Eugene Ormandy - The Original Jacket Collection: Limited Edition Box Set 10 CD (2008)

There are several reasons why the popularity of Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra has declined so steeply since their glory days in the '50s and '60s. For one thing, Ormandy hung on to his post in Philadelphia a tad too long, and recordings from the later '70s and '80s are for the most part marked by audible fatigue. For another, Columbia and RCA, now Song/BMG, have been reluctant to reissue Ormandy's classic recordings on CD and nearly as reluctant to keep them in print after the first few press runs. But what hurt Ormandy most of all was a change in fashion. What was once hailed as "The Fabulous Philadelphia" sound was later disparaged as the flabby Philadelphia sound in the face of sharper, edgier performances, and Ormandy and his orchestra had almost disappeared from sight when this 10-disc Sony/BMG The Original Jacket set was released in 2008.
For anyone with ears to hear, the performances here are magnificent. In these recordings, the Philadelphia under Ormandy truly sounds fabulous. Building on Stokowski's foundation, Ormandy raised an orchestra built for the gods of music. As amply demonstrated in these performances recorded when the Ormandy/Philadelphia partnership was at its peak, there was no better conductor/orchestra relationship at the time. Listen to the plush strings in Barber's Adagio and Vaughan Williams' Fantasie on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, the piquant woodwinds in Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra and the Scherzo from Tchaikovsky's Fifth, the brazen brass in Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor and the Great Gates of Kiev from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, or the brilliant ensemble in Respighi's tone poems and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. But the best thing is that Ormandy and the Philadelphia do not use their astounding virtuosity to show off their technique; they use it to show off the music. Even in obvious virtuoso pieces like the Bach transcriptions, Ormandy and the Philadelphia play the music with polish and precision, but they do not overwhelm it with panache and passion. Superbly remastered, this 10-disc set will be mandatory for fans of the Fabulous Philadelphia, and likely fascinating for those who do not already know its work.

Tracklist:

Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Pini di Roma - I. I pini di Villa Borghese (2:35)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Pini di Roma - II. Pini presso una catacomba (6:13)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Pini di Roma - III. I pini del Gianicolo (6:42)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Pini di Roma - IV. I pini della Via Appia (4:44)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Fontane di Roma - I. La fontana di Valle Giulia all'alba (4:30)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Fontane di Roma - II. La fontana del Tritone al mattino (2:30)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Fontane di Roma - III. La fontana di Trevi al meriggio (3:25)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Fontane di Roma - IV. La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto (5:14)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Feste romane - I. Circenses (4:25)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Feste romane - II. Il giubileo (6:41)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Feste romane - III. L'ottobrata (7:20)
Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy - Feste romane - IV. La befana (5:11)




Tracklist:

Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Promenade (1:33)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Gnomus (2:37)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Promenade (0:55)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Il vecchio castello (4:32)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Promenade (0:31)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Tuileris (1:01)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Bydlo (2:16)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Promenade (0:42)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Ballet des petits poussins dans leurs coques (1:14)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Samuel Goldenburg and Schmuyle (2:20)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Limoges: Le Marche (1:25)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Catacombas: Sepulchrum romanum (1:41)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Cum mortuis in lingua morta (1:42)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - La Cabane and Baba-Yaga sur des pattes de poule (3:43)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - La Grande Porte de Kiev (4:56)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - The Sea and Sinbads Ship (10:17)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - The Story of the Kalander Prince (11:41)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - The Young Prince and the Young Princess (9:45)
Oramndy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Festival at Baghdad, The Sea, The Ship Goes to pieces on a rock surmounted by… (12:21)




Tracklist:

Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Largo; Allegro Molto (16:29)
Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Allegro Molto (8:00)
Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Adagio (11:57)
Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Allegro Vivace (11:20)
Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Vocalise (6:20)




Tracklist:

Tchaikovsky Peter (1840-1893) - Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 - Andante - Allegro con anima (15:16)
Tchaikovsky Peter (1840-1893) - Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza - Moderato con anima - Andante mosso - A… (13:40)
Tchaikovsky Peter (1840-1893) - Valse - Allegro moderato (6:08)
Tchaikovsky Peter (1840-1893) - Finale - Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace - Molto vivace - Moderato assai e … (12:49)
Tchaikovsky Peter (1840-1893) - Serenade for String Orchestra in C Major, Op. 48 - Pezzo in forma di sonatina… (5:49)
Tchaikovsky Peter (1840-1893) - Valse - Moderato - Tempo di valse (3:47)
Tchaikovsky Peter (1840-1893) - Elegie - Larghetto elegiaco (8:03)
Tchaikovsky Peter (1840-1893) - Finale - Andante - Allegro con spirito (4:18)




Tracklist:

Bela Bartok [1881-1945] - Concerto for Orchestra Sz.116: Introduzione (9:57)
Bela Bartok [1881-1945] - Concerto for Orchestra Sz.116: Giuoco delle coppie (7:00)
Bela Bartok [1881-1945] - Concerto for Orchestra Sz.116: Elegia (6:54)
Bela Bartok [1881-1945] - Concerto for Orchestra Sz.116: Intermezzo interrotto (4:39)
Bela Bartok [1881-1945] - Concerto for Orchestra Sz.116: Finale (9:14)
Bela Bartok [1881-1945] - The Miraculous Mandarin Suite Op. 19 Sz.73 (19:49)
Bela Bartok [1881-1945] - Two Pictures for Orchestra Op.10 Sz.46: In Full Flower (7:39)
Bela Bartok [1881-1945] - Two Pictures for Orchestra Op.10 Sz.46: Village Dance (8:38)




Tracklist:

Isaac Stern, Violin & Philadelphia Orchestra, Ormandy, Dir - Mendelssohn: Concerto in E Minor I-Allegro molto appassionato (12:32)
Isaac Stern, Violin & Philadelphia Orchestra, Ormandy, Dir - II. Andante (9:14)
Isaac Stern, Violin & Philadelphia Orchestra, Ormandy, Dir - III Allegretto non troppo: Allegro molto vivace (5:41)
Isaac Stern, Violin & Philadelphia Orchestra, Ormandy, Dir - Tchaikovsky: Concerto in D Maj for Violin, Op 35, I Allegro moderato (17:26)
Isaac Stern, Violin & Philadelphia Orchestra, Ormandy, Dir - II. Canzonetta; Andante (6:27)
Isaac Stern, Violin & Philadelphia Orchestra, Ormandy, Dir - III. Finale: Allegro vivacissimo (9:12)




Tracklist:

Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Symphony No. 1: I. Allegretto (8:27)
Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Symphony No. 1: II. Allegro (4:35)
Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Symphony No. 1: III. Lento (8:57)
Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Symphony No. 1: IV. Allegro molto (8:01)
Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Cello Concerto No. 1: I. Allegretto (6:32)
Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Cello Concerto No. 1: II. Moderato (10:38)
Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Cello Concerto No. 1: III. Cadenza (5:32)
Mstislav Rostropovich, Eugene Ormandy, Philadelphia Orchestra - Cello Concerto No. 1: IV. Allegro con moto (4:37)




Tracklist:

CD 8
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565 (9:14)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Arioso (4:37)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Menuett (1:34)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Musette (1:16)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Bist du bei mir (3:39)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Marche (1:00)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - A Mighty Fortress is our God (2:22)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Jesu (3:21)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Fugue (4:02)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Passacaglia and Fugue (12:56)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Preludium (3:50)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Air (5:47)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Sheep (5:48)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Come (3:39)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Sleepers (3:56)

CD 9
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Toccata (16:24)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Allegro (5:13)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Andante (6:34)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Allegro (2:27)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Allegro (4:39)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Andante (6:22)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Allegro assai (2:55)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Sinfonia (10:18)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Allegro (5:44)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Andante (6:24)
Ormandy, Philadelphia - Allegro (3:31)




Tracklist:

Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Alexander Borodin, Nocturne for String Orchestra (8:55)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Pietro Mascagni, Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana (3:24)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Traditional, Londonderry Air (4:09)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Samuel barber, Adagio For Strings, Op. 11 (7:48)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Tchaikovsky, Andante Cantabile (6:41)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Sibelius, Valse Triste from Kuolema, Op. 44, No. 1 (4:54)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Grieg, Notturno (from Lyric Suite) (4:04)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Grieg, II. The Last Spring from Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34 (4:36)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Massenet, Elegie (4:06)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - MacDowell, To A Wild Rose, Op. 51, No. 1 from Woodland Sketches (2:06)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Williams, Fantasia on Greensleeves from Sir John in Love (5:00)
Eugene Ormandy Philadelphia Orchestra - Williams, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis. Largo sostenuto (14:29)

Discography Box Sets MP3 320 CBR 2000s Classical

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