Lovro von Matacic Beethoven Symphonies

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

An Italian friend of mine, Paolo Zeccara, is looking for crowdfunding support for a limited-edition set of the Beethoven Symphonies conducted by Lovro von Matacic that he's producing. Paolo has been the one behind the recent Alexander Brailowsky CD sets put out by the Walter Stauffer Foundation in Italy, and those who have them know the high standard of sound quality and booklet production he brings to historical releases.

He has asked me to let people know about this project, which needs to have its production costs met by December 16th. If anyone is interested in pledging support and getting a copy, the website link and a write-up about the project are below. If this release is successful, Paolo has plans to produce more historical releases this way.

Mark Obert-Thorn


https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/von-matacic-conducts-beethoven-s-nine-symphonies


<<Beethoven's Nine Symphonies conducst by von Matacic. Live recordings, Milan, 1962. Unreleased on CD.

Lovro von Matacic never recorded the complete Beethoven Symphonies in the studio. Yet he performed them in concert with prestigious orchestras in many countries, last of all in Japan. This recording is of the famous cycle of concerts that the Croatian conductor performed at the Great Hall of the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, Milan, between November 19th and December 12th, 1962.

The cycle was videotaped for transmission on RAI 2 (Channel 2 of the Italian state broadcaster) on Saturday evenings between January and March 1963.
This was a happy and significant choice since, on 4th November 1961, RAI 1 (Channel 1 of the Italian state broadcaster) had begun transmitting programmes of light entertainment on Saturday evenings, which featured frivolous shows with actresses and famous comedians. The purely cultural approach of RAI's Channel 2 - which created a kind of internal competition within the company - was immediately seen as 'provocative', thanks to its popularisation of great classical music, especially that of Beethoven and, in particular, Lovro von Matacic's 'last recording' of the Nine Symphonies.

The individual symphonies were subsequently broadcast both on RadioTre (RAI's
Radio Three) and on the Fourth Channel of Filodi usione (an early form of cable radio utilising the telephone network) which was dedicated to classical music and opera. The mono sound is remarkable and has been further enhanced by careful remastering.

This Beethoven cycle conducted by Lovro von Matacic appears FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME ON CD. Only 500 units of the 5 CDs box will be made available.

The archive that preserves these rare recordings requires a complete cataloging. The search for funds through this crowdfunding is to buy recent electronic equipment and software adequate for this purpose. The asking price includes the professional manufacture of CDs at a qualified British factory. No CD-Rs will be produced for this publication. The technical realization and the restoration will be carried out at the studio that restored the vinyl recordings of Alexander Brailowsky for the Walter Stauffer Foundation of Cremona.>>

[Gerry]

Many thanks for this. I have a question. The site states:

"This campaign started on Oct 17 and will close on December 16, 2014 (11:59pm PT).
Flexible Funding This campaign will receive all funds raised even if it does not reach its goal."

If one "pledges" to obtain a set (which requires credit card information), is the money refundable should the producer not raise his goal. The quoted statement suggests the money will be forfeit. Thanks.

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

On Thursday, November 6, 2014 8:20:01 AM UTC-5, Gerry wrote:
> If one "pledges" to obtain a set (which requires credit card information), is the money refundable should the producer not raise his goal. The quoted statement suggests the money will be forfeit. Thanks.

I have an e-mail into him now to clarify what will happen, and I'll post the reply here when I get it.

Mark O-T

[Mike]

It would also be nice to know why they need to buy a bunch of electronic gear to produce such a limited release. Aren't there companies that specialize in doing that kind of thing much cheaper? The point here isn't to take issue with the project but to suggest that they need to read their solicitation from the perspective of potential donors.

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

On Thursday, November 6, 2014 6:35:17 PM UTC-5, Mike wrote:
> It would also be nice to know why they need to buy a bunch of electronic gear to produce such a limited release. Aren't there companies that specialize in doing that kind of thing much cheaper? The point here isn't to take issue with the project but to suggest that they need to read their solicitation from the perspective of potential donors.

The electronic gear is not for producing the release; they already have equipment for making the transfers and have contracted for the manufacture of the CDs. Rather, it's for the archive which holds the original tapes. My understanding is that it's to help fund their archival preservation activities, perhaps in exchange for letting the Matacic recordings be released.

MO-T

[chriskh...@gmail.com]

>
> The electronic gear is not for producing the release; they already have equipment for making the transfers and have contracted for the manufacture of the CDs. Rather, it's for the archive which holds the original tapes.

RAI have already made their own digital transfers which sounded excellent when broadcast in the 1990s. Why not simply contract with RAI for the use of these?

My understanding is that it's to help fund their archival preservation activities, perhaps in exchange for letting the Matacic recordings be released.

Doesn't the date of 1962 mean they are just clear of the new EU 70-year ruling? In other words, anyone who recorded them off-the-air in the 1990s could issue them or simply post them on youtube or on a blog? (Don't worry about any plans I might have, I have these recordings but by equipment was only so-so and I wouldn't use them except for my own private purposes).

FWIW, these performances have plenty of rude vigour but orchestrally they are very rough at times and I haven't often gone back to them. I wonder if the Japanese cycle mentioned exists in recorded form?

Chris Howell

[Frank Berger]

HMV Japan shows #s 1,2,6,7 and 9 with the NHK SO as available.

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[Gerry]

Matacic appears to have made more than one tour to Japan. Those who are interested in purchasing these should look carefully at the recording dates.

[Frank Berger]

Ah. The Matacic #2 and #7 I mentioned were recorded in 1984.

[jrsnfld]

On Sunday, November 9, 2014 7:15:02 AM UTC-8, Frank Berger wrote:

> Ah. The Matacic #2 and #7 I mentioned were recorded in 1984.

Denon also offered a Beethoven 6 with Matacic, but instead of the NHK SO it was with the Lausanne CO, from a concert in 1982.

There's also a wonderful live Matacic Beethoven 9 on Praga, with the Czech PO, from 1980. However the finale is sung in Czech.

--Jeff

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

On Thursday, November 6, 2014 8:20:01 AM UTC-5, Gerry wrote:

> Many thanks for this. I have a question. The site states:
>
> "This campaign started on Oct 17 and will close on December 16, 2014 (11:59pm PT).
> Flexible Funding This campaign will receive all funds raised even if it does not reach its goal."
>
> If one "pledges" to obtain a set (which requires credit card information), is the money refundable should the producer not raise his goal. The quoted statement suggests the money will be forfeit. Thanks.

I heard back from Paolo Zeccara, who was away for a few days. He confirmed to me that he would issue refunds to all pledgers if the project does not reach its goal, so this should be a no-risk proposition to anyone who is interested.

Mark O-T

[Gerry]

Thank you.

[tomdeacon]

There have been THREE additional releases from this source.

004: Italian Quartets of the '40s and 50's playing Italian Quartet music
005 and 006: the Columbia recordings done by "I Musici" from Rome (complete
recordings)

There is also another Brailovsky about to appear.

--
TD

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

On Tuesday, November 11, 2014 5:06:06 PM UTC-5, tomdeacon wrote:

> There have been THREE additional releases from this source.
>
> 004: Italian Quartets of the '40s and 50's playing Italian Quartet music
> 005 and 006: the Columbia recordings done by "I Musici" from Rome (complete
> recordings)
>
> There is also another Brailovsky about to appear.

Those have all been under the aegis of the Walter Stauffer Foundation. The Matacic set is the first one Zeccara is doing on his own, through crowdfunding. But yes, it's the same person behind them all.

Mark O-T