Great Conductors of the 20th Century is a joint venture between the production and licensing expertise of IMG Artists and the international marketing and distribution clout of EMI. Sixty volumes were planned with hopes for even more. Unfortunately, though, perhaps reflecting our leaner climate for classical projects, the producers now advise that only forty will be issued. Thus, rather than a proud celebration of the full wealth of this keystone of classical art,six of the Great Conductors of the 20th Century volumes the truncated result is tinged with regret for what might have been. Even so, the edition stimulates many thoughts, not only about its particular subjects but of trends and issues that transcend the specific contents.

Track List:

Vol. 21 PIERRE MONTEUX # 7243 5 75477 2 0
CD1
Beethoven: Symphony No.2 in D, Op.36; October 1960
Wagner: Prelude & Liebestod (‘Tristan und Isolde’); February 1964
Sinfonieorchester des Norddeutschen Rundfunks; Musikhalle, Hamburg
Hindemith: Symphony ‘Mathis de Maler’
Danish State Radio Symphony Orchestra; Danish Radio Concert Hall, Copenhagen;
October 1962 (Live)
CD2
Debussy: Trois Nocturnes
Women of the Berkshire Festival Chorus & Boston Symphony Orchestra;
Symphony Hall, Boston; August 1955
Tchaikovsky: ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, Op.66 - excerpts
London Symphony Orchestra; Kingsway Hall, London; June 1957
Rouget de Lisle: La Marseillaise
London Symphony Orchestra; Walthamstow Town Hall, London; June 1962 (Rehearsal)
Vol. 22 CHARLES MUNCH # 7243 5 75480 2 7
CD1
Saint-Saens: Overture ‘La Princesse jaune’
Boston Symphony Orchestra; Symphony Hall, Boston; January 1951
Beethoven: Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op.125 ‘Choral’
Leontyne Price, Maureen Forrester, David Poleri & Giorgio Tozzi
New England Conservatory Chorus & Boston Symphony Orchestra;
Symphony Hall, Boston; December 1958
Berlioz: Overture ‘Le Corsaire’, Op.21
Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire; Maison de la Mutualite, Paris; May 1948)
CD2
Mendelssohn: Octet in E flat minor, Op.20 - Scherzo (orch. Mendelssohn)
Boston Symphony Orchestra; Symphony Hall, Boston; March 1960
Bizet: Symphony in C
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise; French Radio Studios, Paris; November 1966
Martin_: Symphony No.6 ‘Fantaisies symphoniques’; April 1956
Prokofiev: Romeo & Juliet - Suites 1 & 2 - excerpts; February 1957
Boston Symphony Orchestra; Symphony Hall, Boston
Vol. 23 LEOPOLD STOKOWSKI # 7243 5 75483 21 1
CD1
Sibelius: Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.39
National Philharmonic Orchestra; West Ham Central Mission, London; November 1976
Nielsen: Symphony No.2, Op.16 ‘The Four Temperaments’
Danish State Radio Symphony Orchestra; Odd Fellow Pal?t, Copenhagen; August 1967 (Live)
Grainger: Handel in the Strand, Country Gardens & Shepherd’s Hey
Percy Grainger & Leopold Stokowski & His Symphony Orchestra;
The Manhattan Center, New York City; May 1950
CD2
Dukas: Fanfare (‘La Peri’)
Leopold Stokowski & His Symphony Orchestra; Riverside Plaza Hotel, New York City;
February 1957
Brahms: ‘Tragic’ Overture, Op.81
National Philharmonic Orchestra; Abbey Road Studios, London; April 1977
Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody in F minor, S359 No.1
Members of the NBC Symphony Orchestra; The Manhattan Center; February 1956
Turina: La oracion del torero, Op.34
Leopold Stokowski & His Symphony Orchestra; Riverside Plaza Hotel; February 1958
Ibert: Escales
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise; Salle Wagram, Paris; May 1958
Wagner: ‘Love Music’ from ‘Tristan und Isolde’ (arr. Stokowski)
The Philadelphia Orchestra; Broadwood Hotel, Philadelphia; February 1960
Gliere: Russian Sailors’ Dance (‘The Red Poppy’ - Suite, Op.70)
Leopold Stokowski & His Symphony Orchestra; The Manhattan Center; February 1953
Vol. 24 VACLAV TALICH # 7243 5 75486 2 8
CD1
Smetana: _arka (from ‘Ma vlast’); Rudolfinum, Prague; June 1954
Dvorak: ‘The Water Goblin’, Op.107; Smetana Hall, Prague; May 1954 (Live)
Suk: Serenade for String Orchestra in E flat, Op.6; Rudolfinum; February 1951
Jana_ek: ‘The Cunning Little Vixen’ - Suite (arr. Talich); Rudolfinum; April 1954
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
CD2
Benda: Symphony for String Orchestra in B flat; Studio Domovina, Prague; March 1954
Mozart: Symphony No.33 in B flat, K319; Smetana Hall; June 1954 (Live)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Suite No.4 in G, Op.61 ‘Mozartiana’ - Preghiera
Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra; Bratislava; December 1951
Smetana: Prague Carnival; June 1953
Dvorak: Symphony No.9 in E minor, Op.95 ‘From the New World’; September 1954
Novak: Slovak Suite, Op.32 - Amorous Couple; June 1953
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra; Rudolfinum
Vol. 25 SIR THOMAS BEECHAM # 7243 5 75938 2 3
CD1
Rossini: Overture ‘Guillaume Tell’
Abbey Road Studios, London, July 1934
Dvorak: Legend in G
Abbey Road Studios, April 1935
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Wagner: Entry of the Gods into Valhalla (‘Das Rheingold’)
Abbey Road Studios, October 1947
Mozart: Divertimento No.15 for 2 horns & strings
Abbey Road Studios, July 1947
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Delius: Appalachia (revised & edited: Beecham)
Cuthbert Matthews & Royal Opera Amateur Chorus
Weber: Overture ‘Der Freischutz’
Live recordings: Queen’s Hall, London, November 1935
London Philharmonic Orchestra
CD2
Rimsky-Korsakov: Symphony No.2 (Symphonic Suite) ‘Antar’
Live studio recording: Shepperton Studios, London, December 1951
Mendelssohn: Songs Without Words Nos.44 & 45 (orchestrated: Del Mar)
Abbey Road Studios, November 1947
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.4
Movement 1: Kingsway Hall, London, April 1958
Movements 2-4: Salle Wagram, Paris, October & November, 1957
Handel: Amaryllis Suite (arranged: Beecham)
Abbey Road Studios, June 1949
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

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