The Debussy Collection [Box set]

I found myself enchanted by Crossley's version of the Preludes this foggy morning. Regardless, I just received this box and wanted to share the content with other potential Debussy collectors. I will return and update my impressions as I progress through the well filled 18 cds. The Preludes make me feel quite optimistic about the collection.

The packaging is quite good with a sturdy standard square box; the lid is opens like a book towards you and the 18 cds are stacked in a pile. You will need to remove them all in case you are looking for a specific cd. They look almost identical, but are nice color coded on the edges to indicate orchestral works, piano works etc. Each Cd contains the standard box image of Debussy as well as a tiny indication of content in the upper right corner. The upper left corner shows the number of the cd. The back of the sleeve shows the content, performers and time information (although no dates). The sleeve itself is a medium thickness paper (sturdy but still soft enough not to damage the cds). There is also a nice 32 page booklet (18 pages focusing on cd content [with dates] and three 4 page essays about Debussy in English, French and German). There is no discussion about the performers or the recordings in the booklet beyond the cd content.

CONTENTS:
CD1 [72:29]
La Mer, Boston SO, Munch (1956)
Nocturnes, John Alldis Choir, New Philharmonia O, Boulez (1968)
Printemps, John Alldis Choir, New Philharmonia O, Boulez (1968)
Premiere Rapsodie pour clarinette et orchestre, Peyer (clarinet), New Philharmonia O, Boulez (1968)

CD2 [72:06]
Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune, Boston SO, Munch (1962)
Jeux, New Philharmonia O, Boulez (1966)
Images pour orchestre, The Cleveland Orchestra, Boulez (1967)
Deux danses, Chalifoux (harp), The Cleveland Orchestra, Boulez (1967)

CD3 [71:12]
La Boite a joujoux, London SO, Tilson Thomas (1991)
Fantaisie pour piano et orchestre, Douglas (piano), Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Janowski (1994)
Rapsodie pour orchestre et saxophone, Rascher (saxophone), New York Philharmonic, Bernstein (1961)
Petite Piece, Drucker (clarinet), Hambro (piano) (1970)

CD4 [71:52]
Preludes - Livre 1, Paul Crossley (1992)
Images - 1re Serie, Phillipe Entremont (1963)
Images - 2e Serie, Phillipe Entremont (1963)

CD5 [72:43]
Preludes - Livre II, Paul Crossley (1992)
Estampes, Paul Crossley (1992)
Children's Corner, Robert Casadesus (1950)
La plus que lente, Artur Rubinstein (1970)

CD6 [77:01]
Douze Etudes pour le piano
Masques
D'un cahier d'esquisses
Berceuse heroique
Page d'album
Elegie
Hommage a Haydn
The little Nigar
Paul Crossley (1992)

L'Isle joyeuse
Vladimir Horowitz (1966)

CD7 [77:13]
Suite Bergamasque
Images (oubliees)
Paul Crossley (1992)

Pour le piano, Phillipe Entremont (1963)
Deux Arabesques, Phillipe Entremont (1959)

Ballade (slave)
Reverie
Valse Romantique
Nocturne
Mazurka
Danse bohemienne
Tarentelle styrienne
Piece pour piano
Paul Crossley (1992)

CD8 [40:51]
Petite suite (1959)
Six Epigraphes antiques (1963)
En blanc et noir (1963)
Robert Casadesus and Gaby Casadesus (piano)

CD9 [54:15]
Premier Trio in sol majeur, Previn (piano), Rosenfeld (violin), Hoffman (cello) (1992)
Nocturne et scherzo, Isserlis (cello), Ades (piano) (1997)
Quator a cordes, Tokyo String Quartet (1992/1994)
Syrinx, Rampal (flute) (?)

CD10 [51:11]
Sonate pour violincelle et piano, Harrell (cello), Levine (piano) (1974)
Sonate en trio, Galway (flute), Oppenheimer (viola), Robles (harp), Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Galway (1984/85)
Deux Danses, Galway (flute), Oppenheimer (viola), Robles (harp), Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Galway (1984/85)
Sonate pour violin et piano, Stern (violin), Zakin (piano) (1960)

CD11 [58:48]
Songs
Farrell/Trovillo (1960) /// Gruberova/Haider (1995) /// Upshaw/Levine (1995)

Ariettes oubliees, Frederica von Stade, Katz (1993)

CD12 [76:52]
Cinq poemes de Baudelaire, Upshaw, Levine (1995)
Fetes galantes, Stade, Katz (1993)
La Mer est plus belle, Farrell, Trovillo (1977)
Chansons de Bilitis, Stade, Katz (1977)
Le Faune, Farrell, Trovillo (1977)
Noel des enfants qui n'ont plus de maison, Farrell, Trovillo (1960)
L'Enfan prodigue, Price, RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra, Pradelli (1966)
La Demoiselle elue, Upshaw, Rasmussen, Women of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Salonen (1993)

CD13 [57:49]
Pelleas et Melisande, Acte I et Acte II
Shirley, Soderstrom, McIntyre, Ward, Minton, Britten, Wicks, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Boulez (1970)

CD 14 [33:43]
Pelleas et Melisande, Acte III
Shirley, Soderstrom, McIntyre, Ward, Minton, Britten, Wicks, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Boulez (1970)

CD 15 [63:01]
Pelleas et Melisande, Acte IV et Acte V
Shirley, Soderstrom, McIntyre, Ward, Minton, Britten, Wicks, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Boulez (1970)

CD16 [66:25]
Le Martyre de saint Sebastien (Mystere en 5 actes)
Acte I - V
McNair, Murray, Stutzmann, Caron (narrator), London Symphony and Orchestra, Tilson Thomas (1991)

CD 17 [57:14] - Encores
Galway, Robles, Oppenheimer, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, London Mozart Players
Stoltzman, Allen
Stern, Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Katims
Spivakov, Bezrodny
Heifetz, Smith

CD 18 [73:20] - Debussy on Harp
Suite bergamasque
Reverie
Valse romantique
Melodies, Damrau (soprano)
Deux Arabesques
Preludes - Live I
Deux Danses, Members of the Wiener Philharmoniker

Xavier de Maistre (harp) (2008)