Rafael Kubelik: Dvorak, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schumann: Recorded 1960–63

Every one of these performances is marked by Kubelik’s direct but sensitive approach to music-making and there’s a great deal to enjoy here … The interesting notes by Rob Cowan are full of infectious... — International Record Review, December 2014 More…

Release Date: 15th Sep 2014
Catalogue No: C726143
Label: Orfeo
Series: Orfeo d'Or
Length: 3 hours 41 minutes

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Schumann: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129

Work length24:37

$6.00

$7.20

Janos Starker (cello)
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Rafael Kubelik
Recorded: 10 April 1961

I. Nicht zu schnell

Track length10:56

$3.00

$3.60

II. Langsam

Track length4:29

$1.00

$1.20

III. Sehr lebhaft

Track length9:12

$2.00

$2.40

Haydn: Symphony No. 101 in D major 'The Clock'

Work length29:32

$7.00

$8.40

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Rafael Kubelik
Recorded: 31 May 1963

I. Adagio - Presto

Track length8:45

$2.00

$2.40

II. Andante

Track length7:46

$2.00

$2.40

III. Menuett: Allegro

Track length8:08

$2.00

$2.40

IV. Finale: Vivace

Track length4:53

$1.00

$1.20

Haydn: Symphony No. 102 in B flat major

Work length25:10

$5.00

$6.00

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Rafael Kubelik
Recorded: 10 April 1961

I. Largo - Vivace

Track length8:55

$2.00

$2.40

III. Menuet - Trio: Allegro

Track length5:14

$1.00

$1.20

IV. Finale: Presto

Track length6:21

$1.00

$1.20

II. Adagio

Track length4:40

$1.00

$1.20

Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Work length32:50

$8.00

$9.60

Claudio Arrau (piano)
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Rafael Kubelik
Recorded: 31 May 1963

I. Allegro affettuoso

Track length16:07

$4.00

$4.80

II. Intermezzo: Andantino grazioso

Track length5:27

$1.00

$1.20

III. Allegro vivace

Track length11:16

$3.00

$3.60

Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 97 'Rhenish'

Work length32:33

$6.00

$7.20

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Rafael Kubelik
Recorded: 20 September 1962

I. Lebhaft

Track length9:43

$2.00

$2.40

II. Scherzo: Sehr massig

Track length6:13

$1.00

$1.20

III. Nicht schnell

Track length5:07

$1.00

$1.20

IV. Feierlich

Track length5:28

$1.00

$1.20

V. Lebhaft

Track length6:02

$1.00

$1.20

Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26

Work length10:17

$3.00

$3.60

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Rafael Kubelik

The Hebrides in D Major, Op. 26, MWV P7, "Fingal's Cave"

Track length10:17

$3.00

$3.60

Dvořák: Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 33

Work length36:00

$9.00

$10.80

Rudolf Firkusny (piano)
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Rafael Kubelik
Recorded: 22 February 1960

I. Allegro agitato - Poco tranquillo - Tempo I - Poco tranquillo - Tempo I

Track length17:17

$4.00

$4.80

II. Andante sostenuto

Track length8:30

$2.00

$2.40

III. Finale: Allegro con fuoco - Poco sostenuto - Tempo I

Track length10:13

$3.00

$3.60

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5 in D major, Op. 107 'Reformation'

Work length30:59

$7.00

$8.40

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Rafael Kubelik
Recorded: 18 October 1963

I. Andante - Allegro con fuoco

Track length11:52

$3.00

$3.60

II. Allegro vivace

Track length5:33

$1.00

$1.20

III. Andante

Track length3:40

$1.00

$1.20

IV. Andante con moto - Allegro vivace

Track length9:54

$2.00

$2.40

About
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About

Rafael Kubelík’s reputation as one of the most significant conductors of the 20th century rests not just on his work with the great orchestras of Berlin, Chicago or Munich (the latter of which are represented on Orfeo) but also of recordings he made with Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra (today the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne). The earliest of the WDR archive recordings published here is of Dvorák’s Piano Concerto: a work that he performed at the first Prague Spring Festival in 1946, with the same soloist as on this recording, Rudolf Firkušný. The passionate lyricism of Firkušný’s playing and the intensity of the orchestral accompaniment under Kubelík achieve such mastery that these two artists are regarded as exemplary to this day in thsi work. The same is true of Kubelík’s interpretations of Robert Schumann which are considered definitive. Kubelík’s masterly sense of structure is also apparent in his recordings of Mendelssohn, a composer with whom Kubelík is seldom associated, though these performances lack for nothing in their flexibility of tempi and dynamics. And to close with, Orfeo offer recordings of two of Haydn’s London Symphonies: No. 101 'The Clock' and No. 102. Questions of authentic performance practice recede when one hears Kubelík perform Haydn with such playfulness, such verve in the fast movements and such unsentimental composure in the slow movements. Like all the other treasures offered here from the WDR archives, they cast new light on the work of this conductor whose 100th birthday was on 29 June 2014.

Reviews

December 2014

Every one of these performances is marked by Kubelik’s direct but sensitive approach to music-making and there’s a great deal to enjoy here … The interesting notes by Rob Cowan are full of infectious enthusiasm as well as plenty of information.

December 2014

The orchestra’s sonority remains warm throughout the various choirs, but there’s no lack of momentum when required…The re-mastering has been accomplished most sympathetically, and Orfeo’s latest release to celebrate Kubelík’s art can itself be very warmly commended.

Offer, Rafael Kubelik: Dvorak, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Schumann

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