- Paperback: 1602 pages
- Publisher: Penguin; 2008 edition (27 Sep 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0141033363
- ISBN-13: 978-0141033365
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 17.3 x 6.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
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- #62 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Music > Styles > Classical Music > Guides to Classical Music
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Product Description
Review
This is the bible for the discriminating record collector.
"The Sunday Telegraph," London
Indispensable, illuminating and comprehensive.
"The Times," London
Now more valuable than ever to any serious collector of classical music.
"The Wall Street Journal"
"The Sunday Telegraph," London
Indispensable, illuminating and comprehensive.
"The Times," London
Now more valuable than ever to any serious collector of classical music.
"The Wall Street Journal"
Product Description
This has remained the best and most successful guide to classical music for over 40 years. Fully revised by its team of eminent authors and written with wit and passion, The Penguin Guide offers reviews of all the latest releases as well as the finest established recordings. Plus the greatest historic performances; plus the major period instrument recordings; plus an in-depth survey of the best of the budget-priced CDs; plus the core collection of 100 handpicked CDs that every serious classical music fan should own. Now published annually for the first time, this book is essential reading.
‘Indispensable, illuminating and comprehensive’ The Times
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Last year's (2007) Penguin Guide was just a 'yearbook', covering new releases in the previous 12 months. This 1600 page 2008 edition is a general guide to 'the best' classical recordings from those currently available in the U.K. There are now so many classical CDs of such a high standard that the editors have had to make changes to previous editions. The main difference is that there is now a '4 star' rating for truly exceptional recordings. Also three starred recommendations now have a shaded box around them to make them stand out. There is a 'key' symbol for, er, key recordings. And there's a Rosette symbol awarded by an individual reviewer for CDs that have some special quality. I can't help but think that all these symbols will make things confusing for newcomers.
But on the plus side, the typesetting is much clearer, and the Guide is printed on better quality (though inevitably thin) paper now, making it easier to read than in the past.
As usual the reviewers are generally pretty reliable; musical judgement is of course highly subjective (I would never want Mahler conducted by Karajan; that hideous Mahler 5, more Mantovani than Mahler) but newcomers won't go wrong too often, and we seasoned collectors like to disagree from time to time. But there are some serious omissions for a Guide that was published in September 2007. The legendary recording of the Schubert String Quintet by the Aeolian Quartet with Bruno Schrecker (Regis Records, formally Saga) is missing. As is the Mahler 2nd Symphony in a stunning recording by the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Ivan Fischer (Channel Classics); a disc which has won many awards including a Gramophone 2007 Award! I could go on; I just don't understand how so many really excellent discs get missed. On the other hand, there's the occasional discovery; for me the wonderfully noble account of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony conducted by Vaclav Talich on Supraphon.
Overall, this is by far the most comprehensive guide around here in the U.K. I personally prefer the Rough Guide to Classical Music, complete with composer introductions and idiosyncratic articles, but that's very out of date now. So yes, if you want general guidance, this is a recommendable book.
And with so many classical recordings available, and still being turned out, it's reassuring to see that the death of classical music has been greatly exaggerated.
But on the plus side, the typesetting is much clearer, and the Guide is printed on better quality (though inevitably thin) paper now, making it easier to read than in the past.
As usual the reviewers are generally pretty reliable; musical judgement is of course highly subjective (I would never want Mahler conducted by Karajan; that hideous Mahler 5, more Mantovani than Mahler) but newcomers won't go wrong too often, and we seasoned collectors like to disagree from time to time. But there are some serious omissions for a Guide that was published in September 2007. The legendary recording of the Schubert String Quintet by the Aeolian Quartet with Bruno Schrecker (Regis Records, formally Saga) is missing. As is the Mahler 2nd Symphony in a stunning recording by the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Ivan Fischer (Channel Classics); a disc which has won many awards including a Gramophone 2007 Award! I could go on; I just don't understand how so many really excellent discs get missed. On the other hand, there's the occasional discovery; for me the wonderfully noble account of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony conducted by Vaclav Talich on Supraphon.
Overall, this is by far the most comprehensive guide around here in the U.K. I personally prefer the Rough Guide to Classical Music, complete with composer introductions and idiosyncratic articles, but that's very out of date now. So yes, if you want general guidance, this is a recommendable book.
And with so many classical recordings available, and still being turned out, it's reassuring to see that the death of classical music has been greatly exaggerated.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was surprised to see how critical other reviewers had been. I've been buying these Penguin Guides for many many years and despite some failings in this newest edition I still think it's an invaluable book and a very reliable overall guide to classical recordings.
True, there are some editing mistakes, but it's a huge book and I for one am willing to forgive a few foibles, given the volume's wide scope.
I'm not sure whether expanding the "star" ratings to 4 stars actually adds to the value of the ratings. Personally I've never had a problem with the ***/**/* system, especially as "half-way" ratings can be achieved by bracketing a star. The use of the Rosettes to single out recordings that really stand out or offer unique performances has always been very useful, and remains so. Inevitably, the ratings are subjective, but the pedigree of the 3 original reviewers is unparalleled in this field.
The inclusion of music DVDs in the guides in recent years has been a distinct plus, in my view. I've used the guide to start a fairly small collection of DVDs and have been delighted with the results - even played through a modest DVD player and a standard stereo TV. Events like the annual New Year's Concert in Vienna are ideal DVD candidates as you capture more of the atmosphere of the occasion than on CD. The documentaries on Sviatoslav Richter and Hildegard of Bingen are worth every penny too.
Are there "important" omissions? Yes, inevitably there are some, but we must concentrate on the wood rather than a few individual trees. Taken overall, this remains an excellent guide to relative value across a staggering range of mainly classical recordings. I for one wouldn't be without it!
True, there are some editing mistakes, but it's a huge book and I for one am willing to forgive a few foibles, given the volume's wide scope.
I'm not sure whether expanding the "star" ratings to 4 stars actually adds to the value of the ratings. Personally I've never had a problem with the ***/**/* system, especially as "half-way" ratings can be achieved by bracketing a star. The use of the Rosettes to single out recordings that really stand out or offer unique performances has always been very useful, and remains so. Inevitably, the ratings are subjective, but the pedigree of the 3 original reviewers is unparalleled in this field.
The inclusion of music DVDs in the guides in recent years has been a distinct plus, in my view. I've used the guide to start a fairly small collection of DVDs and have been delighted with the results - even played through a modest DVD player and a standard stereo TV. Events like the annual New Year's Concert in Vienna are ideal DVD candidates as you capture more of the atmosphere of the occasion than on CD. The documentaries on Sviatoslav Richter and Hildegard of Bingen are worth every penny too.
Are there "important" omissions? Yes, inevitably there are some, but we must concentrate on the wood rather than a few individual trees. Taken overall, this remains an excellent guide to relative value across a staggering range of mainly classical recordings. I for one wouldn't be without it!
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Agreed on the points made by Steve in his review. It'an overall good overview of recorded classical music, but the omissions are many and the editors still tend to ignore many fine new recordnings as well as reissues by smaller labels, the super-cheap Brilliant Classics-label being one noticable example.
The matter of taste and recommendations will never be agred upon by concensus, but there is a sometimes almost annoying bias towards certain conductors and artists.
I also think the editors may need to go over the guide and do some re-editing, and proofread and rewrite reviews. A few examples: On one page we are told that Karajan's Beethoven symphony-set from the 70's is his best, a few pages later we are told that the 60's set is his best. We are told that Barenboims highly recommended Mendelssohn "Songs without words" from 1974 has been around for 2 decades. It's 2007 now. When comparing Tchaikovsky-symphonies, the recommended Jansons-set gets a very brief description, while the Litton-set gets half-a-page. Should not the most recommended recordings receive the most space?
Overall a good effort of mostly turning old pages and adding something new, no more than that. It needs renewal of another kind than just changing the star system. 3 stars.
Personally I like the American "Third ear"-guide, outdated but generally a better reading-experience and with many fresh views.
The matter of taste and recommendations will never be agred upon by concensus, but there is a sometimes almost annoying bias towards certain conductors and artists.
I also think the editors may need to go over the guide and do some re-editing, and proofread and rewrite reviews. A few examples: On one page we are told that Karajan's Beethoven symphony-set from the 70's is his best, a few pages later we are told that the 60's set is his best. We are told that Barenboims highly recommended Mendelssohn "Songs without words" from 1974 has been around for 2 decades. It's 2007 now. When comparing Tchaikovsky-symphonies, the recommended Jansons-set gets a very brief description, while the Litton-set gets half-a-page. Should not the most recommended recordings receive the most space?
Overall a good effort of mostly turning old pages and adding something new, no more than that. It needs renewal of another kind than just changing the star system. 3 stars.
Personally I like the American "Third ear"-guide, outdated but generally a better reading-experience and with many fresh views.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
As other respondents have said
...the poor old Penguin Guide is trading on it's past glories. I don't think our erstwhile reviewers are listening too closely to the music or else the dreadful recording of... Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2008 by Bailey
Losing it's way, but is there a real alternative?
no JBJ, we music lovers can't do without the guide as there's nothing remotely comparable doing the same job. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2008 by Michael Wolff
Declining quality
This edition of the Guide is riddled with typos, errors and omissions. Some CDs are noted but not rated. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2008 by JBJ
Excellent work!
This work has been and remains an invaluable tool to consult when choosing which 'version' to purchase. It is written by a reliable and very able team. Read more
Published on 19 May 2008 by Dr. J. M. Alter
Awful disappointment
I agree completely with reviewer "JSH". I too have been buying this guide regularly for decades, and look forward to each new issue avidly, despite the ever-lengthening trail of... Read more
Published on 6 May 2008 by lawrenharris
Surprising errors and omissions
I agree with other reviewers that this is a book well worth having but, even in my limited experience, there are some surprising errors and omissions. Read more
Published on 7 April 2008 by P. H. Smith
Good, but has many faults
I agree with all the earlier reviewers. This book is valuable and on the whole fairly reliable, but badly skewed. Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2008 by Foxy Ferdinand of Bulgaria
A major, major disappointment. Rapid decline has set in
I have been buying the Penguin Review for more than 20 years. This is the worst ever. Its strength has previously been its comprehensiveness and its ability to discriminate. Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2007 by JSH
Classical Molto Assai
It would be a tough task to make a review on such an authoritative issue already so exhaustively reviewed, criticized and praised. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2007 by Joćo Viana
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