ERICH LEINSDORF: MILESTONES OF A LEGENDARY CONDUCTOR (10 CDS) DOCUMENT

Erich Leinsdorf (1919 – 1993) is still considered to be one of the world’s best opera conductors. His extensive recordings of the symphonic works of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Prokofiev, and others are ample proof, however, that he belongs among the group of European orchestra leaders who influenced American musical life since the 1930s. Born in Vienna as Erich Landauer, he assisted the great Arturo Toscanini at the Salzburg Festival as a young conductor, and also Bruno Walter, head of the Vienna State Opera at that time. He thus came into contact with the musical world elite early on. When Austria was annexed to Nazi Germany, he was in the US, where he was granted asylum as a Jew. Initially assistant at the New York Metropolitan Opera, he became increasingly responsible for the German repertoire during the war years. In 1942 he achieved US citizenship, and from 1943 to 46 became head of the Cleveland Orchestra, interrupted only by his service in the US Army. After the war there followed remarkable and award-winning recordings in Vienna, Bayreuth, London, Berlin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and in 1962 the appointment as director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This 10-CD box set marks the path of this extraordinary conductor in all of its crucial phases with a host of impressive examples of his work.

CD 1
■ Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949)
1. TILL EULENSPIEGELS LUSTIGE
STREICHE, op. 28 14‘39
TILL EULENSPIEGEL’S MERRY
PRANKS, Op. 28
2. DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN
Zwischenspiele / Interludes (Arr.
Leinsdorf ) 18‘46
3. TOD UND VERKLÄRUNG, op. 24
23‘09
DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION
Philharmonia Orchestra (1, 2)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (3)
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1960 (1, 2)
1961 (3)
Total Time 56’42
CD 2
■ Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
DIE WALKÜRE / THE VALKYRIE
1. Vorspiel 2. Akt / Prélude act two 2‘02
2. Walkürenritt und Feuerzauber
(Konzertfassung) 15‘14
Ride oft the Valkyries and Magic Fire
Music (Concert Version)
LOHENGRIN
3. Vorspiel 3. Akt / Prélude act three
2‘58
TANNHÄUSER
4. Ouvertüre / Overture 13‘03
SIEGFRIED
5. Anfang 2. Akt / Beginning act two 4‘28
GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS
6. Trauermarsch / Siegfried‘s Funeral
March 7‘20
DIE MEISTERSINGER VON
NÜRNBERG
THE MASTERSINGERS OF
NUREMBERG
7. Tanz der Lehrbuben und Einzug der
Meister 5‘53
Dance of the Apprentices and
Procession of the Masters
8. Vorspiel / Prélude 8‘27
London Symphony Orchestra (1)
Concert Arts Symphony Orchestra (2-4,
6, 7)
Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera
House, N.Y. (5)
Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele (8)
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1961 (1) 1957
(2-4, 6, 7)
1962 (5, Live) 1959 (8, Live)
Total Time 59’57

CD 3
■ Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN B-FLAT
MAJOR, Op. 83
KONZERT FÜR KLAVIER UND
ORCHESTER Nr. 2, B-Dur, op. 83
1. I. Allegro non troppo 16‘39
2. II. Allegro passionato 8‘34
3. III. Andante 12‘34
4. IV. Allegro grazioso 8‘38
Sviatoslav Richter piano
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1962
■ Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856)
SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN B-FLAT MAJOR,
Op. 38 (“Spring”)
SINFONIE Nr. 1, B-DUR, op. 38
(„Frühlingssinfonie“)
5. I. Andante un poco maestoso –
Allegro molto vivace 8‘15
6. II. Larghetto: attaca 6‘13
7. III. Scherzo: Molto vivace 5‘10
8. IV. Allegro animato e grazioso 7‘47
Cleveland Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1946
Total Time 73’57
CD 4
■ Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN E-FLAT MAJOR,
Op. 55 (“Eroica”)
SINFONIE Nr. 3, ES-DUR, op. 55
1. I. Allegro con brio 15‘40
2. II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai 16‘13
3. III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace – Trio 6‘11
4. IV. Finale: Allegro molto – Poco
andante – Presto 12‘03
■ Edvard Grieg (1843 – 1907)
PIANO CONCERTO IN A MINOR,
Op.16
KONZERT FÜR KLAVIER UND
ORCHESTER, a-Moll, op. 16
5. I. Allegro molto moderato 11‘48
6. II. Adagio / III. Allegro moderato molto
e marcato 15‘49
Leonard Pennario piano (5-7)
Boston Symphony Orchestra (1-4)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
(5-7)
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1962 (1-4)
1961 (1-7)
Total Time 77’51

CD 5
■ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN E FLAT- MAJOR, K. 16 /
SINFONIE Nr. 1, ES-DUR, KV 16
1. I. Allegro molto 2‘38
2. II. Andante 2‘33
3. III. Presto 2‘09
SYMPHONY NO. 2 IN B-FLAT MAJOR, K. 17 /
SINFOINIE Nr. 2, B-Dur, KV 17
4. I. Allegro 2‘58
5. II. Andante 2‘49
6. III. Menutetto I et II 3‘28
7. IV. Presto 1‘49
SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, K. 18 /
SINFONIE Nr. 3, ES-DUR, KV 18
8. I. Molto Allegro 3‘22
9. II. Andante 3‘24
10. III. Presto 1‘54
SYMPHONY NO. 4 IN D MAJOR, K. 19 /
SINFONIE Nr. 4, D-DUR, KV 19
11. I. Allegro 2‘17
12. II. Andante 2‘20
13. III. Presto 1‘42
SYMPHONY NO. 5 IN B-FLAT MAJOR, K. 22 /
SINFONIE Nr. 5, B-Dur, KV 22
14. I. Allegro 2‘31
15. II. Andante 2‘48
16. III. Allegro molto 1‘19
SYMPHONY NO. 6 IN F MAJOR, K. 43
SINFONIE Nr. 6, F-Dur, KV 43
17. I. Allegro 2‘36
18. II. Andante 3‘08
19. III. Menuetto 2‘37
20. IV. Allegro molto 1‘51
SYMPHONY NO 7 IN D MAJOR, K. 45
SINFONIE Nr. 7, D-DUR, KV 45
21. I. Ouvertüre/Overture: Allegro 2‘41
22. II. Andante 1‘25
23. III. Menuetto 3‘27
24. IV. Finale: Allegro 1‘28
SYMPHONY NO 8 IN D MAJOR, K. 48
SINFONIE Nr. 8, D-DUR, KV 48
25. I. Allegro 2‘05
26. II. Andante 1‘48
27. III. Menuetto 3‘31
28. IV. Allegro 1‘53
SYMPHONY NO. 9 IN C MAJOR, K. 73
SINFONIE Nr. 9, C-DUR, KV 73
29. I. Allegro 2‘59
30. II. Andante 2‘40
31. III. Menuetto 2‘48
32. IV. Allegro molto 2‘06
London Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1956
Total Time 79’39
CD 6
■ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 –
1791)
DON GIOVANNI
1. Ouvertüre / Overture 5‘47
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
2. Ouvertüre / Overture 3‘53
Peter Cornelius (1824 – 1874)
DER BARBIER VON BAGDAD
3. Ouvertüre / Overture 7‘24
Gioacchino Rossini (1792 – 1868)
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA
4. Ouvertüre / Overture 6‘49
GUGLIELMO TELL
5. Passo a Sei 5‘33
Giuseppe Verdi (1813 – 1901)
MACBETH
6. Ouvertüre / Overture 4’21
AIDA
7. Ballettmusik / Ballabile 4‘15
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 – 1921)
SAMSON ET DALILA
8. Bacchanale 6‘43
Amilcare Ponchielli (1834 – 1886)
LA GIOCONDA
9. Tanz der Stunden / Dance of the hours
8‘21
Emmanuel Chabrier (1841 – 1894)
10. ESPAŇA 6‘08
Wiener Philharmoniker (1, 2)
Philharmonia Orchestra (3)
Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera
House, N.Y. (4, 6)
Concert Arts Symphony Orchestra (5,
7-10)
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1956 (3) 1957
(5, 7-10)
1958 (2, 4) 1959 (6) 1961 (1)
Total Time 60’00

CD 7
■ Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 –
1908)
SHEHERAZADE, Op. 35
1. The Sea / Das Meer 9‘08
2. The Story of the Kalendar Prince
11‘37
Die Geschichte von Prinz Kalender
3. The Young Prince and The Young
Princess 9‘28
Der junge Prinz und die junge Prinzessin
4. Festival in Bagdad 12‘08
(The Sea – The Ship Goes to Pieces on
a Rock Surmounted
by a Bronze Warrier – Conclusion / Das
Meer – Das Schiff
zerschellt an einem hohen Felsen,
überragt von einem
bronzenen Krieger – Finale)
■ Béla Bartok (1881 – 1945)
CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA
KONZERT FÜR ORCHESTER
5. I. Introduzione – Andante non troppo;
Allegro vivace 9‘45
6. II. Gioco delle Coppie – Allegretto
scherzando 6‘28
7. III. Elegia – Andante, non troppo 6‘57
8. IV. Intermezzo Interroto – Allegretto
4‘17
9. V. Finale – Pesante; Presto 9‘15
Concert Arts Symphony Orchestra (1-4)
Boston Symphony Orchestra (5-9)
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1960 (1-4)
1962 (5-9)
Total Time 79’10
CD 8
■ Antonin Dvořák (1841 – 1904)
SYMPHONY NO. 6 (1) IN D MAJOR,
Op. 60
SINFONIE Nr. 6 (1), D-DUR, op. 60
1. I. Allegro non tanto 10‘29
2. II. Adagio 9‘39
3. III. Scherzo: Furiant – Presto 7‘05
4. IV. Allegro con spirit 9‘15
■ Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN B-FLAT
MINOR, Op. 23
KONZERT FÜR KLAVIER UND
ORCHESTER Nr. 1, b-Moll, op. 23
5. I. Allegro non troppo e molto
maestoso – Allegro con brio 18‘15
6. II. Andantino semplice – Prestissimo
6‘18
7. III. Allegro con fuoco 6‘22
Leonard Pennario piano (5-7)
Cleveland Orchestra (1-4)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
(5-7)
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1958 (5-7)
1946 (1-4)
Total Time 67’31

CD 9
■ Sergej Rachmaninov (1873 – 1943)
1. RHAPSODY FOR PIANO AND
ORCHESTRA 20‘34
ON A THEME OF PAGANINI, Op. 43
RHAPSODIE FÜR KLAVIER UND
ORCHESTER
NACH EINEM THEMA VON PAGANINI,
op. 43
■ Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 –
1908)
RUSSIAN EASTER
RUSSISCHE OSTERN, Op. 36
2. Ouvertüre / Overture 13‘48
■ Bedřich Smetana (1824 – 1884)
3. THE / DIE MOLDAU (from / aus „Má
Vlast“) 10‘56
■ Paul Dukas (1865 – 1935)
4. L’APPRENTI SORCIER 11‘01
THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE /
DER ZAUBERLEHRLING
Leonard Pennario piano (1)
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (1)
Concert Arts Symphony Orchestra (2-4)
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1961 (1) 1957
(2-4)
Total Time 56’35
CD 10
■ Gustav Mahler (1860 – 1911)
SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN D MAJOR
(“Titan”)
Sinfonie Nr. 1, D-DUR („Der Titan“)
1. I. Langsam, schleppend, wie ein
Naturlaut 15‘15
2. II. Kräftig bewegt 7‘54
3. III. Feierlich und gemessen, ohne zu
schleppen 11‘34
4. IV. Stürmisch bewegt 18‘24
Boston Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Erich Leinsdorf
recorded / aufgenommen 1962
Total Time 53’09