Mahler: Das klagende Lied / Janack: The Fiddler’s Child

Janacek, Leos, Mahler, Gustav

BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Rozhdestvensky, Gennady

ICA C5080

Only the most eminent and respected Russian musicians were allowed extensive foreign tours in the early 1960s, and Gennadi Rozhdestvensky was awarded this status. He appeared several times in Britain, mainly with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and at Covent Garden. In 1971, he conducted the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra at the Proms. Rozhdestvensky became Artistic Director of the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (197477 & 199195), and principal conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra (197881) and Vienna Symphony Orchestra (198082). He worked with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Chicago and Cleveland orchestras. He also is the honorary conductor of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra. Rozhdestvensky was the first Russian-born conductor to perform and record all Mahlers symphonies in his country. Mahlers Das klagende Lied is a rarity and here is performed live, complete in the original three-part edition The performance was reviewed by Gramophone magazine as follows: Rozhdestvenskys highly dramatic account of Mahlers three-movement drama. The recording was first issued in 1995 but deleted shortly afterwards with the demise of BBC Radio Classics. The ICA version has been completely remastered, restoring the wide dynamics of Rozhdestvenskys magnificent performance. The distinguished soloists feature Dame Janet Baker, one of the greatest Mahler interpreters of the twentieth century. The CD also features another rarity Janaceks The Fiddlers Child from the 1979 Prague Festival. This live recording has never been issued before and is Rozdestvenskys only taping of the work. Rozhdestvenskys recordings of Tchaikovskys Symphony No.4 (ICAC 5035) and Holsts The Planets (ICAC 5053) have received great critical acclaim.

CD x 1

ICA Classics

22.08.12

5060244550803