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Peter Maag (1919-2001) was born in Switzerland to a musical family. After studies in theology and philosophy, and an early career as a pianist, he was encouraged to conduct. In that field, his mentors included Ernest Ansermet and, above all, Wilhelm Furtwängler. His success as a conductor grew throughout the late 1940s and 50s, and as early as 1950 he made his first recordings for Decca. The composer back then was Mozart, and Maag would be associated with Mozart’s music in the recording studios, concert halls and opera houses his entire life. His Decca Mozart recordings were collectors’ items and they have all now appeared on Decca Eloquence.
This 2CD set offers popular 19th-century Romantic fare, with a fairy twist. Nymphs, sylphs and fairies make up the subjects of the Mendelssohn, Chopin and Delibes ballet and incidental music. The swaggering Rossini Overtures recording dates from 1958, and most of the recordings on this collection date from early in the stereo era. They were regarded as sonic showpieces when they were first released, and used copies of the original LPs command high prices from collectors even today. The Chopin and Rossini recordings receive their first international CD release, while the
Delibes is a first ever release on CD.
Felix Mendelssohn: Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Op.21
Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Op.21
Felix Mendelssohn: No.1 Scherzo
No.1 Scherzo
Felix Mendelssohn: No.3 Song with Chorus: "Bunte Schlangen, zweigezüngt"
No.3 Song with Chorus: "Bunte Schlangen, zweigezüngt"
Felix Mendelssohn: No.5 Intermezzo
No.5 Intermezzo
Felix Mendelssohn: No.7 Notturno
No.7 Notturno
Felix Mendelssohn: No.9 Wedding March
No.9 Wedding March
Felix Mendelssohn: No.11 Dance of the Clowns
No.11 Dance of the Clowns
Felix Mendelssohn: Finale: "Though this house give glimm'ring light"
Finale: "Though this house give glimm'ring light"
Felix Mendelssohn: The Hebrides, Op.26 (Fingal's Cave)
The Hebrides, Op.26 (Fingal's Cave)
Léo Delibes: Introduction
Introduction
Léo Delibes: Scène
Scène
Léo Delibes: Scène: Arrivée de Nouredda
Scène: Arrivée de Nouredda
Léo Delibes: Divertissement: Andante
Divertissement: Andante
Léo Delibes: Pas de Naïla. Scherzo-Polka
Pas de Naïla. Scherzo-Polka
Léo Delibes: Scène et pas d'action
Scène et pas d'action
Léo Delibes: Mazurka
Mazurka
Léo Delibes: Scène
Scène
Léo Delibes: Romance
Romance
Léo Delibes: Scène finale
Scène finale
Gioacchino Rossini: Overture
Overture
Gioacchino Rossini: Overture (Sinfonia)
Overture (Sinfonia)
Gioacchino Rossini: Overture
Overture
Overture
Frédéric Chopin: 1. Prélude
1. Prélude
Frédéric Chopin: 2. Nocturne
2. Nocturne
Frédéric Chopin: 3. Valse
3. Valse
Frédéric Chopin: 4. Mazurka
4. Mazurka
Frédéric Chopin: 5. Mazurka
5. Mazurka
Frédéric Chopin: 6. Prélude
6. Prélude
Frédéric Chopin: 7. Valse
7. Valse
Frédéric Chopin: Grande Valse Brillante
Grande Valse Brillante
(Hebrides Overture)
“Maag gives Fingal's Cave the full "poetical" treatment … The LSO plays superbly throughout, in the very highest class of orchestral playing”
(A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
“An exceptionally good quality of recording illuminates the Decca record, with a rich and entirely natural orchestral sound free from any audible artificialities at all. As the London Symphony Orchestia is also on top of its form, Mendelssohn emerges in the most favourable of lights.”
(Delibes, Chopin)
“the performances throughout will be found to be polished, stylish and full of character”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Op.21