‘I can’t recommend these highly enough’: 3 new classical box sets for sublime summer

This is a paean to Erato. Not the ancient Greek muse of lyric poetry, but the French classical music record label.

Founded in 1953, Erato is now owned by Warner Classics, and thank goodness for that. Warner also owns the distinguished Teldec classical label and the massive classical library of EMI, and they have demonstrated repeatedly that they know how to treat their precious catalog.

Last year, Warner gave the deluxe treatment to early music pioneer Jean-François Paillard. This year, it’s Michel Corboz and John Eliot Gardiner.

“Michel Corboz: Complete Erato Recordings Baroque & Renaissance Eras” contains 74 CDs, “Michel Corboz: Complete Erato Recordings Classical and Romantic Eras” 36 CDs, and “Sir John Eliot Gardiner — The Complete Erato Recordings” 64 CDs. All of these recordings have terrific sound and are packaged with beautiful reproductions of the original jacket covers. I can’t recommend these sets highly enough.

The long-playing record gave a strong boost to the burgeoning early music movement. In the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Pioneers like Paillard, Corboz and Gardiner were making copious recordings of previously unheard repertoire by composers like Monteverdi and Rameau.

While Corboz and Gardiner were certainly no slouches when it comes to research and striving for authenticity, when they conduct, authenticity never comes at the expense of aural beauty.

Corboz, who died in 2021 at the age of 87, was born in Switzerland and was a sacred choral music specialist. Along with the gorgeous singing, all of his performances have a beautiful, almost lush string sound. Corboz makes music for people to enjoy.

There is a wealth of Monteverdi in the Corboz baroque and renaissance set, and it is sublime. Along with several volumes of madrigals, there are two different recordings of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 and his opera “Orfeo.”

Corboz’s performances of Vivaldi sacred music capture the music’s serene ecstasy, as well as its joyful abandon. And for a Swiss guy with French proclivities, Corboz’s Bach is fantastic. He’s right up there with the best Bach conductors. Everyone who loves Bach definitely need to give these recordings a listen.

Corboz is not as well-known for his classical and romantic era recordings. When it came to French baroque music, Paillard and Corboz had the field to themselves, but there was a lot more competition with Mozart, Haydn and Brahms.

But the classical and romantic era set is a good, solid collection of well-played music. Are these the ultimate interpretations of these works? Probably not. But one thing that makes this set invaluable is all of the sacred choral music by Mendelssohn. Listen to these discs, and you will come away with a newfound respect for the composer, and you will wonder why this music has been overlooked and ignored.

English conductor John Eliot Gardiner was also part of the first wave of early music conductors, and at 80 he’s still going strong. Gardiner would eventually record for Decca, Philips and Archiv, but he began his career with Erato, and those Erato recordings remain some of his best.

Gardiner’s Complete Recordings on Erato is a veritable Aladdin’s Cave of precious jewels. Gardiner’s style always sounds bright and vigorous and at the same time lyrical. There’s a gust of energy under all of his performances.

Gardiner has conducted in Kansas City several times over the years, and every one of those concerts is a prized musical memory. It is a glorious thing to have this monument to one of the most important conductors of our time.

Gardiner is a great champion of Henry Purcell, and this set features some of the 18th century English composer’s finest works, like the Birthday and Funeral Odes for Queen Mary and a healthy sampling of his theater music.

Handel is another Gardiner specialty, and here he conducts Handel’s oratorio “Israel in Egypt,” his thrilling sacred work, “Dixit Dominus,” the opera “Tamerlano” and the lovely secular oratorio “L’Allegro, Il Penseroso Ed Il Moderato.”

Gardiner, of course, shines in the baroque repertoire, but there are other treats here as well. Like two albums of Massenet’s orchestral music, which are just delightful, as well as “Les Brigands,” a frothy operetta by Offenbach.

There’s enough here to keep any music lover in bliss for days and weeks on end. Both the Corboz and Gardiner sets are best enjoyed through headphones while reclining in a hammock with an ice-cold lemonade at hand. Perfect relief for the dog days of summer.

Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

I had the good fortune to attend a performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on June 24. It was one of the last concerts Riccardo Muti conducted as current music director of the CSO. He led the orchestra and huge chorus in a thrilling performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis. The sold-out theater gave the maestro a thunderous ovation.

Muti’s situation with Chicago is a little complicated right now. The orchestra still hasn’t chosen Muti’s successor, so he’s sticking around next season as conductor emeritus until the new conductor is in place. And I understand there’s the possibility Muti might take the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on one last tour.

Please, Harriman-Jewell Series, work your magic and, if possible, bring Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra back to Kansas City. Everyone I’ve spoken to who heard Muti conduct the CSO in Helzberg Hall in February agrees that it was one of the most exciting concerts ever heard in Kansas City. Muti has told me more than once how he loves the acoustics in Helzberg Hall. It would be wonderful to hear him and his Chicago band raise its rafters at least one more time.

You can reach Patrick Neas at patrickneas@kcartsbeat.com and follow his Facebook page, KC Arts Beat, at www.facebook.com/kcartsbeat.