Unexpected Archives - Colin's Column

Stokowski’s final performance of Elgar’s Enigma Variations. January 11, 1973; Royal Albert Hall, London. New Philharmonia Orchestra.

Jun 11, 2023 | Guest Contributors, Unexpected, Videos

Edward Johnson writes… Stokowski championed many living composers during his long career and Elgar was among them. In 1911 he gave the US premiere of the Second Symphony but the local Cincinnati critic, who was extremely hostile to Stokowski, gave the work the...

Ernest Ansermet conducts Piano Concertos – Rachmaninov 3/Monique de La Bruchollerie (Boston/1951), Beethoven 3/Myra Hess (New York/1958) & Brahms 1/Arthur Rubinstein (Geneva/1960).

May 8, 2023 | Unexpected, Videos

Ernest Ansermet with Benjamin Britten at the piano Boston Symphony Orchestra; December 14, 1951; Symphony Hall. Quite a few cuts. New York Philharmonic; March 23, 1958; Carnegie Hall. Suisse Romande Orchestra; April 27, 1960; Victoria Hall....

Dmitri Mitropoulos conducts the NBC Symphony Orchestra (on the Symphony of the Air) – Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture and Vaughan Williams’s A London Symphony; December 9, 1945.

Apr 18, 2023 | Unexpected, Videos

With thanks to Don Drewecki and Richard...

Breaking news: a recording of the performance on January 16, 1910, Carnegie Hall – Rachmaninov playing his Piano Concerto 3, Mahler conducting – has been found in the basement of a New York delicatessen; the Edison cylinder is badly damaged but may prove responsive to repair & remastering.

Apr 1, 2023 | News, Unexpected

Sergei Rachmaninov – born 150 years ago on this date, April 1; he died on March 28,...

J. S. Bach’s Concerto for four keyboards, BWV1065 – four conductors rehearse the solo parts (on pianos): Kempe, Kubelík, Rieger & Sawallisch, with members of Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra; undated.

Dec 3, 2022 | Unexpected, Videos

“Great old days when four Munich-based conductors collaborated on this small but challenging piece. 1. Wolfgang Sawallisch, 2. Fritz Rieger, 3. Rudolf Kempe, 4. Rafael Kubelik (conducting the members of the Bavarian Radio Symphony...

Seiji Ozawa – One Earth One Mission. He conducts Beethoven’s Egmont Overture with Saito Kinen Orchestra. Link to Seiji’s website for background.

Nov 28, 2022 | News, Unexpected, Videos

https://www.seiji-ozawa-oneearthmission.com/en Seiji Ozawa conducts Schubert’s ‘Great C-major’ Symphony. Saito Kinen Orchestra; 1996. But, a sad postscript. Also ‘What’s My Line?’...