2002) Violin Concerto No 3.K216. Adagio and Fugue in C minor K 546. Symphony No 41 k 551. "Jupiter".Swift tempi. Perlman violin and direction. Berlin Symphony.This should give you an idea of the broad scope of Perlman's interests in music and most of what is in this box.VOTES: 22 out of 23. US and Brit Amazon have not replaced my votes during the changes. Brit Amazon refuses to do anything.

Beautiful collection of beautiful pieces from the world's best violinist. I love this set.

excellent

Wonderful collection

Beautifull !

I realize this "complete" box isn't really complete after all, which might not constitute a surprise nowadays...my favorite Schön Rosmarin, the only one featured in the previous 20 CD (in jewel cases) "Perlman Collection" from 1995, somehow isn't included here. Only the 1975 account with Samuel Sanders & 1995 orchestral versions are in this box. The 1985 version that accompanied me throughout the previous 22 years, seemingly isn't to be found - corroborated by the very discography accompanying this issue:1985 account listed, but no volume number assigned to it.If anyone found it somewhere here, please kindly inform me. Otherwise I am content to live with my beloved blue box, side by side with the new "complete" - is Warner trying to avoid unnecessary duplication? isn't complete editions meant to be all-inclusive? It could act as a bonus on many of the discs on top of the original contents. Any Perlman ediiton should have room to accomodate 3 Schön Rosmarin's, recorded in each of the 3 key decades of his EMI days (they all land on the year finishing with 5 too, 1975, 1985, 1995) - to me one of his signature pieces, lasting less than 2 minutes, yet what gem!To me, the analogue version included here is more close-up than the 1985 version, with Perlman's breathing sound more audible - the 1985 version being the more "generous" in straight forward manner, less "stop n go", all against the deep silence of digital recording background - violin sound there has more density & richer dynamics than 1975 here.Both are lovely renditions but rather distinctly different, at least for my ear, through my McIntosh.Maybe Warner could add it on the 2nd batch of releases.Five Star nevertheless.

Box stupendo dedicato a un musicista strepitosamente eccezionale. Non mi dilungo sulla qualità delle incisioni poiché il Maestro Perlman è una pietra miliare del violino e può sedere degnamente fra gli assi di questo strumento come Heifetz e Menuin.Ciò che mi ha colpito è qualità del box: stupende copertine degli originali pubblicati all'epoca, note esplicative in ogni cd, libro con foto e lunga intervista. Tanta sostanza dentro un bellissima veste: il tutto, particolare di assoluto rilievo, ad un prezzo veramente ottimo.

作業用BGMとして詞が邪魔しないクラシックを流すことが多くなり、他の演奏家のバイオリンを聞いていたら無性にパールマンが聞きたくなって、amazonで全集を探して本商品を見つけた。正直、2万6千円という金額は痛いので小一時間迷ったが、天災や感染症でいつ死んでもおかしくない現代、「買うなら今」と決心して購入した。本品は2015年、パールマン70歳を記念してワーナークラシックの全レコードを、CD77枚組59アルバムにまとめたもの。1970年代の古い録音はデジタルリマスタリングされている。まだCDが無かった約40年前、私はLP盤でクライスラー名曲集を1枚ずつ3枚買っていたが、本品では3CDで1アルバムになっていた。LPからCDに時代が移り、CDの音が硬質で少し薄っぺらいと感じてパールマンのCDを1枚も買わなかった私にとって、レコードプレーヤーが壊れてLPが聞けない今、音質面を含めて本品はピッタリだった。私はバイオリニストの中でパールマンが一番好きだ。どんな速弾きでも音程を外さず音を省かない正確性と安定感、情感溢れる旋律、そして何より一音一音の艶やかさ。本品を聞いて、やはりパールマンは最高だと思った。チャイコフスキーのバイオリン協奏曲ニ長調、ツゴイネルワイゼン、四季、クライスラー名曲集、スパニッシュレパートリーなどは良く知っていたが、初めて知った曲も多かった。クラシックファンの方々には笑われちゃうが、J.S.バッハ、ベートーベン、ブラームスにこれほど多くの魅力的なバイオリン曲があるとは思わなかった。共演者・指揮者は超一流。盟友バレンボイム、サミュエル・サンダース、アシュケナージ、プレヴィン、小澤征爾（すみません。選曲が肌に合わず）、ズーカーマン、リン・ハレル、ヨーヨー・マ、アルゲリッチ等々。テノールのドミンゴとの掛け合いや、曲目が進むにつれて観客が熱狂していくロシアのライブ、ピーターと狼のナレーター役など、ニヤリとさせられる演目もある。10年位経って再録している曲も複数あり、聞き比べするのも楽しいと思う（私は通しで1回聴いただけなので、偉そうなことは言えず）。聞き惚れるもよし、作業用BGMとして流すもよし、買って良かった。CD一枚当たり約340円は、抜群のコストパフォーマンスだと思う。[追記]私が2万6千円で購入したのは6/18だが、7/22現在、価格が2万3千円に下がっている。悔しい反面、更にお得になっているので、多くの人に聴いて貰えたらと思う。

wow what a bunch of great tunes we got here. i guess i know about 30 to 40 of them. and of those 25 are in the last few months with my box set buying spree. so this arrived last night on the porch. i discovered it upon returning home from dinner. i was beat and drowsy so i went to bed. now i am on disc three. anything worth doing is worth overdoing so i have headphones on. the good kind that make it impossible for any outside noise. in this. overdoing mood i expect to have this all listened to in two weeks tops. this is going to be quite the hoot. i had already bought the other 25 disc set and liked that one .bunches. so this classical music is fun stuff and this guy is my violin guy. thanks to the music labels for the collaboration. mr Perlman thanks for all the beautiful music and projecting your love of playing in each note. and amazon for great chances to get this music.

Itzhak Perlam is arguably the best violinist of the recording age. There have been violinists who are flashier, who are technically more exact, and who are perhaps more of a character, but Perlman has spent his whole life immersed in music, and I've spent all my adult life listening to him on LP, CD, and (lucky me!) in concert quite a few times, most notably a few years ago. With Perlman turning 7-, Warner has released this box of all the recordings Perlman did for Warner-related labels (EMI, Teldec and Erato) in his 30-plus years with those labels. Note that this isn't his complete discography: there are boxes available of his work with other labels, too. But the majority, by far, were for Warner.The box that arrived on my doorstep on release day is impressive. It's a deep blue colour, and removing the large slip-down top reveals two rows of CD in a lovely cantilevered arrangement, showing the spines and a hint of front-label colour. Sitting on top is a wedge of foam to keep the box square, as well as a 96-page hard-cover book looking at Perlman himself, as well as his recordings for Warner. The CDs total 77 total, each featuring the original LP art on the cover (which brings back memories of a youth spent collecting LPs, and always looking for Perlman). Each of these CDs has been remastered, updated to 24-bit 96kHz. The difference between the original CD and these remastered versions are audible, although less so on some. For early recordings the difference is significant and brings a life to the recording that was lacking from earlier CD reissues. Comparing the remastered CDs to LP shows much the same: the remastering brings out the music better than some of the LPs did, some of which now sound restrained and laid-back in comparison. To the engineers at Abbey Road who did the remastering: excellent job!Of course, most people will jump into a box like this and listen to the big violin concertos, which Perlman does as well as (or better) than anyone. For me, the fun part was finding the more obscure discs of music, things I either forgot about or didn't have on LP. And there's quite a variety of music here. Yes, I have over two dozen recordings of the Beethoven, Brahms, and so on...but only one of the Tedesco No 2. After wading through all of these CDs in a marathon long weekend, the one disc I listened to more than any is the Paganini Caprices, which is definitive for me.There's a treasure trove of recordings here, all honouring one of the greatest violinists of our times. It's a fitting tribute to Perlman, but more than that a lovely treasure for us collectors and music fans. The remastering of the recordings means that even if you have some of this music already on CD, you won't regret picking up this box for the better audio quality of the remasters. And while the box price is significant, with so many discs it's a bargain.

Coffret luxueux, livre(t) de même, commentaires de Jean-Michel Molkhou fort intéressants.77 CD répartis en 59 volumes. Pochettes en carton fort contenant le/les CD(s) et la critique explicative de J-M Molkhou. La musique est merveilleuse (il y a 3 ou 4 CD de musique plutôt contemporaine qui ne me plaisent pas; mais c'est affaire de gôut). Je n'entrerai pas dans les détails car d'autres acheteurs l'ont fait bien mieux que je ne pourrais le faire. Je recommande sans restriction aucune ce merveilleux ensemble à tous les amateurs de violon et... aux autres également.