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Tchaikovsky & Sibelius: Serge Koussevitzky Conducts the London Philharmonic (Live)
SOMM Recordings

Tchaikovsky & Sibelius: Serge Koussevitzky Conducts the London Philharmonic (Live)

$32.99

Details

Composer
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Jean Sibelius
Artist
Serge Koussevitzky
Format
CD
Label
SOMM Recordings
Released
Sep 02, 2022
Catalog #
ARIADNE 5017-2
UPC
748871501720

About

SOMM Recordings announces a major new release: the first appearance on album of live performances of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth and Sibelius’ Second Symphonies by the iconic conductor Serge Koussevitzky and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This historic, two-album set includes an exclusive, specially-commissioned documentary about Koussevitzky’s Boston Symphony Orchestra tenure and his LPO guest appearances, featuring interviews with four key players from both orchestras by Jon Tolansky. Tolansky’s revealing hour-long documentary includes wide-ranging musical excerpts and contributions from former BSO players Harry Ellis Dickson (violin), Everett ‘Vic’ Firth (timpani), and Harry Shapiro (sub-principal horn), and erstwhile LPO sub-principal horn Patrick Strevens. The symphonies are heard in performances Koussevitzky conducted with the LPO in London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1950. Both have been expertly restored by Lani Spahr. Noted authority on historical recordings Rob Cowan provides detailed booklet notes on the “individual, flexible, flammable, emotionally candid and utterly spontaneous” Koussevitzky’s stewardship of both orchestras. He describes the Tchaikovsky as “especially unique [in] its unsparing volatility.... The explosive climaxes leave the audience stunned”. Of the Sibelius, he says: “Koussevitzky’s London Second is as comprehensive an overview of the work as we have”.

Lani Spahr’s previous restorations for SOMM include the four-disc Elgar Remastered (SOMMCD 261-4) featuring recordings from the composer’s own collection, hailed by Audiophilia as “a fascinating achievement which will have you wishing for more”. George Szell: The Forgotten Recordings was a Gramophone Editor’s Choice and awarded a Diapason d’Or as “a major discovery”. Jon Tolansky is the founder of the Music Performance Research Centre (now Music Preserved) and a widely admired producer of audio documentaries on classical musicians. For Spahr’s restorations on Beecham Conducts Sibelius, he produced a 30-minute audio documentary. MusicWeb International declared it “an unmissable disc [that] walks straight into a position of eminence in the catalogue”.

Tracklist 11 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 I. Andante - Allegro con anima 15:37
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Andante - Allegro con anima
    Duration
    15:37
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Ensemble
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  3. 2 II. Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza 14:30
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza
    Duration
    14:30
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Ensemble
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  4. 3 III. Valse: Allegro moderato 06:22
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Valse: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    06:22
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Ensemble
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  5. 4 IV. Finale: Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace 11:36
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Finale: Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace
    Duration
    11:36
    Composer
    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    Ensemble
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  6. 5 Introduction and Boston Symphony Orchestra, Part I 20:02
    Track
    5
    Title
    Introduction and Boston Symphony Orchestra, Part I
    Duration
    20:02
    Performer
    Jon Tolansky, Harry Ellis Dickson, Harry Shapiro, Patrick Strevens
    Ensemble
    Boston Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  7. Disc 2
  8. 1 Boston Symphony Orchestra, Part II 19:35
    Track
    1
    Title
    Boston Symphony Orchestra, Part II
    Duration
    19:35
    Performer
    Jon Tolansky, Harry Ellis Dickson, Harry Shapiro, Patrick Strevens, Everett Firth
    Ensemble
    Boston Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  9. 2 London Philharmonic Orchestra 19:39
    Track
    2
    Title
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Duration
    19:39
    Performer
    Jon Tolansky, Patrick Strevens
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  10. 3 I. Allegretto 09:21
    Track
    3
    Title
    I. Allegretto
    Duration
    09:21
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  11. 4 II. Tempo andante, ma rubato 12:14
    Track
    4
    Title
    II. Tempo andante, ma rubato
    Duration
    12:14
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  12. 5 III. Vivacissimo - 05:40
    Track
    5
    Title
    III. Vivacissimo -
    Duration
    05:40
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky
  13. 6 IV. Finale: Allegro moderato 13:22
    Track
    6
    Title
    IV. Finale: Allegro moderato
    Duration
    13:22
    Composer
    Jean Sibelius
    Ensemble
    London Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Serge Koussevitzky