For the month of October, the Classics a Day team turned nostalgic. Classical musicians have been making recordings since the 1890s. So we all have over 130 years of documented performance practices. And we can judge first-hand the artistry of legendary performers.
The challenge is to post classical recordings made before 1949 (pre-LP era). Here are my posts for the fourth and final week of the #ClassicsaDay theme #ClassicalTimeMachine.
10/26/20 Britten Mazurka Elegiaca (1944)
Britten wrote this two-piano piece in memory of Igance Paderewski in 1941. Clifford Curzon invited Britten recorded the work with him for Decca in 1944.
10/27/20 Scriabin Sonata No. 4 (1939)
Russian pianist and composer Samuil Feinberg was considered Scriabin's musical heir. He was one of the first to perform all of Scriabin's sonatas. He recorded this sonata for Melodiya right before the war.
Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3 (1934)
Violinist Bronislaw Huberman recorded this work with Issay Dobroven and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He provided his own cadenzas and decidedly unhistoric interpretations.
10/29/20 Grieg Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (1906)
Edvard Grieg made several piano rolls of his piano music for the Welte-Mignon player pianos. Their sophisticated system recorded differences in pedaling and phrasing.
10/30/20 Schubert Death and the Maiden (1928)
The Gewandhaus Quartet is comprised of members of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. It was founded in 1808, the earliest professional string quartet.
For the month of October, the Classics a Day team turned nostalgic. Classical musicians have been making recordings since the 1890s. So we all have over 130 years of documented performance practices. And we can judge first-hand the artistry of legendary performers.
The challenge is to post classical recordings made before 1949 (pre-LP era). Here are my posts for the third week of the #ClassicsaDay theme #ClassicalTimeMachine.
10/19/20 Richard Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra (1944)
Strauss recorded this and other works with the Vienna Philharmonic as part of his eightieth birthday
celebration.
10/20/20 Elgar - Cello Concerto (1920)
Edward Elgar finished this work in 1919. He recorded it a year later, chopping it down from 29 minutes to 15. Elgar conducted a reduced orcehstra for the acoustic recording, with Beatrice Harrison soloist.
10/21/20 Mahler Second Symphony (1934)
This is a transcribed recording of a concert bpradcast in 1934. Arnold Schoenberg, Mahler's friend and early champion of his music, conducts the Cadillac Symphony.
10/22/20 Elgar - Cello Concerto (1920)
Elgar finished this in 1919. He recorded it a year later, chopping it down from 29 minutes to 15. Elgar conducted a reduced orchestra for the acoustic recording, with Beatrice Harrison.
10/23/20 Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue (1924)
George Gershwin premiered the work with Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra Feb. 12, 1924, and they recorded it four months later. The score was reduced by 1/3 to fit unto the 12-inch discs.
