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)

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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

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 :-)

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

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)

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

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 

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.

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

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

Mahler 5 - Maderna (Philadelphia, 1971)

Not everyone shows appreciation for Maderna's work as a Mahlerian conductor:
and certainly here, who expect that everything written by the composer
must be 100% respected, will find many questionable solutions.

But in some passages I don't find comparisons with anyone else
(apart from Scherchen, perhaps)
and they really leave you breathless.

(one for all - II mov, 6:48 - 7:15)

Judge yourself, of course,
but it's certain that this completely anti-routine reading
can't leave you indifferent.
As always, your comments and opinions are welcome.


MAHLER
Symphony no. 5

Philadelphia Orchestra
BRUNO MADERNA

Live in Philadelphia - november 4, 1971

FLAC - separated tracks

Fritz Reiner conducts Bartók and Kodály - Live 1960

On request,
here's another "definitive reupload" on Mediafire.


Fritz Reiner conducts Bartók and Kodály:
three masterworks non included in the "official" discography
of the great hungarian conductor.
No Chicago, no Pittsburgh, no NBC...  but the New York Philharmonic.

And excellent performances:
in particular The Miracolous Mandarin is lavish,
hot, brutal, almost "pornophonic".



Kodály
Peacock Variations
march 12, 1960

Bartók
The Miracolous Mandarin, suite
march 12, 1960

Piano Concerto n. 1
(Rudolf Serkin, piano)
march 19, 1960


New York Philharmonic Orchestra
FRITZ REINER

FLAC (scans included)

Beethoven Missa Solemnis NYPO Walter live 1948

All right, another Missa Solemnis.
Then I'll stop for a while, I swear...

("for a while", on the other hand, is a very vague concept...)

But it's not my fault if Toscanini, Szell and even Walter have made
such beautiful and important readings of this monumental score.

Maybe the soloists are not up to some previously uploaded recordings,
but NYPO and Walter are absolutely at their best.

Also, Beethoven's year is coming.

BEETHOVEN

Missa Solemnis, op. 123

Westminster Choir

New York Philharmonic

BRUNO WALTER

Live - April 18, 1948

FLAC (separated tracks)

complete scans included