Toscanini Collection [Box set]

I've just received it. As usual Amazon refuses to supply a contents list, and I'm not going to either. But having read other suppliers' accounts of what there is in the box, I have to say that, contrary to some claims, there is NO previously unpublished material whatever, and what you get is simply a complete reissue of the "Toscanini Collection" series of the late 1990s, which saw RCA re-reissuing the material Toscanini recorded with the NBC symphony and Philadelphia orchestras in the 1940s and early 50s, the 78 rpm issues of his recordings of the late 1930s with the BBC symphony orchestra issued by HMV at the time ( none of the material now on Testament from the BBC is there, and it seems that the Sony advance material claimed these were the "previously unissued" BBCSO items - typical promotional carelessness) and the RCA-issued 78s of the NYPSO of the 1930s, together with the acoustics they made at the start of the 1920s from his visit with the La Scala orchestra. Since no particular date in the Toscanini career seems to be up for celebration, one suspects that what the current owners of the material are doing is extending the copyright - already generous in the US, by a further decade or two, courtesy of a newly hacked booklet and a DVD. Can't really complain about that - Stravinsky did it in the US for his own scores sixty years ago, but he can't be blamed for what media corporations can get out of the US Government.

If you are new to Toscanini, be prepared for variable sound quality. Given the quality of RCA's handling of this difficult genius, which was almost entirely geared to maximum sales exploitation at minimum cost, if copyright depended on respect for the material and its purchaser, RCA should have been stripped of any rights in these recordings long ago. But in the real world, and in certain of these issues, they have made a serious effort at remediation - again, though, at minimum cost. The technology of this set is two decades old - which means it has been caught up by what you can now do with the original LPs on your computer - though it's hard to get decent starting material these days. Other issues are pretty much as the LPs presented them - the complete Berlioz "Romeo and Juliet" is still very hard listening, and the Verdi operas sound better on early LP issues - as, staggeringly, does La Boheme, on mid 1950s EMI LPs. I spent a while recently trying to de-mud the Reader's Digest LP version of the Oberon overture on my computer, and ended up with something not very inferior to the version in the Collection - which I had never heard. The Weber overtures were the first I tried this morning.

But after all that, what a conductor! No Toscanini performance, however unmusically presented and recorded, can be ignored. The Weber overtures, recorded in 1951 and 1952, are simply astonishing in the care with which they are prepared and the fire with which they are performed. Nothing is simply smooth or polished. We are in the dry acoustic of an opera house (when we notice, which isn't often) and the drama is taking place here and now. Nothing is held back - the timps thump away as though they are on a parade ground, but nothing gets in the way of Weber's intentions. The virtuosity is simply at his service, and at its most potent in the quiet, slow, passages of anticipation and rumination. Every phrase is alive, original, and logical. Not everything he did was as good, of course, but the average is astonishingly high. Had RCA taken the sort of trouble common in Europe at the time when he was alive and working, these reissues would be beyond price. As it is, if you can get them at the bottom of their current, fluctuating price range, they are a bargain not to be missed. But because of the recording quality - four stars. On performance alone, ten.

The original title of this review was "Faith, Hope and Love".

The "Love" part was easy: Great performances of great music at a great price.
"Faith and Hope" were more complicated: I hoped Sony would get it right, but my faith in the company is a bit more tenuous.
Well, they got most of it right, but there were some screw-ups that could have been avoided.

Back in 1992, RCA/BMG released the first 82 CD Toscanini Collection.
That is the template upon which the new Toscanini Collection was assembled.

In 1999, RCA/BMG issued twelve 2 CD sets of Toscanini in new, 20-bit transfers, an improvement over the 16-bit transfers of 1992
This mission statement was printed in the booklet for the 1999 remasterings:

"Since the Toscanini Collection was first released on compact disc approximately a decade ago, major improvements have occured in sound restoration.
Although the recordings in that collection were issued utilizing the best techniques of the time, it is now possible to go back to the original sources and make more musical and accurate remasterings. The recordings in this new series were made utilizing 20-bit recording technology, UV22 Super CD Encoding, Cello and Studer tape systems and were processed from the original analog source tape masters at the BMG/RCA Studios in New York. The improvement in sound clearly justifies a new release of these unique interpretations."

Then in 2006, Toscanini's Philadelphia Orchestra recordings were issued in new and improved 20-bit transfers.
Finally in 2008, Sony Japan issued 15 CDs worth of transfers on Japanese JVC XRCDs (I didn't even know these existed - thanks to Mark Hite for this information). JVC XRCDs are highly valued by collectors - I could never afford them. [Some of this JVC material overlapped with the 1999 20-bit transfers].

If you're adding this up, approximately one third of the 1992 set was re-done in new and improved transfers. *

In my original review, I "hoped" that Sony would not forget these new transfers.
Well, my "faith" in Sony was rewarded.

GOOD NEWS: Sony took the 1992 Collection as a template, and inserted the new and improved masterings onto the appropriate CDs. Can't complain about that.

GOOD NEWS: The price is unbelievably low.
In 1992, the 82 CD box sold for $1200. Today the 84 CD + 1 DVD box sells for $125. This is simply amazing.
Every civilized person should own this set. A Monument to Western Civilization.

GOOD NEWS: It comes with a nice book of essays about Toscanini and lots of nice photographs.
In 1992, RCA published a booklet with discographical index to the contents of all 82 CDs, but it was a limited edition. Today the discographical index is included in the book. This is important, as the published order of recordings was not and is not alphabetical or chronological.

BAD NEWS: The 1992 program notes, mostly by Mortimer H. Frank, are no longer included. They were a model of their kind.

GOOD NEWS: You can get them in book form: "Arturo Toscanini: The NBC Years" by Mortimer H. Frank (Amadeus Press, 2002).
It even includes a critical discography cued to the volumes in the old Collection, which are the same volumes as the new Collection.

BAD NEWS: No librettos for the operas and vocal works. This was predictable. Still sad.

BAD NEWS: This is the most serious blunder. The 1949 studio recording of Beethoven Symphony 3 "Eroica" is MISSING (credit Harry Black for first noticing this).
It was originally on CD 1 of the 1992 Collection. The 1953 broadcast performance appears twice in the new Collection:
on CD 1 (mislabeled as 1949) and on CD 29 (where it belongs).

It would be nice if Sony would acknowledge their mistake and make a corrected CD 1 available to consumers, but don't hold your breath
(this is why its so hard to keep my "faith" in Sony).

This is how it happened:

In 1992, Toscanini's final studio recordings of the Beethoven Symphonies were issued on CDs 1-5:
CD1 = Symphonies 1, 3 (Symphony 3 = 1949)
CD2 = Symphonies 2, 7
CD3 = Symphonies 4, 6
CD4 = Symphonies 5, 8 (+ Leonore 3 Overture from a 1939 broadcast)
CD5 = Symphony 9

In 1999, the same Beethoven cycle was also CD 1-5 of the new series, except the 1953 broadcast of Symphony 3 was substituted:
CD1 = Symphonies 1, 2
CD2 = Symphonies 3, 4 (Symphony 3 = 1953)
CD3 = Symphonies 5, 6
CD4 = Symphonies 7, 8
CD5 = Symphony 9

If the 1953 Eroica is now on CD 1, it would seem that Sony took the 1999 remasterings and re-arranged them in the less logical sequence of 1992.
Why, I don't know.

Then they forgot to substitute the 1949 recording for the 1953 broadcast on Volume 29.

If anybody needs a quick test to tell whether they have the 1949 or 1953 Eroica,
there is a 20 second difference in the timings of the first movement:

1949 = 13:46
1953 = 14:06

Also, at least in the 1999 remastering, the engineer retained the audience noise between movements of the 1953 performance.
This is most audible between movements 3 and 4.

BADDISH NEWS: The reason for this confusion is that Sony decided to slavishly copy the published sequence of the 1992 edition.
They just inserted the most recent remastering into the corresponding CD of the new box.
They forgot that the 1949 Eroica had been replaced by 1953 in the most recently remastered Beethoven cycle.

This is taking "original jacket" mania to a ridiculous extreme.

Why not issue the CDs in alphabetical order by composer?
Or chronologically by date of recording?
Or chronologically by date of composition (Bach through Shostakovich)?

Why must they annoy me like this?

BAD NEWS: The DVD "Toscanini: The Maestro" features a censored version of Toscanini's wartime film of Verdi's "Hymn of the Nations."

Toscanini's wartime film of Verdi's composition expanded Verdi's original, which combines the national anthems of France, Great Britain and Italy, to include the anthems of the Soviet Union (the Internationale) and the United States (the Star-Spangled Banner).
The unabridged audio of the performance is on CD 63, but the DVD of the film eliminates the Soviet national anthem completely.
Actually, this is not Sony's fault - RCA did the censoring back in the 80's when the work was prepared for VHS release.

GOOD NEWS: The complete, uncensored "Hymn of the Nations" is available on DVD.
It was a production of the U.S. Government Department of War Information so its in the public domain.
Amazon doesn't allow me to print web addresses, but if you want to see as well as hear Toscanini conducting the Soviet national anthem, do a google search for "Berkshire Record Outlet".

Click on "Search Catalog". Under "Keywords" enter "Toscanini", then check the box next to "DVD", then click "Search".

If you're lucky, you will find a 2 DVD-R set on the PDVD label (#PDVD2) titled "Great Conductors" selling for $14.95.
On DVD2, at 13:26 of track 8, you will both see and hear Arturo Toscanini conducting the Soviet National Anthem (Internationale).

I was never a fan of the Soviet Union, but they had a nice anthem. **

DISAPPOINTING NEWS: In their original press release, Sony promised that they would include 2 CDs of previously unreleased Toscanini performances with the BBC Symphony.
That is not the case: These are the same BBC recordings that Biddulph and Naxos have already issued (still nice to have).

IN SUMMATION: Despite some very real problems, you really should get this set. Especially at the insanely low price.

It still deserves five stars. I just "hope" that Sony will fix the problem with CD 1.

* It is the majority critical opinion that the new transfers are an improvement over 1992.
I am not going to express an opinion.
I just remembered that I am 63 years old (I try to forget).
I think my hearing is just fine, but that is probably not the case.
After age 50, people gradually loose their ability to hear high frequencies.

Everything in the new box sounds fine to me.
I wonder if I would have felt the same way 20 years ago?
I probably should defer to others when it comes to making comparative judgements about sound
Even so, it sounds good to me - always remembering that the originals are 58-92 years old.

** The 2 DVD set also contains videos of other famous conductors. Including the only known existing footage of Leo Borchard.
If you don't know the name, he was Music Director of the Berlin Philharmonic for six weeks in 1945 (until he was accidently shot by an American soldier). He succeeded Furtwangler and was succeeded by Celibidache, who was succeeded by Furtwangler (again).
Borchard conducts the Berlin State Opera Orchestra in music of Johann Strauss, filmed in 1936.

UPDATE (May 30):
Based on rumours, I believe Sony is planning to re-press CD 1 with the correct Eroica.
Its silly that I cannot state this with certainty, but Sony seems to regard its customers as the enemy.
If and when Sony does the right thing, I will be glad to update (and shorten) my review.
Stay tuned.
[Past experience: My 60 CD Bernstein Symphony Edition came with one missing CD and two duplicate CDs.
I tried to contact Sony to arrange an exchange of CDs, but they would not acknowledge my existence.
Ended up returning the whole 60 CD box in exchange for a new 60 CD box. Stupid.]

As other customer noted there is a clear mistake in this issue
I've received the box and I've just checked vol. 1 and 29.
The 1953 Beethoven Eroica is indicated in the booklet and on the cover as it were only in vol. 29 (with Mozart 40), while the cover for vol. 1 (and the booklet) indicate the 1949 Eroica (with Beeth. 1).
In fact on both voll. we find the same eroica recording which is precisely the 1953 recording!!! (no doubt about it--try the timings of the 4 movements. They are exactly the same, regardless some seconds..!!!!!)
Ultimately the vol. 29 is rightly printed while vol. 1 is incorrect from many points of view. Precisely:
- vol. 1 should include 1949 eroica & symphony 1 (as did the original 1991 issue)
- in fact we have the 1953 eroica (incorrect) & Beethoven 1 (correct)
- the cover shows the timings of 1953 recording, while the indication is as it were the 1949 eroica

You may get a clear evidence for this: if You insert the vol. 29 in Your PC on line, the Gracenote CD Data Base (CDDB) supplied by itunes immediately recognizes this CD as the original vol. 29 (issued in "1991") and all the tracks included in it are rightly identified.
On the contrary - please try and confirm me about it - if you insert the vol. 1, the same database doesn't recognize such a CD (as it were a playlist compiled at home from different albums, not an original label issue).
I really believe such a mistake was due exactly to what argued by Mr. John Fowler Wyman, that's Sony, having included the 1953 Eroica in the 1999 reissue (instead of 1949) - and I've checked it owing the 1999 set too) - as part of that re-edited complete Beeth cycle (while originally vol. 1 of 1992 collection included 1949 eroica & 1, then followed the remaining symphonies in voll. 2-5 and the 1953 eroica was inserted in vol. 29), forgot to replace the correct (original) item in vol. 1 nor they changed the vol. 29.
However in the 1999 double-cd the eroica 1953 was stored in the same cd with the 4th (while the 1st was coupled with the 2nd) and this could explain why the CDDB doesn't recognize the new vol. 1 at all, for it ultimately .. never existed before in the present coupling (nor in the 1999 set).
That said I've already exposed the problem to amazon.co.uk with request of replacement for vol. 1 (of course I've proposed - before everything - to suggest Sony a reprinting of the correct item and then ask the label for a free stock of these reprints to be sent on request to othes customers who possibly should have still purchased the set). Amazon made me sure, very kindly and promptly, they will check as soon as possible the problem by contacting Sony, so in few weeks we shall probably have our reply. I'm of course fully confident the best will be done both by Sony and Amazon.

P.S. To whom it might concern I realized the 2 copies of the same 1953 recording came fron different remastering to vol. 1 & 29 respectively (as indicated on the covers).
Precisely vol. 1 includes the 1999 remaster while vol. 29 contains a more recent version (2008..??) mastered for JVC XRCD (Japan) by engineeer Kazuie Sugimoto (incidentally this last one - as it seems to me - sounds better than the previous, which was good anyway)
I'm of course aware this is not a real review, however I hope to find my time to write more about the set generally speaking (among other things, being myself italian, living in Italy nor having usually the opportunity for practising english, I'm a little... slow and uncertain in writing it).
In the meantime I wish to thank sincerely all the customers who firstly shared their experience with all of us, both alerting on different problems involving this issue and providing so many other precious informations about a set which in my opinion - notwithstanding everything here discussed - deserves 5 stars.