Ossy Renardy Eugene LIst play Franck and Ravel Sonatas

I have to confess that after all these years listening to records, I was not familiar with Ossy Renardy. I bought the record assuming, rightly, that it is not well represented digitally. It's a shame; the performances are worth hearing. Renardy doesn't really "get" the blues movement of the Ravel; although it is well executed, it's not really bluesy. A quibble, since it is convincingly played.  The Franck is one of the best performances on record.  Although the live Oistrakh and Richter performance is still my gold standard, this comes close, though with less expansive phrasing. It's well worth listening to more than once.

Renardy was already concertizing at 17 (and before) when he left Europe for the U.S. via the United Kingdom in 1937. He served in the U.S. armed forces during WWII and only recommenced his concert career in the late forties, recording a well received Brahms concerto with Munch in 1948.  He died in an auto accident in northern New Mexico in December 1953 at the age of 33, on his way from a recital in Las Cruces to a booking in Monte Vista Colorado.   Listening to these recordings one can only regret what might have been.  This time Remington graced us with a good sound recording and a decent pressing. 

All the files and cover art can be found at the link below. 

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/tg8978wkdvp5y/Renardy._List._Franck._Ravel

Enesco Octet for Strings, Op. 7, Enesco, Conducting

 

Here is presented an important performance under the direction of the composer of an important work by George Enescu, unfortunately recorded and pressed by Remington Records. It was a challenging recording to renovate with audible distortion either from the original tapes or, more likely, from the pressing and record wear.  A well played 1953 Remington issue (with a copyright date on the jacket of 1951). Enough said.  Surprisingly enough, given the composers involvement in the project, the recording does not appear to have been reissued.

The music itself is wonderful and inexplicably neglected. It should be at least as commonly recorded as the Mendelssohn Octet, which I admit is not exactly over-represented, but a number of excellent recordings have been made over the years, including a fantastic essay by the combined forces of the  Janacek and Smetana Quartets, another record that I should consider posting, as it doesn't seem to have made it to CD after several LP reissues.  

I apologize for the unavoidably rough sonics. It's the best I could do, and the recording itself is, I feel, important enough post warts and all.

All the files for download can be found here:

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/6csld6wu78b1p/Enesco_String_Octet_Enesco_conducting

E. Power Biggs plays Organ Music of Spain and Portugal

  

This record is one of the most interesting of E. Power Biggs' many compelling recordings.   He presents several organs from the Iberian peninsula in all their quirky glory. The music demonstrates the various organ's unique potentials, from ferocious to dainty, quite well, and no doubt was chosen for that reason.  It is delightful and sometimes fun.  It was released in 1957, in the issue I own, and the only reissue, as far as I can tell,  was in Australia on the Coronet LP. Discogs gives no date for that.

Since Biggs is one of my favorite musicians, I find it shocking that so little was ever available on CD, which is by now , I realize, a dying format.  Some of Bach's most popular pieces came out, but Biggs recorded prolifically and and the oeuvre is meagerly represented on CD.  His Buxtehude at Lüneberg: The Glory of the Baroque Organ  seems never to have made it, and it might well be titled, "The Glory of E. Power Biggs Playing Baroque Organ."  

I'll stop preaching. But do download and enjoy these neglected and delightful gems: 

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/d1j5srm6hn9kv/E._Power_Biggs_Organs_of_Spain_and_Portugal

Fritz Mahler conducts Brahms Hungarian Dances

Brahms Hungarian Dances 

Fritz Mahler / Hartford Symphony Orchestra 

There are not a lot of Fritz Mahler LP's floating around, and I was delighted to find this one, signed by the conductor himself. The son of a first cousin of the great composer Gustav Mahler, conducted the  Erie Philharmonic from 1947 to 1953 before moving to Harford and leading the  Hartford Symphony Orchestra until 1964.  His first permanent engagement in the U.S. came in 1935 when he became music director of the Philadelphia's La Scala Opera Company (that's not an error). I assume he left Europe due to the rise of the Nazi's in Germany and the war, but nothing is mentioned that I can find other than his experiencing, "major changes in both his private and professional life." from 1935 to 1947.  "https://mahlerfoundation.org/mahler/family-tree/generation-6d/fritz-mahler-1901-1973/  

The performances themselves are well done and enjoyable. Orchestrations are by Brahms for 1,3, and 10; Andraeas Hallen for 2,4, and 7; Albert Parlow for 5 and 6; and Antonin Dvorak for 17-21.  Quite a mix. Nonetheless, they work well as a set. Enjoy!

All files are here:  https://www.mediafire.com/folder/952jhxr78mxus/F._Mahler_Hartford_19_Hungarian_Dances

Reiner 1949 Brandenburg Concertos

Reiner Brandenburg Concertos

1949 Recordings

To say that I am not fully satisfied with these renovations is an understatement, but the extent of my dissatisfaction varies from mild to substantial. But looking back on a Facebook post, I realize I started work on the records two years ago, dropped the project because I didn't like my work, and picked it up again recently. I don't dislike my work as much as I did, and sometimes I almost think it's OK. Nonetheless, having done it, I figured I'd put it up and let others decide. The performances are well represented in digital form, including a Pristine Classical restoration with wonderful sound that I nonethless find too souped-up to represent the chamber group employed. I'd rather listen to my old LP's.  But whatever your reaction to these sound files, do by all means find a digitization of the performances that you can enjoy. They are quite modern for their day and musically satisfying for any era.  Brisk and beautifully played by some of the best soloists New York offered at the time.  

The first two concertos, volume one of the three LP set are from the original release in 1950, and the above art work uses it, photoshopped,  to announce this post.  The beginning tracks of the first concerto were the most challenging to renovate.  The other four concertos, 3-6 are from Harmony releases in the late 1950's, with better surfaces.

Files can be found in these links: 

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/6pg64x89bd11v/Reiner_Brandenburg_Concertos_1949_Vol.1

https://www.mediafire.com/folder/htm3bo6eqdwey/Reiner_Brandenburg_Concertos_Vol._2

 

Horszowski, Katims, Schneider, Miller Play Mozart and Beethoven

New York Quartet

Horszowski, Katims, Schneider, Miller

Play Mozart and Beethoven

This lovely performance from 1953 of these two works does not seem to have made it to CD, though it is digitized in the internet archive, where one can also find the text from the back of the LP jacket. As musicological information about the works can be found elsewhere, I don't have much to add. I found the LP only recently, cleaned it, played it, liked it, and after finding it unrepresented on CD, decided to digitize and clean up the record and post it. Flac and mp3 files, along with cd cover art for those who still enjoy burning to a format that is not so gradually disappearing, can be found here: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/w3w6v8exjkki4/Horszowski_Katims_Schneidr_Miller_Mozart_Beethoven

I hope you enjoy the music and performances as much as I do. Schneider and Horszowski are two of my favorite musicians.