Klassic Haus Conversations

KHCD-2011-075 (STEREO) – Russian Orchestral Masterpieces played by French Orchestras – Glinka: Ruslan and Lumilla Overture; Liadov: Fragment de l’Apocalypse Op. 66; Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini Op. 32 ; Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia – Igor Markevitch/Lamoureux Orchestra; Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio espagnol – Andre Vandernoot/L’ Orchestre De La Societe Des Concerts Du Conservatoire; Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien – Pierre Dervaux/L’ Orchestre Des Concerts Colonne – Three French orchestras are featured in this overview of well-know works by 19^th century Russian masters. Igor Markevitch’s white-hot interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s “Francesca da Rimini” from a1959 DGG recording clearly trounces his later 1967 version with the New Philharmonia. The other Markevitch-led selections receive admirable performances by the Lamoureux Orchestra. The Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol and the Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italien were transcribed from a Command gold-label disc recorded in 1961, in wide-range 35mm-tape sonics. A great demo disc.

I had always admired Igor Markevitch’s 1967 taping of Tchaikovsky’s “Francesca da Rimini”, first on a domestically released Philips PHP-series LP, then issued with of Philips’ CD set of Markevitch’s traversal of Tchaikovsky’s 6 Symphonies with the London Symphony from the early-mid 60s. I had not heard his 1959 DGG recording until this year, when I was fortunate to find a near-mint DGG LP. What a exhilarating performance! The Lamoureux Orchestra plays “Francesca” as I have never heard it before; it has become my favorite version. The other pieces on this CD reissue are just as exciting.

Thanks for visting! – Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-074 (STEREO) – Tchaikovsky: Ballet Music from Operas: Selections from “Eugen Onegin”, “The Maid of Orleans”, “The Oprichnik”, “The Sorceress”, and “Tcherevitchki” – Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden/Colin Davis – A fine, well-recorded collection of  some lesser-known orchestral selections from Tchaikovsky’s operas, transcribed from a mint Philips LP. Magnificent playing by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, sensitively conducted by Colin Davis.

In my LP collecting days during the 60s and 70s, I never picked up this LP (nor the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 he recorded with Claudio Arrau and the Boston Symphony, also on Philips). I guess I didn’t associate Colin Davis with 19th century Russian repertoire. I’m glad I came across this disc, and happy to restore it.

Thanks for visting! – Cheers – Curt Timons

KHCD-2011-073 (MONO) – Marches in Mono – Marches by John Phillip Sousa, F.W. Meacham, E. F. Goldman, Earl E. McCoy, Karl L. King, J. Alford, John N. Klohr, Henry Fillmore, Harry L. Alford, F. E. Bigelow, and E. E. Bagley – Eastman Symphonic Wind Ensemble/Frederick Fennell – The spectacular  mono engineering of the Mercury recording team in the early 50s truly shone in the series transcribing the then-new Eastman Wind Ensemble with its founder Frederick Fennell conducting. This CD, derived from two Mercury LPs recorded in 1953, features a selection of Sousa’s legendary marches, as well as a generous sample of the American band music masters art from the early 20^th century. Truly marvelous playing, terrific sound, and a program to get you up on your feet and march along!

I grew up with these recordings when I first started playing clarinet in marching and concert band; my band director in junior high would play these very same recordings, and I fell in love with the performances and the terrific Mercury mono sound (even through the scratches!) I found pristine copies of these classics, and am happy to reissue them to enjoy once more.

Thanks for visiting! – Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-072 (STEREO) – Wagner: Orchestral Selections from “Der Ring Des Nibelungen” – National Symphony Orchestra, Washington D. C./Antal Dorati – Dorati conducted the National Symphony from 1970 to 1977, and, always the orchestra builder, brought its performance standards up to higher levels of excellence. During his tenure in DC, Decca/London recorded and released several LPs, most of which have lapsed into obscurity. This Wagner collection is a fine example of the capabilities of the NSO during this period of  rebirth, coupled with outstanding sonics by the Decca team recording in Constitution Hall. Demonstration quality, restored from a near mint Decca LP.

Dorati’s Decca LPs from his NSO Washington DC tenure have been ignored for some time. Most critics at the time of the series original releases seemed to be put off by the NSO’s performances. I think a reassessment of the series should be in order. The reissue is a good start; wonderful playing from the NSO, with great sonics, and no-nonsense interpretations.

Thanks for visting! – Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-ST006 (STEREO) – Holocaust – Soundtrack to the NBC-TV Production (1978) – National Philharmonic Orchestra/Morton Gould – Morton Gould arranged musical cues from the four-part, nine-and-a-half hour movie into an extended suite, following the story-line sequence of the production. Music that is at once chilling, tender, and ultimately triumphant, this CD restores an important soundtrack to circulation. A must-have for Morton Gould admirers and followers of his art.

I found the LP copy unopened, and, fortunately, it was one of RCA’s better late pressings, with the last generation label emulating the “unshaded dog” labels of the early 60s. It took little in the way of click repair, and didn’t exhibit any vinyl roar while playing ( a problem with some RCA LPs, especially the dreaded Dynaflex pressings). The result is a CD that is true to the analog source.

Thanks for visiting! – Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-067
(STEREO) – Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D, K. 385 “Haffner”;
SymphonyNo. 41 in C, K. 551 “Jupiter” – Concergebouw Orchestra,
Amsterdam/Eugen Jochum – Second release on
Mozart symphonies as conducted by Eugen Jochum, this recorded in 1960 and first
released domestically on the newly-formed Philips (USA) label in 1964. Comments
apply for this disc as made for KHCD-2011-066 (Mozart Symphonies No. 36/38, see previous posting).
Produced by customer request.

I encourage customer requests for materials to transcribe onto CD for Klassic Haus Restorations. August was a busy month for requests, and the result was 3 new titles in the Klassic Haus catalog.

PLease check back for more releases; I have many titles in the works through the rest of this summer!

Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-066
(STEREO) – Mozart: Symphony No. 36 in C, K. 425 “Linz”; Symphony No.
38 in D, K. 504 “Prague” – Concertgebouw Orchestra, Amsterdam/Eugen
Jochum – Mozart was very dear to Eugen Jochum; in his recorded legacy, 91
seperate recordings of various Mozart works, studio and live, are listed. These
symphonies were recorded in 1961, and released on the then  newly-formed Philips USA label (mastered and
released by Mercury) in 1964, part of the first series of releases of Philips
(Europe) recordings. These performances are lively, punctuated, crisp, and brim
with humanity. and set new standards of Mozart performance. A near-mint Philips
(USA) LP was used for this transcription; this was a customer request, a service
offered by Klassic Haus.

When I created the artwork for this release, I left out the timings; they since have been added to the final release.

I have also transcribed Jochum’s recordings of Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 and No. 41. I will post comments on that release in my next blog.

Cheers – Curt Timmons

KHCD-ST005 – Newman: The Robe (1953) – Soundtrack to the 20th Century Fox Cinemascope Production – The Robe is a 1953 American Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman military tribune who commands the unit that crucifies Jesus. The film was made by 20th Century Fox and is notable for being the first film released in the widescreen process CinemaScope. The music was composed by distinguished film composer Alfred Newman. When the original soundtrack album was issued on LP by Decca Records, it used a remix for only monaural sound rather than the stereo sound that was originally recorded. MCA, which acquired the rights to the American Decca recordings, issued an electronic stereo version of the mono tape in the mid-60s. This transcription is from a second-generation rainbow-bar label Decca (US) LP in mint condition. I have remixed the sound to the original mono,  eliminating the ringing caused by the electronic pseudo-stereo separation and the echo plates used to create reverb. The results are true to the original movie sound source (which subsequently have been reported as deteriorated beyond restoring).

This classic soundtrack, along with a growing selection of previously out-of-print soundtracks as well as classical titles, may be found at Klassic Haus Restorations. Keep checking back for more titles! Cheers  – Curt Timmons

KHCD-2011-060 (STEREO) – Schubert: Symphony No. 2 in B-flat – Beethoven: Orchestral Excerpts from the ballet “Prometheus”, Op. 43 – BostonSymphony Orchestra/Charles Munch – Charles Munch and the Boston Symphony had previously recorded the Schubert 2nd Symphony  in November 1949. RCA began rerecording repertory with the advent of stereo,  producing the LP that contained both Schubert’s 2nd, and excerpts from Beethoven’s “Prometheus” ballet music.. Munch’s traversal of Schubert’s youthful symphony is big-boned but detailed. The “Prometheus” excerpts glow with Munch’s special genius in interpreting Beethoven. Robustly recorded by RCA in 1960, transcribed from a “shaded dog” label Living Stereo disc.

This disc, along with new postings for July, may be found on Klassic Haus Restorations. Please check back for more reissues!

KHCD-2011-061 (MONO) – Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35; Respighi: Pines of Rome – Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Argeo Quadri – Argeo Quadri (1911-2004) was for most of his career an opera “house” conductor and his career was centered Europe  and based in Vienna. His discography is small but compelling, consisting of a few orchestral issues, full length operas and  recital accompaniment albums. Rimsky-Korsakov’s masterpiece Scheherazade, is truly outstanding, brilliantly interpreted and played . In Quadri’s hands, the work comes alive and one can sense that the VSOO musicians are playing on the edge of their seats. This transcription recording is coupled with a magnificent “Pines of Rome”. Both pieces were well-recorded in Westminster”s “Natural Balance” mono in 1953, and restored very nicely from excellent source LPs. This CD was produced by customer request, a service offered by Klassic Haus (see “Requests” tab on page header).

July is going to be a busy “request” month – I already have 8 LPs scheduled for transcription resulting from customer “wish lists”.  I you have a rquest for a specific historic/special interest recording, let me know!

Cheers – Curt Timmons

This post updated 8-24-2017