Album

Who should hear this 10-disc set entitled Music—The Universal Language: Selected Orchestral Recordings, Vol. II? Anybody who bought Vol. 1? Yes, certainly. For them, the chance to hear more Deutsche Grammophon recordings from the '50s, many of them CD premieres, will be irresistible. Anybody else? No, probably not. Listeners who revere Ferenc Fricsay, the firebrand conductor who burned out too early, will probably already have the four extraordinary discs of recordings included here—his scintillating Stravinsky, his radiant Rimsky-Korsakov, his mammoth Mussorgsky, his thoroughly compelling Hartmann, and his wayward but fascinating Tchaikovsky. Of the CD premieres, listeners who know Eugen Jochum's Bruckner will not be disappointed by his glorious Wagner included here, but they might find his Sibelius harshly unidiomatic and his Höller simply irritating, but then, so are the music's second-class modernisms. As for the premieres by Fritz Lehmann, now remembered best for his recordings of Brahms and Bach's choral music, his Dvorák is oddly phrased, his Franck is strangely shaped, and his de Falla is just very strange—as if he'd never seen Spain and could not image what its music could sound like. A third-rank conductor, Otmar Suitner's Grieg is wetly atmospheric while his Liszt is faintly colorful. Franz Konwitschny has a solid reputation and a few fine recordings to his credit, but his Sinfonia Domestica is patchy and prosaic and his Witt "Jena" Symphony is a historical footnote. Deutsche Grammophon's monaural '50s sound is reasonably clean, but absolutely honest.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 10
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky Composer Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski)...Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski; orchestration by Ravel) Work Recorded 1953 30:37 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Igor Markevitch Conductor
1	1.Promenade 1	1:28			$0.49
2	2.The Gnome (Gnomus)	2:28			$0.99
3	3.Promenade 2	0:54			$0.49
4	4.The Old Castle	3:24			$0.99
5	5.Promenade 3	0:26			$0.49
6	6.Tuileries	1:14			$0.49
7	7.Bydlo	2:55			$0.99
8	8.Promenade 4	0:38			$0.49
9	9.Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks	1:14			$0.49
10	10.Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle	2:36			$0.99
11	12.The Market Place at Limoges	1:21			$0.49
12	13.Catacombs (Sepulchrum Romanum)	1:53			$0.49
13	14.Cum mortuis in lingua mortua	1:50			$0.49
14	15.The Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba-Yaga)	3:24			$0.99
15	16.The Great Gate of Kiev	4:52			$0.99
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov Composer Overture on Russian Themes 2, Op.28 Work Recorded 1957 Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra Orchestra, Igor Markevitch Conductor
16	Overture on Russian Themes 2, Op.28	14:42			$2.49
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov Composer May Night (comic opera) Work Recorded 1958 Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra Orchestra, Igor Markevitch Conductor
17	Overture	8:41			$1.49
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov Composer Le Coq d'Or (The Golden Cockerel; Zolotoy petushok; concert suite) Work Recorded 1958 25:58 Lamoureux Concert Association Orchestra Orchestra, Igor Markevitch Conductor
18	1.Tsar Dodon in his Palace	8:46			$1.49
19	2.Tsar Dodon on Campaign	4:14			$0.99
20	3.Tsar Dodon as Guest of the Queen of Shemakha	6:46			$0.99
21	4.The Wedding and Lamentable End of Dodon	6:12			$0.99
CD 2 of 10
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer Symphony No.4 in F-, Op.36 Work Recorded 1952 41:21 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
1	1.Andante sostenuto. Moderato con anima	16:57			$2.99
2	2.Andantino in modo di canzona	9:48			$1.49
3	3.Scherzo: Pizzicato ostinato	5:39			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Allegro con fuoco	8:57			$1.49
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer The Swan Lake (suite from the ballet), Op.20a Work Recorded 1957 19:55 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
5	1.Scène	2:38			$0.99
6	2.Valse	6:27			$0.99
7	3.Danse des petits cygnes (Dance of the Little Swans)	1:48			$0.49
8	4.Scène: Danse des cygnes (Dance of the Swans)	5:52			$0.99
9	5.Danse Hongrois: Csárdas (Hungarian Dance: Czardas)	3:10			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer The Sleeping Beauty (suite from the ballet), Op.66a Work Recorded 1957 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
10	5.Valse	4:27			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer Nutcracker (suite from the ballet), Op.71a Work Recorded 1957 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
11	3.Waltz of the Flowers	6:39			$0.99
Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Composer Eugene Onegin (opera), Op.24...Scene 1 Work Recorded 1957 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
12	1.Waltz; 2.Vot tak syurpriz!	6:28			$0.99
CD 3 of 10
Antonín (Leopold) Dvořák Composer Symphony No.8 in G, B.163, Op.88 (first published as No.4) Work Recorded 1953 34:37 Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
1	1.Allegro con brio	9:24			$1.49
2	2.Adagio	11:08			$1.99
3	3.Scherzo: Allegretto grazioso	5:53			$0.99
4	4.Allegro ma non troppo	8:12			$1.49
César Franck Composer Symphony in D-, M.48 Work Recorded 1954 36:23 Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
5	1.Lento. Allegro non troppo	16:38			$2.99
6	2.Allegretto	10:02			$1.99
7	3.Allegro non troppo	9:43			$1.49
CD 4 of 10
Edvard Grieg Composer Peer Gynt Suite No.1, Op.46 Work Recorded 1952 15:57 Otmar Suitner Conductor, Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra
1	1.Morgenstemning (Morning Mood)	4:35			$0.99
2	2.Aases død (The Death of Åse)	5:32			$0.99
3	3.Anitras dans (Anitra's Dance)	3:11			$0.99
4	4.Dovregubbens hall (In the Hall of the Mountain King)	2:39			$0.99
Edvard Grieg Composer Peer Gynt Suite No.2, Op.55 Work Recorded 1953 15:06 Otmar Suitner Conductor, Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra
5	1.The Abduction: Ingrid's Lament	3:52			$0.99
6	2.Arabian Dance	4:17			$0.99
7	3.Peer Gynt's Homecoming	2:43			$0.99
8	4.Solveig's Song	4:14			$0.99
Franz Liszt Composer Orpheus, S.98 Work Recorded 1956 Otmar Suitner Conductor, Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra
9	Orpheus, S.98	10:13			$1.99
Franz Liszt Composer Mazeppa, S.100 Work Recorded 1956 Otmar Suitner Conductor, Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra
10	Mazeppa, S.100	17:18			$2.99
CD 5 of 10
Richard Strauss Composer Sinfonia domestica, Op.53, TrV209 Work Recorded 1956 45:56 Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden Orchestra, Franz Konwitschny Conductor
1	1.Theme 1: Bewegt; Thema 2: Sehr lebhaft; Thema 3: Ruhig	4:51			$0.99
2	2.Scherzo: Munter	13:13			$2.49
3	4.Adagio: Langsam	14:52			$2.49
4	5.Finale: Sehr lebhaft	13:00			$2.49
Friedrich Witt Composer Symphony in C ("Jena") Work Recorded 1956 27:03 Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden Orchestra, Franz Konwitschny Conductor
5	1.Adagio - Alegro vivace	8:51			$1.49
6	2.Adagio cantabile	8:00			$1.49
7	3.Menuetto. Maestoso	3:58			$0.99
8	4.Finale. Allegro	6:14			$0.99
CD 6 of 10
Jean Sibelius Composer The Tempest (Prelude, from the incidental music) Op.109 Work Recorded 1955 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
1	The Tempest (Prelude, from the incidental music) Op.109	6:04			$0.99
Jean Sibelius Composer The Oceanides (Aallottaret), Op.73 Work Recorded 1955 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
2	The Oceanides (Aallottaret), Op.73	8:51			$1.49
Jean Sibelius Composer Night Ride and Sunrise, Op.55 Work Recorded 1955 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
3	Night Ride and Sunrise, Op.55	13:35			$2.49
Richard Wagner Composer Lohengrin (opera), WWV 75...Act 1 Work Recorded 1951 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
4	1.Vorspiel (Prelude)	9:15			$1.49
Richard Wagner Composer Lohengrin (opera), WWV 75...Act 3 Work Recorded 1951 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
5	1.Vorspiel (Prelude)	3:02			$0.99
Richard Wagner Composer Parsifal (opera), WWV 111...Act 1 Work Recorded 1957 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
6	1.Vorspiel (Prelude)	13:58			$2.49
Richard Wagner Composer Parsifal (opera), WWV 111...Act 3 Work Recorded 1957 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
7	9.Wie dünkt mich doch die Aue heut so schön! (Karfreitagszauber; Good Friday Music)	12:22			$1.99
CD 7 of 10
Igor Stravinsky Composer The Rite of Spring (Le sacre du printemps)...Part 1: Adoration of the Earth (L'adoration de la terre) Work Recorded 1954 16:02 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
1	1.Introduction	3:25			$0.99
2	2.The Augurs of Spring, Dances of the Young Girls (Les augures printaniers, Danses des adolescentes)	3:40			$0.99
3	3.Mock Abduction (Jeu du rapt)	1:44			$0.49
4	4.Spring Round Dances (Rondes printanières)	2:58			$0.99
5	5.Ritual of the Rival Tribes (Jeu des cités rivales)	1:52			$0.49
6	6.Procession of the Sage (Cortège du sage)	0:40			$0.49
7	7.Adoration of the Earth: The Sage (Le sage)	0:20			$0.49
8	8.Dance of the Earth (Danse de la terre)	1:23			$0.49
Igor Stravinsky Composer The Rite of Spring (Le sacre du printemps)...Part 2: The Sacrifice (Le sacrifice) Work Recorded 1954 17:32 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
9	1.Introduction	4:03			$0.99
10	2.Mystic Circles of the Young Girls (Cercles mystérieux des adolescentes)	3:09			$0.99
11	3.Glorification of the Chosen One (Glorification de L'Élue)	1:38			$0.49
12	4.Evocation of the Ancestors (Évocation des ancêtres)	0:44			$0.49
13	5.Ritual of the Ancestors (Action rituelle des ancêtres)	3:25			$0.99
14	6.Sacrificial Dance: The Chosen One (Danse sacrale: L'Élue)	4:33			$0.99
Igor Stravinsky Composer Petrushka (1911 version)...Tableau 1: The Shrovetide Fair Work Recorded 1953 9:12 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
15	1.The Shrovetide Fair; 2.The Crowds	5:05			$0.99
16	4.Russian Dance	4:07			$0.99
Igor Stravinsky Composer Petrushka (1911 version) Work Recorded 1953 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
17	Tableau 2: Petrushka's Room (Chez Pétrouchka)	4:05			$0.99
Igor Stravinsky Composer Petrushka (1911 version)...Tableau 3: The Moor's Room Work Recorded 1953 6:44 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
18	1.In the Moor's room. 2.Dance of the Ballerina	3:19			$0.99
19	3.Waltz of the Ballerina and the Moor	3:25			$0.99
Igor Stravinsky Composer Petrushka (1911 version)...Tableau 4:The Shrovetide Fair (Evening) Work Recorded 1953 10:04 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
20	1.The Shrovetide Fair (Evening)	1:05			$0.49
21	2.Dance of the Wet Nurses	2:40			$0.99
22	3.Dance of the Bear and Peasant	1:27			$0.49
23	4.Dance of the Jovial Merchant with Two Gypsy Girls	1:12			$0.49
24	5.Dance of the Coachmen and Grooms	1:57			$0.49
25	6.Dance of the Masqueraders	1:43			$0.49
CD 8 of 10
Manuel de Falla Composer El Amor brujo, for mezzo-soprano and orchestra, G.68 (revised version) Work Recorded 1954 24:56 Diana Eustrati Mezzo-Soprano, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
1	1.Introducción y escena (Introduction and Scene)	0:35			$0.49
2	2.En la cueva (La noche)	2:11			$0.99
3	3.Canción del amor dolido (Song of Suffering Love)	1:33			$0.49
4	4.El Aparecido (The Apparition)	0:12			$0.49
5	5.Danza del terror (Dance of Terror)	1:43			$0.49
6	6.El circulo mágico (Fisherman's Song)	2:33			$0.99
7	7.A media noche: Los sortilegios	0:29			$0.49
8	8.Danza ritual del fuego (Ritual Fire Dance)	3:58			$0.99
9	9.Escena: El amor vulgar	1:01			$0.49
10	10.Danza del fuego fatuo (Dance of the Will-o'-the-Wisp)	1:34			$0.49
11	11.Pantomime	4:59			$0.99
12	12.Danza del juego de amor (Dance of the Game of Love)	2:41			$0.99
13	13.Final: Las campanas del amanecer	1:27			$0.49
Manuel de Falla Composer El Sombrero de tres picos (The 3-Cornered Hat), G.53...Part 1: Afternoon Work Recorded 1954 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
14	3.Dance of the Miller's Wife (Danza della molinera; Fandango)	3:40			$0.99
Manuel de Falla Composer El Sombrero de tres picos (The 3-Cornered Hat), G.53...Part 2: NIght Work Recorded 1954 14:25 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
15	3a.Dance of the Corregidor	2:28			$0.99
16	1.Dance of the Neighbors (Seguidillas)	3:17			$0.99
17	2a.Miller's Dance (Danza del molinero; Farruca)	2:39			$0.99
18	4.Final Dance (Jota)	6:01			$0.99
Achille-Claude Debussy Composer Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L.86 Work Recorded 1954 Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
19	Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, L.86	9:54			$1.49
Emmanuel Chabrier Composer España, rhapsody for orchestra Work Recorded 1953 Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
20	España, rhapsody for orchestra	5:32			$0.99
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Danse macabre, tone poem, Op.40 Work Recorded 1953 Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
21	Danse macabre, tone poem, Op.40	7:25			$1.49
Camille Saint-Saëns Composer Samson et Dalila (opera), Op.47...Act 3 Work Recorded 1953 Bamberg Symphony Chorus Orchestra, Fritz Lehmann Conductor
22	4.Bacchanale	7:28			$1.49
CD 9 of 10
Karl Amadeus Hartmann Composer Symphony No.6 Work Recorded 1955 22:58 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
1	1.Adagio	11:14			$1.99
2	2.Toccata variata. Presto - Allegro assai	11:44			$1.99
Karl Amadeus Hartmann Composer Symphony No.4 for string orchestra Work Recorded 1949 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
3	3.Finale: Adagio appassionato	7:04			$1.49
Wolfgang Fortner Composer Symphony Work Recorded 1949 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
4	4.Finale	7:20			$1.49
Boris Blacher Composer Variations on a Theme of Paganini, Op.26 Work Recorded 1950 14:00 Ferenc Fricsay Conductor, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester Orchestra
5	1.Thema. Quasi Presto. Variationen 1-3	2:08			$0.99
6	2.Variationen 4-7	2:03			$0.99
7	3.Variation 8	2:17			$0.99
8	4.Variation 9-12	3:03			$0.99
9	5.Variation 13-16	4:29			$0.99
CD 10 of 10
Karl Höller Composer Symphonic Fantasie on a Theme by Frescobaldi, for orchestra, Op.20 Work Recorded 1957 26:18 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
1	1.Ruhig fließend	4:16			$0.99
2	2.Lebhaft und markiert	3:20			$0.99
3	3.Langsam, sehr bewegt im Ausdruck	9:44			$1.49
4	4.Sehr lebhaft	8:58			$1.49
Karl Höller Composer Sweelinck Variations for orchestra (on Mein junges Leben hat ein End), Op.56 Work Recorded 1987 22:45 Eugen Jochum Conductor, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Orchestra
5	Thema. Andante tranquillo	1:35			$0.49
6	1.Variation: Poco leggiero	1:06			$0.49
7	2.Variation: Con moto	0:54			$0.49
8	3.Variation: Con moto	0:58			$0.49
9	4.Poco agitato	1:32			$0.49
10	5.Vivace	1:35			$0.49
11	6.Molto leggiero	1:23			$0.49
12	7.Andante con moto	3:21			$0.99
13	8.Vivo e leggiero	1:27			$0.49
14	9.Deciso	2:15			$0.99
15	10.Molto sostenuto	4:34			$0.99
16	Thema. Andante sostenuto	2:05			$0.99