Serge Koussevitzky Conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra: Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 & Sibelius: Symphony No. 2

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...extremely important and valuable additions to the Koussevitzky discography, and should be snapped up avidly by all collectors of historic orchestral recordings. — Fanfare, May/June 2023

Release Date: 19th Aug 2022
Catalogue No: ARIADNE5017-2
Label: Somm
Length: 2 hours 27 minutes

International Classical Music Awards

2023

Nominated - Historical

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64

Work length48:05

$11.00

$14.15

$19.25

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Serge Koussevitzky

I. Andante - Allegro con anima (Live)

Track length15:37

$4.00

$5.15

$7.00

II. Andante cantabile con alcuna licenza (Live)

Track length14:30

$3.00

$3.85

$5.25

III. Valse. Allegro moderato (Live)

Track length6:22

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Finale. Andante maestoso - Allegro vivace (Live)

Track length11:36

$3.00

$3.85

$5.25

Hector Berlioz, Franz Liszt, Richard Strauss, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Serge Koussevitzky, A Memoir, Pt. 1

Work length20:02

Album only

Jon Tolansky, Harry Ellis Dickson, Harry Shapiro, Patrick Strevens
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Serge Koussevitzky

La damnation de Faust, H 111 - Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64, TH 29 - Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28, TrV 171 - Romeo and Juliet, TH 42 - Faust Symphony, S. 108 (Excerpts)

Track length20:02

Album only

Ludwig van Beethoven, Aaron Copland, Claude Debussy, Jean Sibelius, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Serge Koussevitzky, A Memoir, Pt. 2

Work length19:35

$4.00

$5.15

$7.00

Jon Tolansky, Harry Ellis Dickson, Harry Shapiro, Patrick Strevens, Everett Firth
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Serge Koussevitzky

Tapiola, Op. 112 - La Mer, L. 109 - Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 "Eroica" - Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 - El Salón México - Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5, Opp. 36 & 64, TH 27 & 29 (Excerpts)

Track length19:35

$4.00

$5.15

$7.00

Modest Mussorgsky, Jean Sibelius, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Serge Koussevitzky, A Memoir, Pt. 3

Work length19:39

$4.00

$5.15

$7.00

Jon Tolansky, Patrick Strevens
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Serge Koussevitzky

Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 - Khovanshchina - Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64, TH 29 (Excerpts)

Track length19:39

$4.00

$5.15

$7.00

Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43

Work length40:37

$9.00

$11.60

$15.75

London Philharmonic Orchestra
Serge Koussevitzky

I. Allegretto (Live)

Track length9:21

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

II. Tempo andante, ma rubato (Live)

Track length12:13

$3.00

$3.85

$5.25

III. Vivacissimo (Live)

Track length5:41

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Finale. Allegro moderato (Live)

Track length13:22

$3.00

$3.85

$5.25

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SOMM Recordings announces a major new release: the first appearance on disc of live performances of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth and Sibelius’s Second Symphonies by the iconic conductor Serge Koussevitzky and the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This historic, two-CD set includes an exclusive, specially-commissioned documentary about Koussevitzky’s Boston Symphony Orchestra tenure and his LPO guest appearances, featuring interviews with four key players from both orchestras by Jon Tolansky.

Tolansky’s revealing hour-long documentary includes wide-ranging musical excerpts and contributions from former BSO players Harry Ellis Dickson (violin), Everett ‘Vic’ Firth (timpani) and Harry Shapiro (sub-principal horn), and erstwhile LPO sub-principal horn Patrick Strevens.The symphonies are heard in performances Koussevitzky conducted with the LPO in London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1950. Both have been expertly restored by Lani Spahr.

Noted authority on historical recordings Rob Cowan provides detailed booklet notes on the “individual, flexible, flammable, emotionally candid and utterly spontaneous” Koussevitzky’s stewardship of both orchestras. He describes the Tchaikovsky as “especially unique [in] its unsparing volatility…. The explosive climaxes leave the audience stunned”. Of the Sibelius, he says: “Koussevitzky’s London Second is as comprehensive an overview of the work as we have”.

Lani Spahr’s previous restorations for SOMM include the four-disc Elgar Remastered (SOMMCD2614) featuring recordings from the composer’s own collection, hailed by Audiophilia as “a fascinating achievement which will have you wishing for more”. George Szell: The Forgotten Recordings (ARIADNE50112) was a Gramophone Editor’s Choice and awarded a Diapason d’Or as “a major discovery”.

Jon Tolansky is the founder of the Music Performance Research Centre (now Music Preserved) and a widely admired producer of audio documentaries on classical musicians. For Spahr’s restorations on Beecham Conducts Sibelius (ARIADNE5013), he produced a 30-minute audio documentary. MusicWeb International declared it “an unmissable disc [that] walks straight into a position of eminence in the catalogue”.

Reviews

May/June 2023

...extremely important and valuable additions to the Koussevitzky discography, and should be snapped up avidly by all collectors of historic orchestral recordings.

Serge Koussevitzky Conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra

2 CDs

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