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Hermann Abendroth – Unissued Broadcast Performances, 1939-1950 (4 CD box set, APE)

Hermann Abendroth - Unissued Broadcast Performances, 1939-1950 (4 CD box set, APE)
Hermann Abendroth – Unissued Broadcast Performances, 1939-1950 (4 CD box set, APE)

Composer: Johannes Brahms, Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Wagner, Robert Schumann
Orchestra: Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Leipzig Radio Chorus, Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, Breslau Reichssenders Large Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra Mid-German Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Hermann Abendroth
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 4 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Music & Arts
Size: 522 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
01. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55, “Eroica”: I. Allegro con brio
02. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55, “Eroica”: II. Marcia funebre
03. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55, “Eroica”: III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
04. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55, “Eroica”: IV. Finale: Allegro molto
05. A Faust Overture Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 02
01. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
02. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: II. Molto vivace
03. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: III. Adagio molto e cantabile
04. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: IV. Finale: Presto – Allegro assai

CD 03
01. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 (revised version, 1851): I. Ziemlich langsam
02. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 (revised version, 1851): II. Romanze: Ziemlich langsam
03. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 (revised version, 1851): III. Scherzo: Lebhaft – Trio
04. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 (revised version, 1851): IV. Langsam – Lebhaft
05. Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98: I. Allegro non troppo
06. Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98: II. Andante moderato
07. Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98: III. Allegro giocoso – Poco meno presto
08. Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98: IV. Allegro energico e passionato

CD 04
01. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: Announcer
02. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: I. Allegro moderato
03. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto
04. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58: III. Rondo: Vivace
05. Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, “Choral”: IV. Finale: Presto – Allegro assai

I wouldn’t miss the fourth cd if someone decided to remove it from this set. It contains the final movement only of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony from a 1939 broadcast performance with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. It also includes the composer’s Fourth Piano Concerto with Wilhelm Kempff. In that single (presto) movement of the Ninth, Abendroth’s uneven direction makes for a rather bizarre show. At times, the soloists sound as if they are being dragged, pushed and disoriented. Nor is the sound very good, though it is not as bad as that on the Fourth Concerto. Here, aside from relatively cramped acoustics, one confronts crackling and swishing noises. Some might be able to overlook all of that and express praise for what they might consider to be Kempff’s poetic performance. I will do neither.

Now, let’s get to the good parts. The complete Beethoven Ninth from 1950 on disc two has some impressive moments, including a beautifully shaped third movement. However, despite Abendroth’s basically fine job, I don’t quite get that special feeling something momentous is in the offing, as I do with the performances of Klemperer, in the first of two live Ninths, both issued by Testament, and Reiner with the Chicago Symphony….The best, I feel, of this Abendroth collection includes the Schumann and Brahms Fourths (both recorded in 1950 with the Symphony Orchestra of the Middle German Radio), the Beethoven Third (also 1950, but with the Leipzig Symphony) and the Wagner Faust Overture (Berlin Phil., 1944). Incidentally, as with the complete Beethoven Ninth the sound given these four works is fine, (unlike that on the aforementioned fourth disc). In the Schumann Fourth there are sections where Abendroth’s bold assertiveness and lightening fast moves prove exhilarating. On balance, this is a very fine, involving interpretation….In the Beethoven “Eroica” Abendroth is most effective at providing the kinds of powerful accents that enhance the satisfaction of his striking reading. While he doesn’t quite attain the level of tragic depth in the funeral march expressed by Bohm/Vienna Philharmonic (though he is still very convincing), he eclipses him in drive in the scherzo. Both conductors display superb detail in the first and last movements, with Abendroth’s close being particularly riveting….The Faust Overture by Wagner is given an appropritely dark, melodious and intensely dramatic performance….Finally, the Brahms Fourth receives one of the most wonderfully characterized accounts of this work I’ve had the pleasure of hearing. It is imbued with the kind of feeling that demonstrates a sympathetic awareness of the piece’s marvelous musical qualities. The second movement andante is particularly moving. And the series of dynamic variations that comprises the final movement reveals more humanity than is customary. In all, a lovely, extremely satisfying Brahms 4. Despite the first mentioned fourth disc, I give this set the highest rating.

2 thoughts on “Hermann Abendroth – Unissued Broadcast Performances, 1939-1950 (4 CD box set, APE)”

  1. These historical recordings of Hermann Abendroth reflect the influence of one of Abendroth’s teachers, Felix Josef von Mottl, with whom Wilhelm Furtwängler also studied conducting, in that there is a very 19th Century approach to each of the symphonies on this 4 disc set. The Schumann and Beethoven Symphonies are especially spirited readings of these two works. The Beethoven Ninth (“Choral”) Symphony is equal to the Furtwängler recordings of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. In the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4, on CD 4, Wilhelm Kempff is the pianist with the Breslau [Radio] Orchestra, that was recorded on 15 April, 1939 in Breslau, Silesia, (in Germany at that time and now a part of Poland). The last page of the CD liner notes apparently was not included in the Scans folder with CD 1 of this excellent introduction to Hermann Abendroth’s very individualistic conducting and interpretations of Orchestral Works that are some of the high points of the Nineteenth Century symphonic compositions from Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms. The Finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is also on CD 4, because Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was too long to record on early CD media and one reason that we have 75 minute CD’s at present. Thanks very much, Whatever, for sharing the greatness of Hermann Abendroth with us!

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