Genre: Classical
Fritz Reiner was internationally renowned as one of the outstanding conductors of his time. A time that not only celebrated him as "the greatest conductor technician", but also as a musician "who knew everything", as a member of the New York Philharmonic put it. After completing his studies in Budapest (where he had sat on the piano bench next to Bartók), he traveled via Dresden to the USA (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New York) and then on to Chicago, where he began collaborating with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1953 – the crowning glory of an already brilliant career. Under Reiner's baton the orchestra became the best orchestra in the world in the eyes of many. Stravinsky praised it as the "most precise and flexible orchestra in the world and an effective antidote to the windmill school and gimmickry."
This documentation of original albums pays homage to this great "conductor’s conductor" and his orchestra. Choosing from the abundance of extraordinary and groundbreaking recordings presented quite a task – his Strauss recordings especially wrote recording history. Reiner had been in close contact with the composer during his Dresden years and received influential inspiration from him for his legendary conducting style. "Reiner's rhythm, slight as it was, had infinite nuances. The tip of his baton gave everyone their impulses, holding the beat, forming phrases, anticipating any and all challenges. "(H. C. Schonberg) Reiner's reading of the works of Bartok are no less celebrated; the recording of the "Concerto for Orchestra" from 1955 remains a milestone of precision and strength to this day. The Tschaikowsky and Brahms concerts with Jascha Heifetz and Emil Gilels as well as Rachmaninow with Byron Janis are among Reiner’s other highlights in this boxset – shining brightly in terms of variety and quality among his outstanding discographic heritage.
Tracklist:
CD 1
■ STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben (1954)
Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949)
Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40
1. The hero / Der Held 4‘16
2. The hero’s adversaries / Des Helden Widersacher 3‘04
3. The hero’s companion / Des Helden Gefährtin 12‘00
4. The hero’s battlefield / Des Helden Walstatt 8‘46
5. The hero’s works of peace / Des Helden Friedenswerke 4‘41
6. The hero’s retreat from the world and fulfillment / 10‘51
Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung
John Weicher violin / Violine Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner recorded / aufgenommen 1954
■ STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra (1960)
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
7. Introduction / Einleitung 1‘32
8. Of the Backworldsmen / Von den Hinterweltlern 3‘10
9. Of the Great Longing / Von der großen Sehnsucht 1‘45
10. Of Joys and Passions / Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften 1‘50
11. The Song of the Grave / Das Grablied 2‘16
12. Of Science / Von der Wissenschaft 3‘58
13. The Convalescent / Der Genesende 5‘02
14. The Dance Song / Das Tanzlied 7‘36
15. Song of the Night Wanderer / Nachtwanderlied 4‘50
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1954
Total Time 75‘39
CD 2
■ BRAHMS Violin Concerto (1959)
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 77 / D-Dur
1. I. Allegro non troppo 18‘56
2. II. Adagio 8‘16
3. III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace 7‘21
Jascha Heifetz violin / Violine
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1955
■ Bonus STRAUSS
Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949)
4. Don Juan Op. 20 15‘49
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1954
Total Time 50‘23
CD 3
■ TCHAIKOVSKY Concerto No. 1 (1958)
Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor Op. 23 / b-Moll
1. I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso 20‘19
2. II. Andantino semplice 7‘06
3. III. Allegro con fuoco 6‘16
Emil Gilels piano / Klavier
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1955
■ BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra (1958)
Béla Bartók (1881 – 1945)
Concerto for Orchestra
4. Introduzione: Andante non troppo . Allegro vivace 10‘00
5. Giuoco delle Coppie: Allegretto scherzando 6‘02
6. Elegia: Andante, non troppo 7‘59
7. Intermezzo interrotto: Allegretto 4‘16
8. Finale: Pesante. Presto 9‘00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1955
Total Time 70‘59
CD 4
■ BEETHOVEN Eroica (1955)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major Op. 55 “Eroica” / Es-Dur
1. I. Allegro con brio 14‘12
2. II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai 15‘03
3. III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace. Trio 5‘12
4. IV. Finale: Allegro molto. Poco andante. Presto 12‘09
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1955
Total Time 46‘37
CD 5
■ MUSSORGSKY / RAVEL
Pictures at an Exhibition (1959)
Modest Mussorgsky (1839 – 1881)
Pictures at an Exhibition /
Bilder einer Ausstellung
(orchstr. Maurice Ravel)
1. Promenade 1‘48
2. I. Gnomus 2‘34
3. Promenade 1‘06
4. II. Il vecchio castello 4‘27
5. Promenade 0‘35
6. III. Tuileries 0‘59
7. IV. Bydlo 3‘26
8. Promenade 0‘44
9. V. Ballet des poussins 1‘12
dans leurs coques
10. VI. Samuel Goldenberg 2‘13
und „Schmuÿle“
11. VII. Limoges. Le marché 1‘18
12. VIII. Catacombae 1‘57
(sepulcrum romanum)
13. Cum mortuis in lingua 1‘59
mortua
14. IX. La Cabane sur des 3‘29
pattes de poule (Baba-Yaga)
15. X. La Grande Porte 5‘16
de Kiev
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1957
■ TCHAIKOVSKY
Violin Concerto (1958)
Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
in D major, Op. 35 / D-Dur
16. I. Allegro moderato 15‘51
17. II. Canzonetta. Andante 5‘31
18. III. Finale: 8‘20
Allegro vivacissimo
Jascha Heifetz violin / Violine
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1957
Total Time 62‘47
CD 6
■ TCHAIKOVSKY / MENDELSSOHN / LISZT / BRAHMS (1959)
Peter I. Tchaikovsky (1840 – 1893)
1. 1812 Overture Op. 49 12‘35
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847)
2. Fingal’s Cave (Hebriden Overture) 9‘33
Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886)
3. Mephisto Waltz No. 1 (The Dance in the Village Inn) 11‘18
Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)
4. Tragic Overture Op. 81 11‘52
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1956
■ Bonus STRAVINSKY Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971)
Song of the Nightingale / Lied der Nachtigall
(Symphonic Poem / Sinfonische Dichtung)
5. I. Introduction: Presto 2‘38
6. II. Marche chinoise 3‘42
7. III. Chant du rossignol 4‘06
8. IV. Jeu du rossignol mécanique 0‘57
9. V. Le Mécontentement de l’empereur 1‘07
devant le départ du vrai rossignol
10. VI. La Chambre de malade de l’empereur 3‘57
11. VII. Le Retour du vrai rossignol venu contrarier la mort 2‘53
12. VIII. Marche funèbre et finale 3‘00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1956
Total Time 67‘40
CD 7
■ MAHLER SYMPHONY No. 4 (1960)
Gustav Mahler (1860 – 1911)
Symphony No. 4 in G Major / G-Dur
1. I. Bedächtig. Nicht eilen 15‘56
2. II. In gemächlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast 8‘54
3. III. Ruhevoll 18‘59
4. IV. Sehr behaglich 9‘38
Lisa della Casa soprano / Sopran
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1958
Total Time 53‘29
CD 8
■ RIMSKY KORSAKOFF Sheherazade (1960)
Nikolaj Rimsky-Korsakoff (1844 – 1908)
Scheherazade Op. 35 Symphonique Suite after ”1001 Nights” /
Sinfonische Suite nach „1001 Nacht”
1. I. The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship / Das Meer und Sindbads Schiff 9‘06
2. II. The Story of the Kalender Prince / 11‘35
Die Geschichte vom Prinzen Kalender
3. III. The Young Prince and the Young Princess / 12‘02
Der junge Prinz und die Prinzessin
4. IV. Festival at Bagdad. The Sea. The Shipreck on a Rocks 11‘42
surmounted by a Bronze Warrior. Conclusion /
Fest in Bagdad – Das Meer – Das Schiff zerschellt an dem Felsen
mit dem bronzenen Reiter. Epilog
Sidney Harth violin / Violine Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner recorded / aufgenommen 1960
■ Bonus PROKOFIEV
Sergej Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)
5. I. The Birth of Kije / Kijés Geburt 4‘11
6. II. Romance / Romanze 4‘26
7. III. The Wedding of Kije / Kijés Hochzeit 2‘43
8. IV. Troika 2‘39
9. V. The Burial of Kije / Kijés Beerdigung 6‘06
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1957
Total Time 64‘32
CD 9
■ ROSSINI Overtures (1959)
Gioacchino Rossini (1792 – 1868)
Overtures / Ouvertüren
1. Guillaume Tell 11‘59
2. La scala di seta 6‘28
3. Il signor Bruschino 4‘33
4. Il barbiere di Siviglia 7‘05
5. La gazza ladra 9‘16
6. La Cenerentola 7‘23
Mihaly Virizlay cello / Cello Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner recorded / aufgenommen 1958
■ Bonus MOZART
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
Symphony No. 36 in C Major K. 425 “Linz” / C-Dur
7. I. Adagio. Allegro spirituoso 7‘56
8. II. Andante 6‘49
9. III. Menuetto 3‘35
10. IV. Presto 4‘34
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1954
Total Time 69‘40
CD 10
■ STRAUSS Waltzes (1961)
Johann Strauß (1825 – 1899)
1. Vienna Blood, Op. 354 / Wiener Blut 8‘57
2. Artist’s Life, Op. 316 / Künstlerleben 6‘52
Josef Strauß (1827 – 1870)
3. My Life is Laugh and Laughter / 6‘40
Mein Lebenslauf ist Lieb und Lust
Johann Strauß (1825 – 1899)
4. Roses from the South, Op. 388 / Rosen aus dem Süden 8‘41
5. Treasure Waltz, Op. 418 / Schatz-Walzer 8‘07
6. Thunder and Lightning Polka, Op. 324 / 2‘57
Unter Donner und Blitz
Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner
recorded / aufgenommen 1960
■ Bonus RACHMANINOFF
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in F Sharp Minor, Op. 1 / fis-Moll
7. I. Vivace 12‘13
8. II. Andante 5‘41
9. III. Allegro vivace 7‘33
Byron Janis piano / Klavier Chicago Symphony Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Fritz Reiner recorded / aufgenommen 1957
Total Time 67‘44