29 December 2021

Musorgskij, Rachmaninoff - Horowitz, Koussevitzky


 

To conclude this 2021, another CD from the Koussevitzky series.

See you soon and happy new year!



MUSORGSKIJ

A night on Bald Mountain

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Live - December 30, 1944


RACHMANINOFF

Piano Concerto n. 3

Vladimir Horowitz, pf

Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

Live - August 31, 1950


SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY


FLAC and Scans






23 December 2021

Mahler Symphony no. 8 - Prêtre 1971



MAHLER

Symphony no. 8


Margerita RINALDI, Radmila BAKOCEVIC

Beverly WOLFF, Lucretia WEST

Lajos KOZMA, Dan JORDACHESCU

Tugomir FRANC


Prague Philharmonic Choir 

Coro di Roma della RAI

Coro di voci bianche della Rai

Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della RAI 

Georges Prêtre

September 30, 1971

Roma, Teatro Olimpico

FLAC 



16 December 2021

Tchaikovsky 4 - Leningrad PO Mravinsky (1957)

 




Another "alternative version": this time compared 
to the very famous Fourth on DG. 
Plus the Serenade for strings (recorded in 1949).

FLAC & Scans

12 December 2021

Shostakovich 7 Rozhdestvensky (1968)


 


Recording: January 8, 1968


Obviously not the famous version 

with the USSR Ministry Of Culture Symphony Orchestra 

on Olympia/Melodiya (1984)


Flac & Scans



9 December 2021

Stravinsky - Leningrad Philharmonic, Mravinsky


 

Mravinsky left us perhaps the best Agon and a beautiful version of Apollon Musagete, but his Stravinsky discography, unfortunately, is rather limited: in particular, the two recordings that you can find here have not had many reprints; anyway, they deserve to be known. 


FLAC and scans






8 December 2021

Prokofiev Chout, Waltzes etc Rozhdestvensky

 





A selection of "almost rare" works by Prokofiev, including the beautiful Waltz Suite.


FLAC with scans & details






3 December 2021

Elgar, Britten - Rostropovich




Elgar's Cello Concerto and the world premiere of Britten's "Cello Symphony" 

dedicated to Rostropovich, conducted by the composer in Moscow.


FLAC

Scans with details included


1 December 2021

Mahler 4 Oistrakh + 10 Adagio Rozhdestvensky


 


I continue with the first CD of the new series, which I'll alternate with other AS. 
Unfortunately I have already found two "bronzed" Koussevizky disc 
("Eroica" & Brahms 3-4), but others remain...


MAHLER

Symphony no. 4 

DAVID OISTRAKH

Jan 22, 1967


Symphony no. 10 (Adagio)

GENNADI ROZHDESTVENSKY

1963


Flac + Scans


28 November 2021

Barber, Harris, Toch BSO Koussevitzky


 

Three rare Koussevitzky recordings.

The Symphony No. 2 was premiered in Boston on March 3, 1944: 

not performed in april, so the date on the cover is wrong (probably is March 4).


Harris No. 6: first performance April 14. This should be the second (April 15).


BARBER

Symphony no. 2  (first recording)


HARRIS

Symphony no. 6 (first recording)


TOCH

Pinocchio Overture


Boston Symphony Orchestra

SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY


FLAC + Scans







22 November 2021

Barbirolli live in Wien 1967





MOZART
Symphony no. 36 "Linz"

DEBUSSY
La Mer

BRAHMS
Symphony no. 4


Wiener Philharmoniker

SIR JOHN BARBIROLLI

LIVE - Wien, Musikverein 

December 17, 1967


FLAC + cover


Well, despite everything we continue: 

I will try to post more often, but at the moment I cannot guarantee. 

If this is to your liking, in the next period I will proceed with some CDs out of print. 

For example more AS, some Grammofono 2000, Russian Revelation, etcetera.

 




20 September 2021

Bruckner 8 CSO, Kubelik - live 1966


 


BRUCKNER

Symphony no. 8

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

RAFAEL KUBELIK

Live - Dec 22, 1966


FLAC - 4 Separated files


4 September 2021

Mahler - Das Klagende Lied - Boulez







Here I am again. I won't be able to post continuously for a while, but I hope it will get better.


A very interesting live recording of "Das Klagende Lied" (3 mov), 

conducted by Pierre Boulez in Cleveland.

A quite different version from the one made in studio (LSO, 1970)

less analytical but more theatrical and impetuous.


FLAC - 3 separated files


28 May 2021

Ansermet conducts Berg - OSR (Live)


 

A precious CD, of course out of print. 

Live recordings from three different concerts (1953, 1959, 1964)


ALBAN BERG

Violin Concerto - Yehudi Menuhin

Three Fragments from "Wozzeck" - Suzanne Danco

Three Orchestral Pieces, op. 6


Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

ERNEST ANSERMET

Live - Géneve


FLAC - Scans & details included



9 May 2021

Leopold Stokowski & ASO live 1971


 



W.A. MOZART 

Die Zauberflöte K. 620: Overture


RICHARD STRAUSS (arr. Stokowski) 

Der Rosenkavalier, suite


WERNER JOSTEN 

Jungle, symphonic poem


WILLIAM MAYER 

Octagon for Piano & Orchestra (1970)

William Masselos, piano (world premiere)


IGOR STRAVINSKY Petrushka, Suite


American Symphony Orchestra

LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI

NY, Carnegie Hall - March 21, 1971 


FLAC - Separated tracks


5 May 2021

Bach, Handel, Pfitzner - Knappertsbusch (1942-44)


 


Reupload on request 


FLAC & Scans

Bach, Schubert - Abbado live 1963


 

BACH 

Concerto for 2 violins BWV 1043


Edith Peinemann (Violino)

Renato Zanettovich (Violino)


Musikalisches Opfer BWV 1079: nn. 2, 7 & 5 (Ricercare a 6)



SCHUBERT

Symphony n. 2


Orchestra "A. Scarlatti" di Napoli della Rai

CLAUDIO ABBADO


Napoli - April 30, 1963


 

Here one of the first entirely preserved Abbado concerts, in good sound: 

his debut with the "Scarlatti" Rai Orchestra (april 1963).


FLAC 



25 April 2021

Bernstein & NYPO live 1976


 


SCHUMAN, WILLIAM

American Festival Overture


IVES

The unanswered question


GERSHWIN

Rhapsody in blue

(Bernstein pf)


COPLAND

Symphony no. 3

"Hoe-Down" from Rodeo


BERNSTEIN

Candide, overture


New York Philharmonic

LEONARD BERNSTEIN, cond & pf

Den Haag, Hourusthallen

June 1, 1976

Holland Festival



An "All-American-Program" including Gershwin's Rhapsody in blue 

conducted & performed by Lenny and two encores, 

in excellent stereo sound.


FLAC separated files


7 April 2021

Mahler 9 BSO Bernstein 1979



Good stereo source 


MAHLER

Symphony no. 9 

Boston Symphony Orchestra

LEONARD BERSTEIN

Live in Tanglewood 

July 29, 1979


FLAC  (4 Separated tracks)


 

26 March 2021

Shostakovich 10 - Oistrakh - Live, 1967



As you well know, Ostrakh's activity as conductor was very sporadic, 

as well as limited to compositions he cared a lot about and knew in depth, 

such as Tchaikovsky's latest symphonies or some Shostakovich's.


This No. 10 in Cleveland is certainly one of his best achievements on the podium.

Very good recording, BTW.



SHOSTAKOVICH

Symphony no. 10

Cleveland Orchestra

DAVID OISTRAKH

live - december 14, 1967


FLAC (separated tracks)




22 March 2021

Stravinsky - Sacre & Petrushka NYPO 1940 (and other recordings)


 


Stravinsky Conducts Stravinsky  (Recordings 1929-1940)



Petrushka (abridged by the composer) 

The Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Of New York

Igor Stravinsky (Conductor) - Recorded 1940


Piano Rag-music 

Igor Stravinsky (Piano) - Recorded 1930


Rag-time For 11 Instruments

Aldar Racz, Charmy & Volant, Ginot, Juste, Lavaillotte, Godeau, Foveau, Dvemy, Tudesq, Movel Recorded 1930


Pulcinella - Ballet after Pergolesi

Symphony Orchestra

Igor Stravinsky (Conductor) - Recorded 1929


Le Sacre Du Printemps 

The Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Of New York

Igor Stravinsky (Conductor) - Recorded 1940


FLAC & Scans




15 March 2021

The Ravel Recordings - Krauss







RAVEL
Alborada del Gracioso
Daphnis et Chloé, suite n. 2 (*)

(*) Damenchor der Konzervereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor
Wiener Philharmoniker
March 1945

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

RAVEL
Rapsodie espagnole

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks 
June 4, 1953


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


MUSORGSKIJ-RAVEL
Pictures at an Exhibition

Clemens Krauss
Wiener Philharmoniker
December 6, 1947 



FLAC (separated tracks)


 

13 March 2021

Bruckner 7 Furtwängler - live Roma 1951


 


BRUCKNER 

Symphony no. 7


Berliner Philharmoniker

Wilhelm Furtwängler

Live - Roma, Auditorium del Foro Italico

May 1, 1951

FLAC (separated tracks)


Brahms EDR Szell, Cleveland (live 1969)


 

Another monument of choral literature that unfortunately 

Szell never recorded in studio:

but, as always, the clarity of his musical conception 

is captured very well in this 1969 live.



Brahms

Ein Deutsches Requiem, op. 45


Gundula Janowitz, sp

Tom Brause, bs


Cleveland Orchestra & Chorus

GEORGE SZELL


April 24, 1969


FLAC (separated tracks)

3 March 2021

Elgar - Enigma Variations - Ormandy (two live performances)


 


Two performances of the same work by Ormandy.

Perhaps not ideal in all the variations, 

but rather convincing in the most intimate and delicate.



ELGAR

Enigma Variations


Philadelphia Orchestra

Live in Philadelphia - April 6, 1962


Boston Symphony Orchestra

Live in Tanglewood - July 19, 1964


EUGENE ORMANDY



FLAC

20 February 2021

Prokofiev - Romeo & Symphony no. 5 - Jansons

 




Two remarkable live performances in good audio quality.

The affinity with Prokofiev's Fifth, which will become "explosive" 

in the fantastic Chandos album, is already very evident

and the selection from "Romeo" is no less interesting



PROKOFIEV


From "Romeo and Juliet"

Montagues and Capulets  

Juliet as a Young Girl

Dance of the Five Couples

Romeo at Juliet's Grave

Death of Tybalt 

Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai

MARISS JANSONS

November 15, 1974


Symphony n. 5, op. 100

Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della Rai

MARISS JANSONS

October 26, 1974


FLAC - Separated tracks



19 February 2021

Prokofiev - Shostakovich - Borodin - Quartetto Italiano (live)


 


A small "diversion" from the orchestral repertoire ... perhaps not the only one, we'll see.

Remarkable is the 1962 performance of Shostakovich's Seventh, 

"created" by the Beethoven Quartet in Leningrad 

less than two years earlier (May 15, 1960).


Prokofiev String Quartet no. 2, op. 92

Live - March 7, 1958 

Shostakovich String Quartet n. 7, op. 108

Live, Venezia - April 14, 1962

Borodin String Quartet no. 2

Live, Venezia - February 17, 1969


Quartetto Italiano


FLAC - 3 tracks



16 February 2021

Dvorak - Stabat Mater BRSO Kubelik 1964 Live



 

A live performance quite different from the studio version; 

considerably faster tempos (77 minutes, here) and an excellent solo quartet "led" by Sena Jurinac.



Antonín Dvorák 

Stabat Mater, Op. 58


Sena Jurinac 

Nan Merriman 

Heinz Hoppe

Franz Crass


Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks 

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunk

RAFAEL KUBELIK


Live Recording

Munich, Herkulessaal

March 20, 1964


Flac - Separated tracks





6 February 2021

Wagner NYPO Mitropoulos Live 1955



Reupload on request

WAGNER
Forest Murmurs 
and Götterdämmerung act III

New York Philharmonic
DIMITRI MITROPOULOS
live 30 october 1955

FLAC and scans


 

31 January 2021

Berg, Dallapiccola, Hartmann - BRSO Erich Kleiber


 

BERG

Wozzeck, drei fragmente

DALLAPICCOLA

Due pezzi per orchestra

HARTMANN

Symphony No. 6

BRSO

ERICH KLEIBER

1955


FLAC & Scans



27 January 2021

Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini etc - Zemlinsky





A selection of short orchestral works
conducted by Alexander von Zemlinsky

MOZART
Don Giovanni, Overture
Polydor 1928  
Così fan tutte, Overture
Polydor 1928  
The Abduction from the Seraglio, Overture
Polydor 1928  

BEETHOVEN
Fidelio, Overture 
Polydor 1929 

ROSSINI
The Thieving Magpie, Overture
Polydor 1929

FLOTOW
Alessandro Stradella, Overture
Polydor 1928

MAILLART
Das Glöckchen des Eremiten, Overture
Polydor 1928  

SMETANA
The Moldau
Ultraphon E-465/6, 1930 

WEINBERGER
Schwanda the Bagpiper, Polka
Ultraphon E-466, 1930

FLAC & scans



 

23 January 2021

Beethoven and Schubert - Krauss



Here's the first of some Krauss posts upcoming.


Beethoven

Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II

Choral Fantasy op. 80


Schubert

Gesang der Geister über den Wassern


Wiener Symphoniker

CLEMENS KRAUSS

1950


FLAC


 

13 January 2021

Mahler 5 Boulez live 1970


 

MAHLER

Symphony no. 5

BBC Symphony Orchestra

PIERRE BOULEZ

Live BBC Proms 4 august 1970

FLAC with scans


5 January 2021

Wagner LPO Tennstedt - live 1981


 


I didn't know what to choose to start this 2021... well, why not this one?

Another live recording with Kollo, Bundschum & Thomlinson is available on a LPO CD.

But here we have Jessye Norman as Sieglinde.

All the best for this New Year.


Richard Wagner 

Die Walküre, Act One 


Jessye Norman, Robert Schunk, Marius Rintzler 


London Philharmonic 

KLAUS TENNSTEDT 

LIVE - October 25, 1981

FLAC