Classical music 1920-1945

moustache · Sep 30, 2006

Greetings,

Being a musician and classical music collector ,i have an interest in early recordings.Especially the era from 1920 to 1945.These years cover the infancy of electrical and stereo.Acoustic recordings had been in existence since 1882.
Are there any classical collectors out there??
My favourite composers are well represented by splendid recordings and broadcasts:
Gustav Mahler:Bruno Walter,Klemperer,Horenstein,Fried.
Chopin from Cortot,Rubenstein,Paderewski,Friedman,Solomon.
Beethoven from Schnabel,Toscanini,F?ºrtwangler,Klemperer.
And so many more!!! believe it or not,classical record and cylinder sales made up over 60% of the market!!

Which are your favourites??

JD Ross
Hudson's Bay Vancouver,Washington Outpost

Harp · Oct 1, 2006

Classical

The violin is my favorite instrument,
and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg my favorite musician.
Vivaldi, Mozart, Dvorak, Bach, Respighi. Schubert's String Quartets
and variation of Der Tod und das Madchen, tones of Beethoven.

Curt Chiarelli · Oct 1, 2006

Hi JD:

Great thread subject! I love Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Bartok, Korngold (I'm still waiting for those legendary wax cylinders of him playing his own piano compositions to re-surface!), Rozsa, Dvorak, Brahms, Schubert, Wagner and Moussorgsky. Admittedly, my tastes are a bit biased in favour of the Russian/Mittel-European school of the late 19th to early 20th century. A couple of my all-time favourite conductors from that era were the controversial Leopold Stokowski, Sir Thomas Beecham and Sir John Barbirolli. Boris Christoff's readings of Moussorgsky's complete vocal works still amazes me. Schnabel and Beethoven are a wonderful pairing and nothing beats hearing Rachmaninov play his own music! Needless to mention, Hofmann's interpretations of Chopin are still thrilling to listen to after all these decades!

Shaul-Ike Cohen · Oct 1, 2006

moustache said:
Which are your favourites??

Well, Schnabel's Beethoven recordings are certainly among my all-time favourites.

It's interesting to compare "early" recordings of soloists who performed till lately - of some other personal favourites of mine, Horowitz was really different in the 30s, while Tureck maybe changed less.

LizzieMaine · Oct 1, 2006

I've collected a number of Toscanini's 1930's NBC Symphony broadcasts in remastered editions released by Naxos -- these aren't available in the US, but I've picked them up on trips to Canada in recent years. (The HMV store in Montreal had a good stock of them!)

These are complete broadcasts, not the edited versions released by RCA Victor on LP years ago -- including the announcements by Ben Grauer or Gene Hamilton, and often also the intermission commentaries by Samuel Chotzinoff. These CDs are well worth seeking out for a taste of how elegantly network radio packaged classical music for a mass audience.

moustache · Oct 1, 2006

Rachmaninov....

Curt Chiarelli said:
Hi JD:

Great thread subject! I love Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Bartok, Korngold (I'm still waiting for those legendary wax cylinders of him playing his own piano compositions to re-surface!), Rozsa, Dvorak, Brahms, Schubert, Wagner and Moussorgsky. Admittedly, my tastes are a bit biased in favour of the Russian/Mittel-European school of the late 19th to early 20th century. A couple of my all-time favourite conductors from that era were the controversial Leopold Stokowski, Sir Thomas Beecham and Sir John Barbirolli. Boris Christoff's readings of Moussorgsky's complete vocal works still amazes me. Schnabel and Beethoven are a wonderful pairing and nothing beats hearing Rachmaninov play his own music! Needless to mention, Hofmann's interpretations of Chopin are still thrilling to listen to after all these decades!

I cut my teeth on the Rach RCA set and still listen to them frequently!!No better living pianist can come close,except fpr possibly Marc Andre Hamelin or
Howard Shelly.
I ADORE Korngold and Bartok as well.Have some of Bartok on cylinder and thats amazing.When i was in Budapest last, i walked the hallowed walls of the
Budapest Music Conservatory in search of his ghost,but,alas...nothing.
Same goes for Franz Liszt.Visited his old apartment in said city and found the matrons guarding the relics too creepy.So i paid my forints and did my tour ,camera in hand.That was fun.
Agreed on Christoff and his reading of Mussourgsky's dances of death.Beautiful!!
Try Chopin by Rosenthal or De Pachmann.Eccentric but an amazing link to the 19th century ideal.
Pearl records does an amazing job of transferring 78's and cylinders.Their cd collection is a delight!!
BTW,i hope to someday own the Hungaroton complete Bartok playing Bartok set.When i can force myself to shell out $400!!! Yikes!
Horowitz has always been delighful in Scriabin and Rachmaninov.
As for favourite condutors:Barbirolli was one.Beecham in Delius.Toscanini in Respighi and Beethoven.Fürtwangler in Wagner and Mozart.Bruno Walter in Mahler and Bruckner.

This gives me ideas for another thread (i didn't know the response would be so good here on this subject!).

JD

shindeco · Oct 2, 2006

I've always been a classical music freak. It's the result of my misspent youth; I started taking piano lessons at the age of 4 (and didn't stop until I went to university) When I was in my teens, an elderly lady in our church was cleaning out some of her stuff and came across a great stack of old 78s; all classical. She was also a pianist, knew that I played and wondered if I would like the records. I, of course, said "yes!!!" The records are still in my parents house. I haven't been able to listen to them for years (no record player, at present) but I'm holding on to them!!

I also have to add that, in an amazing coincidence, while finding this thread, I happen to be listening to a CD that's a reissue of the recordings of Alessandro Moreschi which were made in 1902 and 1904. He was the conductor of the Choir of the Capella Sistina at the Vatican. He was a castrato and is the only castrato ever to have been recorded.

Dismuke · Oct 2, 2006

Operetta 78 RPMs

In the realm of classically oriented 78 rpms, I am especially fond of music from operettas - especially Viennese operettas by composers such as Lehar, Kalman and Oscar Straus. I especially enjoy operetta music which is set to instrumental arrangements.

Curt Chiarelli · Oct 3, 2006

moustache said:
I cut my teeth on the Rach RCA set and still listen to them frequently!!No better living pianist can come close,except fpr possibly Marc Andre Hamelin or
Howard Shelly.

I ADORE Korngold and Bartok as well.Have some of Bartok on cylinder and thats amazing.When i was in Budapest last, i walked the hallowed walls of the
Budapest Music Conservatory in search of his ghost,but,alas...nothing.
Same goes for Franz Liszt.Visited his old apartment in said city and found the matrons guarding the relics too creepy.So i paid my forints and did my tour ,camera in hand.That was fun.
Agreed on Christoff and his reading of Mussourgsky's dances of death.Beautiful!!
Try Chopin by Rosenthal or De Pachmann.Eccentric but an amazing link to the 19th century ideal.
Pearl records does an amazing job of transferring 78's and cylinders.Their cd collection is a delight!!
BTW,i hope to someday own the Hungaroton complete Bartok playing Bartok set.When i can force myself to shell out $400!!! Yikes!
Horowitz has always been delighful in Scriabin and Rachmaninov.
As for favourite condutors:Barbirolli was one.Beecham in Delius.Toscanini in Respighi and Beethoven.F?ºrtwangler in Wagner and Mozart.Bruno Walter in Mahler and Bruckner.

This gives me ideas for another thread (i didn't know the response would be so good here on this subject!).

JD

Hi JD:

That's amazing! I truly envy your experiences in Hungary! I can only begin to wonder what it's like to be in the same room or building occupied by Bartok or Liszt or any other great artist. It must drive home an overwhelming sense that these men were not abstactions, but living, breathing people like you or I! There's nothing quite like those types of experiences to drive home a feeling of our shared humanity. That their "voices" should speak so eloquently to us down the years through their art is even more remarkable.

On the subject of Korngold, I sometimes ponder whether our new century will ever give birth to another genius of his calibre . . . . I'm not quite sure that in the present climate it would be possible.

But you're absolutely correct about DePachmann and his generation being a vital link to the titans of the 19th century . . . . as well as that style of playing where compositions were expected to be more freely interpreted. That sort of thing certainly is not tolerated anymore. Slavish literalism rules the day with the latest generation of performing artists.

Yes, Pearl does a truly heroic job breathing new life into these older recordings so that future generations can enjoy them. And they're extremely well priced too!

That Bartok set is well worth every cent (or, if you prefer, forint

). One of the great (or, in your particular case, painfully expensive) things about Bartok is his prolific output. Nonetheless, a worthy goal! Keep us posted and let us know your comments when you get it.

I was curious to know your feelings regarding Eugene Ormandy as a conductor. Personally, I feel the man and his substantial contributions have been ignored by the modern critics. Those recordings he made of Rachmaninov's orchestral works are, in my opinion, some of the best ever made. Certainly Rachmaninov felt that way - the Philedelphia Orchestra and Ormandy were his personal favourites above all other U.S. ensembles.

Shaul-Ike Cohen · Oct 3, 2006

moustache said:
Same goes for Franz Liszt.

Do you know the Liszt recordings by Eugen d'Albert and Federico Busoni? A breeze from a different era.

moustache · Oct 3, 2006

Ormandy...

Curt Chiarelli said:
Hi JD:

That's amazing! I truly envy your experiences in Hungary! I can only begin to wonder what it's like to be in the same room or building occupied by Bartok or Liszt or any other great artist. It must drive home an overwhelming sense that these men were not abstactions, but living, breathing people like you or I! There's nothing quite like those types of experiences to drive home a feeling of our shared humanity. That their "voices" should speak so eloquently to us down the years through their art is even more remarkable.

On the subject of Korngold, I sometimes ponder whether our new century will ever give birth to another genius of his calibre . . . . I'm not quite sure that in the present climate it would be possible.

But you're absolutely correct about DePachmann and his generation being a vital link to the titans of the 19th century . . . . as well as that style of playing where compositions were expected to be more freely interpreted. That sort of thing certainly is not tolerated anymore. Slavish literalism rules the day with the latest generation of performing artists.

Yes, Pearl does a truly heroic job breathing new life into these older recordings so that future generations can enjoy them. And they're extremely well priced too!

That Bartok set is well worth every cent (or, if you prefer, forint ). One of the great (or, in your particular case, painfully expensive) things about Bartok is his prolific output. Nonetheless, a worthy goal! Keep us posted and let us know your comments when you get it.

I was curious to know your feelings regarding Eugene Ormandy as a conductor. Personally, I feel the man and his substantial contributions have been ignored by the modern critics. Those recordings he made of Rachmaninov's orchestral works are, in my opinion, some of the best ever made. Certainly Rachmaninov felt that way - the Philedelphia Orchestra and Ormandy were his personal favourites above all other U.S. ensembles.

was one of the century's best conductors in my opinion.After all,a conductor is only as good as the orchestra he/she conducts.The Philly Orch was a delight under Stokowski and Ormandy both.They are a poished group now but don't seem to have the spark of former glories.
As for Korngold,i agree with you.Prodigies are a great rarity and due to the television,radio and electronic media,i feel children are spending time with such things and not with studies.
I'm not an expert here but the early part of the 20th century held fewer distractions for children.
This is one reason i'm happy i grew up partially in Montana with no tv or video games(late 60's-early 70's).Spent my time reading or outside,learning to flyfish,hunt,etc.Typical Montana hobbies.

I just picked up the Korngold Piano concerto on Hyperion with Marx.Great disc!!!

JD

Sweet Leilani · Oct 6, 2006

I'll have to disagree a bit with the popular opinion in this thread and say that I prefer not to listen to 'historic' classical recordings. Given the choice, I would choose a more modern recording (stereo at least, all digital at best). For study puposes it's fine to listen to a scratchy 78 of John McCormack, but if I want to truly enjoy the sonic beauty of the music, I'd pick up Pavarotti.

And as much as I adore Richard Strauss, no period recording can match some of the more recent discs from Wolfgang Sawallisch & the Philadelphians.

Just my $.02

moustache · Oct 6, 2006

Understandable!!

Sweet Leilani said:
I'll have to disagree a bit with the popular opinion in this thread and say that I prefer not to listen to 'historic' classical recordings. Given the choice, I would choose a more modern recording (stereo at least, all digital at best). For study puposes it's fine to listen to a scratchy 78 of John McCormack, but if I want to truly enjoy the sonic beauty of the music, I'd pick up Pavarotti.

And as much as I adore Richard Strauss, no period recording can match some of the more recent discs from Wolfgang Sawallisch & the Philadelphians.

Just my $.02

Certainly understandable.The audio quality was not the same,by any stretch.But then again we were discussing the merits of those old recordings.And having been involved with classical music almost my whole life,i feel a kinship to the musicians of old as they knew and lived with the composers to a large degree.
But ,like you have said,the sonics were wretched sometimes.The thing to do was attend concerts.records just didn't do it!!
As for McCormack,what a delightful voice!!!!No Irishman since has done it better!!pavarotti at his height (1965 or so) was a force to reckon with too!!!
I adore Strauss Lieder.

Moustache

Shaul-Ike Cohen · Oct 9, 2006

Sweet Leilani said:
I'll have to disagree a bit with the popular opinion in this thread and say that I prefer not to listen to 'historic' classical recordings. Given the choice, I would choose a more modern recording (stereo at least, all digital at best).

The point is, you don't have recordings that are otherwise the same. (Unless you have a 78 as well as a remastered, cleaned version on SACD.) But anyway - for me, the mere fact that a recording is old isn't important, but if the interpretation is appealing, I certainly prefer it to a technically perfect machine-like modern interpretation. Now, if a modern musician records something well, and there are no scratchy noises - all the better.

Sweet Leilani · Oct 17, 2006

Shaul-Ike Cohen said:
The point is, you don't have recordings that are otherwise the same. (Unless you have a 78 as well as a remastered, cleaned version on SACD.)

Ah, but I do- that is the point. I was a music librarian by profession, and have many of the same recordings in all formats. Of course, a CD is much easier to handle than a 78 (especially if it will get a lot of use in a library). And for study purposes, you simply must listen to the interpretations of some of the classical masters of the era. I'm just saying, though, for enjoyment, I prefer Wagner's Ring with Barenboim on CD as opposed to Klemperer on 78. But I will grant that there are artistic reasons to listen to either, and you are certainly entitled to do just that.

Classical music 1920-1945

moustache

Practically Family

Harp

I'll Lock Up

Curt Chiarelli

One of the Regulars

Shaul-Ike Cohen

One Too Many

LizzieMaine

moustache

Practically Family

shindeco

A-List Customer

Dismuke

One of the Regulars

Curt Chiarelli

One of the Regulars

Shaul-Ike Cohen

One Too Many

moustache

Practically Family

Sweet Leilani

A-List Customer

moustache

Practically Family

Shaul-Ike Cohen

One Too Many

Sweet Leilani

A-List Customer

Members online

Forum statistics

Latest posts

Latest posts

Classical music 1920-1945

Practically Family

I'll Lock Up

One of the Regulars

One Too Many

Practically Family

A-List Customer

One of the Regulars

One of the Regulars

One Too Many

Practically Family

A-List Customer

Practically Family

One Too Many

A-List Customer

Log in

Forum statistics