Georg Kulenkampff (* 1898 in Bremen, + 1948 in Schaffhausen) made music history, when he performed the premiere of Robert Schumann’s violin concerto. Clara Schumann had put a one-hundred-year ban on the piece, as the composer’s mental illness was supposedly apparent in this work. The great violinist Joseph Joachim, to whom the concert was dedicated, thought it difficult to play. It was only in 1937 that the first premiere in Berlin was made possible by an agreement with Schumann’s heirs. The conductor was Karl Böhm. As Kulenkampff and Böhm were under contract with competing companies, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt took over the direction of the Berliner Philharmoniker for the recording. But also the German premiere of the Sibelius concert – under Furtwängler – and the premiere of the Flury concert are included in this 10-CD-documentation, which presents the first general overview on the art of this important German violinist. Kulenkampff died of virus encephalitis after an injection with a poorly disinfected syringe at not even fifty years of age.
CD1
Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MINOR
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, d-Moll
I. 1. In kräftigem, nicht zu schnellem Tempo 13‘10
2. 2. Langsam 6‘23
3. 3. Lebhaft, doch nicht zu schnell 8‘10
Georg Kulenkampff violin Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt recorded / aufgenommen 1937
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 77
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, D-Dur, op. 77
4. 1. Allegro non troppo 21‘18
5. 2. Adagio 8‘59
6. 3. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace 7‘51
Georg Kulenkampff violin Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt recorded / aufgenommen 1936
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
7. ROMANCE NO. 1 7‘19
Romanze Nr. 1 für Violine und Orchester
Georg Kulenkampff violin Staatskapelle Berlin
conductor / Dirigent Artur Rother recorded / aufgenommen 1939
Total Time 73‘22
CD2
Jean Sibelius (1865 – 1957)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MINOR, OP. 47
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, d-Moll,
op. 47
I. 1. Allegro moderato 15‘15
2. 2. Adagio di molto 7‘54
3. 3. Allegro ma non tanto 7‘26
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Wilhelm Furtwängler
recorded / aufgenommen 1943
Max Reger (1873 – 1916)
4. SONATA IN A, OP 91/1 FOR VIOLIN 3‘45
SOLO: ANDANTE SOSTENUTO
Sonate in A, op. 91/1 für Violine solo:
Andante sostenuto
Georg Kulenkampff violin
recorded / aufgenommen 1936
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809 – 1847)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR, OP. 64
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, e-Moll,
op. 64
5. 1. Allegro molto appassionato 12‘41
6. 2. Andante 7‘57
7. 3. Allegretto non troppo 6‘25
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Hans Schmidt-Issersredt
recorded / aufgenommen 1935
Robert Schumann (1810 – 1856)
8. ABENDLIED, OP. 35 NO. 12 3‘24
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
9. SUITE NO. 3 IN D, BWV 1068: AIR 4‘18
(Arr. Wilhelmi)
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
recorded / aufgenommen 1935 (8, 9)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
10. ROMANCE NO. 2 IN F MAJOR, OP. 50 8‘27
Romanze Nr. 2, F-Dur, op 50
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Paul Kletzki
recorded / aufgenommen 1932
Total Time 78‘01
CD3
Pjotr I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 35
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, D-Dur, op. 35
I. 1. Allegro moderato. Moderato assai 17‘26
2. 2. Canzonetta. Andante – attacca subito 6‘05
3. 3. Finale. Allegro vivacissimo 9‘31
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Orchester des Deutschen Opernhauses Berlin
conductor / Dirigent Artur Rother
recorded / aufgenommen 1939
Antonin Dvořák (1841 – 1904)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN A MINOR, OP. 53
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, a-Moll, op. 53
4. 1. Allegro moderato 9‘47
5. 2. Adagio 9‘49
6. 3. Allegro energico 10‘47
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Eugen Jochum
recorded / aufgenommen 1941
Total Time 63‘33
CD4
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 61
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, D-Dur, op. 61
I. 1. Allegro ma non troppo 23‘31
2. 2. Larghetto 10‘14
3. 3. Rondo. Allegro 10‘11
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
recorded / aufgenommen 1936
Total Time 43‘58
CD5
Alexander Glasunov (1865 – 1936)
VIOLIN CONCERTO IN A MINOR, OP. 82
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, a-Moll, op. 82
I. 1. Moderato 4‘24
2. 2. Andante sostenuto 9‘44
3. 3. Allegro 6‘07
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Tor Mann
recorded / aufgenommen 1948
Max Bruch (1838 – 1920)
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO.1 IN G MINOR, OP. 26
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, Nr. 1 g-Moll, op. 26
4. 1. Allegro moderato 8‘15
5. 2. Adagio 9‘06
6. 3. Allegro energico 7‘21
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
conductor / Dirigent Joseph Keilberth
recorded / aufgenommen 1941
Total Time 45‘04
CD6
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1776 – 1791)
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 5 IN A MAJOR, K 219
Konzert für Violine und Orchester Nr. 5, A-Dur, KV 219
I. 1. Allegro aperto 9‘37
2. 2. Adagio 10‘14
3. 3. Rondo – Tempo di menuet 9‘14
Georg Kulenkampff violin Orchester des Deutschen Opernhauses Berlin
conductor / Dirigent Artur Rother recorded / aufgenommen 1939
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 7 IN D MAJOR, K 271i
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, D-Dur, KV 271i
4. 1. Allegro maestoso 10‘41
5. 2. Andante 8‘33
6. 3. Rondo. Allegro 8‘53
Georg Kulenkampff violin Berliner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester
conductor / Dirigent Artur Rother recorded / aufgenommen 1943
7. ADAGIO IN E MAJOR, K 261 4‘44
Adagio E-Dur, KV 261
Georg Kulenkampff violin Berliner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester
conductor / Dirigent Artur Rother recorded / aufgenommen 1936
Total Time 62‘03
CD7
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
SONATA FOR PIANO AND VIOLIN IN B FLAT MAJOR, K 454
Sonate für Klavier und Orchester, B-Dur, KV 454
I. 1. Largo. Allegro 7‘15
2. 2. Andante 7‘36
3. 3. Allegretto 6‘48
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO NO. 9 IN A MAJOR, OP 47
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 9, A-Dur, op. 47, „Kreutzer“
4. 1. Adagio sostenuto. Presto 10‘38
5. 2. Andante con variazioni 12‘17
6. 3. Finale. Presto 6‘36
Georg Kulenkampff violin Georg Solti piano
recorded / aufgenommen 1947 (4-6), 1948 (1-3)
Total Time 51‘16
CD8
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO NO. 1 IN G MINOR, OP. 78
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 1, g-Moll, op. 78
I. 1. Vivace ma non troppo 10‘16
2. 2. Adagio 7‘34
3. 3. Allegro molto moderato 7‘59
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO NO. 2 IN A MAJOR, OP. 100
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 2, A-Dur, op. 100
4. 1. Allegro amabile 7‘54
5. 2. Andante tranquillo – Vivace – Andante – Vivace di più – Andante vivace 5‘48
6. 3. Allegretto grazioso (quasi andante) 5‘25
SONATA FOR VIOLIN AND PIANO NO. 3 IN D MINOR, OP. 108
Sonate für Violine und Klavier Nr. 3, d-Moll, op. 108
7. 1. Allegro 7‘13
8. 2. Adagio 4‘34
9. 3. Un poco presto e con sentiment 3‘10
10. 4. Presto agitato 5‘29
Georg Kulenkampff violin Georg Solti piano
recorded / aufgenommen 1947 (1-3), 1948 (4-10)
Total Time 65‘34
CD9
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
DOUBLE CONCERTO IN A MINOR, OP 102
Konzert für Violine und Violoncello, a-Moll, op. 102
I. 1. Allegro non troppo 17‘00
2. 2. Andante 7‘45
3. 3. Vivace non troppo. Poco meno allegro 9‘02
Georg Kulenkampff violin Enrico Mainardi cello
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
conducor / Dirigent Carl Schuricht
recorded / aufgenommen 1947
Ludwig (Louis) Spohr (1784 – 1859)
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 8 IN A MINOR, OP 47, “in modo di scena cantante”
Konzert für Violine und Orchester, a-Moll, op. 47, „Gesangsszene“
4. 1. Allegro molto 3‘47
5. 2. Adagio. Andante 7‘08
6. 3. Allegro moderato 8’05
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berliner Philharmoniker
conducor / Dirigent Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt
recorded / aufgenommen 1935
Total Time 52‘54
CD10
Richard Flury (1896 – 1967)
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 3
Konzert für Violine und Orchester Nr. 3
I. 1. Allegro moderato quasi recitativo. Allegro molto 14‘13
2. 2. Andante 6‘47
3. 3. Presto 5‘48
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Berner Stadtorchester
conducor / Dirigent Kurt Rothenbühler
recorded / aufgenommen 1946
BONUS
Max Bruch (1838 – 1920)
VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN G MINOR, OP. 26
Konzert für Violine und Orchester Nr. 1, g-Moll, op. 26
4. 1. Allegro moderato 8‘10
5. 2. Adagio 8‘52
6. 3. Allegro energico 7‘22
Georg Kulenkampff violin
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
conducor / Dirigent Carl Schuricht
recorded / aufgenommen 1947
Total Time 51‘17