In celebration of Carlos Kleiber's 80th anniversary, here, for the first time ever, is a unique, limited-edition 12-CD box-set of his complete Deutsche Grammophon recordings: each one a classic — presented in top audio quality.

Pianist Nikolay Rubinstein, for whom Tchaikovsky wrote his First Piano Concerto, initially remarked that the concerto was completely unplayable. How ironic that not only was he made to eat his words during his lifetime, but that the concerto has been one of the most widely performed and recorded works in the repertoire. Of course, with that kind of widespread attention, each subsequent recording has more and more difficulty distinguishing itself from its predecessors. Pianist Denis Matsuev, joined by the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, manages to succeed in making this a memorable addition. Matsuev's playing is nothing short of Herculean; he plays with all the muscularity and bravura of Yefim Bronfman and then some. He is equally comfortable in delicate and nimble passagework, with the scherzo imbedded in the second movement even more dexterous and swift than Arcadi Volodos. The Shostakovich First Concerto is equally as enjoyable. Less a showpiece than its earlier cousin, Shostakovich affords Matsuev to show off his sensitive voicing, lush sound, and exceptional musicianship. Supporting Matsuev's authoritative playing is Yuri Temirkanov and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, which matches pacing, temperament, and color with aplomb.

The early 2010s have seen a profusion of good performances and recordings of Verdi's Requiem mass. This may be because the work offers operatic singers and conductors a chance to strut their stuff in a one-shot deal, without the expense of mounting an entire operatic production. Whatever the explanation, the situation is a boon for listeners, and the present album takes its place among the very best. The Requiem is the towering work of sacred music in the late 19th century, full of social resonances that are explored in the booklet of this release with conductor Daniel Barenboim leading the Orchestra and Chorus of the La Scala Theatre.

“Levine's version of Luisa Miller consistently demonstrates his Verdian mastery, and not just in the best-known masterpieces…Not only in Levine's conducting but also in the sets and costumes of Nathanial Merrill's production the attractive rustic element of the piece is effectively brought out.” (Penguin Guide)

Josef Lhevinne studied at the Moscow Conservatory under Vasily Safonov, made his public debut at fourteen in a performance conducted by Anton Rubinstein, and graduated top of a class that included both Sergei Rachmaninoff and Alexander Scriabin. Lhevinne is often included as one of the greatest golden-era pianists, and yet, his recorded legacy is approximately fifty minutes of repertoire for Pathé and Victor, albeit treasured and admired. And not unlike a star whose light went out too soon, the public created a mythos based on a small output and clamors for more examples of his playing to further justify his reputation. The wait is now over.

Renowned worldwide in his lifetime and remembered today as a double bass virtuoso, Giovanni Bottesini excelled in every branch of musicianship, but his operas and sacred works were overshadowed by those of Verdi and have fallen into neglect. Composed in response to the death of his brother Luigi, Bottesini’s large scale Requiem combines ecclesiastical counterpoint with formal innovation and the expressive lyricism and dramatic orchestration of operatic models.

Rubenstein's First Symphony is a charming (and well-constructed) concoction that sounds very like Mendelssohn with perhaps a touch of Bizet's Symphony in C. It's no great shakes, but it is pleasant listening and ought to be played occasionally. The filler item is a little less inspired, but certainly listenable. The playing here is a little ragged, but since this is the only recording of this piece that I know of, it shouldn't keep you from buying it.

This is a fine album for Wagner fans who want to check out the composer's non-operatic output. The Symphony in C (written at age 19) may be familiar, and is actually available in other CDs. However, the Symphony in E, Wagner's uncompleted creation from age 21, may not. This CD features Wagner's 1882 revision of the Symphony in C which was performed two months before his death. Wagner completed the first movement of the Symphony in E but only 29 bars of the second movement. In 1887, a performance version based on these 29 bars was prepared by conductor Felix Mottl at the request of Wagner's widow Cosima. This performance version of the second movement is included on this disk.

You will notice the lack of the word "complete" in the title of this boxed set, and not all the included works fit the title. The "Four Last Songs" don't match the title, but personally, I will listen to this set of orchestral Lieder anytime; this is one of Strauss' finest works.And the Op 7 Serenade in E flat for 13 wind instruments is an anomoly. It appears that there is no complete set available, although there have been traversals of Strass' works which have been released in single volumes at a time. You may be able to assemble all issues in such a set, but I doubt they would cover all works, and, as far as I can find, these releases are not recent.

It is good to have this uninhibitedly tuneful setting of the mass back in the catalogue, particularly in this warm and energetic Parisian performance. Gounod here in almost every section presents melodies that to us today have a hint of hit tunes, particularly the brash theme that underpins the "Credo" (which later returns Cut La forza) and the deliciously inappropriate tune for "Agnus Dei". The fact that vulgarity is only just avoided somehow adds to the attractions, and certainly no Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiast should miss hearing the work. The performance is even more enjoyable than I had remembered with excellent work from the soloists as well as the choir.

This Blu-ray box contains the international acclaimed Bruckner cycle of Christian Thielemann, a “magician of the Bruckner sound”(Kurier on Symphony No. 5) and the Staatskapelle Dresden, whose own Bruckner tradition dates back more than a century. Outstanding reviews emphasize the exceptionally high artistic quality of the concerts: “Once again Thielemann proved to be the unrestricted ruler on his ancestral territory, German Romantic repertoire” (Hamburger Abendblatt on Symphony No. 2). Christian Thielemann “displays the full musical maelstrom of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 3” (Münchner Merkur). “Another Bruckner triumph for Dresden” (Sächsische Zeitung on Symphony No. 6). “… one would have to be hard-hearted not to be touched by this heartfelt music” (Der Tagesspiegel on Symphony No. 8).

Martha Argerich is an Argentine-Swiss classical concert pianist. She is widely considered one of the greatest pianists of all time.

A musical homage on Franz Xaver Mozart’s 230th birthday.