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)

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!)

Berlioz Fantastique BSO Koussevitzky

BERLIOZ

Symphonie Fantastique

Boston Symphony Orchestra

SERGEI KOUSSEVITZKY

Live 16 october 1943

FLAC (scans included)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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