Hans Knappertsbusch in London and in Switzerland

On this CD:

1. Lohengrin, opera, WWV 75 Prelude to Act I
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Tonhalle-Orchestre Zurich
Conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch

2. Lohengrin, opera, WWV 75 Prelude to Act III
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch

3. Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen, opera, WWV 49 Overture
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch

4. Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, opera, WWV 96 Prelude to Act I
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch

5. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73
Composed by Johannes Brahms
Performed by L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Conducted by Hans Knappertsbusch

Customer Reviews:

Early Kna Studio Recordings With Non-German Ensembles.......2004-07-26

This is a fascinating release. Preiser has retrieved this batch of 78 rpm recordings from Decca's vaults - all were recorded in 1947 and sport excellent sound. All of these performances are with non-German orchestras: the Lohengrin Act I Prelude is with the Zurich Tonhalle (in a fuller-sounding transfer than in the Knappertsbusch Rarities collection on Preiser 90389), the Lohengrin Act III Prelude and the Rienzi Overture are with the London Philharmonic, while both the Meistersinger Prelude Act I and the Brahms 2nd Symphony are with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

By and large, these performances feature energetic and purposeful interpretations by Kna, with none of the occasional sluggishness that afflicts some of his later readings. The Wagner items, to my ears, rank among the finest renditions ever recorded - the Lohengrin Act I Prelude is ineffably gorgeous.

The Brahms 2nd features some lovely string playing - frankly, the orchestra rarely sounded this good under its regular conductor Ernest Ansermet. By Kna standards, this is a fairly steady and straightforward account - it reminds me somewhat of Furtwangler's rather under-rated London Phil. studio recording from one year latter (available on Dutton). I have to say I miss somewhat the weightier (some would say more ponderous) and slower acounts from 1956 with the Munich Phil. - but this is nonetheless a distinguished reading and is far more committed than many of Kna's other studio recordings.

Apparently this CD is now out of print - but new copies were recently available at Berkshire Record Outlet (broinc.com) for only six dollars.

Essential for Kna collectors and other music lovers!

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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