Cleveland
Orchestra
Conductor: Artur Rodzinski Released
1940
Issued as Columbia MX205-1 to MX205-4 Duration: 13'58"
Play
30s sample:
During
the late 1930's and early 1940's the conductor Artur Rodzinski (above)
developed his reputation as an orchestra builder with the Cleveland Orchestra.
Although the orchestra's greatest years were yet to come, the results
of Rodzinski's work were enough to tempt Columbia into recording a number
of 78rpm album sets.
Although
many of these recordings have already been reissued, it seems a handful
of shorter works and some filler sides have been ignored, and that is
the basis for these two releases. This Tchaikovsky was issued as a four-side
album, complete with colourful picture front and sleevenotes typical of
US Columbia issues of the day and a foretaste of the LP covers to come.
Meanwhile the Moussorgsky (PASP004) was found
tucked away as the 'spare' side on Columbia's set of Tchaikovsky's Romeo
& Juliet.
Both
recordings are well worth a listen and their release here helps to complete
the catalogue of Cleveland Orchestra recordings under Rodzinski.
(A
note about spellings - I have it on good authority that much has been
lost between the original Russian and these westernised spellings. In
particular Moussorgsky is now normally spelt Mussorgsky.
However, what is shown here is what appears on the original discs - mistakes
and all!)
