Otto Klemperer - Klemperer in Philadelphia, Vol. 1: Bach, Beethoven, Brahms (1962) [2016]

Klemperer returns after 27 years to conduct the classics in Philadelphia in 1962

"One of Klemperer’s great statements ... the Marcia Funebre, as always with Klemperer, is staggering. This is an amazing performance" - Fanfare

I'm delighted to have been able to access superb transcriptions of stereo radio master tapes in the preparation of this first of two volumes dedicated to Klemperer's autumn 1962 concerts with The Philadelphia Orchestra, a rapturously-received return to the city where he'd last conducted the orchestra in 1935 but failed in his bid to take the helm from Leopold Stokowski, that role instead going of course to Eugene Ormandy.

Indeed it would be another two decades before Klemperer's international reputation was cemented, after falling under the wing of Walter Legge and taking charge of the Philharmonia Orchestra, and then undertaking a large number of highly successful recordings for EMI. Thus did the conquering hero return to Philadelphia at the age of 77, with a short series of concerts heavy on Beethoven, with strong support from Bach, Mozart, Schumann and Brahms - sufficient to full four CDs, of which this volume offers the first two.

Sound quality is excellent throughout. I've tamed a slightly over-wide stereo image and used a light convolution reverberation derived from one of the world's foremost concert halls to bring a little extra realism to a slightly dry acoustic, whilst XR remastering has helped bring out the full warmth of the Philadlephia Orchestra's sound.

Andrew Rose



Tracks:

BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 1
BRAHMS Symphony No. 3
BEETHOVEN Egmont Overture
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 'Eroica'

Personnel:

Otto Klemperer, conductor
The Philadelphia Orchestra