Toscanini Conducts Mozart

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 29 in A major, K. 201 (K. 186a)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by NBC Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Arturo Toscanini

2. Symphony No. 38 in D major ("Prague"), K. 504
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by NBC Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Arturo Toscanini

3. Bassoon Concerto in B flat major, K. 186e (K. 191)
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by NBC Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Arturo Toscanini

Tracks:

Dinorah - Overture
In The Garden
Serenade
Prelude
Serenade
Marche
Danse Bohemienne
I. Dimanche Matin
II. Au Caberet
III. Sous Les Tilleuls
IV. Dimanche Soir

Tracks:

I. Allegro Maestoso
II. Andante
III. Presto
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Andante Commodamente
III. Scherzo: Allegro Non Troppo/Moderato Assai
IV. Finale: Allegro Moderato
El Salon Mexico
Semper Fidelis
El Capitan
The Star Spangled Banner

Customer Reviews:

For the great Toscanini, a so-so collection.......2007-05-12

Revelations: the Dinorah Overture, Rustic Wedding Symphony excerpts, Mozart Divertimento and Copland's El Salon Mexico (which I didn't even know he had performed). Disappointments: The Kalinnikov Symphony, which is too fast and stiff in the first movement and, in the second, Toscanini rescores the viola "drone" effect of the opening of the movement for harp which ruins the desired effect. Downers: the inferior music of Bizet's "Jolie Fille du Perth" suite, and that dreadful, boxy Studio 8-H sound, and the Massenet. Delightful surprises: the Sousa marches, especially "Semper Fidelis" which he conducts like a tarantella, also the unidentified chorus on the Dinorah overture (most probably the Westminster Choir, which Toscanini used in those years for his Beethoven performances).

Overall, then, a nice collection that fills in some gaps, but primarily for "complete" collectors only. As an overall album, it's just OK.

Arturo Toscanini Conducts Mozart, Brahms & Wagner

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Arturo Toscanini Conducts Mozart, Brahms & Wagner

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000003EYB
Release Date: 1992-06-09

Tracks:

Sym No.35 in D, K.385 'Haffner': Allegro Con Spirito
Sym No.35 in D, K.385 'Haffner': Andante
Sym No.35 in D, K.385 'Haffner': Menuetto-Trio
Sym No.35 in D, K.385 'Haffner': Finale: Presto
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.21: Scherzo - John Amans
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.21: Nocturne - Bruno Jaenicke
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Chorale St. Antoni: Andante
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Var I: Poco Piu Animato
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Var II: Piu Vivace
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Var III: Con Moto
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Var IV: Andante Con Moto
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Var V: Vivace
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Var VI: Vivace
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Var VII: Grazioso
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Var VIII: Presto Non Troppo
Vars On A Theme By Haydn: Finale: Andante
Siegfried Idyll
The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Arturo Toscanini Conducts the Blue Danube Waltz

Average customer rating:

Toscanini's Light Classics
Disappointing Fake Stereo Transfer Clouds Sound

Arturo Toscanini Conducts the Blue Danube Waltz

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Arturo Toscanini Collection, Volume 66: Overtures & Preludes

ASIN: B000003EY2
Release Date: 1990-05-25

Tracks:

The Skaters Waltz, Op.138
Toy Sym: Allegro
Toy Sym: Minuetto
Toy Sym: Allegro
Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op.214
On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op.314
Poet And Peasant: Ov
La Gioconda: Dance Of The Hours
Moto Perpetuo, Op.11
Ste No.3: Air
Invitation To The Dance, Op.65
Jota Aragonesa (Spanish Ov No.1)

Customer Reviews:

Toscanini's Light Classics.......2006-02-16

One of the remarkable things about Arturo Toscanini (1867-1957) was his ability to take the lighter, more familiar classics and bring new life to the music. The compilation offers a good sampling of how Toscanini excelled in bringing out the best from all-too-familiar musical treasures.

Toscanini was particularly known for his arrangement of Emil Waldteufel's "Skater's Waltz." This is the epitome of Viennese romanticism and it is a thoroughly delightful performance. Toscanini clearly understood the "ebb and flow" qualities of concert waltzes; there is an appropriate amount of rubato and true joy in this performance by the NBC Symphony Orchestra, recorded in Carnegie Hall. Unfortunately, the recording was NOT made in high fidelity and was apparently released on 78-rpm discs when wartime restrictions often resulted in less than pristine sound.

It is quite remarkable to hear how much fun Toscanini and the NBC musicians had with Leopold Mozart's "Toy Symphony." This is very charming, lively music, filled with all sorts of noise-makers and Toscanini was able to capture the magical qualities of these enchanting pieces.

Toscanini was particularly good with the music of Johann Strauss and this disc offers two excellent examples: the fiery, irrepressible "Tritsch-Tratsch Polka" and the wonderful "On the Beautiful Blue Danube."

Franz von Suppe's "Poet and Peasant" overture has become VERY familiar over the years and, of course, many learned the music through cartoons. However, Toscanini treats it with great dignity and energy, resulting in a top-notch performance.

The "Dance of the Hours" is the magical ballet music from Ponchielli's most famous opera, "La Gioconda." In this recording Toscanini succeeds in bringing out the best of music that became very popular through its inclusion in the original 1940 animated film "Fantasia," as performed by Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra and preserved in multi-channel stereo. This monaural version was better performed by the NBC Symphony under Toscanini and remains one of the great delights of his long career.

The first time I heard Toscanini's recording of Paganini's "Moto Perpetuo" I was captivated by the never-ending energy and enthusiasm of music that was intended to go on forever. It is really wonderful and quite a tribute to the fine playing by the NBC's string section.

In 1947, Toscanini and the NBC Symphony Orchestra gave a rare, complete performance of Johann Sebastian Bach's "Suite No. 3 in C," complete with terraced dynamics and great intensity and precision. The "Air on the G String" is perhaps the most known section of the suite and was recorded by itself in this commercial recording; it is proof that Toscanini could conduct Bach's music with wonderful results.

Toscanini first recorded the Weber-Berlioz "Invitation to the Dance" with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. He clearly admired how Hector Berlioz had orchestrated and arragned Karl Maria von Weber's spectacular piano piece. In the NBC recording, made in 1951, there is a beauty and intensity that has rarely been heard.

It may amaze some that Toscanini did conduct some of the music of the pioneering Russian composer Mikhail Glinka. "Jota Aragonesa" is one of the pieces inspired by Glinka's extended visit to Spain and it is very colorful and delightful. Toscanini's recording brings out the best in this memorable Spanish=Russian concert overture.

Disappointing Fake Stereo Transfer Clouds Sound.......1998-11-17

If the RCA/BMG engineers had not afflicted this volume of the Toscanini Collection with a heavy bath of fake stereo ambient echo, this would have been a desirable collection of the shorter, light works conducted by Toscanini during the period of the forties and early fifties.

However, so much extra stereo echo has been added that the sound balances are clouded and confused. This does little harm to the later recordings in high fidelity (Dance of the Hours, Invitation to the Dance) but the earlier ones from 78 rpm masters or live radio transcriptions (such as the Skater's Waltz, L. Mozart Toy Symphony, Strauss waltz and short pieces, Paganini Moto Perpetuo) do not benefit from the alteration.

However, this appears to be the very first authorized issue of the marvelous performance of the Glinka Jota Aragonesa from the broadcast of March 4, 1950: therefore, one must put up with the imprecision and cloudiness of the blowsy sound to be able to enjoy the performance (which in my opinion is not QUITE as exciting as the broadcast performance of 1945, once available on an ATS LP issue.)

If RCA chooses to REMOVE the echo, this will be a valuable release. One must also add that apparently a newer version of the 1941 broadcast of the Toy Symphony has appeared, and has been played at the NY Public Library Toscanini collection; this older issue (originally released in 1967 on a Victor 5-disk LP set) has very bad, pinched telephone-line narrowband sound.

Customer Reviews:

Toscanini's BBC recordings.......2006-03-18

Arturo Toscanini made a series of commercial recordings for His Master's Voice in Great Britain from 1937 to 1939. He conducted a number of concerts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (now known as the BBC Philharmonic orchestra) in the 1930's and reportedly enjoyed working with the British musicians. Some of the musicians later recalled the warm relationship they had with the Maestro, who clearly admired their abundant musical talents.

Often the comparison was made to Sir Thomas Beecham, who actually had a much different style than Toscanini (and was critical of the Maestro), because both were said to have "an inner vision" that came across in the ways they shaped performances of the great classics they conducted. Both men weren't afraid to conduct "light classics," which Beecham called "bon bons," and treat them with great respect and imagination.

Toscanini's BBC recordings were made in Queen's Hall, a wonderfully warm, resonant concert hall that was unfortunately destroyed in 1941 during the Battle of Britian. The recordings were released in America by RCA Victor. They give us a good idea of Queen's Hall's fine acoustics.

Knowing that Toscanini hated making 78-rpm discs because of their limited playing time (and the need to stop to the change a master every four to five minutes), HMV engineers set up two recording machines and recorded continuous performances. They simply faded or cut off one master when it reached its capacity and started a new one on the other machine.

Toscanini appreciated the ability to conduct such continuous performances and he was quite pleased with the results. He was so "relaxed" during the recordings that he occasionally hummed, as he sometimes did during his concerts. The discs had remarkably good sound, too, and still sound quite impressive on CDs.

Seraphim reissued the recordings in a boxed set in 1967, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Toscanini's birth (March 25, 1867). Having heard the original 78-rpm discs, this writer was quite impressed with the transfers to LPs. Now the historic recordings are available on compact discs and the listener can appreciate these wonderful performances.

The first, four, and the sixth symphonies of Beethoven are given "definitive" performances with great warmth and beauty. The exquisitive playing of the British musicians, handpicked by Sir Adrian Boult for this fine orchestra (formed in 1930 to make broadcasts and recordings), is a wonderful contrast to the same pieces that Toscanini recorded with the NBC Symphony, especially the famous RCA Victor boxed set of all nine Beethoven symphonies (recorded 1949 to 1952).

The 1938 recording of the overture to Mozart's last opera, "The Magic Flute" is especially enjoyable. It has great drama and power. There is clearly a triumphant and jubilant interpetation of this memorable music, which was among the final scores Mozart wrote in 1791. The original recording fit neatly on two sides of a 12-inch 78-rpm disc and, fortunately, the engineers were able to make a suitable split just before the famous "Masonic" chords that begin the final half of the overture.

The first overture to Beethoven's only opera, "Fidelio," is a surprising treat. Beethoven originally called the opera "Leonore," after its heroine and, never satisfied, ended up writing four overtures for the opera. Those more familiar with the "Leonore No. 3" will really enjoy the differences and similarities between the two scores. This is a very fine performance.

The overture to Rossini's "La scala di seta" is a rare treat because Toscanini apparently did not make a commercial recording of it with the NBC Symphony. It has incredible energy and really showcases the BBC Symphony's string section.

Brahms' "Tragic Overture" was written about the same time as the "Academic Festival Overture," when the composer received an honorary doctorate. There are considerable contrasts in the two works, both played and recorded by Toscanini with the NBC Symphony. "Tragic" is a very dramatic, powerful work and, quite frankly, this writer has NEVER a more spectacular recording of the overture than this one. Even the later NBC recording is not quite as dramatic.

Toscanini returned to Great Britain in the fall of 1952, for what proved to be the last time, to conduct two concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the brand-new Royal Festival Hall. He played only the music of Johannes Brahms, one of the composers he greatly admired. On hand for the BBC's Home Service radio broadcasts was none other than Sir Adrian Boult, who still remembered the incredible performances the Maestro gave with the BBC Symphony in the late 1930's. Boult's on-the-air tribute to Toscanini (preserved by the BBC) is yet another example of one conductor who greatly admired the Maestro.

Only World War II and the travel restrictions it imposed (as well as limitations on concerts) prevented Toscanini from returning to England until well after the war. Once again Toscanini's association with British musicians proved very rewarding for all concerned.

Toscanini Conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 2

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Toscanini Conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Aura Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000092Q5K
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Average customer rating:

Mediocre Audio Transfers But Great Performances

Conducts Mozart
Arturo Toscanini
Manufacturer: Iron Needle (Ita)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Sym No. 29 in A, KV 201/KV186a: I. Allegro Moderato
Sym No. 29 in A, KV 201/KV186a: II. Andante
Sym No. 29 in A, KV 201/KV186a: III. Menuetto
Sym No. 29 in A, KV 201/KV186a: IV. Allegro Con Spirito
Sym No. 38 in D, KV 504 'Prague': I. Adagio. Allegro
Sym No. 38 in D, KV 504 'Prague': II. Andante
Sym No. 38 in D, KV 504 'Prague': III. Presto
Con in B flat, KV 191: I. Allegro
Con in B flat, KV 191: II. Andante Ma Adagio
Con in B flat, KV 191: III. Rondo

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre Audio Transfers But Great Performances.......1998-09-16

As typified by Iron Needle's appalling engineering "rethinking" of the original Studio 8-H broadcast sound quality, this release adds all kinds of echo, fake stereo ambience, phase shifting, and sonic rebalancing to "correct" perfectly tolerable original single-channel sound recordings, which are much more satisfying WITHOUT all of the Iron Needle 'Cedaring' and computerizing. Play this CD in "dead mono" by setting your preamp to L+R, and thereby cut some of the phoniness of the artificial stereo effects.

The "Prague" Symphony broadcast of 1939 is a great rendition: not as forced and intense as the commercial recordings of Symphonies 39, 40, and 41 (available on RCA/BMG), it is nonetheless a powerhouse reading with an intensity that will delight Toscanini fans but deter his haters! The broadcast features the first movement exposition repeat, benefitting the architectural splendor and strength of the composition.

The Symphony No. 29 is given a rather hasty, makepiece run-through, lacking in the detailed control and precision of the Prague: the commencement of the opening movement is especially tentative. No repeats are given, and the event requires less than 20 minutes elapsed time. Toscanini's phrasing in Mozart, and especially here, is legato and very affected: modern conductors, observing eighteenth century performance practices, would shudder at the liberties of style. The recording quality of this particular CD transfer is very nasty, shrill, and distorted, and inferior to the Grammophono reproduction (compiled alongside the wonderful '41 broadcast of Schumann's Second, and the '45 playing of Dvorak's Scherzo Capriccioso.) Yet even "bootleg tapes" circulating on the East Coast of the USA in the seventies did not preserve a high quality recording of this particular broadcast.

The Bassoon Concerto is the really dissappointing item, as regard sonics. The original broadcast performance of Nov. 8, 1947, was a marvelous balance of poise, relaxation, precision, and energy: a joyous and spontaneous recreation. The commercial recording session made ten days later (on an RCA/BMG CD) is tauter, more careful, and less charming. So this broadcast is to be infinitely preferred: but NOT in this transfer, which has totally ruined the bright, clear, clean, and pristine FM-quality sound evident on the old Clyde Key/Arturo Toscanini Society LP release. So much ping-pong echo has been added that the bassoon's notes are "doubled" by the ambience, confusing the rapid passages of the score. As Toscanini might have said, "Vergogna, [shame] Iron Needle!"

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