Which Webern box set do 20th century fans like?

Hey Chashmal, great to hear from another Webern fan. We're exactly members of a large group. I've got quite a few Webern discs, but multi disc sets devoted to Webern are few in number. Your Boulez "Complete 1-31" on Sony is my first choice. The DG "Complete Webern" looks like a more scattershot hodge-podge of samplings from their catalog, albeit fine performances.

I have to say, the Craft complete works LP box set (Columbia from the 1950's) is one of the best sounding vinyl recordings I own. The performances are great but are very specific. Some might hate it, I love it. There is a very intimate close mike sound, as opposed to the grand Boulez orchestral hall sound. With the right equiptment, the Craft sounds like you are eavesdropping in the 20th century genuis's living room.

Thanks for the heads up on the Craft performances, I'll look out for those. BTW, I've got to quit responding to these threads right after I get out of bed. I meant to say Webern fans are NOT members of a large group.

Ditto the Craft set...a copy of which I just bought on Ebay. It's the set I used when I was studying some of the pieces in music school 30 years ago. I love Boulez, too, really--he understands the music, certainly, but the acoustic in the Craft set has this wonderful '50's dry "intellectual cutting-edge" ambience...sounds kind of like Robert Craft looked back then (!)--severe--

The von Karajan Webern Symphony is, however, fabulous. I've never been crazy about von Karajan, but he nails it. Very moving, dramatic performance. It may only be available in a 4 record box with Schoenberg and Berg material, but all that stuff is good.