Pablo Casals- The Original Jacket Collection

Since other reviews in this column pay hommage to this release and maestro Casals, I will focus mine on those aspects that, in my opinion, take one star out of the rating, without omitting, of course, the magnificent production values that this Original Jacket collections have had in every single release. No wonder that by the price some of them are selling, they've become true collector's items.I pressume that Casals tenure with Columbia started after WWII when he was in self-exile from franquist Spain just across the border of his beloved Catalonia, in the small town of Prades (eastern Pyrénées).Having explored his EMI recordings, it is worth admitting that Casals was passing his prime rapidly from 1950 onward, and witnessed in some recordings heard here. The Concerto at the White House, in front of the Kennedys, is more a memento than a true artistic utterance (although the El cant des ocells, warts and all, comes emotionally from the deepest place of the cellist gut).The other point you should take into account is the tendency of the maestro for groaning. No, this is not Glenn Gould singing along; these are guttural noises with no explainable reason. OK, they don't happen enough to dimish the overall apreciation, but it becomes then a matter of tolerance. If you are a perfectionist that likes its music pristine, forget it.Those caveats aside, I do not regret acquiring this set. The sound is pretty good, even for the 1950s (in fact, the less adequate sound comes from the White House's '61 live recital). I also have to mention my surpirse with Schumann's Cello Concerto performance. It has a life that I have not found in any other renderings. Grunts and all, a winner in my book.in summary, if you love the cello, or admire the musicianship of Pau Casals and want to invest in a true collector's item, go for it. At the current prices, it's a winner.

I bought this collection inspired by a cello player who told me marvels about Casals.I have always been a passionate Rostropovich fan and always Casals due to my strong dislike of his "Cant dels Ocells", a traditional catalan song to which Mr. Casals was strongly attached and we can find in two different recordings in this collection. sorry, I do hate that song. And Spanish/Catalan medias only play this super-boring song when referring to Casals. I am entitled to say this because I am a Catalan myself.After hearing these recordings, I have been very pleasantly surprised by Casals, especially with his interpretations of Beethoven. I would take as an example the "Archduke". I have heard excellent versions by other composers (of Casals' time, of course....nobody plays like the great interpreters of that time) but this I really loved. The way he transmitted his interpretation of the masterpiece to the other musicians is outstanding, the whole piece breathing with a soft rythmic style that actually owes a lot to Casals' cello. Admirable.Just skip the Cant dels Ocells. Otherwise you will learn to hate it like me. There is actually plenty of much better music to listen in this very interesting collection.I have not rated with the 5 stars because in the first Bach solo pieces I still miss Rostropovich. Of course this is only a personal opinion.Buy it and enjoy!

I enjoy Sony's Original Jacket Collection sets, and own several. This entry, devoted to the work of Pablo Casals, is one of the finest in the series. The production values of the set are outstanding, with a collection of 10 cds, each replicating the cover of an LP as originally issued.Although the oldest of these recordings dates from 1950 at the Prades Festival, the sound on these cds is remarkable. Casals was a masterful cellist, and these recordings demonstrate why. The recordings feature some of the standard repertoire for cello, including pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Haydn. A wonderful bargain at full price, and an astonishing deal at the discounted rate currently available.

He package came a day earlier than expected. It was very well wrapped and I was pleased with the whole, easy ordering process. The music is beyond comparison... I bought it as a birthday present for my husband and we thoroughly enjoy it.

PABLO CASALS: THE ORIGINAL JACKET COLLECTION is a stellar set of 10 of Casals original Columbia LP recordings on 10 CDs, each in a Mini-LP Cover from the original LP. One of the frustrating things about the online description is that there has been no listing of which albums are included. Here is a listing of the original Columbia LP numbers, titles and composers:COLUMBIA ML 4349 PRADES FESTIVAL 1950 - BACHCOLUMBIA ML 4350 PRADES FESTIVAL 1950 - BACHCOLUMBIA ML 4560 PERPIGNAN FESTIVAL 1951 - BEETHOVENCOLUMBIA ML 4562 PERPIGNAN FESTIVAL 1951 - BEETHOVENCOLUMBIA ML 4715 PRADES FESTIVAL 1951 - SCHUBERTCOLUMBIA ML 4719 PRADES FESTIVAL 1952 - BRAHMSCOLUMBIA ML 4876 PRADES FESTIVAL 1953 - BEETHOVENCOLUMBIA ML 4878 PRADES FESTIVAL 1953 - BEETHOVENCOLUMBIA ML 4926 PERPIGNAN FESTIVAL 1951 - SCHUMANN, TRAD. ARRANGED BY CASALS, BACH, HAYDN, DE FALLACOLUMBIA KL 5726 A CONCERT AT THE WHITE HOUSE - 1961 - MENDELSSOHN, COUPERIN, SCHUMANN, TRAD. ARRANGED BY CASALSThe playing and the sound throughout is masterful. Casals is featured in duos and trios, with the exception of ML 4926 where he is featured with the Prades Festival Orchestra and the Perpignan Festival Orchestra.I have listened to other Casals sets, particularly the unreleased Prades Festival tracks, and I find this set to be heads and shoulders above the others.Although this set sells for $61.98, you can purchase it on Amazon.de (germany) for $38 including shipping!

ホワイトハウスコンサートがほしくて、国内盤の一枚よりもやすくたくさんのCDが聞けました。カザルスってすごいですね。魂でひいてるみたい。

Hmm, ich muss meinem Vorreferenten widersprechen. Diese Aufnahme machen mir viel Freude. Ohne Frage, Casals ohne ein wenig rauschen gibt es nicht ... Dafuer sind die Aufnahmen zu alt (obwohl diese beiweitem "angenehmer" sind als die Emi-Aufnahmen aus den 20ern). Fuer mich ist und bleibt Casals der spannenste der Cellisten ... Du Pre, Yo yo Ma, Rostropovich und Maisky gibt es besser aufgenommen, aber eben nicht mit der Kraft eines Casals. Bevor man diese CDs nicht mehr bekommt, unbedingt kaufen!

Für Casals gilt nichts anderes als für Fournier. Eigentlich ist das Ärgernis noch grösser. Ironisch könnte ich schreiben, an den Originalaufnahmen hat man nichts verändert,aber nicht einmal das stimmt. Denn man kann sich nicht vorstellen, dass diese von 60 Jahren so schlecht geklungen haben, so verrauscht und durch andere Verzerrungen beeinträchtigt.Die Box ist nicht teuer, aber was hat man von einer Box voll verrauschter Aufnahmen?Die Interpretationen, deren Wahrnehmung deutlich beeinträchtigt sind, waren teilweise längst bekannt und gewürdigt, wie etwa das Zusammenwirken von Serkin und Casals bei den Beethovensonaten.Manche, wie die genannten sind ausgezeichnet, andere, wie etwa das Brahms-Trio op. 8 nicht so besonders, dass man das Rauschen und andere Verzerrungen der Interpretation wegen ertragen wollte. Myra Hess spielt sehr dezent, wenn man an Nikolas Angelich denkt oder den wunderbaren Christian Zacharias, kann man auf diese Aufnahme verzichten.Enttäuscht und verärgert.Selbst die geringe Summe war zu hoch.

The set came in time, in Perfect condition! The set was more than I expected. Historical recordings but as fresh as yesterday's with that great Catalan Virtuoso. A promise of many hours of repeating pleasure for me and my friends ears and soul.

Reproducciones habituales, con la curiosidad de oir el concierto que realizó en la Casa Blanca. Lo recomendaria por su buen precio.