Sony Dimitri Mitropoulos box coming April, 2022

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

The date is probably "aspirational", given their track record, but here are the details about the next big conductor box from Sony. I'm told that an unissued Columbia recording of the Dvorak Scherzo Capriccioso that came out on a Minneapolis SO Mitropoulos tribute is missing. Anything else?

Mark O-T


Dimitri Mitropoulos – Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra | New York Philharmonic – The Complete RCA and Columbia Album Collection

Sony Classical is proud to announce one of its most significant historic releases of recent years: a 69-CD box set containing the recorded legacy of Dimitri Mitropoulos (1896–1960), who ranks by general consensus among the 20th century’s most brilliant conductors. Many of these legendary performances have never before been transferred from their analogue masters and released on digital medium.

A lifelong ascetic and mystic, Mitropoulos was attracted in his youth to the monastic life but decided against following his older brothers into the Greek Orthodox Church when he learned that music was censured as a forbidden indulgence. After studying piano, composition, theory and conducting, first in his native Athens, then in Rome, Brussels and with Busoni in Berlin – where he served as Erich Kleiber’s assistant at the Staatsoper from 1921–24 – his career took flight in Athens. It was there that he developed his trademark style of conducting without baton or score and brought to his music-making all his religious fervour and passion along with his prodigious memory. As the critic Peter Quantrill astutely noted in an overview of his recordings in Gramophone: “Mitropoulos’s facility of memory could draw out [recurring melodic and motivic strands] at faster-than-usual tempi while maintaining an intuitive proportion between their sections. You seem to hear more of the music in a shorter space of time.”

His international fame began with a 1930 Berlin Philharmonic performance of the Prokofiev Third Piano Concerto, in which Mitropoulos appeared as both soloist and conductor. (He would repeat that tour de force a decade and a half later in Philadelphia, a performance included in this new set.) His American career was launched by sensational concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1936, which promptly resulted in his appointment to succeed Eugene Ormandy as principal conductor of the Minneapolis Symphony (now Minnesota) Orchestra. He proceeded to bring that ensemble international fame through recordings which captured the force of his magnetic personality and electrifying musicianship. In Minneapolis, he enjoyed enormous success with critics and audiences, performing half of Mahler’s then still largely unfamiliar output (earning him American Mahler Society Medal of Honor in 1940) and commissioning numerous works by leading American and European composers to make the orchestra a bastion of modern music in the US.

Mitropoulos’s association with the New York Philharmonic, which he first conducted in 1940, was hardly less successful artistically, though it was ultimately tarnished by critical hostility having more to do with his sexual orientation than his musical interpretations. From 1949, he served as the orchestra’s co-conductor with Leopold Stokowski, then from 1951 as music director until, after a period of joint leadership with Leonard Bernstein in 1958, he “abdicated with joy” in favour of his protégé, supposedly to devote more time to opera. During his New York years, he was also a commanding presence at the Metropolitan.

As Sony Classical’s massive new box set definitively demonstrates, Mitropoulos faithfully documented his eclectically wide-ranging repertoire on disc in Minneapolis and New York, even recording some favourite works in both cities. To cite a few highlights from the MINNEAPOLIS SYMPHONY years: there is the first-ever recording of Mahler’s First Symphony (1940), which “can still be counted among the finest the work has received” (Gramophone); Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies Nos. 4 (1940) and 2 (1946) as well as his First Piano Concerto with Arthur Rubinstein (1946) – “The soloist is in rare form, and this is an example of the grand manner in operation” (High Fidelity). Other symphonies for which Mitropoulos showed his special affinity in Minneapolis include the Borodin Second (1941; MusicWeb International: “The best performance of the Borodin symphony I’ve ever heard”), Schumann’s Second (1940) and “Rhenish” (1947), the Prokofiev “Classical” (1940) and Franck D minor (1940) – “Mitropoulos infuses his reading with unbearable intensity” (Classical Notes).

Also reissued here are Mitropoulos’s celebrated, incandescent Minneapolis readings of Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony (1947) – “An excellent interpretation … beautifully recorded, with a resonant, spacious quality … played with smooth, virtuosic effect” (Gramophone) – and The Isle of the Dead (1945); as well as Brahms’s “St. Antoni” Variations (1942), Vaughan Williams’s Tallis Fantasia (1945), Ravel’s Tombeau de Couperin (1941) and Milhaud’s Le Boeuf sur le toit (1945). We have Mitropoulos’s fellow Busoni pupil Egon Petri as piano soloist in their teacher’s arrangement of Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody (1940) and pianist Oscar Levant in concertos by Khachaturian (1950) and Anton Rubinstein (1952).

With the NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC, Mitropoulos conducts the epoch-making first recording of Berg’s Wozzeck (1951) with Mack Harrell and Eileen Farrell – “It is difficult to conceive any other conductor having an equivalent grasp of the score; and Mitropoulos infused his knowledge and vitality into his soloists” (Gramophone); Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, Erwartung with soprano Dorothy Dow (1951) and the first recording of his Violin Concerto, with Louis Krasner, Mitropoulos’s erstwhile Minneapolis concertmaster (1952); Krenek’s Symphonic Elegy (1951); and memorable Berlioz including an “almost hallucinatory” (Classical Net) Symphonie fantastique (1957) and excerpts from Roméo et Juliette (1952).

Included from New York are also Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” and “Reformation” Symphonies (1953); Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony (1954), Pathétique (1957) – “Mitropoulos achieves some remarkable flexibility of phrase for his expressive purposes … The first chord in the Adagio lamentoso movement of this recording sounds as if the conductor had reached the hearts of every individual string player” (New York Times) – and First Suite (1954); Scriabin’s Poème de l’extase and Promethée (1953); Shostakovich’s Symphonies Nos. 5 (1952) and 10 (1954) – “Mitropoulos had a particular affinity for this symphony. He gave its Western Hemisphere premiere in 1954 … This recording conveys an exciting spontaneity” (High Fidelity), “Mitropoulos’s pioneering account probes more deeply into the heart of this score than any of the recent newcomers” (Gramophone); Debussy’s La Mer (1950) and Stravinsky’s Petrushka (1951); excerpts from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet (1957) as well as that composer’s Lieutenant Kijé and Kodály’s Háry János suites (1956); Vaughan Williams’s Fourth Symphony (1956) – “splendidly alert and unfailingly eloquent (nowhere more so than in the slow movement) … Mitropoulos’s deeply felt interpretation won the enthusiastic approbation of the composer” (Gramophone) – and his Tallis Fantasia in the conductor’s 1958 glorious stereo remake (BBC Music Magazine: “A marvel of fine string playing”).

Other New York recordings with a soloist include David Oistrakh’s “unmissable … spellbinding … not least because of the conducting” (Gramophone) first recording of the Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 (1956); pianist Robert Casadesus in the Beethoven “Emperor” (1955), with “accompaniments as dynamic and exciting as the soloist’s playing” (Classics Today), and Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain (1956–57) – “Remarkable … Listen to the mystery and menace that he and Mitropoulos find in the first movement’s second half, or to the huge passion they bring to its climax” (Classics Today); the Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky (1954) and Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto (1952) with Zino Francescatti and the Prokofiev First Concerto with Isaac Stern (1956). Major American works from New York include the recording premiere of Roger Sessions’s Second Symphony (1950) – “one of the most important symphonic works ever produced in the United States” (Gramophone) – as well as Peter Mennin’s Third Symphony (1954), Gunther Schuller’s Symphony for Brass and Percussion (1956), Morton Gould’s Fall River Legend ballet suite (1952) and Leon Kirchner featured as soloist in his Piano Concerto No. 1 (1956).

Finally, the box also contains Mitropoulos’s complete METROPOLITAN OPERA sets: the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s Vanessa with Eleanor Steber, Nicolai Gedda, Regina Resnik and Rosalind Elias (1958) – “This recording stands the test of time as well as does the opera itself” (Penguin Guide); Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera with Zinka Milanov, Jan Peerce, Leonard Warren and the Met debut of Marian Anderson (1955); and Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov (in English; abridged) with Giorgio Tozzi (1956).


SET CONTENTS

DISC 1:

Liszt, Arr. Busoni: Rhapsodie espagnole, S. 254 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Borodin: Symphony No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 5 "Bogatyr" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 2:

Mozart: Thamos, König in Ägypten, K.345/336a: Entr'acte No. 1 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Mozart: Thamos, König in Ägypten, K.345/336a: Entr'acte No. 2 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Grieg: 2 Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Bach, J.S., Arr. L. Weiner: Toccata, Adagio & Fugue in C Major, BWV 564 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Lully, Arr. Mottl: Ballet du temple de la paix, LWV 69 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Dvořák: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Chabrier: Joyeuse marche (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Meyerbeer: Le prophète, Act III: Coronation March (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 3:

Bach, J.S., Arr. Mitropoulos: Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 542 "Great" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Bach, J.S., Arr. H. Bösenroth: Choral Prelude for Organ BWV 680 "Wir glauben all' an einen Gott" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Glazunov: Overture on Three Greek Themes, Op. 3, No. 1 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Ravel, Arr. Chardon: Piece en Forme de Habanera (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Glazunov, Arr. Rogal-Lewitzsky: Chopiniana - Suite for Orchestra based on Piano Pieces by Frederic Chopin, Op. 46 (Remastered) - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra

DISC 4:

Mozart: Concerto No. 10 in E-Flat Major for Two Pianos and Orchestra, K. 365 (Remastered) - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 7 in F Major, K.242 "Lodron Concerto" (Remastered) - Little Orchestra Society (Scherman)

DISC 5:

Milhaud: Le boeuf sur le toît, Op. 58 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Ravel: Le tombeau de Couperin, M. 68a (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Couperin, Arr. Milhaud: Overture and Allegro from "La Sultane Suite" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Rabaud: La procession nocturne, Op. 6 - New York Philharmonic

DISC 6:

Chausson: Symphony in B-Flat Major, Op. 20 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Walton: Portsmouth Point Overture (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 7:

Puccini: Manon Lescaut, Act III: Intermezzo (Remastered) - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra

Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana, Act II: Intermezzo (Remastered) - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra

Wolf-Ferrari: I gioielli della Madonna (The jewels of the Madonna). Act II: Intermezzo (Remastered) - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra

Wolf-Ferrari: I gioielli della Madonna (The jewels of the Madonna). Act III: Intermezzo (Remastered) - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra

Menotti: Sebastian (Ballet Suite) (Remastered) - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra

Massenet: Scènes Alsaciennes Suite No. 7 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 8:

Rachmaninoff: The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Vaughan-Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 9:

Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Major "Titan" - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 10:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 17 "Little Russian" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 11:

Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D-Flat Major, Op. 38 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Rubinstein: Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 70 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 12:

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 23 (Remastered 1999) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 13:

Poulenc: Concerto in D Minor for Two Pianos and Orchestra (Remastered) - RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra

Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56b for Two Pianos (Remastered) - (Whittemore & Lowe)

DISC 14:

Sessions: Symphony No. 2 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Gould: Philharmonic Waltzes - New York Philharmonic

Lalo: Le roi d'Ys: Overture (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Siegmeister: Ozark set (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 15:

Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 97 "Rhenish" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Weinberger: Schwanda the Bagpiper (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Gould: Ministrel Show (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 16:

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 17:

Franck: Symphony in D Minor, FWV 48 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 18:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 19:

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastorale" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 20:

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, "Scotch" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Mendelssohn: Capriccio brillant in B Minor, Op. 22 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Mendelssohn: Octet in E-Flat Major, Op. 20: III. Scherzo. Allegro leggierissimo (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 21:

Dukas: L'Apprenti sorcier in F Minor (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel (Suite) (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 "Classical" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Glière: Red Poppy Ballet Suite: Russian Sailor's Dance (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 22:

Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel (Suite); Bridal Procession (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 23:

Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 24:

Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56a "St. Anthony's Choral" (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Weber: Jubel-Ouvertüre, Op. 59 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3 in C Major, Op. 72a (Remastered) - Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

DISC 25:

Bloch: Schelomo - Hebraic Rhapsody for Cello & Orchestra (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 26:

Stravinsky: Petrushka (1911 Version) (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 27/28:

Berg: Wozzeck, Op. 7 - New York Philharmonic

DISC 29:

Debussy: La Mer - New York Philharmonic

Debussy: Images pour orchestre, L. 122, No. 2 (Remastered) - Philadelphia Orchestra (Ormandy)

DISC 30:

Schoenberg: Erwartung, Op. 17 - New York Philharmonic

Krenek: Symphonic Elegy for String Orchestra (In Memoriam of Anton Webern) - New York Philharmonic

Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 - Strings of the New York Philharmonic

DISC 31:

Bruch: Concerto No. 1 in G Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 26 - New York Philharmonic

Beethoven: Romance for Violin and Orchestra in G Major, Op. 40 (Remastered) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Morel)

Beethoven: Romance for Violin and Orchestra in F Major, Op. 50 (Remastered) - Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Morel)

Paganini: Concerto No. 3 in B Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 61 - New York Philharmonic

DISC 32:

Gottschalk: Cakewalk Ballet Suite (Remastered) - Philadelphia Orchestra (Ormandy)

Gould: Fall River Legend Ballet Suite (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Couperin, Arr. Milhaud: Overture and Allegro from "La Sultane Suite" (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Travis: Symphonic Allegro (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 33:

Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette, Op. 17, H 79 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 34:

Prokofiev: Concerto No. 2 in G Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 63 - New York Philharmonic

Bach, J.S.: Violin Concerto No. 2 in E Major, BWV 1042 (Remastered) - Cleveland Orchestra (Szell)

Prokofiev: Concerto No. 3 for Piano and Orchestra in C Major, Op. 26 - Robin Hood Dell Orchestra

DISC 35:

Scriabin: Symphony No. 4, Op. 54 "Le Poème de l'extase" - New York Philharmonic

Scriabin: Promethée, le poème du feu, Op. 60 - New York Philharmonic

DISC 36:

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 37:

Ippolitov-Ivanov: Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, Op. 10 - New York Philharmonic

Borodin, Arr. Rimsky-Korsakov: Prince Igor, Act II: Polovtsian Dances (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia - New York Philharmonic

DISC 38:

Schoenberg: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 36 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Berg: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra "To the Memory of an Angel" (Remastered) - Cleveland Orchestra (Rodzinski)

DISC 39:

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A Minor, Op. 56, "Scotch" (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 in D Major, Op. 107 "Reformation" (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Mendelssohn: Die Hebriden, Op. 26 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Mendelssohn: Ruy Blas, Op. 95: Overture (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 40:

Riegger: Symphony No. 3 in G Major, Op. 42 (Remastered) - Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (Hanson)

Mennin: Symphony No. 3 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 41:

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 in E-Minor, Op. 93 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 42:

Berlioz: Les nuits d'été, Op. 7 - Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Berlioz: La captive, H 60 - Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Berlioz: Le jeune Pâtre breton, H 65 - Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Berlioz: Zaïde (boléro), Op.19 No. 1 - Columbia Symphony Orchestra

DISC 43:

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 - New York Philharmonic

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto, Op. 35 - New York Philharmonic

DISC 44:

Borodin: Symphony No. 2 in B Minor, Op. 5 - New York Philharmonic

Tchaikovsky: Orchestral Suite No. 1, in D Minor, Op. 43 - New York Philharmonic

DISC 45:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 46:

Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99 - New York Philharmonic

DISC 47:

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 "Emperor" - New York Philharmonic

Bach, J.S.: Concerto for 3 Pianos in D Minor, BWV 1063 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 48:

Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op. 60 (Symphonic suite for Orchestra) - New York Philharmonic

Kodály: Háry János Suite (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 49:

Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre, Op. 40 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Saint-Saëns: Le rouet d'Omphale, Op. 31 - New York Philharmonic

Saint-Saëns: Phaëton, Poème symphonique, op. 39 - New York Philharmonic

Saint-Saëns: La jeunesse d'Hercule - Poème symphonique - New York Philharmonic

DISC 50:

Vaughan-Williams: Symphony No. 4 in F Minor - New York Philharmonic

Vaughan-Williams: Fantasia On A Theme by Thomas Tallis - Strings of the New York Philharmonic

DISC 51:

Schuller: Symphony for Brass and Percussion, Op. 16 (Remastered) - Brass Ensemble Of The Jazz And Classical Music Society

J.J. Johnson: Poem For Brass (Remastered) - (Schuller)

J. Lewis: Three Little Feelings (Remastered) - (Schuller)

Giuffre: Pharaoh (Remastered) - (Schuller)

DISC 52:

Schuman: Credendum - Article of Faith (Remastered) - Philadelphia Orchestra (Ormandy)

Kirchner: Piano Concerto No. 1 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 53:

Falla: Noches en los Jardines de España (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Falla: El sombrero de tres picos, Suite No.2 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 54:

Dukas: L'Apprenti sorcier (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Weinberger: Schwanda the Bagpiper (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Strauss, R.: Salome, Op. 54: Dance of the 7 Veils (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Liszt: Les préludes, S.97 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 55:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique" (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 56:

Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19 - New York Philharmonic

Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 63 - New York Philharmonic (Bernstein)

DISC 57/58:

Barber: Vanessa, Op. 32 (Remastered) - Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus

DISC 59:

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Ballet, Op. 64 (Excerpts) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 60/61:

Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (Abridged) (Remastered) - Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus

DISC 62:

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 63:

Tchaikovsky: Slavonic March, Op. 31 - New York Philharmonic

Mussorgsky: Night On Bald Mountain - New York Philharmonic

Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien, Op. 45 - New York Philharmonic

Skalkottas: Four Greek Dances - New York Philharmonic

DISC 64:

Verdi: A Masked Ball (Abridged) (Remastered) - Metropolitan Opera Orchestra

DISC 65:

Walton: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra (Remastered) - The Philadelphia Orchestra (Ormandy)

Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

DISC 66:

Hindemith: Sonata for Oboe and Piano (Remastered) - Harold Gomberg, Dimitri Mitropoulos

Löffler: 2 Rhapsodies for Oboe, Viola and Piano (Remastered) - Harold Gomberg; Dimitri Mitropoulos

DISC 67:

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 (Remastered) - New York Philharmonic

Mozart: 9 Variations on a Minuet by Jean Pierre Duport, K. 573 (Remastered) - (Casadesus)

DISC 68/69:

Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera - Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus

[Invocation]

This is great! Does Sony have a plan to pack a complete Leinsdorf set or Rodzinski's Cleveland recordings?

[wanwan]

Wonder if the Proko R&J excerpts is complete. IIRC, one of the re-issues was missing a movement.

Eric

[Frank Berger]

Sony 78761 (Great Performances series) has 9 selections from the first two suites, nothing from the 3rd suite. The earlier Sony 48169 (Essential Classics) has only 8, apparently missing "Juliet - the Little Girl," Suite 2, no. 2

[gggg gggg]

(Recent Y. upload):

Giuseppe Verdi, Dimitri Mitropoulos – Un Ballo In Maschera

[gggg gggg]

(Recent Y. upload):

Dimitri Mitropoulos Live (1896-1960): Brahms & R. Strauss (Salzburg 10-08-1958)

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

On Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 11:08:34 PM UTC-4, Invocation wrote:
> This is great! Does Sony have a plan to pack a complete Leinsdorf set or Rodzinski's Cleveland recordings?

I don't have any inside information about those. Also, I've heard further about the "missing" Dvorak Scherzo Capriccioso, and apparently it was a live performance from a V-Disc, not a studio session. Sony doesn't include that sort of thing in these sets, only studio or live recordings that they own. Further to gggg's post below, they no longer have the rights to the live Salzburg material which they previously issued, so that's not in the box, either.

MO-T

[John Fowler]

Wonderful news.
This looks like "original jacket" with a vengeance (lots of discs have short timings), which I kind of like, but I'm old.
I wish Sony had been this thorough with Rodzinsky - by giving us his complete Cleveland and Chicago recordings as well as New York.

[RiRiIII]

Marvelous news. Many thanks.

[gggg gggg]

On Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 5:33:08 PM UTC-7, Mark Obert-Thorn wrote:

(Upcoming radio program):

https://www.wfmt.com/2021/12/12/mitropoulos-in-philadelphia

[shellackophile]

Wonderful news! Earlier this year I compiled the following analysis of Mitropoulos' Columbia and RCA Victor "albums" - should be easy enough to match up with Mark's listing above:

Mitropoulos - Minneapolis Symphony LPs (Columbia 1939-46, RCA Victor 1946-47):

Columbia:
ML 2032
Milhaud: Le Boeuf sur le Toit (3/2/45, MX-308)
Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin (12/6+7/41, X-222)

ML 2074
Massenet: Scenes Alsaciennes (3/11/46, MM-723)

ML 2123
Lalo: Le Roi d'Ys Overture (3/2/45, MX-343)
Siegmeister: Ozark Set (3/2/45, X-262)

ML 4127
Mendelssohn: Capriccio Brilliant (w. Graudan) (12/4/40, X-197)
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 (Cleveland/Szell) (11/26/47, MM-733)

ML 4141
Chausson: Symphony in B-Flat (3/9/46, MM-825)

ML 4196
Rachmaninoff: Isle of the Dead (3/2/45, M-599)
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Tallis (3/2/45, MX-300)

ML 4251
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 (11/4/40, M-469)

ML 4252
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2, "Little Russian" (3/10+11/46, M-673)

RL 3006
Franck: Symphony in D minor (12/27/39 & 11/4/40, M-436)

RL 3007
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 (11/4/40, M-468)

RL 3009
Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, "Pastorale" (12/27/39, M-401)

RL 3017
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, "Scotch" (12/6/41, M-540)

RL 3021
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (12/4/40, X-212)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Le Coq d'Or - Suite (3/2/45, X-254)
Prokofiev: Classical Symphony (12/27/39 & 11/4/40, X-166)
Gliere: Russian Sailors' Dance (12/7/41, filler for Borodin, M-528)

RL 3025
Schumann: Symphony No. 2 (12/3/40, M-503)

RL 3031
Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 (w. Kilenyi) (12/6/41, M-515)

RL 3038
Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn (4/4/42, X-225)
Weber: Jubilee Overture (3/11/46, 12891-D)
Beethoven: Coriolan Overture (1/10/40, 11175-D)
Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3 (12/27/39, X-173)

RL 3040
Liszt-Busoni: Spanish Rhapsody (w. Petri) (12/27/39, X-163)
Chopin: 24 Preludes (Petri, pf.) (6/24/42, M-523)

78s:
Mendelssohn: Octet - Scherzo (12/27/39 - filler for Prokofiev, X-166)
Bach-Weiner: Toccata, Adagio and Fugue (12/4/40, X-195)
Lully-Mottl: Minuet (12/4/40 - filler for Mendelssohn, X-197)
Mozart: Thamos - 2 Entr'actes (12/3/40, 11578-D)
Dvorak: Slavonic Dances Nos. 1 & 3 (12/4/40, 11645-D)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Coq d'Or - Bridal Procession (12/4/40, filler for X-212)
Grieg: 2 Elegiac Melodies (12/3/40, 11698-D)
Glazounov: Overture on Greek Themes (4/6/42, X-228)
Borodin: Symphony No. 2 (12/7/41, M-528)
Bach-Mitropoulos: Fantasia BWV 544 (4/6/42, X-244)
Bach-Boessenroth: Credo (4/6/42, filler to above)
Couperin-Milhaud: La Sultane (3/2/45, 12161-D, AL 16)
Walton: Portsmouth Point Overture (3/10/46, 12755-D)
Ravel: Piece en forme de Habanera (Chardon, vc.) (3/2/45, filler to MX-343)
Meyerbeer: Coronation March (12/7/41, 19013-D)
Chabrier: Marche Joyeuse (12/7/41, 19013-D)

RCA Victor:
LM 1028
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 (w. Rubinstein) (11/16/46, DM-1159)

LM 1067
Schumann: Symphony No. 3, "Rhenish" (1/20/47, DM-1184)

LM 1068
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 (1/19/47, DM-1148)

78s:
Morton Gould: Minstrel Show (11-9654)
Weinberger: Schwanda - Polka and Fugue (12-0019)


Mitropoulos & New York Philharmonic LPs (Columbia, 1950-58):

ML 2120
Sessions: Symphony No. 2 (1/16/50, MM-920)
reissued on ML 4784 with Milhaud cond. his Symphony No. 1 (1/8/47, MM-704)

ML 2167
Gould: Philharmonic Waltzes (1/23/50, 13139-D)
Gould: Symphony No. 2 - Quickstep (cond. Gould) (5/9/46, filler for MM-832)
Griffes: The White Peacock (cond. Stokowski) (11/17/47, 19012-D)
Copland: Billy the Kid - 2 excerpts (cond. Stokowski) (11/3/47, 19011-D)

ML 2170
Saint-Saens: Danse Macabre (11/27/50, 13150-D)
Saint-Saens: Le Rouet d'Omphale (1/23/50, 13151-D)
Rabaud: Procession Nocturne (1/23/50)

ML 2196
Bach: Concerto in D minor (R., G. & J. Casadesus, pfs.) (11/27/50)
Bach: French Suite No. 6 (R. Casadesus, pf. solo) (3/21/51)

AL 8
Saint-Saens from ML 2170

AL 16
Roy Travis: Symphonic Allegro (2/4/52)
Couperin-Milhaud: La Sultane - Overture and Allegro (2/4/52)

AL 44
Falla (see ML 5172)

AL 52
Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture (11/2/53)
Mendelssohn: Ruy Blas Overture (11/2/53)

ML 4288
Khatchaturian: Piano Concerto (w. Levant) (1/3/50, MM-905)

ML 4315
Saint-Saens: Violin Concerto No. 3 (w. Francescatti) (1/23/50, MM-937)
Paganini: Violin Concerto No. 1 (Francescatti & PO/Ormandy) (1/15/50, MM-936)

ML 4425
Bloch: Schelomo (w. Rose) (4/21/51)
Saint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1 (w. Rose) (4/21/51)

ML 4434
Debussy: La Mer (11/27/50)
Debussy: Iberia (Phila./Ormandy) (3/11/51)

ML 4438
Stravinsky: Petrouchka (3/5/51)

ML 4465/6 (SL-118)
Berg: Wozzeck (w. Mack Harrell, Eileen Farrell et al) (4/12+13+15/51)

ML 4524
Schoenberg: Erwartung (w. Dorothy Dow) (11/19/51)
Krenek: Symphonic Elegy for Strings (4/21/51)

ML 4575
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 (w. Francescatti) (2/4/52)
Beethoven: 2 Romances (Francescatti & Columbia SO/Morel) (4/23/52)

ML 4599
Rubinstein: Piano Concerto No. 4 (w. Levant) (3/31/52)

ML 4616
Gould: Fall River Legend (3/31/52)
Gottschalk-Kay: Cakewalk (Phila./Ormandy) (2/17/52)

ML 4632
Berlioz: Romeo and Juliet - Excerpts (10/27/52)

ML 4648
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 (w. Francescatti) (10/27/52)
Bach: Violin Concerto No. 2 (Francescatti & Columbia SO/Szell) (1/6/53)

ML 4731
Scriabin: Poem of Ecstacy (4/20/53)
Scriabin: Prometheus (w. Hambro) (4/20/53)

ML 4739
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 (12/1/52)

ML 4815
Ippolitov-Ivanov: Caucasian Sketches (4/20/53)
Borodin: Polovtsian Dances (12/1/52)
Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia (4/20/53)

ML 4857
Schoenberg: Violin Concerto (w. Krasner) (12/1/52)
Berg: Violin Concerto (Krasner & Cleveland/Rodzinski) (12/15/40, M-465)

ML 4864
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3, "Scotch" (11/2/53)
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5, "Reformation" (11/2/53)

ML 4902
Mennin: Symphony No. 3 (2/1/54)
Riegger: Symphony No. 3 (Eastman-Rochester/Hanson) (4/30/52)

ML 4959
Shostakovich: Symphony No. 10 (10/18/54)

ML 4965
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto (w. Francescatti) (11/17/54)
Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto (w. Francescatti) (3/27/54)

ML 4966
Borodin: Symphony No. 2 (11/2/53)
Tchaikovsky: Suite No. 1 (10/18/54 & 11/17/54)

ML 5075
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 (3/27/54)

ML 5077
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 (w. Oistrakh) (1/2/56)

ML 5100
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor" (w. Casadesus) (11/19/55)

ML 5101
Kodaly: Hary Janos Suite (2/27/56)
Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije Suite (1/9/56)

ML 5154
Saint-Saens: Danse Macabre (11/27/50, from ML 2170)
Saint-Saens: Jeunesse d'Hercule (1/9/56)
Saint-Saens: Phaeton (1/9/56)
Saint-Saens: Le Rouet d'Omphale (1/23/50, from ML 2170)

ML 5158
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 4 (1/9/56)

ML 5172
Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain (w. Casadesus) (11/2/56 & 3/23/57)
Falla: The Three-Cornered Hat - Dances (11/2/53, from AL 44)
Falla: La Vida Breve - Interlude and Dance (11/2/53, from AL 44)

ML 5184
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole (w. Francescatti) (4/22/57, later on MS 6206 coupled with Walton Violin Concerto)
Vieuxtemps: Violin Concerto No. 4 (Francescatti & Phila./Ormandy) (4/14/57)

ML 5185
Kirchner: Piano Concerto (w. composer) (2/24/56)
Schuman: Credendum (Phila./Ormandy) (3/11/56)

ML 5188 (MS 6030)
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (2/24/57)

ML 5198
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (11/3/56)
Liszt: Les Preludes (2/27/56)
R. Strauss: Salome - Dance of the Seven Veils (11/3/56)
Weinberger: Schwanda - Polka and Fugue (11/3/56)

ML 5235 (MS 6006)
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, "Pathetique" (11/11/57)

ML 5243
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 (w. Stern) (2/24+27/56)
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 (Stern & NY/Bernstein) (1/21/57)

ML 5267 (MS 6023)
Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet - Highlights (11/11/57)

ML 5285 (MS 6007)
Schoenberg: Verklarte Nacht (3/3/58)
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Tallis (3/3/58)

ML 5335 (MS 6044)
Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien (4/22/57)
Tchaikovsky: Marche Slave (11/11/57)
Moussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain (11/11/57)
Skalkottas: Four Greek Dances (1/9/56, not on MS 6044)


Mitropoulos and other orchestras on Columbia and RCA:


Robin Hood Dell Orchestra of Philadelphia (Columbia)

ML 2053
Menotti: Sebastian - Ballet Suite (7/26/46, X-278)
Opera Intermezzi (Wolf-Ferrari et al) (7/26/46, MX-317)

ML 4098
Mozart: Concerto for 2 Pianos (Vronsky & Babin) (9/21/45, M-628)
Mozart: Concerto for 3 Pianos (Vronsky, Babin, Lhevinne & Little Orch./Scherman) (11/18/47, MM-771)

ML 4389
Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3 (7/26/46, M-667)
Shostakovich: Piano Concerto (Eileen Joyce & Halle Orch./Heward) (10/24/41, M-527) (owned by Warner)

78 only:
Chopiniana (9/21/45, M-598)


Metropolitan Opera (RCA Victor)

LM-1911
Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera, abridged (Milanov, Peerce, Warren) (1955)

LM-6063
Moussorgsky: Boris Godounov, abridged (Georgio Tozzi) (1958)

LSC-6138
Barber: Vanessa (Steber, Elias, Gedda, et al) (1958)


Columbia Symphony Orchestra
ML 4940
Berlioz: Nuits d'Ete (w. Eleanor Steber) (1/21/54)
Berlioz: 3 songs (Steber & Columbia SO/Morel) (5/19/54)


RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra
LM 1048
Poulenc: Concerto for 2 pianos (Whittemore & Lowe) (11/15/47, DM-1235)
Brahms: Haydn Variations (Whittemore & Lowe) (12/21/47, DM-1347)


The Brass Ensemble of the Jazz and Classical Music Society (Columbia)
CL 941 (March 1957)
Gunther Schuller: Symphony for Brass and Percussion
J. J. Johnson: Poem for Brass (cond. Schuller)
John Lewis: Three Little Feelings (cond. Schuller)
Jimmy Giuffre: Pharoah (cond. Schuller)


As pianist (Columbia) - see also Prokofiev with Robin Hood Dell Orch.
ML 5603
Hindemith: Oboe Sonata (w. Harold Gomberg) (4/21-23/52)
Loeffler: Two Rhapsodies (Gomberg, oboe & Katims, viola) (6/26/51)


Best wishes
Bryan Bishop

[John Fowler]

> Let's hope that Sony reduced the horrid "honky" upper low frequencies effects in many of Mitropoulos' NYPO / Carneigie Hall recordings This was caused by a primitve attempt to electrnically extend the reverb time in the hall back in the early to mid 1950s
Who you calling horrid honky?

[gggg gggg]

On Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 5:33:08 PM UTC-7, Mark Obert-Thorn wrote:

(Recent Y. upload):

Dimitri Mitropoulos (1896-1960): Concert at Carnegie Hall 19 April 1953 with Arthur Rubinstein

[John Michel]

I don't see the Met Opera Club 2-LP set of DIE WALKURE listed. Is there a reason for that omission?

[mINE109]

On 12/3/21 2:15 PM, John Michel wrote:

> I don't see the Met Opera Club 2-LP set of DIE WALKURE listed. Is
> there a reason for that omission?

The Met isn't a Sony property so it would require licensing.

BTW, it's cumbersome to scroll through untrimmed google group quotes on
a newsreader.

[MELMOTH]

John Michel a utilisé son clavier pour écrire :
> I don't see the Met Opera Club DIE WALKURE included in the list. Is there a
> reason for that?

Damn...When are you going to learn how to quote properly?...

[John Michel]

On Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 7:33:08 PM UTC-5, Mark Obert-Thorn wrote:

I wonder if this Minneapolis Sym/Mitropoulos item could be tracked down and added as well:

DVOŘÁK, ANTONĺN
Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, B minor, Op.115
Gregor Piatigorsky, cello
Columbia XCO 32636-45 (78-rpm), unreleased

The lacquer masters for this and all other Minneapolis Symphony Columbia recordings made from 6 December 1941 forward were destroyed in 1990. All that is known to survive of this recording is the first movement, which is preserved on a 16-inch pressing in the YMW series located at Sony Music Archives in New York

[MELMOTH]

drh8h a présenté l'énoncé suivant :
> Do you really mean all the lacquers, whether issued or not, were destroyed?
> Everything?

Learn to quote, asshole...

[drh8h]

Aren't you one of those "real newsreaders"? Then you shouldn't need it.

[Alex]

Happy Holidays to all of us.

The just released 3 X Sacd Mitropoulos japanese set, includes a photo and a text in english of the upcoming 69-cd set with Mitropoulos Complete Columbia and RCA recordings, coming in April 2022.

Here they are:
https://i.postimg.cc/0jNQmLvc/MITROPOULOS-BOX-1.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/QtmCFj2F/MITROPOULOS-BOX-2.jpg

[Kerrison]

I think the NYPO could have recorded the fastest and the slowest versions of the Vaughan Williams "Tallis Fantasia" ...

Mitropoulos at 12:44 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VabIjcA67M4
Bernstein at 18:12 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqxcxTbiKEs

Any others that are faster or slower?

[mswd...@gmail.com]

On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 1:48:04 PM UTC-6, Kerrison wrote:
> Any others that are faster or slower?

Monteux's live BSO performance from December 20, 1963 runs 12:34.
Reiner's live CSO performance from November 28, 1957 runs 18:47.

Both are from official releases by the orchestras and both are correctly pitched.

[mswd...@gmail.com]

And the Reiner does not sound slow. What a performance...

[Kerrison]

On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 9:13:30 PM UTC, mswd wrote:

> On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 3:07:29 PM UTC-6, com wrote:
> > On Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 1:48:04 PM UTC-6, Kerrison wrote:
> > > Any others that are faster or slower?
> > Monteux's live BSO performance from December 20, 1963 runs 12:34.
> > Reiner's live CSO performance from November 28, 1957 runs 18:47.
> >
> > Both are from official releases by the orchestras and both are correctly pitched.
> And the Reiner does not sound slow. What a performance...

Thanks for the heads-up ...

Monteux dated 1960, so I guess he did it more than once with the BSO ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqFGDd6LR6s

Reiner as per your date in 1957 ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8QgMWdxM8Y

I think this may have been one of those few English works that were taken up internationally, or at any rate in the States, since it was performed there by the likes of Toscanini, Stokowski, Ormandy, Steinberg, Bruno Walter, Maurice Abravanel, Morton Gould, Leonard Slatkin and doubtless a few others as well.

[Kerrison]

Correction: Urania Records has issued a Bruno Walter CD, from which I took his name above, listing him as having conducted the "Tallis Fantasia" with the NYPO in 1953. I just checked Howard Shanet's "Philharmonic" and the only conductor to have performed that work in that year was Mitropoulos. I think Shanet would be more reliable than Urania, unless DM was ill and BW stood in for him!

[Jim Murphy]

I came across this while looking for something else. Thought some of you might be interested.

https://tinyurl.com/hc47sydy

[David Hattner]

The Monteux I have heard is cut.

[mswd...@gmail.com]

On Monday, January 3, 2022 at 4:41:54 PM UTC-6, David Hattner wrote:
> The Monteux I have heard is cut.

Ah, interesting. Hopefully the Reiner is not!

[drh8h]

I have been told it has been reported in an ARSC article (I am not a member, and have no access), that in fact, a producer at Sony had a large number of Mitropoulos/Minneapolis lacquers from Dec 7, 1941onward destroyed c. 1990 because he decided their sound was not good enough to preserve. This likely means all "78" Columbia material past that date will be transferred from tapes created for early lp issues, which almost certainly have added reverb. Somewhat discouraging, but still, the value of having a complete set of RCA and Columbia recordings by Mitropoulos outweighs that deficit.

DH

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

The box is now up for pre-order on Amazon for $300 with free Prime shipping:
https://www.amazon.com/Dimitri-Mitropoulos-Complete-Columbia-Collection/dp/B09NN5G74D/ref=sr_1_1?crid=KIEUOXJ2ET4E&keywords=mitropoulos+sony&qid=1646233645&s=music&sprefix=mitropoulos+sony%2Cpopular%2C912&sr=1-1

Also Presto Classical for $317 before shipping:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9318510--dimitri-mitropoulos-the-complete-rca-and-columbia-album-collection

Release date for both is April 22nd.

Mark O-T

[MELMOTH]

Mark Obert-Thorn a couché sur son écran :

> The box is now up for pre-order on Amazon for $300 with free Prime shipping:

201 euros on Amazon France...

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

Now listed at ImportCDs for $230.24:

https://www.importcds.com/complete-rca-and-columbia-album-collection/194398882529

MO-T

[drh8h]

Sony has announced a box of Ormandy Minneapolis recordings. https://tinyurl.com/yckwk9vm

[John Fowler]

I just ordered it from JPC.de for 171.56 Euros, shipping included.
$195.72 according to Paypal

[Richard deRabelais]

I used to buy from jpg, a very reliable German company.
Post Brexit though, UK buyers should be aware that import taxes now apply and will add around 25% to the quoted price. I got stung that way when I purchased the big Ormandy box.
Amazon would have been cheaper.
RdeR

[Anthony Fountain]

As the now retired (after 21 years) Classical Music Archivist at Sony Music and having worked on more pre-LP re-releases than I can count, I do not recall hearing of Mitropoulos/Minneapolis lacquers being scrapped because of poor sound quality, though there are certainly gaps in the catalog from those war years. This however had less to do with poor sound quality than the forced use of glass as a substrate rather than aluminum, the latter, if memory serves, being extremely scarce between ca.1942-43 and 1945. With the passing years the lacquer had a tendency to flake off from the glass base, rendering the disc unusable. Even on glass-based discs where the lacquer is still intact they are mostly, though not exclusively, unplayable because of micro-cracks having developed on their surfaces. This has made them so noisy even the best noise-reduction software at the time was not capable of dealing with it. When that was the case, we would use metal parts, which while lacking the superb quiet surfaces found on lacquers, none the less proved serviceable. During my tenure we never used tape transfers as sources unless there were absolutely nothing else available, which only occurred rarely. I should also add our policy was to never, ever discard a disc, no matter the condition (even broken), as no one could predict future restoration software that might be able to cope with the deficiencies.

As I am four years out of the company, I do not know what sources are currently used at SMEI for re-issues of pre-LP/pre-tape recordings. In my time I was the only employee there with a thorough knowledge of the lacquer collection. I presume, or at least hope, there is someone in the Archives now who has taken my place.

Looking over this group I am pleased to see many familiar names and send greetings to all. I am sorely tempted to re-join ARSC.

Anthony Chase Fountain

[mswd...@gmail.com]

On Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 1:03:17 PM UTC-5, Anthony Fountain wrote:
> As the now retired (after 21 years) Classical Music Archivist at Sony Music and having worked on more pre-LP re-releases than I can count, I do not recall hearing of Mitropoulos/Minneapolis lacquers being scrapped because of poor sound quality, though there are certainly gaps in the catalog from those war years. This however had less to do with poor sound quality than the forced use of glass as a substrate rather than aluminum, the latter, if memory serves, being extremely scarce between ca.1942-43 and 1945. With the passing years the lacquer had a tendency to flake off from the glass base, rendering the disc unusable. Even on glass-based discs where the lacquer is still intact they are mostly, though not exclusively, unplayable because of micro-cracks having developed on their surfaces. This has made them so noisy even the best noise-reduction software at the time was not capable of dealing with it. When that was the case, we would use metal parts, which while lacking the superb quiet surfaces found on lacquers, none the less proved serviceable. During my tenure we never used tape transfers as sources unless there were absolutely nothing else available, which only occurred rarely. I should also add our policy was to never, ever discard a disc, no matter the condition (even broken), as no one could predict future restoration software that might be able to cope with the deficiencies.
>
> As I am four years out of the company, I do not know what sources are currently used at SMEI for re-issues of pre-LP/pre-tape recordings. In my time I was the only employee there with a thorough knowledge of the lacquer collection. I presume, or at least hope, there is someone in the Archives now who has taken my place.
>
> Looking over this group I am pleased to see many familiar names and send greetings to all. I am sorely tempted to re-join ARSC.
>
> Anthony Chase Fountain

Thanks for the note, Anthony. Professional insights are a treat of the group, and I hope you'll find reason to offer more commentary in the future.

[drh8h]

It is possible the lacquers were destroyed for other reasons than sound, but this information came from Dennis Rooney who with Seth Winner, oversaw the production of the Minnesota Orchestra commemorative set almost 20 years ago. The need to resort to tape copies of later Mitropoulos recordings, such as the Mendelssohn 3, is discussed in the booklet with the set.

DH

[Mark Obert-Thorn]

On Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 8:33:08 PM UTC-4, Mark Obert-Thorn wrote:
> The date is probably "aspirational", given their track record, but here are the details about the next big conductor box from Sony. I'm told that an unissued Columbia recording of the Dvorak Scherzo Capriccioso that came out on a Minneapolis SO Mitropoulos tribute is missing. Anything else?
>
> Mark O-T

Got to give them their due -- Sony made their release date. My copy just shipped today from ImportCDs ($230.24, including tax and shipping).

MO-T

[Frank Berger]

JPCE shipped mine on the 21st. Hasn't arrived yet.

[Alex]

Just in from the NYPO, honoring Mitropoulos. 120 scores hand marked by him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzA0eLUOftM

https://archives.nyphil.org/

[Jonathan Ben Schragadove]

I recently ordered from jpc for the first time, and my order shipped on April 12 (to USA west coast). Still hasn't arrived...

[Jonathan Ben Schragadove]

Update: arrived today (May 2). Is jpc usually this slow? At least it arrived undamaged, and they offer some good deals on hard-to-find titles, and major discounts on some of their older house label CPO titles.

[Frank Berger]

JPC is not responsible for anything once they ship it. Mine shipped on April 21 from JPC. The announced release date was April 22, so I suspect when you said it shipped on April 12 you meant April 21.

Shipping time from Europe of April 12 to May 2 delivery in the U.S. is not unusual especially in the Covid era.

[wanwan]

You are lucky that you've received yours. Mine is still sitting in Frankfurt since the 21st.

Eric

[Jonathan Ben Schragadove]

Apologies - was referring to jpc in general and should have specifically clarified that I didn't order the Mitropoulos. I ordered 6 items on April 12: The Poschner Bruckner 8 on Capriccio, and 5 CPO titles.

[Frank Berger]

I'm always bawling my wife out for making unwarranted assumptions, and here I did it myself.

[Frank Berger]

Mine shipped on the 21st, was in Frankfurt on the 23rd, arrived in the U.S. May 1. No updates since then.

[John Fowler]

My Mitropoulos box arrived May 4 via Federal Express.
Mailed from Germany on April 21.
The packaging was incredibly protective.
The Sony box (same size as the Szell, Walter and Ormandy boxes) was packaged inside of 3 additional cardboard boxes, with plastic popcorn generously cushioning everything.
The large hardcover book is modeled on the Szell, Walter and Ormandy books.
The 69 CDs inside actually only take up a width of slightly less than 8 inches, so Sony could have gotten by with a much smaller box
(which I would have preferred, but I'm not complaining)
Contents are listed on the spine of each "original jacket".
$195 well-spent (thank you JPC.de)

[Frank Berger]

Mine also shipped on Apri. 21, cleared customs today and USPS estimates delivery May 7.

[MELMOTH]

Dans son message précédent, Frank Berger a écrit :

> Mine also shipped on Apri. 21, cleared customs today and USPS estimates
> delivery May 7.

Many thanks for this exciting news...

[MELMOTH]

Frank Berger avait écrit le 04/05/2022 :
> Mine also shipped on Apri. 21, cleared customs today and USPS estimates
> delivery May 7.

[Frank Berger]

I thought you were being sarcastic, but since you thanked me twice, I see you meant it.

[number_six]

Famous antecedents include --
Jimmy Two Times from movie GOODFELLAS
The Soldier Who Saw Everything Twice from novel CATCH-22

[Frank Berger]

On 5/4/2022 4:33 PM, John Fowler wrote:

Received mine yesterday. Impressively packed, as you said.

[gggg gggg]

On Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 5:33:08 PM UTC-7, Mark Obert-Thorn wrote:
> The date is probably "aspirational", given their track record, but here are the details about the next big conductor box from Sony. I'm told that an unissued Columbia recording of the Dvorak Scherzo Capriccioso that came out on a Minneapolis SO Mitropoulos tribute is missing. Anything else?
>
> Mark O-T
>
>

On Sunday, the following will be included on WFMT's Collectors Corner:

- PUCCINI: La fanciulla del West: Act I Final Scene. (Mario del Monaco, tenor; Dimitri Mitropoulos, cond; Florence May Festival Orch) Myto 042.H087

https://www.wfmt.com/2022/05/29/the-art-of-eleanor-steber

[Oscar]

On Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 11:03:17 AM, Anthony Fountain wrote:
>
>
> As I am four years out of the company, I do not know what sources are currently used at SMEI
> for re-issues of pre-LP/pre-tape recordings. In my time I was the only employee there with a
> thorough knowledge of the lacquer collection. I presume, or at least hope, there is someone
> in the Archives now who has taken my place.
>
> Looking over this group I am pleased to see many familiar names and send greetings to all. I am sorely tempted to re-join ARSC.

Welcome back!!

[gggg gggg]

(Y. upload):

La fanciulla del West (Mitropoulos, del Monaco, Steber, Guelfi) - 1954 recording - Definitive Editon

[gggg gggg]

(Recent Y. upoad):

Review: Sony's 69-CD MItropoulos Box (10 Best Recordings Preview for ClassicsToday.com Subscribers)

[jjbo...@gmail.com]

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/May/Mitropoulos-complete-19439888252.htm

[Jerry]

In checking the contents as listed by JPC and MusicWeb, I see that CD53 (Falla Nights in the Gardens
of Spain; Three-Cornered Hat Suite 2) does not show the Falla Interlude & Dance from La Vida Breve
that was on the original LP (and documented in the North book).

Is that a misprint or is it actually not included?

Jerry

[Frank Berger]

It is on CD 53.

[Frank Berger]

Yea, it is on CD 53.

[John Fowler]

The Sony book calls it "Intermedio - Danza espanola No. 1 from La vida breve".
The original jacket calls it "Interlude and Dance from La vida breve".

[David Fox]

On Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 2:57:31 AM UTC-7, John Fowler wrote:
> The Sony book calls it "Intermedio - Danza espanola No. 1 from La vida breve".
> The original jacket calls it "Interlude and Dance from La vida breve".

I just received my box from JPC - it had gotten diverted in the mail for several weeks. I am in the process of ripping and tagging the discs, as well as scanning the CD jackets and the booklet as this is how I consume my media these days. Question - after I performed a similar exercise with the Ormandy box, someone on the group posted a link to an official PDF of the booklet which was far better than my scan. Before I go through the effort to scan the Mitropoulos book is there a similar PDF of it out there somewhere? Thanks.