Karel Ančerl Live Recordings: Concertos (24/192 FLAC)

Performer: Sviatoslav Richter, Henryk Szeryng, Ida Haendel, Wilhelm Kempff, Mstislav Rostropovich, Emil Gilels
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Karel Ančerl
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Supraphon
Catalogue: SU43492
Release: 2025
Size: 9.7 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
01. I. Allegro con brio
02. II. Largo
03. III. Rondo. Allegro scherzando

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
04. I. Allegro con brio
05. II. Largo
06. III. Rondo. Allegro

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
07. I. Allegro ma non troppo
08. II. Larghetto
09. III. Rondo. Allegro

Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
10. I. Allegro affettuoso
11. II. Intermezzo – Andantino grazioso
12. III. Allegro vivace

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
13. I. Allegro ma non troppo
14. II. Larghetto
15. III. Rondo. Allegro

Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
16. I. Allegro moderato
17. II. Adagio di molto
18. III. Allegro ma non troppo

Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E flat major, S124
19. I. Allegro maestoso
20. II. Quasi adagio
21. III. Allegretto vivace – Allegro animato
22. IV. Allegro marziale animato

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
23. I. Allegro ma non troppo e molto maestoso
24. II. Andantino semplice
25. III. Finale – Allegro con fuoco

Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
26. I. Maestoso
27. II. Larghetto
28. III. Allegro vivace

Dvořák: Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104
29. I. Allegro
30. II. Adagio, ma non tanto
31. III. Finale. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo

Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53
32. I. Allegro, ma non troppo (att.)
33 .II. Adagio, ma non troppo
34. III. Finale – Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
35. I. Allegro ma non troppo e molto maestoso
36. II. Andantino semplice
37. III. Finale – Allegro con fuoco

Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major
38. I. Allegramente
39. II. Adagio assai
40. III. Presto

Poulenc: Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra in D Minor, FP. 61
41. I. Allegro ma non troppo
42. II. Larghetto
43. III. Finale. Allegro molto

Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D
44. I. Toccata
45. II. Aria I
46. III. Aria II
47. IV. Capriccio

Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D flat major, Op. 10
48. I. Allegro brioso
49. II. Andante assai
50. III. Allegro scherzando

The great success of the 15-CD set Ancerl Live Recordings (2022 – Choc de Classica, Diapason d’Or etc.) and of the series Ancerl Gold Edition (2002-2008) is indicative of Karel Ancerl’s firm standing among the most important conductors of the post-war world. The present album tiesin with the boxed set mentioned above; this time, our selection from the Czech Radio archive contains live recordings with the conductor Ancerl in the role of an accompanist. The list of soloists he invited for collaboration is imposing.

Predominant among these names are world-famous artists from the Soviet Union, to which Czechoslovakia was allied in those days, with Prague serving as the Eastern Bloc’s gateway to the West. The greatest treasures are the two oldest recordings: unique documentation of Dvorak’s Violin Concerto with David Oistrakh (1950), which played a major part in the choice of Ancerlas the chief conductor of the Czech Philharmonic after Kubelik’s emigration, and the oldest recording of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto with Rostropovich, issued here for the first time, made two weeks before Rostropovich’s legendary studio recording with Vaclav Talich. Often, however, the artists standing to Ancerl’s left were stars coming to Prague from the West as well as great Czech artists.

The album authentically captures the unrepeatable performances of soloists and orchestra. All of these recordings have been carefully remastered from the original analogue tapes. Lovers of historical recordings will not hesitate.

Take a glimpse:

BBC Legends Series Deutsche Grammophon: The Originals Series Franklin Mint 100 Greatest Recordings of All Time (100 LP box set, 24/96 FLAC) DG120: 120 Years of Deutsche Grammophon – The Anniversary Edition (FLAC)