Gustav Leonhardt - Jubilee Edition - Box Set 15CDs

Label: Sony
Format : Flac (image + cue)
Cover : Yes

This 15-disc Sony compilation, Gustav Leonhardt: The Edition, originally released in 2008, was reissued in 2012 in recognition of Leonhardt's death on January 16 of that year. Leonhardt was so remarkably prolific in so many fields -- as a harpsichordist, organist, chamber musician, concerto soloist, chamber musician (not to mention his activities as a scholar and teacher) -- with a recording career lasting half a century, that this large set barely scratches the surface of his phenomenal output, which consists of more than 180 recordings. It does, however, offer an enticing representative sampling of the range of Leonhardt's work. The bulk of it is devoted to the harpsichord, mostly solos, but also concertos, chamber music, and continuo performances. The work of J.S. Bach is, appropriately, featured on a third of the discs, but the music of other composers, nationalities, and eras are also well represented, ranging from relatively obscure Renaissance and Baroque organ music from England, Germany, and the Netherlands to Telemann quartets for flute, violin, gamba, and harpsichord. If any area is under represented, it is his work as a conductor, with a single disc of Bach cantatas included. Leonhardt's legendarily impeccable technique and attention to detail scarcely need to be mentioned; the quality that's most immediately evident in these performances is the vitality of his imagination and the high energy of his execution. The recordings, made for Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, Vivarte, Seon, and Sony, date from the 1960s to the 1990s and the sound is very fine throughout. The consistency is due to the fact that so many were made under the supervision of Wolf Erichson, a longtime collaborator with Leonhardt. This set makes an excellent introduction to Leonhardt's significant legacy, and should tempt listeners to dig even deeper into his discography.

CD 1 - J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations
CD 2 - J.S. Bach: Organ Music
CD 3 - The Organ in the Renaissance & Baroque: Netherlands
CD 4 -The Organ in the Renaissance & Baroque: Alpine Countries
CD 5 - Weckman and Froberger: Works for Harpsichord
CD 6 - Boehm: Works for Keyboard
CD 7 - D. Scarlatti: Harpsichord Sonatas
CD 8 - Couperin: Suites & Pavane
CD 9 - Masterpieces of French Harpsichord Music
CD 10 - J.S. Bach: Concertos BWV 1060R, 1044 & 1052
CD 11 - J.S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 27, 34 & 41
CD 12 - J.S. & C.P.E. Bach Concertos for Harpsichord
CD 13 - Corelli: Sonatas for Recorder, Cello and Harpsichord
CD 14 - Marais, d'Anglebert, Forqueray: Music in Versailles
CD 15 - Telemann: Paris Quartets No 1-6

Complete tracklist : Gustav Leonhardt - Jubilee Edition