Richard Wagner: "Die Gotterdammerung" (arr: Carl Schuricht) - Dawn & Siegfried's Rhine Journey -&- Siegfried's Death & Funeral Music
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Richard Wagner: "Die Gotterdammerung" - as above: transfer from ACL 117
Robert Schumann: Overture, Scherzo & Finale in E, op.52 (Andante con moto - Allegro ~ Vivo ~ Allegro molto vivace)
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L'Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire de Paris conducted by Carl Schuricht
Decca LXT 5026 1955 pressing / matrices: ARL2188 -2A / ARL2189 -2A
ACL 117 - Gotterdammerung: c.1960 Matrix: ARL2189 -4AR / ACL 231 - Schumann: (LXT 2985) 1964 Matrix: ARL1700 -5K
Recorded: 4/5 & 8-11 June 1954 - La Maison de la Mutualite, Paris. ACL files from March 2012 EMG review + LXT 5026 sleeve-note >>>
Thank you a lot for sharing this, wonderfull performance in Tristan Prelude and Liebestod.
ReplyDeleteI've a soft-spot for 'old' French Orchestras playing German repertoire: the (still on CD-box-set) Schuricht/Schumann Sym.2 is really wonderful (original LXT/ACL reissue sound quite different).
DeleteUnfortunately, Sym.3 (ACL) still suffered due to compression onto a side: but the side here uploaded is very fine; though the review is correct about some aspects of the playing.
However, this old-vintage Decca vinyl is mostly impractical to hand-edit; but trying de-click really messed-up the sound...hence the long delay since I tried editing the ACL Tristan; which is a lovely performance!
I quite agree with you about the french orchestral sound. A friend who attended Bayreuth through the thirties to the sixties (with the obvious hiatus) told me that the Festival Orchestra was usually recruited from the southwestern Laender and Bavaria, so some brass vibrato was common. If you listen to the old recording of the Saar orchestra (next door to France) playing the Konzertstueck for four horns you will hear splendid vibrato, and its quite in keeping, as though these were having a day's hunting. The offstage horn calls are so splendid it has to be the incomparable Lucien Thevet; he probably had first option anyway.
ReplyDeleteMany Thanks, yet again. I'd willingly contribute.
Andrew Smith
Hello Andrew.
DeleteWell....another LP (Nonesuch H-71044 -late mauve label) never been listened-to.
Problem with those is that I'm not sure of the original recording/issue date (also have Ristenpart's Mendelssohn H-71099 + the original French issue + the equally commonplace Haydn 6/7/8).
Only yesterday was listening to Markevitch's excellent French National: Haydn: 101/102 (new - Columbia 33CX 1458) also have a 'less new' Schubert 8/Mendelssohn 4.
But they are not otherwise thick-on-the-ground...(and this particular Schuricht is a 'rarity' - not helped by reviews such as EMG's !!!)
Thanks - wonderful recordings. So it's the "French orchestral sound" that makes these so different, the atmosphere is sort of different - but works well. Fantastic performances too.
ReplyDeleteAside from some Decca/Schuricht's (+ his EMI Beethoven Symphonies) they didn't record much German repertoire in the '50's.
DeleteBut, as indicated, I don't want to transfer (m)any more of these ancient "Geon Vinyl" Decca's: far too time consuming.
Thank you! It's from the time when they were just on the cusp of dramatic improvements in sound quality - enough depth to hear that the depth is lacking! Enjoyable performances from the era...
ReplyDeleteIf you compare the 2 masterings (LXT/ACL) of Gotterdammerung you will notice that the mastering has some part to play - as the original LXT is a bit compressed/upfront compared to the ACL.
DeleteAlthough the mono Decca's are not usually 'concert hall' perspective, I find them near-ideal for home-listening in terms of the various strands being audible.
Sorry to ask but where's the Schumann Symphony?
ReplyDeleteI mentioned the reason in my comment above. It was fitted onto 1 side and has less-good sound. The 2nd Symphony is much better (2 sides); but both were in a CD set - don't recall the Wagner was at the time.
DeleteAh, ok. Thanks
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