-
Pierre Monteux (Richard Itter Collection)
MP3 Album:
The great French conductor Pierre Monteux (1875-1964) was naturally considered a specialist of his native country’s music, though he would never allow this to restrict him. This new set of previously unpublished recordings seeks to set the record straight, with a strong representation of German repertoire, notably Brahms’ Symphony No.3 with the Boston Symphony, which he never recorded commercially, in a rare ‘live’ performance from the 1956 Edinburgh Festival. More Brahms featuring two celebrated virtuosos – the Violin Concerto with the French violinist Zino Francescatti, and the Double Concerto where he is joined by his compatriot Pierre Fournier, both ‘live’ recordings from the Royal Festival Hall in 1955. Both are previously unpublished.
-
Antonio Pappano: Schumann Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4
MP3 Album:
ICA Classics is proud to present the first recordings of Pappano conducting two of Schumann’s most popular symphonies, No.2 in C major op.61 and No.4 in D minor op.120. Symphony No.2 was sketched out in 1845 but its completion was greatly prolonged by nervous exhaustion which some years later was to decline into mental instability. This personal struggle evokes Beethoven, while the tremendous energy in the work recalls Schubert. Symphony No.4 was composed in 1841 but revised in 1851 (the version heard here) and consists of four continuous movements, an innovation at the time.
-
Antonio Pappano: Elgar Symphony No. 1 & In the South
MP3 Album:
Elgar Symphony No.1 in A flat major op.55 & Concert Overture ‘In the South’ op.50 with Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Recorded live in the Auditorium Parco della Musica, Rome, 21, 23 & 24 January 2012 (Op.55) & 18 March 2013 (Op.50).
