Sharing Music Memories

Klassic Haus Conversations


Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-100 (STEREO) – Trumpet Concerti by Johann Wilhelm Hertel, Leopold Mozart & Johann Nepomuk Hummel – Edward Tarr, trumpet; Helmut Hucke, oboe; Consortium Musicum/Fritz Lehan – With the exception of Joseph Haydn’s Concerto for Trumpet from 1796, the musical literature for solo trumpet from the second half of the 18th century has been known until recently only to a handful of  specialists. This disc features two relatively unknown concerti by Hertel and Leopold Mozart, as well as the more well-known Hummel concerto. The Hummel concerto is played in its proper, original key of  E. Edward Tarr uses a Bb piccolo trumpet  with 4 valves in the Hertel and Mozart; and an E trumpet in the Hummel. Stylistically correct performances, played with panache from a true scholarly trumpeter. Originally recorded by EMI-Electrola, issued domestically on a Nonesuch LP; a late pressing was used for this transcription. Click here for an MP3 sample.

A must-have collection for followers of Edward Tarr’s art of trumpet playing. Cheers – Curt Timmons

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-099 (STEREO) – Americana – Leonard Bernstein: Overture to “Candide”; Elie Siegmeister: Western Suite; Morton Gould: American Salute; Vaclav Nelhybel: Etude Symphonique – Utah Symphony Orchestra /Maurice Abravanel; Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite – Morton Gould and His Orchestra – Maurice Abravanel recorded extensively with his Utah Symphony Orchestra, and Vox/Turnabout produced many fine recordings of that ensemble during the 70s. This particular Turnabout LP was never  released on CD (from what research I have done to date). It’s a fine collection of familiar (Bernstein & Gould) and not so familiar (Siegmeister & Nelhybel) works by American composers, nicely recorded (no credit for production is listed, but more than likely it is the Elite Recordings team Marc Aubort and Joanna Nickrenz who produced the recording). The Grofé was a “sonic spectacular” recorded in 1960 by RCA, and some subtle gimmickery was used to highlight or color some passages , but in the end it served the music very well. The Turnabout LP used for this transcription was a late pressing, purple label disc; the Grofé was a Quintessence LP reissue of the RCA recording. Click here for an MP3 sample.

Thanks for checking in – more to come! Cheers – Curt Timmons

 

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-098 (STEREO) – Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in c minor, Op. 68 – William Steinberg/Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Wagner: Prelude to Act III/Dance of the Apprentices/Entrance of the Meistersingers from “Die Meistersinger”; Prelude to “Die Meistersinger” – Eugene Ormandy/Philadelphia Orchestra – Last in the Steinberg/PSO Brahms Symphony cycle (the others are KHCD-2010-022 Brahms Symphonies Nos. 3&4; KHCD-2011-028 Brahms Symphony No. 2 & Shostakovich Symphony No. 1), finally released after a judicious remastering. I had first remastered the reel tape in 2009, but was not satisfied with the results, so I put the project aside until this year (2011). After spending some time relistening and readjusting, I was happy with the final remaster. It is a faithful reproduction of the reel tape. Steinberg’s performances are to-the-point, well-recorded with a wide soundstage, and are most worthy of reissue. The Wagner selections with Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra are breathtaking in beauty and grandeur. Most of Ormandy’s Wagner recordings on Columbia have been ignored by the current copyright holders, which is a sad state of affairs. His interpretations are less fussy and much more beautiful than many currently in print. A wonderful release! Click here for an MP3 sample.

I have released on Klassic Haus all 4 Brahms Symphonies as recorded by William Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, remastered using reel-to-reel tapes originally issued by Command Classics. I am also gradually reissuing their Beethoven Symphony cycle, using reel tape masters whenever possible, and original gold label Grand Award/Command Classics LPs when the reel tape is not available. The 1st, 3rd and 4th Symphonies (coupled with the Leonore Overture No. 3) are currently available on my site.

I am also planning a Wagner disc for early 2012 release featuring Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, from Columbia recordings of the late 50s and early 60s that have not found their way onto CD.

Thanks for checking in! Cheers- Curt Timmons

 

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-097 (STEREO) – Alessandro Grandi: Music for San Marco, Venzia, San Georgio, Ferrara & Santo Maria Maggiore, Bergamo – Accademia Monteverdiana/Denis Stevens – Alessandro Grandi (1586 – after June 1630, but in that year) was a northern Italian composer of the early Baroque era, writing in the new concertato style. He was probably born in Ferrara and spent the first part of his life there, likely studying with Giovanni Gabrieli at Venice, which was nearby. He was one of the most inventive, influential and popular composers of the time, probably second only to Monteverdi in northern Italy.  His works were published throughout Italy, Germany and the Low Countries, and continued to be reprinted long after his death. He wrote motets, psalm settings, madrigals, as well as some of the earliest compositions to be called “cantata.” This disc, from a 1970s Nonesuch LP licensed by Accadamia Monteverdiana, feature expert performances led by Monteverdi scholar Denis Stevens. Click here for an MP3 sample.

More posts to come for December – Cheers – Curt Timmons

 

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-096 (STEREO) – Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 in B-flat – Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra/Günter Wand – Günter Wand in his later years became a supreme advocate of Bruckner’s symphonies, recording the cycle of 9 twice; the first time in the mid-70s with the Cologne Radio Symphony, arguably the better of the two cycles. His supreme grasp of the overall structure and flow of tempi in this symphony, perhaps the most problematic in the cycle, is evident throughout. The Cologne Radio Symphony responds wonderfully to Wand’s demands. Derived from a mint Pro Arte 2-LP set, licensed by Harmonia Mundi. Click here for an MP3 sample.

More to come in December – Cheers – Curt Timmons

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-095-2CD (STEREO) – The Artistry of Günter Wand – Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D, “Haffner”, K. 385; Symphony No. 38 in D, “Prague”, K. 504; Schoenberg: Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 16; Webern: Cantata No. 1, Op. 29 (Anna Westhoff, soprano; Gürzenich Chorus) – Gürzenich Symphony Orchestra of Cologne; Stravinsky: Dumbarton Oaks Concerto in E-flat for Chamber Orchestra – Members of  the Lamoureux Concerts Orchestra –  Günter Wand, conductor – A collection of  long out of print Nonesuch LPs, licensed by Club Français Du Disque, with whom Wand had a long and fruitful collaboration. The Mozart performances are among the best to be heard, truly historic readings worth preserving. The Schoenberg/Webern/Stravinsky disc is also a contender for best performances of these well-known, seminal 20th century masterpieces. Both discs were factory sealed; the Mozart a mid-run pressing from the late 60s, the 20th century pieces a later-press disc. Click here for an MP3 sample.

Thanks for checking in! More posts to come for December – Cheers – Curt Timmons

 

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-094 (STEREO) – J. S. Bach Four Great Organ Toccatas: Toccata and Fugue in d minor, S. 565; Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C, S. 564; Toccata and Fugue in d minor, S. 538 “Dorian”; Toccata and Fugue in E, S. 566 – Harry Grodberg plays on the Cavaillé-Coll Organ in the Great Hall of the Moscow Music Conservatory – Well-know Toccatas from the Baroque master,  played on the last opus of  Cavaillé-Coll by Harry Grodberg. The straightforward approach to the music is refreshing; no Romantic give-and-take, rather presenting the music as it is on the page. Well recorded by Melodiya, circa 1970, and transcribed from a near-mint Melodiya/Angel late pressing LP. Click here for an MP3 sample.

Another great Melodiya/Angel recording previously unreleased on CD. Thanks for checking us out!  Cheers  – Curt Timmons

 

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-093 (STEREO) – Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring – USSR Symphony Orchestra/Yevgeny Svetlanov; Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in b minor, D. 759 “Unfinished; Weber: Oberon Overture; Brahms, Tragic Overture, Op. 81 – USSR Symphony Orchestra/Paul Kletzki – Svetlanov’s reading of  Stravinsky’s “Rite” is extraordinary in its power, grit, and lyricism, in a wide-range Melodiya/Angel recording. Kletzki’s Schubert 8th is surprisingly well-behaved, the winds and brass reigning in the vibrato and the string body very smooth and refined; a winning interpretation. The Weber “Oberon” overture is very well done, and the Brahms “Tragic” Overture reminds one of Charles Munch’s approach from the first emphatic chords; but Kletzki’s trademark grip on tempi is felt throughout. A satisfying collection of Melodiya recordings from late 60s. Click here for an MP3 sample.

The Melodiya/Angel series from the mid-60s and Melodiya/Westminster series from the mid-70s were both an outstanding collection of LPs, with so many unique performances, with sonics that were singularly Russian in character. Many performances had found their way onto  CDs during the exciting early days of that media, but soon were deleted from the catalogues. These recordings have never been released before on CD, from what I have researched.

More to come – thanks for visiting! Cheers – Curt Timmons

 

 

 

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-2011-091 (STEREO) – Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in b-flat minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 23 – Ilana Vered, piano; Kazimierz Kord/London Symphony Orchestra; Stravinsky: Three Pieces from “Petrushka” – Ilana Vered, piano – Very detailed, yet passionate performance of Tchaikovsky’s beloved Piano Concerto No. 1 with Ilana Vered accompanied by the London Symphony with Kazimierz Kord conducting. London/Decca’s Phase 4 multi-mic technique is used discreetly throughout. Ilana Vered also plays selections from Stravinsky’s “Petrushka”, arranged originally by Stravinsky for Arthur Rubenstein. Wonderful performances long out of circulation, now made available. Click here for an MP3 sample.

I have been seeking out clean LP copies of the London Phase 4 Concert Series, and occasionally a reel-to-reel-tape from the series will pop up. Some of the series were released on cassettes, and, later, CD (often as part of the budget “Weekend Classics” during the early days of CDs), but many titles ended up being ignored. As I research the series, I will reissue those titles that haven’t been put on CD by the copyright holders.

Thanks for checking us out – more to come! Cheers – Curt Timmons

 

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

KHCD-ST012 (STEREO – Slaughter On Tenth Avenue – Soundtrack to the 1957 Universal-International Motion Picture – Music by Richard Rodgers – Joseph Gershenson/Universal-International Orchestra – The book  “The Man Who Rocked The Boat” by William J. Keating and Richard Carter was the basis of this movie, dubbed a “documentary” drama about New York City docks. The music by Richard Rodgers was taken from the 1936 ballet score of the same name (which is featured at the end of Rodgers and Hart’s musical comedy On Your Toes) but has nothing to do plot-wise with the movie. The music adapted very well, though, to the film’s “mayhem, mobsters and murder” theme. This transcription is from a near-mint (pre-MCA) Decca (US) black with silver print label LP; I’ve added a bit of “air” to the sound to compensate for the rather dry studio-bound acoustic.. The result is quite satisfying, and brings an important movie score back into circulation. Produced by customer request; thanks to Bill Gilardon, leader of the Chicago Grandstand Big Band for suggesting this project. Click here for an MP3 sample from the soundtrack.

Thanks for checking us out – more postings to come! Cheers – Curt Timmons