This album is included in the following sets:
This set contains the following albums:
- Producer's Note
- Full Track Listing
- Cover Art
Ormandy's recording of Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite was originally made on wide frequency range lacquer masters, from which the original issue on shellac 78 rpm discs was dubbed in somewhat degraded sound. The original lacquers were later transferred to tape for LP issue, and it is from this superior source that the present remastering was made. The sound is a testament to what Columbia's engineers were able to accomplish years before magnetic tape was available.
The recording of the Sibelius suite has an interesting history. In 1950, The Swan of Tuonela was recorded and released on a 10-inch LP (ML-2158), coupled with Finlandia (both previous issued on Pristine PASC 177). Some twenty months later, Columbia taped the other movements and repackaged the existing recording of Swan into the new LP issue. The resulting hybrid release remains one of Ormandy's greatest and most exciting recordings, more intense even than his critically-acclaimed stereo remake for EMI from 27 years later, with almost superhuman playing by the Philadelphia Orchestra in the final movement.
Mark Obert-Thorn
ORMANDY conducts Grieg and Sibelius (1947-51)
GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46
1. 1. Morning Mood (3:38)
2. 2. The Death of Ase (4:07)
3. 3. AnitraÆs Dance (2:12)
4. 4. In the Hall of the Mountain King (2:44)
Recorded 22nd November, 1947 in the Academy of Music, Philadelphia
Matrix nos.: XCO 39405 through 39408
First issued on Columbia 12744 and 12745 in album X-291
SIBELIUS Lemminkäinen Suite (The Four Legends), Op. 22
5. 1. Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of Saari (14:29)
6. 2. The Swan of Tuonela (9:38)
7. 3. Lemminkäinen in Tuonela (14:31)
8. 4. LemminkäinenÆs Homecoming (5:33)
Recorded 2nd April, 1950 (Swan) and 16th December, 1951
in the Academy of Music, Philadelphia
First issued on Columbia ML-4672
Transferred from Columbia LP ML-5181
John Minsker, cor anglais (Swan of Tuonela)
The Philadelphia Orchestra
conductor Eugene Ormandy
Producer and Audio Restoration Engineer: Mark Obert-Thorn
Cover artwork based on a photograph of Eugene Ormandy
Total duration: 56:52
