|
|
|
|
|
BUZZ [for both volumes]: Few great conductors can be classified by just a few characteristics. Although this cautionary remark applies to Dimitri Mitropoulos, it seems safe to say that, among other things, he was renowned for (1) performances of intensity and animation, (2) his willingness, even eagerness, to explore unfamiliar repertory, and (3) his photographic memory. Ample evidence of the first two characteristics can be heard in this collection of live performances, many previously unreleased, with the Philharmonic-Symphony and the NBC Symphony Orchestra in repertoire with which his career was closely associated. The two volumes include works by Busoni, to whose circle he had belonged as a student in Berlin, the twelve-tone Viennese masters for whom he fought major cultural battles, Prokofiev, whose Third Piano Concerto he had premiered in Berlin, Richard Strauss, whose romantic program music appealed to his soul, and Mahler, whose inner landscape he found congenial and helped popularize in his decades in America. 2008 digital restorations utilizing the revolutionary "harmonic balancing" technique". |
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2008 Music & Arts Programs of America. All rights reserved.
[New Release!] CD-1213(4) THE ART OF DIMITRI MITROPOULOS, VOL. 1 OF 2: BROADCAST PERFORMANCES, 1941-1957. CD 1: BERG: Violin Concerto, Joseph Szigeti, Violin, NBC Symphony Orchestra on December 11, 1945. BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto #3 in C minor, Op. 37, Jean Casadesus, Piano, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on February 23, 1957 (Binghampton, New York) (57:35). CD 2: VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis. CHAUSSON: Symphony in Bb, Op. 20. STRAVINSKY: Suite from The Firebird, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on August 29, 1943 (Carnegie Hall) (70:53). CD 3: SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38, "Spring", Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on November 15, 1953 (Carnegie Hall). R. STRAUSS: Eine Alpensinfonie (An Alpine Symphony), Op. 64, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on November 23, 1947 (Carnegie Hall) (77:32). CD 4: In Honor of Ferruccio Busoni. MOZART: (arr Busoni) Overture to Idomeneo. BUSONI: Indian Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra, Egon Petri, Piano. Two Sketches for Doktor Faustus - Sarabande; Cortége. Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35a, Joseph Szigeti, Violin. Szigeti recalls Busoni (3:43) (from a talk given in 1965 at Harvard University). Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on December 28, 1941 (Carnegie Hall) (72:54). Liner notes by William Trotter and James Miller. Audio restoration (2008) by Lani Spahr. [AAD] UPC# 017685-12132 6.
[New Release!] CD-1214(4) THE ART OF DIMITRI MITROPOULOS VOL 2 OF 2: BROADCAST PERFORMANCES, 1945-1955. CD 1: MAHLER: Symphony No. 6 in A minor "Tragic", Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on April 10, 1955 (Carnegie Hall) (74:07). CD 2: BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050, Carmine Coppola, Flute, Mischa Mishakoff, Violin, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Piano & Conductor. PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Piano & Conductor, NBC Symphony Orchestra December 16, 1945. LALO: Symphonie Espagnole, Zino Francescatti, Violin, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on April 3, 1955 (Carnegie Hall) (76:46). CD 3: PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16, Pietro Scarpini, Piano, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on November 7, 1954 (Carnegie Hall). VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on April 5, 1953 (Carnegie Hall) (64:35). CD 4: SCHOENBERG: String Quartet No. 2 in F# minor, Op. 10, orch. Schoenberg, Astrid Varnay, Soprano, Strings of the NBC Symphony Orchestra on December 13, 1945. Erwartung, Op. 17, Dorothy Dow, Soprano, Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra on November 18, 1951 (Carnegie Hall) (57:34). Liner notes by William Trotter and James Miller. Audio restoration (2008) by Lani Spahr. [AAD] UPC# 017685-121425.