Klassic Haus Conversations

CMAS-004 (STEREO) – Michael Praetorius: Polychoral Christmas Music – Four Concerti for Soloists, Choruses & Instruments from Polyhymnia caduceatrix et panegyrica (1619) – Westphalian Choral Ensemble – Wilhelm Ehmann, conductor – Michael Praetorious was one of the first musicians outside Italy to become a partisan of the musical revolution launched there at the end of the 16th century. Although he never left Germany, he amassed as imposing knowledge of the most advanced trends, which he sought with boundless energy to transplant to his native soil. Praetorious’ work as a composer reached its peak in 1619 the the publication of his Polyhymnia caduceatrix et panegyrica (roughly, “Polyhymnia [the muse of oratory and sacred poetry], herald and bearer of praise”). This collection of four selections from that publication was released on a Nonesuch LP under license by Cantate. A complete listing of performing personnel is included on the inside cover of the CD. Enjoyable listening for the Christmas season, and any other time during the year. Click here for an MP3 sample.

More Christmas titles may be found at Klassic Haus Restorations under  the Choral/Vocal tab – Thanks for visiting – Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-090-2CD (STEREO) – Early Decca Stereo Recordings of Georg Solti: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in e minor, Op. 64 – Paris Conservatory Orchestra (1956 recording); Rossini-Respighi: La Boutique fantasque; Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice – Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (1957 recording) – conducted by George Solti – An interesting compilation of  works conducted by Georg Solti, recorded at the dawn of stereo by Decca in 1956-57, The Tchaikovsky 5th is played better than one would suspect, given the wayward temperament of the Paris Conservatory Orchestra. Solti belays any nonsense, bringing forth a recording that is suitably straightforward, with moments of great beauty. The Tchaikovsky is transcribed a blue-back sleeve, semi-matte finish red with silver print label CS-series London LP. The Rossini-Respighi La Boutique fantasque recording is one of the best ever made (from 1957), and shines once again in this transcription, derived from an early orange full-size label Stereo Treasury Series LP. The Dukas is played with the correct amount of tongue-in-cheek, without any showy displays, serving the music well, as well as does Decca’s marvelous early stereo reproduction.

This was a fun project for me, as I had owned copies of both of these performances back in high school, and they were in my collection through college, until they finally were unplayable. In my constant search for new materials to restore, I came across clean copies in Denver last year. I finally had a chance to work on them a year later, and I am pleased with the result. Check out the MP3 sample of this CD on Klassic Haus Restorations.

Thanks for visiting! – Cheers – Curt TImmons

KHCD-2011-089 (STEREO) – French Orchestral Favorites: La Marseillaise, arr. Berlioz for Chorus, Soloists and Orchestra; Chabrier: España; Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune; Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice; Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre; Lalo: Scherzo – Orchestre de Paris/Jean-Pierre Jacquillat – The Orchestre de Paris held its first concert on November14, 1967 in the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, with Charles Munch, its Artistic Director, conducting. Within a short period it began recording for EMI, releasing 3 albums in 1968. This set was the second in the Angel series, featuring the conducting assistant to Charles Munch, Jean-Pierre Jacquillat. La Marseillaise is the big piece here, with the Berlioz setting for chorus, soloists and orchestra. The other well-know works are performed idomatically and with much charm, from a near-mint red-spine, blue label domestic Angel LP. Click here for an MP3 sample.

Titles posted for November 2011 are found on Klassic Haus Restorations home page. Thanks for visiting! – Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-088-2CD  (STEREO) – Richard Strauss; Also Sprach Zarathustra – Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Henry Lewis; Richard Strauss; Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24; Peter Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini, Op. 32 – Lorin Maazel/New Philharmonia Orchestra – Two London Phase 4 LPs were used to create this special-priced 2 CD set. Henry Lewis’ recording with the Royal Philhamonic of Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathustra received good reviews when it was released in 1970, but after the Phase 4 series was completed, never was re-released on CD (from what research I have done); this is the first CD issue of this sympathetically-played taping. Lorin Maazel’s performances of Strauss’ Death and Tranfiguration and Tchaikovsky’s Francesca also receive well -balanced performances, with some subtle highlighting of solos and instrumental groupings, typical of the Phase 4 technique, but not glaringly so as in earlier Phase 4 recordings. Sonic blockbusters, ably performed, spectacularly recorded. Click here for an MP3 sample.

More new titles posted on Klassic Haus Restorations – thanks for visiting! – Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-087 (STEREO) – Renaissance Music for Brass – Music by Melchior Franck,  Heinrich Scheidemann, Heinrich Schütz, Thomas Stolzer, Pierre Attaingnait, John Adson, Giovanni Gabrieli, Andrea Gabrieli, Adriano Banchieri – Brass Ensemble conducted by Gabriel Masson; Festive Baroque Wind Music – Music by  Johann Heinrich Schmelzer,  Johann Schultz, Melchior Franck, Valentin Hausmann, Daniel Speer, Samuel Scheidt, Johann Hermann Schein, Valentin Hausmann, Andreas Berger,  Johann Georg Christian Störl, & Anonymous – Ensemble Musica Antiqua conducted by René Clemencic – A rousing, festive collection of music for brass and winds. The Renaissance brass collection, derived from an early pressing Nonesuch LP licensed by Club Français Du Disque, features a typically bright, biting French ensemble, perfect for the music at hand. The Baroque pieces receive scholarly but still lively performances transcribed from a silver label Archiv LP published in 1966.  A wonderful selection of music to brighten a dull day. Click here for an MP3 sample.

This title is found under the Wind Ensembles tab on Klassic Haus Restorations. More new titles to be posted this month – Cheers -Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-086 (STEREO) – Maurice Duruflé: Requiem, for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, Op. 9 – Hélène Bouvier, mezzo-soprano; Xavier Depraz, bass; Phillipe Caillard Chorale; Stéphane Caillat Chorale;; Marie-Madeleine Duruflé-Chevalier, organ; Lamoureux Orchestra – conducted by Maurice Duruflé; Francis Poulenc – Mass in G (1937); Motet: Hodie Christus natus est; Motet: Quem vidistis pastores – The Festival Singers of Toronto conducted by Elmer Iseler – Duruflé’s Requiem is one of the few settings that gently accompanies a loved one to the threshold of eternal rest, without bombast or threat of eternal damnation. Much as Fauré in his own Requiem, Duruflé uses the heritage of Gregorian plain-song, preserving its color and line. This recording, made in November 1958, has the authority of the composer himself conducting. A mint  Erato LP was used in transcription.

The Poulenc works reflect that composer’ s humanistic, vernacular settings of religious texts. The Mass is like no other setting; some of it, such as the Gloria and the two Hosannas, seem more suited for brass and timpani than voices, but the effect proves very well judged. The Motets reflect the same style of the Mass in miniature, perhaps with a bit more lyricism. The Poulenc works are deftly performed by the Toronto Festival Singers, led by its founder, Elmer Iseler, from an early pressing Seraphim LP. Click here for an MP3 sample.

New titles for November have been posted on Klassic Haus Restorations – more to come! Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-085 (STEREO) – Psalm Settings by Mendelssohn & Vivaldi – Mendelssohn

Psalm 42 – Wie der Hirsch schreit, Op. 42; Psalm 95 – Kommt, lasst uns anbeten, Op. 46; Vivaldi: Psalm 109: Dixit Dominus, RV 594 – Symphonic Chorus and Orchestra of the Gulbenkian Foundation of Lisbon – Michel Corboz, conductor – The Mendelssohn psalm settings are the fruit of a particularly happy and productive period in his life, the years 1837-8. Mendelssohn had married in March 1837, and during his wedding journey through the Rhineland and the Black Forest, he composed the Psalm 42 setting, dedicated to his wife, Cécile. The favorable reception of the first performances of this work led him to compose a second setting, Psalm 95, for tenor soloist, chorus anf orchestra. Both are sweetly performed by the Gulbenkian Foundation Chorus and Orchestra, from a near-mint Erato LP. The Vivaldi Psalm 109, Dixit Dominus, is composed for two choruses and two orchestras, and strikes a balance and unity in spite of the varying keys, tempi, and instrumentation found in the ten-movement work. The Gulbenkian Foundation forces join again to perform this monumental setting, transcribed from a Musical Heritage Society 2-LP set, licensed by Erato. Click here for an MP3 sample.

More have been posted on Klassic Haus Restorations for November 2011 – check out the new titles on the Home Page – Cheers – Curt

KHCD-2011-092 (STEREO) – Requiem in d minor, WAB 39 (1849 – Edition: Haas/Orel) – Herrad Wehrung, soprano; Hildegard Laurich, alto; Friedreich Melzer, tenor;Günter Reich, bass; Laubacher Kantorei; Instrumental-Ensemble Werner Keltsch – Conducted by Hans Michael Beuerle – Psalm 146 in A, WAB 37 (ca. 1856 – Fair copy in Bruckner’s hand) – Ursula Wendt, soprano; Ingebord Russ, alto; Freider Stricker, tenor; Siegmund Nimsgern, bass; Hans Sachs-Chor; Lehrergesangverein Nürnberg (second chorus on Track 15; Wolfram Röhrig, rehearsal conductor); Nürnberg Symphoniker – Conducted by Wolfgang Riedelbauch – First CD Release –Landmark recordings of early Bruckner works. The Requiem was composed in memoriam to Franz Sailer, the notary of the St. Florian monastery. The Requiem was premiered on September 15, 1849, a year after Sailer’s death. This performance of the Requiem, recorded by Cantate in 1972, was once briefly available on a Nonesuch LP in the early 70s. This transcription uses the superior pressing Cantate LP as its source. The Psalm 146 was a product of Bruckner’s study with Simon Sechter, presumably around 1856. It exists as a yet unpublished manuscript, and the manuscript materials were used in the first modern performance in November 1971, and the subsequent recording made by Colosseum in 1973. A mint LP of that recording was used for this disc. Both of these recordings are being released for the first time on CD. I wish to thank John Proffitt for suggesting this project; and John F. Berky, of the Anton Bruckner Discography (www.abruckner.com) for the lending of the archival LPs used in producing this CD. The MP3 sample on the Klassic Haus Restorations website includes excerpts from the Requiem (Dies irae) and Psalm 146 (Final Chorus – Allelujah, lobet den Herrn.

This was a special project initiated by John Proffitt, CEO of KUHF-FM, the NPR affilliate in Houston, TX. He had brought up the reissue of the Nonesuch LP of the Bruckner Requiem conducted by Hans Michael Beuerle, as well as possibly adding the Psalm 146 on a very rare Colosseum LP.  I had found a copy of both and was ready to proceed; in the meantime he had contacted John F. Berky, who compiles and manages the Bruckner Discography (see link above). He contacted me, an offered to send mint archival copies of the Requiem (on the original Cantate LP, from which the Nonesuch LP was derived, and a superior pressing to the Nonesuch) and Psalm 146. I accepted, and the CD I have produced is the result. Both recordings have not been released on CD previously, and are worthy of repeated listening. The Psalm 146 is a special treat; very lyrical, Schubertian in many places, with many hints of later development in Bruckner’s mature style. This is an exceptional collection of two unique choral pieces in the true Romantic vein.

Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-ST009 (STEREO) – East Side-West Side – Soundtrack from the 1963 CBS-TV Production – Music composed and conducted by Kenyon Hopkins – This dramatic series featured stories about child abuse, drug abuse, rip-offs of the welfare system, crime; all of the problems of the inner city. The series centered on George C. Scott in the role of Neil Brock, a New York City social worker who worked for the private agency Community Welfare Service, with his secretary, Jane Foster, played by African-American actress Cicely Tyson. The series aired for only one season, despite the high quality of both the writing and acting,  because of the show’s penchant for taking on touchy topics forcing many potential advertisers to avoid sponsorship of the show. The music fit the mood and scenes of the show admirably, as composed by Kenyon Hopkins. The CD is derived from a clean demo Columbia stereo LP, and this reissue brings the exciting, biting score back to life.

Check out the other Kenyon Hopkins soundtracks on Klassic Haus Restorations – Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-ST008 (STEREO) – The Hustler – Soundtrack from the 1961 Movie – Music by Kenyon Hopkins – Kenyon Hopkins, formerly an arranger for Paul Whiteman, became prominent as a film composer best known for writing music for Tennessee Williams films that did not become classics. Probably the most memorable aspects of films such as This Property Is Condemned, The Fugitive Kind, and Baby Doll were Hopkin’s scores. There were a few acknowledged classics that featured his music, and  director Robert Rossen’s 1961 film The Hustler is one such classic. This film’s music is in what would be later dubbed the “Crime Jazz” style, fitting the noir elements of the story. The english horn, oboe and flute are prominent instruments throughout the score, underscoring the more calm moments of the story, along with the usual jazz  instrumentation. A top-flight roster of musicians sit in on the sessions, including trumpeters Joe Wilder and Doc Severinson, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, reedmen Phil Woods and Jerome Richardson, with pianists Hank Jones and Bernie Leighton. This reissue is transcribed from a near-mint Kapp LP, and was produced by customer request.

More Kenyon Hopkins scores coming (see my early post “Eleven Against The Ice”).

More to come – Cheers – Curt Timmons