Tribute to Peter Maag [Box set] Review

This set is a compilation of Peter Maag's late recordings, featuring the complete symphonies of Beethoven and Mendelssohn, the late symphonies of Mozart, all of Schumann's works for piano and orchestra and Gluck's opera Orfeo e Eurydice.All of these have been released separately and reviewed elsewhere here on amazon.These are all fine performances, mostly with lesser-known and not-quite-top-flight orchestras.The Beethoven in particular has raised some concerns because Maag uses a true chamber-orchestra (about 35-40 players) rather than the normal large symphony-orchestra, but even here, no-one doubts the quality of musicianship and heart he brings to the works at hand.

Maag was one of the most consistently interesting conductors of the second half of the 20th century.On his way to a career similar to Karajan's, he left the concert stage in the early 1960's and spent two years in a Buddhist monestary restoring his spirit and rediscovering his deep spiritual commitment to the music itself.That decision deep-sixed his international star career but brought him greater satisfaction.He spent the rest of his days conducting regional orchestras in Europe, primarily in his native Switzerland and in his adopted Italy.These recordings from late in his career (1990's to early 2000's) show maturity and depth of insight as well as absolute command of the conductor's craft.

Arts' recording quality confounds me.It sounds great on sophisticated, analog-sounding equipment (smooth, warm, detailed, spacious) and not nearly as good on less-sophisticated, "digital"-sounding equipment (harsh, cold, forward).With the right equipment, however, you have some very very fine recordings here.

At this price, the set is a steal.Highly recommended.

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