Nathan Milstein - Rarities: Lalo, Mendelssohn, Dvořák (1936-47) [2017]

This collection brings together three rarities in the Milstein discography. The Lalo with Ormandy has remained unreissued (at least officially) since the 78 rpm era. As with many older violinists (Heifetz, Huberman), Milstein plays the four-movement version, omitting the Intermezzo.

The Mendelssohn fragments document the only recorded collaboration between Milstein and Toscanini. It was performed during one of the Maestro’s last concerts as music director of the New York Philharmonic. Toscanini’s breakneck tempo in the finale shows that his later broadcast with Heifetz (on Pristine PASC 278) was not an interpretive anomaly.

The Dvořák is a double rarity in that it is not only the sole recording of a Milstein performance with Stokowski, but it is also previously unissued. Additionally, it expands Stokowski’s slim discography of that composer’s works beyond the “New World” Symphony, the Serenade for Strings and a single Slavonic Dance. The conductor’s inimitable voice can be heard saying “Bravo” at the end of the performance.

Mark Obert-Thorn



Tracks:

LALO Symphonie espagnole
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto

Personnel:

Nathan Milstein, violin

The Philadelphia Orchestra
conducted by Eugene Ormandy

Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York
conducted by Arturo Toscanini
conducted by Leopold Stokowski