ABENDROTH CONDUCTS MASTERWORKS OF THE ROMANTIC ERA
CD-1038(2)
"...the depth and intensity of [Abendroth's]
interpretations, notably of core Germanic literature, became legendary,
a fact attested to by the performances collected on these disc."
Fanfare: May/June, 1999: Michael James
" ...a highly desirable Music & Arts two-CD set devoted to flexibly phrased
and often impassioned "Masterworks of the Romantic Era"...The performances
are never less than fascinating and the recorded sound is never less than
comfortable.
Gramophone: March, 1999
"Music & Arts Programs of America deserves our especial gratitude for this
lovingly restored series of vintage Abendroth performances of Wagner, Schumann,
Tchaikovsky, and Brahms."
Fanfare: May/June1999: Michael Jameson
HERMANN ABENDROTH (b. Frankfurt, 19 January, 1883; d. Jena, 29 May, 1956)
was one of the outstanding German conductors of his time, especially as
an interpreter of symphonic music of the 19th century. His conducting career
covered more than a half century. From 1934-1942 he was director of the
Leipzig Conservatory and from 1934 to 1945 he lead the Leipzig Gewndhaus
Orchestra.
His post World War II career was spent entirely
in the German Democratic Republic. He earned acclaim especially for his
Schumann performances. In 1956, shortly before his death, he became honorary
chairman of the committee formed in celebration of the 100th anniversary
of Schumann’s death. The performances on these two discs feature some
of his finest interpretations of the romantic repertoire in which he excelled,
two of them (the works by Tchaikovsky and Brahms) previously unreleased.
CD-1038(2)
ABENDROTH CONDUCTS MASTERWORKS OF THE ROMANTIC ERA. CD No.1 (67:59):
WAGNER, Wesendonck Lieder. Tiana Lemnitz, sop., Berlin RSO, Nov.
1955; SCHUMANN, Symphony #4 in d, op. 120, Leipzig RSO, 1956; TCHAIKOVSKY,
Rococo Variations. Milos Sadlo, Berlin RSO, 23 May 1951. CD
No.2 (70:50): BRAHMS, Serenade Nr.1 in D major, Op. 11, Berlin RSO,
March 1953; SCHUMANN, Symphony No.1 in Bb Major, Op. 38, Berlin RSO,
18 Sept. 1955 New digital transfers in best possible sound (AAD)
UPC# 017685-10382-7
