Philadelphia Orchestra Boxed Set
AllGdPple
CD Boxed Set.
this one's a must have.......one of the finest recorded orchestras to ever
grace our planet. they have guest recording's never released. like an
appearance by Jascha Heifitz performing Sibileus Violin Concerto, a guest
conductor appearance by Igor Stravinsky and one by Aaron Copland as well as a
recording session with Arturo Toscanini. here's the lowdown......the reading's
of it is almost as exciting as hearing it:)
THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA:
THE CENTENNIAL COLLECTION
Historic Broadcasts and Recordings 1917-1998
VOLUME 1: STOKOWSKI/ORMANDY
Disc 1
JOHANNES BRAHMS - Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G minor (orch. Parlow)
Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Recorded October 24, 1917, at the Auditorium of
the New Office Building, Victor Talking Machine Company, Camden, New Jersey.
This is both the Orchestra's and Stokowski's first recording. In the same
sessions, they recorded the Hungarian Dance No. 6, the Scherzo from
Mendelssohn's Midsummer Night's Dream and the "Dance of the Blessed Spirits"
from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Recorded during concerts at the Academy,
November 21 and 30, 1931, by Bell Telephone Laboratories; the November 21
concert was broadcast.
An experimental recording using new electrical techniques, the recording was
made during two concerts without the musicians' knowledge so that they would
concentrate on the performance and not the recording. It was the first time a
live Philadelphia Orchestra concert performance had ever been recorded.
JEAN SIBELIUS - Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Recorded for broadcast December 18, 1964
Disc 2
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY - Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy-Overture
Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Recorded for broadcast February 6, 1962
RICHARD WAGNER - Love Music, from Tristan und Isolde, Acts II and III (arr.
Stokowski) - Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Recorded for Columbia, February 25,
1960, at the Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG - Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 (1917 version)
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Recorded for Columbia, March 19, 1950
Disc 3
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF - The Isle of the Dead, symphonic poem, Op. 29
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Recorded for broadcast April 22, 1977
Ormandy recorded Rachmaninoff many times, but he made only one mono recording
of Isle of the Dead, making this his only stereophonic recording of the tone
poem.
WALTER PISTON - Symphony No. 7
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Recorded for broadcast February 10, 1961
This was the world premiere performance of the work, which was commissioned by
the Orchestra and dedicated to Ormandy. It earned Piston his second Pulitzer
Prize.
KRZYSZTOF PENDERECKI - Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Recorded for broadcast January 10, 1969
Ormandy felt a strong commitment to this work, which had been written in 1960
to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the atomic bomb explosions over Japan.
He included it in two more broadcasts, 1970 and 1977.
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH - Symphony No. 6, Op. 54
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Recorded for broadcast May 15, 1969
VOLUME 2: MUTI
Disc 4
HECTOR BERLIOZ - Overture, Le Carnaval romain, Op. 9
Riccardo Muti, conductor - Recorded for broadcast September 19, 1986
GIUSEPPE VERDI - Overture to I vespri siciliani
Riccardo Muti, conductor - Recorded for broadcast May 1, 1985
BENJAMIN BRITTEN - Four Sea Interludes, Op. 33a, from Peter Grimes
Riccardo Muti, conductor - Recorded for broadcast February 28, 1975
EDGARD VARÈSE - Arcana
Riccardo Muti, conductor- Recorded for broadcast February 1, 1985
OTTORINO RESPIGHI - Pini di Roma
Riccardo Muti, conductor - Recorded October 5, 1998
VOLUME 3: SAWALLISCH
Disc 5
JOHANNES BRAHMS - Variations on a Theme of Joseph Haydn, Op. 56a
Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor - Recorded May 2, 1997
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN - Fantasy in C minor, Op. 80, for piano, chorus, and
orchestra - Wolfgang Sawallisch, piano and conductor - The Philadelphia Singers
Chorale, David Hayes, artistic director - Recorded May 9, 1996
BOHUSLAV MARTINU - Symphony No. 4
Wolfgang Sawallisch, conductor - Recorded October 13, 1994
VOLUME 4: GUEST CONDUCTORS
Disc 6
RICHARD WAGNER - Transformation Music, from Parsifal, Act I
Fritz Reiner, conductor - Recorded November 28, 1931, by Bell Telephone
Laboratories. Previously unpublished.
This is another Philadelphia Orchestra-Bell Laboratories experiment with
electronic high-fidelity technologies. As with Beethoven's Fifth Symphony in
Volume One, it was done without the Orchestra membership's knowledge to
maintain spontaneity. It is the earliest Reiner recording ever released.
SAMUEL BARBER - Adagio for Strings
Klaus Tennstedt, conductor - Recorded for broadcast November 21, 1985
This is the only Tennstedt recording of any American work. Given his history of
Mahler and Bruckner performances with the Philadelphians, this was a striking
and riveting departure for the conductor.
GUSTAV MAHLER - Symphony No. 5
Hermann Scherchen, conductor - Recorded for broadcast October 30, 1964
This was the Orchestra's first performance of the symphony, plus it was
Scherchen's North American debut and his only appearance with the Orchestra.
Disc 7
CLAUDE DEBUSSY - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Bruno Walter, conductor - Broadcast live March 1, 1947
As with Tennstedt, Walter was a specialist in the Austro-German masters, making
this foray into French impressionism somewhat of a novelty. The performance
prominently features one of the Orchestra's legendary members - Principal Flute
William Kincaid, who served from 1921 to 1960.
MAURICE RAVEL - Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloé
Charles Munch, conductor - Recorded for broadcast March 7, 1963
This suite was one of Munch's personal showpieces, and the performance
testifies to his skill in the French repertoire.
BÉLA BARTÓK - Dance Suite for Orchestra
István Kertész, conductor - Recorded for broadcast February 6, 1970
Kertész was considered a possible successor to Ormandy until his untimely death
at age 44 in 1973. Bartók was a specialty of his -- as it was of the Orchestra
-- but he never commercially recorded the Dance Suite.
HECTOR BERLIOZ - "Queen Mab" Scherzo, from Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17,
rehearsal - Arturo Toscanini, conductor - Recorded February 9, 1942
One of the unquestioned highlights of the entire collection, this is the first
time a Toscanini rehearsal has ever been authorized for release on a commercial
recording. Toscanini is almost fatherly with the Orchestra, even during a
meticulous rehearsing of the woodwind entrance. He talks to the Orchestra in an
endearing mixture of Italian and English.
"Queen Mab" Scherzo, from Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17 - Arturo Toscanini,
conductor - Recorded for Victor, February 9, 1942
Now hear what the finished performance sounds like! This was part of a series
of recordings Toscanini made with the Philadelphians for RCA.
VOLUME 5: COMPOSERS AS CONDUCTORS
Disc 8
ZOLTÁN KODÁLY - Variations on a Hungarian Folksong ("The Peacock")
Zoltán Kodály, conductor - Broadcast live November 23, 1946
This recording is a rarity for several reasons: this was the U.S. concert
premiere of the work; Kodály made very few recordings as a conductor; and he
never recorded with an American orchestra before or after.
IGOR STRAVINSKY - Divertimento, suite from Le Baiser de la fée
Igor Stravinsky, conductor - Broadcast live January 11, 1947
The Stravinsky-Philadelphia relationship was a strong one: he conducted the
Orchestra during four seasons over a period of 38 years, and the Orchestra has
given the U.S. premieres of seven of his works.
VIRGIL THOMSON - Five Portraits
Virgil Thomson, conductor - Recorded for Columbia, May 20, 1945
Thomson also had a close connection with the Orchestra, which premiered five of
his works, including this one. Thomson conducted the world premiere in November
1944 and returned at the end of the season to record it.
AARON COPLAND - Lincoln Portrait
Aaron Copland, conductor - Marian Anderson, narrator
Recorded for broadcast August 5, 1976, at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center,
Saratoga Springs, NY
This is the first of two appearances by "The Lady from Philadelphia" on the
collection. Mr. Obert-Thorn describes the pairing as "a 'dream team' of
interpreters." The selection also pays tribute to the Orchestra's annual
late-summer residence since 1966.
VOLUME 6: SINGERS
Disc 9
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART - Exsultate, jubilate, K. 165
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Beverly Sills, soprano - Recorded for broadcast
April 25, 1974
Performed at a Pension Fund Benefit Concert, this is Miss Sills' only recording
of the complete Mozart motet.
GAETANO DONIZETTI - "Il dolce suono mi colpì di sua voce! ... Ardon gli
incensi," from Lucia di Lammermoor, Act III
Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Joan Sutherland, soprano - Recorded for
broadcast January 26, 1963
The Orchestra's most glittering annual event is the Academy of Music
Anniversary Concert and Ball, which began in 1957 on the 100th anniversary of
the Academy. The soloists are always superstars and are often singers. This was
the 106th Anniversary concert and it marked Dame Joan Sutherland's Orchestra
debut.
UMBERTO GIORDANO - "Un dì all'azzurro spazio," from Andrea Chénier, Act I
Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Franco Corelli, tenor - Recorded for broadcast
January 26, 1963
Joan Sutherland was not the only star soloist at the Academy of Music's 106th
Anniversary Concert. The program also featured Franco Corelli, who was also
making his Orchestra debut that night.
GUSTAVE CHARPENTIER - "Depuis le jour," from Louise, Act III
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Dorothy Maynor, soprano - Recorded for Victor,
October 20, 1940
After Miss Maynor's first rehearsal with the Orchestra in March 1940, the
musicians burst out cheering, and she was invited back for the next season.
CHARLES GOUNOD - "Vous qui faites l'endormie" (Méphistophélès' Serenade), from
Faust, Act IV - Leopold Stokowski, conductor - George London, bass - Recorded
for broadcast January 20, 1962
Mr. London had already appeared with the Orchestra twice -- both times at its
annual spring residency in Ann Arbor (MI) -- before he came to the Academy for
the 105th Anniversary Concert. The line-up was amazing; Stokowski, London,
Nilsson (see below) and Harpo Marx, who conducted the last movement of Leopold
Mozart's "Toy" Symphony.
JOHANNES BRAHMS - "Von ewiger Liebe," Op. 43, No. 1 (orch. Cailliet)
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Marian Anderson, contralto - Recorded for RCA
Victor, January 8, 1939. Previously unpublished.
This recording was made during the same sessions Miss Anderson recorded the
Brahms Alto Rhapsody; no one is quite certain why it was never released, though
it may have been due to disagreements over tempos. This recording was made only
a few months before Miss Anderson's historic Lincoln Memorial recital.
RICHARD STRAUSS - "Sie woll'n mich heiraten ... Un du wirst mein Gebieter
sein," from Arabella, Act II - Daniel Barenboim, conductor - Anneliese
Rothenberger, soprano - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone - Recorded for
broadcast January 23, 1971
RICHARD WAGNER - "Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort" (Immolation Scene), from
Götterdämmerung, Act III - Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Birgit Nilsson,
soprano - Recorded for broadcast January 20, 1962
This meeting of two of the century's greatest Wagnerians was the highlight of
the 105th Anniversary Concert - and is a highlight of this collection.
VOLUME 7: INSTRUMENTALISTS
Disc 10
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN - Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Josef Hofmann, piano - Broadcast live April 4, 1938
This is the first time this legendary performance has been issued on CD.
Hofmann was a Philadelphia "favorite son"; he served as director of the Curtis
Institute of Music from 1927 to 1938.
JOHANNES BRAHMS - Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - William Kapell, piano - Recorded December 11, 1945,
at Carnegie Hall, New York
Kapell began his soloist career with The Philadelphia Orchestra when he won its
student competition in 1940. This recording was made privately for the pianist;
Kapell would never make a commercial recording of the concerto, making this an
important addition to his discography.
Disc 11
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART - Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major, K. 453
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Sviatoslav Richter, piano - Recorded for broadcast
January 29, 1970
Richter made his Orchestra debut when the ensemble came to Moscow in 1958. This
performance was part of two all-Mozart programs that were to be his fourth and
final appearance with the Orchestra.
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY - Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
William Smith, conductor - Michael Rabin, violin - Recorded for broadcast
November 10, 1961
Like Kapell, Rabin was a talented artist who died far too early (at the age of
35). This selection also honors the Orchestra's gifted and much-loved assistant
conductor, who served from 1952 until his death in 1993. He made over 800
appearances on the Orchestra's podium, more than anyone else except the music
directors.
Disc 12
JEAN SIBELIUS - Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
Leopold Stokowski, conductor - Jascha Heifetz, violin - Recorded December 24,
1934, at RCA Victor Church Studio No. 2, Camden, New Jersey. Previously
unpublished.
Perhaps the most eagerly anticipated selection of the entire collection, this
would have been the premiere recording of the concerto, had not personality
clashes led Heifetz to refuse its release. During the same session,
Rachmaninoff recorded his "Paganini Rhapsody."
ALBAN BERG - Violin Concerto
Eugene Ormandy, conductor - Leonid Kogan, violin - Recorded for broadcast
January 30, 1969
Kogan was one of the greatest post-war Soviet violinists, and the first Soviet
to perform this concerto. This performance was only the second in the
Orchestra's history and came 32 years after its Philadelphia premiere.
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS - Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33
Daniel Barenboim, conductor - Jacqueline Du Pré, cello - Recorded for broadcast
January 23, 1971
All recordings made at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, unless otherwise
noted.
AllGdPple
and oh yeah.......12 cd's - $200.00
a bargain, i'm sure you'll agree:)
kenny
Robbobell
the web site <A HREF="aol://4344:2501.webtwrkw.26612513.614460315">Tower
Records - Classical Department</A>.