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Otto Klemperer, Kolner Rundfunk Sinfonie, Anneliese Kupper
Klemperer conducts Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D major, Op. 123
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (5) - Disc #1
1. Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra in D major ('Missa Solemnis'), Op. 123: 1. Kyrie: Assai sostenuto. Mit Andacht
2. Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra in D major ('Missa Solemnis'), Op. 123: 2. Gloria: Allegro vivace
3. Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra in D major ('Missa Solemnis'), Op. 123: 3. Credo: Allegro ma non troppo
4. Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra in D major ('Missa Solemnis'), Op. 123: 4. Sanctus: Adagio. Mit Andacht
5. Mass for soloists, chorus & orchestra in D major ('Missa Solemnis'), Op. 123: 5. Agnus Dei: Adagio

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CD Details

All Artists: Otto Klemperer, Kolner Rundfunk Sinfonie, Anneliese Kupper, Sieglinde Wagner, Rudolf Schock, Josef Greindl
Title: Klemperer conducts Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D major, Op. 123
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Medici Masters
Original Release Date: 1/1/2009
Re-Release Date: 8/25/2009
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 827565027026

Synopsis

Product Description

Otto Klemperer, particularly well known for his interpretation of Beethoven, conducts the Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester in this 1955 rendition of Beethove's Missa Solemnis. He is joined by soloists Annelies Kupper, Sieglinde Wagner, Rudolf Schock and Joseph Greindl in a concert which was Klemperer's first public performance of the work for 22 years. It is sourced from the original WDR master tapes and captures the intensity of a live occasion and the wonderful choral singing of the Kölner Rundfunkchor.

CD Reviews

Historic Recording of a Beethoven Masterpiece

Bob D'Augustine | Glassboro, NJ | 12/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This recording dates from 1955, a pivotal year for Klemperer, then 70 years old, who was reestablishing himself as one of the world's great conductors. In fact, with Arturo Toscanini having recently retired, Klemperer at that time perhaps shared with Bruno Walter the laurel as the most important active conductor, especially for the great symphonic repertoire from Beethoven through Mahler. At the time of this recording, Klemperer had only recently begun his historic tenure as conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra of London. (This recording of the Missa Solemnis, however, was with the Kolner Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester.)

In 1955, Klemperer had not yet adopted the slower tempos that characterized his performances in later years; so this recording provides an interesting comparison with the much-loved Klemperer recording of the Missa Solemnis (on EMI) of 1966.

Klemperer was especially effective as a conductor of large works for orchestra and chorus. Where other conductors emphasize tempo and dynamic changes for dramatic effect, Klemperer strives to harness massive forces to achieve subtlety, precision and clarity. His control of such details is always subordinated, however, to capturing the architectural structure of great works, something he accomplishes to a unique degree. Accordingly, the monumental power of the Missa Solemnis is presented in this recording to an extent that is perhaps matched among currently available recordings only by his own recording of 1966.

Aside from the tempos, the most noteworthy difference between this performance and the one from 1966 is in sound quality, with a decided edge to the later recording. Nevertheless, this recording is, overall, a great and important version of the work that Beethoven himself said on at least one occasion was his best.

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