C1011. PIERRE MONTEUX Cond. Boston S.O.: Grosse Fuge in B-flat, Op.133 (arr.Weingartner), 10 Jan., 1958; Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus – Overture; Leonore Overture, III; w.Berl Senofsky: Violin Concerto in D, all 9 Aug., 1958; Symphony #5 in c; Pastoral Symphony #6 in F; Fidelio – Overture (all Beethoven), all 8 Aug., 1959; w.Leonid Kogan: Violin Concerto in D (Brahms), 10 Jan., 1958; Academic Festival Overture, 20 July, 1958; w.Leon Fleisher: Piano Concerto #1 in d, 20 July, 1958; Tragic Overture, 19 July, 1959; Chorale Preludes (11), Op. 122 (arr. Thomson); w.Isaac Stern: Violin Concerto in D, 24 July, 1959 (all Brahms); Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune, 19 July, 1959; Trois Nocturnes, 25 July, 1958; Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien – Fragments symphoniques, 10 Jan., 1958 (all Debussy); Ruslan and Lyudmila – Overture (Glinka), 25 July, 1958; Nobilissima Visione (Hindemith), 19 July, 1959; w.Nicole Henriot-Schweitzer: Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français (d’Indy), 19 July, 1959; Italian Symphony #4 in A, 1 Aug., 1959; w.Rudolf Serkin: Concerto #1 in g (both Mendelssohn), both 1 Aug., 1959; Les Euménides – Prélude to Act III (Milhaud); La Valse (Ravel), both 25 July, 1958); Passacaglia & Fugue in c (Bach-Respighi), 24 July, 1959; Le Coq d'Or - Introduction & Cortège de noces (Rimsky Korsakov, 19 July, 1959; Manfred – Overture, 1 Aug., 1959; w.Rudolf Serkin: Introduction & Allegro appassionato in G (both Schumann), 1 Aug., 1959; Tod und Verklärung, 10 Jan., 1958; Don Juan; w.Samuel Mayes (cello), Joseph de Pasquale (viola): Don Quixote, 23 Jan., 1959 (all Strauss); Petroushka – Three Movements (Stravinsky), 20 July, 1958; Symphony #4 in f, 25 July, 1958; Symphony #5 in e, 19 July, 1959 (both Tchaikowsky); Tristan – Liebestod (Orchestral Version); Parsifal – Prélude to Act I; w.Margaret Harshaw: Ich sah das Kind, 1 Aug., 1959; Lohengrin – Prélude to Act I; w.Margaret Harshaw: Lohengrin - Einsam in trüben Tagen; Rienzi – Overture; Der fliegende Holländer – Overture; w.Margaret Harshaw: Traft ihr das Schiff; Siegfried – Waldesrauschen; w.Margaret Harshaw: Tannhaüser – Dich, teure Halle; Die Walküre – Walkürenritt (all Wagner), all 3 Aug., 1958. (E.U.) 11-West Hill Radio Archives WHRA 6034, Live Performances, 1958-59, all Tanglewood or Symphony Hall, Boston. Specially priced. - 5425008377261

CRITIC REVIEW:

“This new set offers a further batch of Monteux’s live relays with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Is this surfeit of recorded performances worth acquiring? The answer can be in the affirmative for several reasons: Monteux is always musically interesting in a wide repertoire; the set includes his only known recordings of works such as Hindemith’s suite Nobilissima visione and Weingartner’s orchestration of Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge; the orchestral playing is virtuosic and well projected; and the set is on special offer with 11 CDs for the price of seven…The finest concerto performance, however, comes from the least likely source. The Philadelphia-born Berl Senofsky, once a child prodigy, projects a strong musical personality, and offers classical poise and expressive lyricism in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. His trills and double stopping are expertly executed; his intonation is secure; the Joachim cadenza is played with aplomb. Senofsky forges a good partnership with Monteux in a performance well up to international standard. It will introduce some listeners to a lesser-known soloist, though violin specialists will know that Senofsky, who died in 2002, is the only American violinist to have won the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Music Competition (in 1955).”

- Kenneth Morgan, CLASSICAL RECORDINGS QUARTERLY, Summer, 2011