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The long-time dictator of the Boston Symphony appeared at Carnegie hall in early 1942 in a series of historic concerts that breathed new life into the moribund New York Philharmonic. TIME Magazine had nicknamed them “The Dead End Kids”, and Koussevitzky had just two weeks to whip this recalcitrant band of notorious musical delinquents into shape: quite a few of the younger members had been called up for military service and were replaced by new players. This new release documents this difficult period in the New York Phil’s history.

Originally released in 1986, this set was one of our classical best sellers for well over a decade, and was reissued in improved sound in 2003 due to popular demand. Harvey Sachs writes in his liner notes “Performances of the Verdi Requiem often emphasize the work’s dramatic aspects to the detriment of its lyricism, or vice-versa. Here, Toscanini balances these elements completely convincingly…we are unlikely to hear a more overwhelming performance of the work than this.

A conducting student of Mahler, F. Charles Adler conducts the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in works by Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 3 in D minor (WAB 103) [1890 version first published by Theodor Rättig]. Live recording, 8 April 1953 from the Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft, Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C-minor, “Resurrection,” with Anny Felbermayer, sop.; Sonja Dreksler, alto; Austrian Radio Choir. Original production by ORF [Austrian Radio], studio recording, 29 March 1956. Both recordings are previously unissued.

A superbly recorded new version of this cycle. Colin Tilney is internationally known for his harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano playing, with many solo recordings on DG (Archive), EMI Electrola, Decca, Hyperion, Dorian, Doremi and CBC SM 5000.

An audiophile recording of some of Debussy’s favourite piano pieces plus rare and unusual works by admirers of his musical idiom. Carlo Grante is one of today’s most active and popular recording pianists and his concert repertoire is one of the largest among contemporary pianists.

Reissuing one of Music and Arts’ best-selling discs: these are the best World War II performances of Beethoven’s symphonies under the baton of Furtwängler.

Previously released versions on our label were acclaimed in Fanfare, American Record Guide, Pulse!, Absolute Sound, Diapason, Musica, and numerous other journals. Symphony No. 9 has been completely re-mastered for this edition.

When it was announced that Leonard Bernstein was the become the new conductor of the New York Philharmonic in November 1957, Claudia Cassidy in the Chicago Daily Tribune wrote that it was “no great surprise” but injected a note of caution: “wish him luck, because no one needs it more than the musical director of a symphony orchestra.”

It turned out to be an inspired appointment. This set demonstrates what it was in about his music making and his personality that led the New York Philharmonic’s directors to choose him. It includes extensive recorded documentation of Bernstein’s career up to the time of his nomination in New York, mostly in live performances and rehearsal segments, working on music ranging from Mozart to Messiaen.

Bernstein’s work after his appointment to the NYP is represented in this set by performances of American music given as part of his “Survey of American Music” in the 1958–9 season (Fine, Harris and Piston), along with Copland in 1957 and Diamond in 1961; the 1959 recording sessions for two of his favourite twentieth-century classics (Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony and Copland’s Billy the Kid) which show conductor and orchestra at their most efficient and effective; and hitherto unpublished live performances of music by Bartók, Beethoven, Chávez, and Mahler.