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.

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...

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

Cantelli Centenary 9 - Verdi

Here's the ninth post.

FLAC & Scans as always.

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)

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

Cantelli Centenary 6 - Schubert

Here's the sixth CD!

FLAC (separated files & scans)