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| Detail from a 1943 ad |
This particular performance is one in which a very skilled conductor and a good orchestra do their best to present the music as symphonic argument and structure rather than mystical vision, with notable success. The conductor is Artur Rodzinski, whose art has been celebrated several times before on this blog. Here he is working with Vienna forces in June 1954. The LP also includes Franck's symphonic poem Le Chasseur Maudit, here in a splendid performance recorded on the same day. The sound from the Mozartsaal is quite good.
The cover has a terrific caricature of the conductor by Sam Norkin, then of the New York Herald Tribune, later of the Daily News.
This post was inspired by my friend Fred, who recently posted a recording of Franck's Psyche on his fine blog, Random Classics. I also want to draw attention to Peter Gutmann's excellent article on Franck's Symphony, from which I drew the opening quote.
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| Rodzinski listening to a playback at a 1951 recording session |
9 comments:
Links:
http://www.mediafire.com/?5ry11yykputyfb7
http://rapidshare.com/files/453383498/Franck_-_Symphony__Rodzinski_.zip
Your comment is always welcome!
Ah Buster..many thanks friend! I have this lp but the condition of it is horrible. As you know, I am a great admirer of Rodzinski.
This is a good reading and the State Opera Orchestra responds well to the maestro.
Fred
Oh, THANK YOU! I'm a big Rozinski fan and also I collect recordings of this dark, enchanting masterpiece.
I've read a review of this recording and I started to look for it without results until now.
You've made my day.
Now I'll start listening. I expect an intense, gripping performance.
@ woland, You're welcome. Where was the review? I'd like to read it.
Oh, sorry but I can't remember where it was and I cannot find it now. My (big) fault.
But I'm sure that it was a review of the NBC performance.
I didn't know that Rodzinski recorded this work in studio with these Vienna forces usually associated with Schehchen. Even Peter Gutmann writes about a 1945 live performance that I don't know at all :(
I was very happy to read Gutmann's article, it's really good and all his favorite recordings are also my ones :D
Yes, you won't see much about this recording; that's why I asked about it, actually! You may find (as I did) that the performance of the Accursed Hunter is more intense than the symphony.
Buster: Thanks for this, a recording I do not know. Let the critics roll out their anathemas, I still love this piece of music. Beecham's take on it with the Orchestre Nationale de la Radiodiffusion Française is still my favorite after all these years, but I am anxious to hear what Rodzinski does. He's a conductor who rarely leaves me disappointed. Anyway, many thanks again.
A very rewarding listening. Thank you. Agree with the view very good and dedicated musicians do wonders here. The transfered sound is much better than the one on YouTube for the same records. In the case of The Accursed Huntsman, these interprets stand well against other impressive versions, eg Bour or Munch, and have the edge on new records, even Tingaud, in my opinion.
lemur - Thanks so much for your note. This is an old transfer; I am surprised it holds up so well.
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