27 December 2020

Reiner conducts Bartók - 1957 & 1946



Still a bit in trouble, but just to show that I'm still here, 

I propose the last post of the year.


Greetings to all!

See you in 2021



Béla Bartók

Violin Concerto n.2


Yehudi Menuhin, vl

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

FRITZ REINER

Chicago, Symphony Hall 24 october 1957

----------------------------------

Concerto per Orchestra

Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Pittsburgh, 4&5 Februrary 1946

10 December 2020

Alban Berg - Hermann Scherchen live

 





Hello everyone, I'm back.
For two months I was busy renovating an apartment and moving house. 

Never do it, if you can! 

It's all messed up, but I'll slowly start over with a few posts 
over the next weeks, then pick up next year...



ALBAN BERG

Lulu Suite
BRSO 20 feb 1953

Der Wein
BRSO 8 mar 1957

Lyrische Suite, 3 stücke (string orchestra)
NDR SO 1959

HERMANN SCHERCHEN


FLAC 
scans & info included










6 October 2020

Karajan and Czech PO Live 1971





A complete concert from the 1971 Salzburg Festival,

and a rare opportunity to listen to Karajan on the piano... 

as long as you spot him :) 

Seriously, I don't know if he has conducted this orchestra on other occasions 

and if this document has already been published on some phantom CD. 

Anyway, tell me your opinion.


BTW, In those days the orchestra was also conducted in Salzburg 

by Böhm, Abbado and Neumann.



BACH  Konzert für vier Klaviere und Streicher a-Moll BWV 1065

DVORÁK  Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 – “From the New World”


Walter Klien, Piano

Justus Frantz, Piano

Jean Bernard Pommier, Piano

Herbert von Karajan, Piano


Czech Philharmonic 

HERBERT VON KARAJAN


15 August 1971

Salzburg, Grosses Festspielhaus


FLAC (5 files)


27 September 2020

Karel Ancerl & Czech PO Live 1958


 


Smetana, Dvorák & Musorgkskij/Ravel


Czech Philharmonic

KAREL ANCERL


Live recording

Ascona, Switzerland - 10 october 1958



FLAC

9 September 2020

Shostakovich BSO Koussevitzky - live

 





SHOSTAKOVICH


Symphony no. 9 (First american performance)

August 10, 1946


Symphony no. 5

March 16, 1948


Boston Symphony Orchestra

SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY


FLAC (scans included)



21 August 2020

Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev - NBC, Stokowski

 


TCHAIKOVSKY

The Tempest, op. 18


PROKOFIEV

Alexander Nevsky, Op. 78

Jennie Tourel, contralto

Westminster Choir

NBC Symphony Orchestra

LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI 

NY, 7 march 1943


First performance in America

(sung in english)


FLAC (separated tracks)



15 August 2020

Bartók PC2 & Britten PC - Richter




It is difficult to imagine a discography as rich and important 
and at the same time as disordered as that of Sviatoslav Richter, 
scattered on dozens of labels, 
moreover with frequent mistakes in the dates :/
 
As in this case.
Misdated on the cover, Bartók PC2 is the same (may 6, 1967)
published on Brilliant, Russian Revelation and Yedang.

The true rarity is Britten, live in Aldeburgh (june 18, 1967)
with the composer on the podium:
this should be the only CD release.

FLAC (with scans)





 

1 August 2020

Strauss BSO Koussevitzky





STRAUSS

Don Juan
Till Eulenspiegel
Also Sprach Zarathustra

Boston Symphony Orchestra
SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY

Live 1946/1947


FLAC (3 separated tracks)

Scan & details included

Mozart Piano Concertos 21&27 Gulda, Swarowsky





MOZART

Piano Concerto No 21 in C-dur, KV 467
Piano Concerto No 27 in B-dur, KV 595


FRIEDRICH GULDA,  Klavier
Orchester Der Wiener Staatsoper
HANS SWAROWSKY


Recording 1963, from LP Concert Hall M-2319

Reupload on request.

FLAC (separated tracks)








24 July 2020

Fritz Reiner conducts Richard Strauss - BSO 1945





STRAUSS

Salomes Tanz
Symphonia Domestica

Boston Symphony Orchestra
FRITZ REINER

Live, Boston - 22 december 1945

FLAC



IMPORTANT NOTE:
On request, a new upload of Musorgskij/Ravel Pictures
by Dorati (RCO) & Reiner (live NYPO)
is available here:

https://laureateconductor.blogspot.com/2011/09/pictures-at-exhibition-2-rare-versions.html


(If you have reup requests, please write them in a comment on the most recent post!)







17 July 2020

Berlioz Fantastique BSO Koussevitzky





BERLIOZ
Symphonie Fantastique

Boston Symphony Orchestra
SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY

Live 16 october 1943

FLAC (scans included)



10 July 2020

Scherchen conducts Berg, Skalkottas, Schönberg





ALBAN BERG
Kammerkonzert
(Paul Jacobs, pf - Wolfgang Marschner, vl)

NIKOS SKALKOTTAS
Piano Concerto n. 2
(Georg Hadjinikos, pf)

ARNOLD SCHOENBERG
Piano Concerto
(Eduard Steuermann, pf)


HERMANN SCHERCHEN, conductor

(live 1953-1959)


FLAC (Scans & details included)






6 July 2020

Bloch, Schoenberg, Shostakovich 5 Piatigorsky NYPO Rodzinski








Bloch
Schelomo, Hebraic rhapsody for cello & orchestra
(26 November 1944)

Schoenberg
Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, Op 41
Mack Harrell, voice;
Edward Steuermann, piano;
New York Philharmonic;
Artur Rodzinsky, conductor
(First recording - 26 November 1944) *

Shostakovich
Symphony No 5 in D Minor, Op 47
(24 February 1946)


New York Philharmonic
Artur Rodzinsky, conductor


* The first performance, with the same interpreters, dates back to 23 november.


FLAC (cover & tracklist included)

3 July 2020

Rachmaninoff BSO Koussevitzky





Rachmaninoff

Symphony no. 3
Vocalise (orchestral version)
The Isle of the Dead, op. 29

Boston Symphony Orchestra
SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY

Live 1945-47

FLAC (Scans & details included)

28 June 2020

Mahler 1 - LSO, Kubelik - live 1975







MAHLER
Symphony no. 1

London Symphony Orchestra
RAFAEL KUBELIK

Live - 16 october 1975



Although we have many Mahlerian studio and live recordings made by Kubelik
(those published by Audite were a wonderful surprise),
the LSO is definitely not an orchestra
strictly associated with the name of the czech conductor.
So, many reasons to be curious.

Apart from a little tape hiss, the quality of the source is quite good.

FLAC (separated tracks)







15 June 2020

Orff - Carmina Burana - Stokowski 1954




Leopold Stokowski's words:

"I believe that Orff's genius – combining as it does so magnificently all the resources of traditional occidental music with vigourous new conceptions of lyricism, romantic intensity, gigantic architectonics, rhythmic audacity, an extraordinarily personal blending of pagan and modern feeling, and the mature simplicity achieved only by a master – will be recognised by future generations as a major departure in the development of the art of music."


Third performance in USA.
The creation of this work was in Frankfurt in 1937, but the published score was not available in the United States until 1953. The USA premiere took place in a San Francisco concert (University of San Francisco's Schola Cantorum under Giovanni Camajani). Then, Thor Johnson conducted the second  at the Cincinnati May Festival (5 May 1954).


Stokoswki's "extremist" dynamics are also evident in the Houston recording (Capitol, EMI and so on); perhaps here we have a problem (yes: in Boston, not in Houston) with the microphones or with the distances.

However, since the sharp, powerful break after "O Fortuna", it is clear that Stoky has a lot to say about this score.
Also in this case I don't know "official" publications on CD or other format.



ORFF
Carmina Burana

Student soloists:

Ruth Ann Tobin sp
Gwendolyn Belle ms
Elmer Dickey tn
John Colleary br
Kenneth Shelton br

Newton Boys' Choir
Boston University Chorus,
Boston University Symphony
LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI

Boston, Symphony Hall
Live - 19 november 1954

FLAC





All Mozart Concert - BSO Jochum 1974




W.A. MOZART

Masonic Funeral Music, K. 477

Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466
Veronica Jochum, pf

Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551, "Jupiter"

Boston Symphony Orchestra
EUGEN JOCHUM


Live July 13, 1974
Tanglewood - Shed
Lenox, MA, U.S.A.

FLAC (broadcast with announcements)




20 May 2020

Cantelli Centenary 12 - Rarities







Well, here's the "special one".


Rienzi's rehearsals has been published,
but I don't know if the CD is still available;
anyway this alternative source is very good.

Beethoven's First Symphony was released
only on old LPs now unobtainable (MDP and ATS),
but never on commercial CDs, if I'm not wrong.
I had the LP MDP 037 many years ago on loan
from a collector to make a digital copy of it.

The conversation was captured in Milan (1954).
I've included in the folder an english translation.

Mitropoulos, Cantelli's close friend,
performed Strauss's tone poem in his memory,
a few days after the plane crash.

Among the many testimonials of their friendship,
one is very nice (reported by Cantelli himself).

After a performance of Berg's Wozzeck at La Scala,
Mitropoulos was invited
to Cantelli's little apartment in Milan to have dinner.
Then Dimitri went to the piano, playing,
explaining and singing loudly Wozzeck until late at night.
At one point the protests of the neighbors arose
and forced them to quit
(may the gods forgive them).




FLAC - Details, translation and some photos included.



16 May 2020

Cantelli Centenary 11 - Debussy, Ravel, Respighi





Here a very personal and accurate selection:
so, the term "highlights" does not mean "useless jumble"
as in some... well, MOST terrible CDs and LPs.

Three of my favorite Cantelli live recordings
(collected from the most varied sources over the years)
not only for their artistic value,
but also in terms of sound quality.

Indeed, these are particularly "vivid" and "present" performances:
of course as far as possible with sources from the early/mid 50s.

Therefore I strongly recommend this download,
even more than the previous ones...

FLAC (3 separated tracks)





NOTE:
About the AS, unfortunately some Cantelli CDs are completely bronzed & "gone":
Liszt Piano Concertos, a Respighi-Pizzetti-Ghedini selection, Mozart's Requiem...
The latter, in any case, had a terrible sound;
moreover, is still available a restoration
that "does everything possible" with a very bad source.

I've the same problem with some rare Bruno Walter CDs,
which I would have gladly uploaded otherwise.

Anyway, the next "chapter" will be the final one.
But if you liked this "Centenary series",
I could go on in the next months with some additions.
So, let me know...


11 May 2020

Cantelli Centenary 10 - Dvorak, Dukas, Roussel




Among all the soloists who worked with Cantelli,
Rudolf Firkusny was the most assiduous.
After their first meeting in Brussels (Grieg's Piano Concerto, 1949),
they gave several concerts in USA
(Menotti, Beethoven 3, Brahms 1, Grieg again and of course Dvořák) until 1956.


FLAC & Scans




6 May 2020

Cantelli Centenary 8 - Beethoven, Brahms




Cantelli performed with Backhaus
also the "Emperor" Concerto at La Scala (june 1955).
Not recorded, of course.

Anyway, one of the most famous collaborations with great soloists: 
a list including Rubinstein, Heifetz, Serkin, Casadesus...

Many unfortunately not documented at all: 
Michelangeli, Fournier, Janis, Milstein, Stern and others.


The Tragic Overture is compelling and well profiled,
perhaps too much in Toscanini's footsteps,
but the Alto Rhapsody is really a gem:
a very concentrated and mature reading.


FLAC (scans included)



3 May 2020

Cantelli Centenary 7 - Monteverdi, Verdi, Britten








Cantelli's interest in the "Sinfonia da Requiem" is remarkable,
especially since in Italy Britten was a composer still almost unknown. 
GC conducted this work for the first time at La Scala in 1952,
then several times in the United States.

Listening to Monteverdi's music - although "modified" -
in the concert hall was also rare at the time.
One of the many proofs of independence from Toscanini's tastes and repertoire,
whose only trace here is Verdi's "Te Deum".

As usual, FLAC with scans included





30 April 2020

Cantelli Centenary 5 - Ghedini, Casella, Dallapiccola






Some troubles, with this CD!

Casella unfortunately is not perfect (a faulty CD is forever, like a diamond)
but I've not alternative sources for this 1954 performance.

The last track - Dallapiccola's Marsia - is a complete disaster,
so I replaced it with the radio broadcast (announcement included).


The most interesting "novelty", here, is Ghedini's Partita,
a rather extensive work
of almost Hindemithian craftsmanship solidity:
the recording presented here is available only on this album.



FLAC (separated tracks, with scans and details)







29 April 2020

Cantelli Centenary 4 - Ravel









RAVEL
Daphnis et Chloé, suite n. 2
Bolero
La Valse
Pavane

New York Philharmonic & NBC Symphony Orchestra
GUIDO CANTELLI


Here we are at the fourth post of the series,
an all-Ravel-CD.
In the first years of activity he conducted also 
the Spanish Rhapsody (Wiener Symphoniker, Rai Torino, La Scala, S. Cecilia)
but - hélas - no surviving recordings as far I know.


FLAC (with scans & details)










27 April 2020

Cantelli Centenary 3 - Strauss, Busoni






STRAUSS & BUSONI

New York Philharmonic
GUIDO CANTELLI


FLAC (with scans & details)


On the exact day of the centenary, here is the third CD.
Recording quality quite good for live recordings of the mid '50s.



26 April 2020

Cantelli Centenary 2 - Stravinsky





STRAVINSKY
Le Chant du Rossignol
Jeu de Cartes
Feu d'Artifice

NBC Symphony Orchestra
GUIDO CANTELLI



Three of the four Stravinsky scores that Cantelli had in his repertoire.
No surviving recordings of the fourth, the Symphony of Psalms.
Very interesting that he had not started his exploration - unfortunately abruptly interrupted - from more "usual" works,
like the first three famous ballet masterpieces...


FLAC (scans with details included)



25 April 2020

Cantelli Centenary 1 - Tchaikovsky



Guido Cantelli was born in Novara - not so far from Milan and a little more from Turin - on April 27, 1920: 
therefore exactly 100 years ago.

So, to remark this anniversary, 
a series of little known and out of print CDs (mostly "freshly ripped", like this one)
will follow in the next couple of weeks...
and almost everyday!
With something special at the end.


TCHAIKOVSKY
Symphony no. 4
rehearsals (all movements) tt. 72 min

NBC Symphony Orchestra
GUIDO CANTELLI
22 & 23 december, 1949


The performance too (december 24) is included in the folder.

FLAC (with scans)









20 April 2020

Prokofiev BSO Koussevitzky






A wonderful & rich All-Prokofiev CD,
with Koussevitzky and his characteristic mix of sweetness and electricity.



PROKOFIEV

Schytian Suite
Symphonies 1&5
Dance from "Le Chout" suite, op. 21bis

Boston Symphony Orchestra
SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY

Live 1945-48 (details & scans included)


FLAC

11 April 2020

Brahms 3 Kindler & Beecham (reupload)




Reuploded on request.


FLAC (separated track) & info included



Here a very interesting couple of rare Brahms 3.

Now almost forgotten, The (Dutch-born) American cellist and conductor Hans Kindler (1892-1949) was the principal cellist in Stokowski’s Philadelphia Orchestra; he gave recitals with Rachmaninov and Ravel, concerts with Monteux and Furtwängler: later, became a conductor.
In 1931 he had formed the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington and in 1940 they began to record. The major fruits were the third symphonies of Brahms and Tchaikovsky; but they recorded also shorter works and lighter repertoire.

Then, you can listen for the only surviving Brahms Third conducted by Beecham (just 2 weeks after Toscanini's death): he was a "champion" of the Second, but he conducted only a few times 1 and 3, and never the Fourth!

Both versions are vivid and energetic (listen to Sir Thomas shoutings!):
fast tempos and very flexible, unpredictable phrasing.

I don't know if these versions are on CD.
The first is from a 78rpm set; the other from a radio broadcast.
Two "outsiders", ok, in a very big discography;
but I suggest you to try :-)








8 April 2020

Berg - Violin Concerto - Schneiderhan (live 1978 & 1983)




ALBAN BERG
Violin Concerto

Wolfgang Schneiderhan, violin

NDR Sinfonieorchester
Klaus Tennstedt
(live - september 1978)

RSO Berlin
Manfred Manhart
(live - 14 march 1983)

FLAC




3 April 2020

Mahler 4 BSO Walter 1947 (& Lieder)





Since - rightly - there is curiosity for this little known Boston recording, here it is!

In addition, eight early songs played by Walter (details in the folder).
Enjoy and - if you want - let me know your thoughts about this comparison...


MAHLER
Symphony no. 4

Desi Halban, sp
Boston Symphony Orchestra
BRUNO WALTER

Live - 25 march 1947


Eight "Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit"
Desi Halban, sp
Bruno Walter, pf

Los Angeles, 16 december 1947

FLAC (complete scans included)




27 March 2020

Mahler 4 - NYPO, Walter - Live 1944





GUSTAV MAHLER
Symphony no. 4

Desi Halban, soprano
New York Philharmonic
BRUNO WALTER

New York, Carnegie Hall
Live - 6 February 1944



If I'm not wrong, never published in any form:
maybe for the little gap at the beginning
and the quality of recording, certainly not superb
(but I don't know if a better source survives).

Despite the listening conditions,
I certainly prefer this live (and the BSO 1947 live too, on Lys),
insted of the famous may 10, 1945 studio recording - all with Desi Halban.
More freedom, a much more interesting and varied phrasing
and simply more inspiration, here.

Try and let me know your opinions.


FLAC - Separated tracks








21 March 2020

Tchaikovsky, Weber, Glazunov - BP Borchard







The story of this unlucky musician and that of his cruel fate
- even after death, since he's now almost forgotten -
is narrated in the booklet (included).

Borchard was killed while being driven home after a concert on 23 August 1945:
his British driver misinterpreted an American sentry's hand signal to stop
and the sentry shot him dead.

Few surviving testimonials of his art, unfortunately.
In addition to this, there is an important CD released by Testament (2016).

On 5 & 6 September 1995 Abbado and the Berliner Philharmoniker
marked the anniversary of Borchard's death with performances of Mahler's 6th Symphony.




TCHAIKOVSKY
Nutcracker Suite, Romeo and Juliet

WEBER
Oberon, overture

GLAZUNOV
Stenka Razin


FLAC (with tracklist & Scans)







11 March 2020

Stokowski's BSO Debut 1964





Stokowski's debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, aged 82.

The following summer - august, 21 - Stoky also made his debut in Tanglewood
with a similar program
(with Strauss's “Death and Transfiguration" replacing Gabrieli and Vivaldi)



Giovanni Gabrieli/Stokowski: Sacrae Symphoniae, Canzon quarti toni a 15 (C.185)

Vivaldi: Concerto Grosso Op. 3 no. 11 in D minor

Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E flat major KV 297b

Ralph Gomberg, oboe
Gino Cioffi, clarinet
Sherman Walt, bassoon
James Stagliano, horn

Hovhaness: Prelude and Quadruple Fugue, Op. 128

Rorem: Eagles

Stravinsky: Petrouchka, Suite

Boston Symphony Orchestra
LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI

Live - March 6, 1964
Boston, Symphony Hall

FLAC (separated tracks)






2 March 2020

Mahler - Symphony no. 2 - WS - Krips Live 1960




MAHLER
Symphony no. 2

Teresa Stich-Randall, sp
Ursula Boese, ms

Chor der Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
(Reinhold Schmid, Choreinstudierung)

Wiener Symphoniker
JOSEF KRIPS

Wien, Musikvereinssaal – 10 june 1960
(Wiener Festwochen)


FLAC - Separated files



26 February 2020

Charles Munch & NYPO - live 1948




CHABRIER
Joyeuse Marche

PROKOFIEV
Piano Concerto N. 2 in G minor, Op. 16
Zadel Skolovsky, piano

BERLIOZ
Symphonie Fantastique

New York Philharmonic
CHARLES MUNCH

Carnegie Hall, New York
Live - 1 February 1948



In the second half of the 1940s, Charles Munch
conducted the NYPO about thirty times.
This concert, which ends with one of his great specialties,
Berlioz's Fantastique, also includes the orchestra's first performance
of Prokofiev's Piano Concerto no. 2.

FLAC - Separated files





22 February 2020

Schumann - Der Rose Pilgerfahrt - Boulez




SCHUMANN
Der Rose Pilgerfahrt

Jill Gomes, sp (The Rose)
Alfreda Hodgson, mezzo  (The Elfs Queen/Martha/The Miller's wife)
Ian Partridge, tn (The Narrator/Max)
Gyne Howell, bs (The Gravedigger)


BBC Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
PIERRE BOULEZ

London. St John Smith's Square,  9 April 1975

FLAC, very good sound





18 February 2020

Schumann 3&4 - Bruno Walter



Schumann

Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat major, Opus 97 (“Rhenish”)
New York Philharmonic
February 4, 1941; Liederkranz Hall

Symphony No. 4 in D minor, op. 120
London Symphony Orchestra
April 26, 1938; Abbey Road Studio No. 1, London

FLAC with scans



7 February 2020

Tchaikovsky 5 Furtwängler (reupload)




Reuploaded on request

(and Markevitch Le Sacre upcoming)




TCHAIKOVSKY


Symphony No.5 in E minor, op.64

Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai
Wilhelm Furtwängler

June 6, 1952
Live, Torino



Serenade for Strings, op.48

Waltz (2nd movement)
Finale (4th movement)

Wiener Philharmoniker
Wilhelm Furtwängler

February 2, 1950
Wien, Brahmssaal, Wien (studio) 


FLAC with details

5 February 2020

Tchaikovsky 4 BSO Koussevitzky 1949





Tchaikovsky
Symphony no. 4

plus rehearsals (24 min)

Boston Symphony Orchestra
SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY

March 11, 1949



A passionate and fluent reading in Koussevitzky style,
preceded by a delighful rehearsal (7 March).



I have several CDs of this OOP "Koussevitzky edition" ...
So, if you are interested, I can go on.


FLAC - Scans included



28 January 2020

Prokofiev, Schnittke, Brahms - Kondrashin live 1969





PROKOFIEV
Liutenant Kijé, suite

SCHNITTKE
Violin Concerto n. 2 (1966)

BRAHMS
Symphony no. 3

Mark Lubotskij, violin
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
KIRILL KONDRASHIN

Live - February 1, 1969

FLAC 




20 January 2020

Weber, Schumann and Brahms Fourth Eugen Jochum, live 1978





WEBER
Euryanthe, Overture

SCHUMANN
Cello Concerto

BRAHMS
Symphony No. 4



Lorne Munroe, cello

New York Philharmonic
Eugen Jochum, conductor


New York, Avery Fisher Hall
Live - April 8, 1978


FLAC (announcements included)


A wonderful "all Romantic" concerto conducted by Eugen Jochum in New York.

Schumann's Concerto is performed by Lorne Munroe, principal cellist for the Philadelphia Orchestra between 1951 and 1964 and principal cellist for the New York Philharmonic from 1964 through 1996: he was a featured soloist more than 150 times during the thirty-two seasons he played for the NYPO.

The solemn phrasing, the sense of continuous flow and the warm, deep calm interrupted by majestic ignitions in Brahms
it's something very special: not achieved at this level (IMHO) in the studio recordings that Jochum left us (DG & EMI),
despite his fleeting relationship with the NYPO: regrettably, he was a guest of the orchestra
only in march/april 1978, conducting three programs.

17 January 2020

Mahler 2 - Stokowski, Philadelphia 1967










Not an "extreme" rarity,
but not so widespread either.

Available for a short time only in Japan (LSCD, 1990),
then on CD Arkadia (1991); both OOP, obviously.

Perhaps you have already heard the much more famous - and amazing - recordings
available on BBC Legends (live 1963) and RCA (studio 1974):
"Stoky's touch", of course, is perfectly recognizable even in this case.
Here you will especially appreciate the urgency of the Finale,
"condensed" in less than 30 minutes;
and to all this is added the charm of listening
the sound of his beloved Philadelphians.



MAHLER
Symphony No. 2

Maria Lucia Godoy, soprano
Veronica Tyler, mezzo

Singing City Choir
Philadelphia Orchestra
LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI

Live, Philadelphia - 9 november 1967
(78 min)

FLAC






5 January 2020

Rare Toscanini 35 - Dvorak, Strauss, Wagner rehearsals (1945-46)




As you well know, the series dedicated to Toscanini
has already reached a certain number of "releases":
many additions can still be made,
but you will have to be veeery patient. :)

Meanwhile we open the year with this vol. 35. Wow, not so few.


If you love "Toscanini's wrath"
listen to Strauss rehearsals and all the outbursts you knew before
will seem to be caresses and compliments.

But to come to more serious things,
the extracts are fortunately long enough
to allow a proper "immersion" in the atmosphere of those sessions.

You can already imagine it,
but the real pearl is the Wagnerian extract.
More than half an hour, that is enough to make us understand
how the annoyance for the "mythization" of Toscanini
can be counterbalanced by the joy of appreciating
the profound values of an art that can (and must) be questioned in various ways,
but that remains an art without compromises.




REHEARSALS:


DVORAK
Scherzo Capriccioso
NBC Symphony Orchestra
NY, Studio 8H - January 1945
(Concert January 28, 1945)


STRAUSS
Tod und Verklärung
NBC Symphony Orchestra
NY, Studio 8H - November 1946
(Concert November 17, 1946)


WAGNER
Tannhauser,
overture and Bacchanale, Rehearsal

Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala
Kunsthaus, Lucerne - July 1946
(Concert July 7, 1946)

ARTURO TOSCANINI


tt 75 min ca.

FLAC