Karel Ančerl - The Philips Recordings - Eloquence: ELQ4827353 - 3 CDs

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It’s conceived in one piece, and absolutely fresh. The pacing and pace and control of articulation suggest the fresh air and the pungent smells of bush and heath… The tempi are all absolutely... — Gramophone Magazine, March 1959 More…

Release Date: 18th Aug 2017
Catalogue No: ELQ4827353
Label: Eloquence
Length: 3 hours 52 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World'

Work length37:25

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-02
Recording Venue: Vienna

I. Adagio - Allegro molto

Track length9:05

II. Largo

Track length9:46

III. Scherzo. Molto vivace

Track length7:30

IV. Allegro con fuoco

Track length11:04

Dvořák: Slavonic Dances Nos. 1-8, Op. 46 Nos. 1-8

Work length34:51

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-11
Recording Venue: Vienna

No. 1 in C Major. Presto

Track length3:40

No. 2 in E Minor. Allegretto scherzando

Track length4:25

No. 3 in A-Flat Major. Poco allegro

Track length4:16

No. 4 in F Major. Tempo di minuetto

Track length6:26

No. 5 in A Major. Allegro vivace

Track length3:05

No. 6 in D Major. Allegretto scherzando

Track length5:33

No. 7 in C Minor. Allegro assai

Track length3:17

No. 8 in G Minor. Presto

Track length4:09

Smetana: Vltava, JB 1:112 / 2

Work length11:53

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-02
Recording Venue: Vienna

Tchaikovsky: Romeo & Juliet - Fantasy Overture

Work length19:11

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-04
Recording Venue: Vienna

Tchaikovsky: Marche slave, Op. 31

Work length9:49

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-04
Recording Venue: Vienna

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36

Work length39:35

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-12
Recording Venue: Vienna

I. Andante sostenuto - Moderato con anima

Track length17:18

II. Andantino in modo di Canzona

Track length8:15

III. Scherzo. Pizzicato ostinato - Allegro

Track length5:27

IV. Finale. Allegro con fuoco

Track length8:35

Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Op. 49

Work length14:53

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-12
Recording Venue: Vienna

Excerpt, Tchaikovsky: Serenade for strings in C major, Op. 48

Work length3:54

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-04
Recording Venue: Vienna

II.. Walzer. Moderato

Track length3:54

Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Op. 20 Suite

Work length20:17

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1959-02
Recording Venue: Vienna

I. Scene. Swan Theme

Track length2:57

II. Valse in A Major

Track length5:12

III. Danse des petits cygnes

Track length1:25

IV. Scene

Track length6:47

V. Danse Hongroise

Track length3:56

Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty, Suite, Op. 66a

Work length20:21

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1959-02
Recording Venue: Vienna

I. Introduction. The Lilac Fairy

Track length5:07

II. Pas d'action. Rose Adagio

Track length7:15

III. Pas de caractère. Puss in Boots

Track length1:44

IV. Panorama. Andantino

Track length2:06

V. Valse

Track length4:09

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a

Work length20:25

Wiener Symphoniker
Karel Ancerl
Recorded: 1958-04
Recording Venue: Vienna

I. Miniature Overture

Track length3:06

IIa. March

Track length2:23

IIb. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy

Track length1:49

IIc. Russian Dance (Trepak)

Track length1:04

IId. Arabian Dance (Coffee)

Track length2:53

IIe. Chinese Dance (Tea)

Track length1:01

IIf. Dance of the Reed-Pipes

Track length2:25

III. Waltz of the Flowers

Track length5:44

About
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About

Through many recordings on Supraphon, the sympathetic, dynamic relationship of Karel Ančerl with the Czech Philharmonic is well known, especially in native repertoire such as Dvořák and Smetana. To a lesser extent, his work late in life with the Toronto Symphony, once he had emigrated to Canada, is documented on CD. However, his brief but productive partnership with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra has long been forgotten. In fact he made four LPs with them between February 1958 and February 1959, for the Philips label as it sought to establish itself in the early years of LP. These recordings were released on the Fontana imprint, and they are reissued here together on CD for the first time.

Taken in the round, the recordings make an invaluable contribution to our understanding of an unfailingly warm and astute musician. Ančerl inspired affection wherever he went, even among hard-bitten orchestral players. His experience at the hands of the Nazis found a surprising but redemptive expression in his good humour, charm and sanguine detachment from politics. He could also secure playing of tremendous fire and refinement, as may be heard in the Slavonic Dances on CD1 of this set. The ‘New World’ Symphony and ‘Vltava’ are also done as to the manner born, ‘well-phrased, euphonious and vivid’ according to Gramophone’s original review of the Smetana.

The rest of the set is dedicated to Tchaikovsky, and this is mostly repertoire which he did not record elsewhere. In a keenly detailed booklet appreciation, Rob Cowan observes the rhythmic spring and elegant legato of the ballet suites – hallmarks of Ančerl’s conducting – while finding high voltage and no lack of intensity in the Fourth Symphony and the Marche slave. Cannons were unavailable for the 1812 Overture; an enthusiastically played bass drum is enlisted in its place.

Reviews

March 1959

It’s conceived in one piece, and absolutely fresh. The pacing and pace and control of articulation suggest the fresh air and the pungent smells of bush and heath… The tempi are all absolutely right… And Ančerl contrives as well to bring out characteristic detail, middle parts, grace notes, sonorities of various kinds, without damaging the flow of the music.

Karel Ančerl - The Philips Recordings

3 CDs

Contents

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