Lorin Maazel.

This article reviews a 14-CD box set of recordings by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lorin Maazel, featuring works by composers such as Bach, Handel, Mozart, Dvořák, Franck, Stravinsky, and Falla. Maazel’s interpretations of Bach’s orchestral suites and vocal works are noted for their measured tempos and emphasis on phrasing, with particular praise for several soloists. The set includes Handel’s Water Music and Royal Fireworks Music, which are described as unconventional and lacking traditional stylistic elements. Later recordings, including Franck’s Symphony and Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, are characterized by a transparent, detailed sound that some may find overly clinical. The collection also features mezzo-soprano Grace Bumbry in Falla’s El Amor Brujo, highlighting her significant operatic career. The packaging includes original LP artwork and a booklet with track listings and an article on Maazel but lacks detailed program notes or translations. [Extracted from the article]