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SCHUBERT: Incidental music to Rosamunde, Op. 26 (Overture,
Entr'acte No. 3 in B flat. Ballet No. 2 in G). Tyrolean Dances, Op.
33. DVORÁK: Symphony
No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 "From the New World." MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 in D "Titan." JANÁCEK:
Sinfonietta MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, K. 488 (Kölner Radio
Orch/Georg-Ludwig Jochum, cond. Mar. 7, 1956). BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto
No. 5 in E flat,
Op. 73 "Emperor." (Kölner Radio Orch/Christoph von Dohnányi,
cond. Jan. 29, 1965). RAVEL: Piano Concerto in D for the Left Hand (Kölner
Radio Orch/Hermann Scherchen, cond. March 11, 1957). Robert Casadesus,
piano GLIERE: Symphony No. 3 in B minor, Op. 42 "Ilya Mourometz" MAHLER: Symphony No. 1 in D "Titan." Symphony
No. 2 in C minor "Resurrection."
(Lee Venora, soprano; Jennie Tourel, mezzo-soprano). Symphony No. 3 in
D
minor
"Nature."
(Martha Lipton, mezzo-soprano). Symphony
No.
4
in
G.
Symphony
No. 5 in C# minor. Symphony No. 6 in A minor. Symphony No. 7 in E minor.
Symphony
No. 8 "Symphony of a Thousand." (Erna Spoorenberg,
Gwyneth Jones, Gwyuneth Annear, sopranos; Anna Reynolds, Norma Proctor,
mezzo-sopranos; John Mitchinson, tenor; Vladimir Ruzdjak, baritone; Donald
McIntyre, bass; London Symphony Chorus; Finchley Children's Music Group;
Highgate School Boys Choir; Orpington Junior Singers; London Symphony
Orchestra). Symphony No. 9. Symphony No. 10 (Adagio). Das
Lied von der Erde. (Christa Ludwig, mezzo-soprano; René Kollo,
tenor; Israel Philharmonic). Gustav Mahler Remembered—Reminiscences
by Mahler's Associates and by Musicians who played under his baton). Here are more Stokowski treasures, thanks to Cala. The Maestro recorded Dvorák's Ninth six times, the first complete recording made in 1925, an electric recording with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Five years earlier he had made an acoustic recording of a truncated version of the Largo. Stokowski recorded the symphony twice more in Philadelphia (1927 and 1934), in 1940 with the American Youth Symphony, in 1947 with a pickup orchestra, and his final recording dates from 1973 for RCA with the New Philharmonia. Cala's CD offers a pristine restoration of the 1947 RCA version which has first-class virtuoso players. Obviously the orchestra is deficient in strings, but the Stokowski sound is ever apparent, and the conductor's distinctive concept is always apparent. And we hear with great clarity Stokowski's added gong and cymbal in the final pages. A considerable bonus is inclusion of the delectable Schubert performances recorded in 1952 (Rosamunde) and 1949 (Tyrolean Dances). In 1955, just pre-stereo, Rafael Kubelik made several recordings for Decca with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra; two are included on Profil's new disk: Mahler's Symphony No. 1 and Janácek's Sinfonietta. Twelve years later, Kubelik recorded the same symphony as part of his complete DG Mahler series which was highly praised, and currently is available at mid-price. Collectors doubtless will be interested in Kubelik's first recording of Symphony No. 1, as well as the Sinfonietta. Althgough the sound is well-balanced mono, the acoustic is surprisingly dry, particularly detrimental to the Janácek. This recording was included in Volume I of Andante's 3-disk set Vienna Philharmonic 20th Century Music (REVIEW). A plus is inclusion of a 7-minute excerpt from the Mahler recording sessions during which producer Victor Olof congratulates Kubelik on his fine work and hopes for many more recordings. This is a budget issue. Fans of Robert Casadesus surely will welcome this issue of three live performances from Köln. The Mozart concerto dates from March 7, 1956; Casadesus recorded No. 23 commercially with Szell in Cleveland in 1969, and there are several other live performances currently available. This Emperor dates from January 29, 1965; Casadesus already had made a mono Columbia recording with Mitropoulos and the New York Philharmonic, and a splendid stereo version in 1961 with Hans Rosbaud and the Concertgebouw. The Ravel concerto also played an important part in Casadesus' career. He recorded it in 1947 with Ormandy in Philadelphia, and there exists a live Amsterdam performance with Van Beinum from a year earlier, and another from 1947 with Mitropoulos from a Salzburg concert. This new one is the most recent: March 11, 1957. Excellent mono sound. This site includes an extended feature on Glière's monumental Ilya Mourometz, his Symphony No. 3 (FEATURE). The many recordings are discussed in detail, and one of the most highly recommended is the 1974 stereo version with Nathan Khaikin conducting. For a short time, this was available on a superb private issue, but that has been discontinued (REVIEW). BEARAC REISSUES has come to the rescue - here is a superb transfer of this legendary performance, infinitely superior to the Russian Disc issue of some years ago. Ilya fans must get this! It is available by mail from BEARAC REISSUES The Bernstein Mahler set is self-recommending. He was the major conductor in the Mahler renaissance, and here we have his Columbia recordings of all of the symphonies, mostly with the New York Philharmonic. Symphony No. 8 is with the London Symphony, Das Lied von der Erde with the Israel Philharmonic. All of the recordings in the new set were made from 1960 - 1975.Bernstein later would record all of the symphonies again, and many of these later versions (and more) are available on video. The new remasterings have found new depth and richness not heard in previous releases. Limited program notes, but all texts are provided. If you don't already have these important recordings, here's an opportunity to acquire them at budget price. R.E.B. (June 2009)
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