Description

CD 1 of 2: Gabrieli/Ghedini: La Battaglia (Mar. 27, 1953); (12:16). Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 20 in d minor, K466 (March 27, 1953); (29:58). Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15 (March 29, 1953) (33:45) NYPSO, Rudolf Serkin, piano. Total Time = 1:16:09. CD 2 of 2: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in Eb Major, Op. 73 (Feb. 28, 1954) (36:52). Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 (May 8, 1953) (34:44) NYPSO, Rudolf Serkin, piano.Total Time = 1:11:41 Unreleased New York Public Performances, 1953-54. Sound Restoration: Maggi Payne (2005). UPC# 0-17685-11702-2.

Not for sale in the U.S.

Buzz: The fourth and last week of Guido Cantelli’s second engagement as guest conductor with the New York Philharmonic brought a soloist, Rudolf Serkin, pianist—the first association between two stars who had not previously made music together. Serkin was scheduled to play the Mozart D minor Concerto, K.466 at the Thursday night and Friday afternoon concerts; and the Beethoven First Concerto, Op.15 for the Sunday nationwide broadcast two days later. Happily, the non-broadcast Mozart and the other works on the Thursday/Friday programs were also recorded in the house by the Carnegie Hall Corporation so posterity is blessed with mementos of what turned out to be an exciting collaboration. It transpired that Serkin and his young colleague proved ideally well matched temperamentally, playing together again in a memorable “Emperor” Concerto the following year. All performances are presented here in the best possible sound, with extensive notes by Harris Goldsmith.