Composer: Modest Mussorgsky, Jean Sibelius, Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky, Hector Berlioz
Performer: Jon Tolansky, Harry Ellis Dickson, Harry Shapiro, Patrick Strevens, Everett Firth
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Serge Koussevitzky
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Somm
Catalogue: ARIADNE5017-2
Release: 2022
Size: 955 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64, TH 29
01. I. Andante – Allegro con anima
02. II. Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza
03. III. Valse. Allegro moderato
04. IV. Finale. Andante maestoso – Allegro vivace
Berlioz: Serge Koussevitzky, A Memoir, Pt. 1
05. La damnation de Faust, H 111 – Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64, TH 29 – Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28, TrV 171 – Romeo and Juliet, TH 42 – Faust Symphony, S. 108 (Excerpts)Jon Tolansky20:02
CD 02
Beethoven: Serge Koussevitzky, A Memoir, Pt. 2
01. Tapiola, Op. 112 – La Mer, L. 109 – Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica” – Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 – El Salón México – Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5, Opp. 36 & 64, TH 27 & 29 (Excerpts)Jon Tolansky19:35
Mussorgsky: Serge Koussevitzky, A Memoir, Pt. 3
02. Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 – Khovanshchina – Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64, TH 29
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43
03. I. Allegretto
04. II. Tempo andante, ma rubato
05. III. Vivacissimo
06. IV. Finale. Allegro moderato
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”.
SOMM Recordings announces a major new release: the first appearance on disc of live performances of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth and Sibelius’s Second Symphonies by the iconic conductor Serge Koussevitzky and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This historic, two-CD 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 (SOMMCD2614) 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 (ARIADNE50112) 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 (ARIADNE5013), 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”.