ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – THE ROYAL CONDUCTORS (10 CDS) DOCUMENT

This year the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which was awarded its royal title in 1966 by HM The Queen, is celebrating its seventy-fifth birthday. With its concert series, tours and recordings, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has repeatedly confirmed the high standard that has characterized its musical work since it was founded by Sir Thomas Beecham in 1946. Traveling around the world as cultural ambassadors, the RPO has always sought collaborations with inspiring artists and in 1993 began recording important works of classical music on a high artistic and technical level. The series of “Royal Conductors”, which this 10 CD box is dedicated to, is opened by Yehudi Menuhin – President and “Associate Conductor” of the RPO until his death. Other great conductors featured here are Sir Charles Mackerras, Paavo Järvi, Yuri Simonov, Jane Glover, Ivor Bolton, Raymond Leppard, Günther Herbig, Vernon Handley and Barry Wordsworth. The respective interpretational strengths of these conductors can be heard in recordings of some of the most important works by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Wagner, Holst, Delius, Elgar, Franck, Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, Kachaturian, Berlioz, Sibelius, Dvorak, Berwald and Gershwin, many of which received the highest praises in critical circles and can still be regarded as essential today.

CD 1

■ YEHUDI MENUHIN (1916 – 1999)
Edward Elgar (1857 – 1934)
Variations on an Original Theme “Enigma”, op. 36 / Enigma-Variationen
1. Theme: Andante 1‘25
2. I. C.A.E: Andante 1‘56
3. II. H.D.S-P.: Allegro 0‘53
4. III. R.B.T.: Allegretto 1‘21
5. IV. W.M.B.: Allegro di molto 0‘34
6. V. R.P.A.: Moderato 2‘18
7. VI. Ysobel: Andantino 1‘18
8. VII. Troyte: Presto 1‘02
9. VIII. W.N.: Allegretto 1‘52
10. IX. Nimrod: Adagio 4‘00
11. X. Intermezzo: Dorabella: Allegretto 2‘54
12. XI. G.R.S.: Allegro di molto 1‘01
13. XII. B.G.N.: Andante 2‘33
14. XIII. Romanza: Moderato 3‘09
15. XIV. Finale: E.D.U.: Allegro 5‘36

16. In the South (Alassio) – Concert Overture, op. 50 / Konzertouvertüre 21‘45

Pomp and Circumstance, op. 39
17. March No. 4 in G Major / Marsch Nr. 4 G-Dur 5‘01
18. Chanson de matin, op. 15, No. 2 3‘22

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Yehudi Menuhin
Digitally recorded in May 1994 (1-17), January 1995 (18) at C.T.S. Studios, London
Total Time 62.23

CD 2

■ SIR CHARLES MACKERRAS (1925 – 2010)
Hector Berlioz (1803 – 1869)
1. Ouverture «Le Carnaval Romain», op. 9 / 8‘45

Overture “The Roman Carnival” / Ouvertüre „Römischer Karneval“
Symphonie Fantastique, op. 14 «Épisode de la vie d’un artiste»/
“Episode In The Life Of An Artist” / „Episode aus dem Leben eines Künstlers“
2. I. Rêveries. Passions / Dreams. Passions / Träumereien. 14‘32
Leidenschaften – Largo. Allegro agitato e appassionato assai
3. II. Un bal / A ball / Ein Ball – Valse : Allegretto non troppo 6‘01
4. III. Scène aux champs / In the Country / Szene auf dem Lande – Adagio 15‘43
5. IV. Marche au supplice / March to the Scaffold / 6‘45
Der Gang zum Richtplatz – Allegretto non troppo
6. V. Songe d’une nuit du Sabbat / Dream of a witches sabbath / 9‘49
Hexensabbat – Larghetto. Allegro

Jean Sibelius (1865 – 1957)
7. Finlandia – Symphonic poem, op. 26 / Sinfonische Dichtung 8‘25

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Sir Charles Mackerras
Digitally recorded in January 1994 at C.T.S. Studios, London
Total Time 70‘16

CD 3

■ PAAVO JÄRVI (*1962)
Antonín Dvořák (1841 – 1904)
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op. 95 “From The New World” /
Sinfonie in e-Moll „Aus der neuen Welt“
1. I. Adagio. Allegro molto 13’02
2. II. Largo 15’19
3. III. Scherzo: Molto vivace 7’30
4. IV. Allegro con fuoco 11’10
5. Carnival, op. 92 – Concert Overture / Konzertouvertüre 9’30
6. Scherzo capriccioso, op. 66 14’49

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Paavo Järvi
Digitally recorded in January 1994 at C.T.S. Studios, London
Total Time 71‘42

CD 4

■ YURI SIMONOV (*1941)
Igor Stravinsky (1882 – 1971)
L’oiseau de feu / The Firebird / Der Feuervogel – Ballett-Suite
1. Introduction / Einleitung 3’51
2. Prélude et danse de l’Oiseau de feu / Prelude and Dance 0’17
of the Firebird / Vorspiel und Tanz des Feuervogels
3. Variations de l’Oiseau de feu / Variations of the Firebird / 1’21
Variationen (Feuervogel)
4. Pantomime I 0’28
5. Pas de deux 4’08
6. Pantomime II 0’22
7. Scherzo Ronde des princesses / Dance of the Princesses / 2’36
Tanz der Prinzessinnen
8. Pantomime III 6’12
9. Danse infernale de Roi Kachtchei / Infernal Dance / 4’43
Höllentanz des Kaschtschei
10. Berceuse / Lullaby / Wiegenlied 3’42
11. Finale 3’28

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Yuri Simonov
Digitally recorded in 1996

Aram Khachaturian (1903 – 1978)
Spartacus (Exerpts / Auszüge)
12. Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia / Spartakus und Phrygia (Adagio) 10’29
13. Dance of the Maidens and Victory of Spartacus / 7’47
Tanz der gadinitischen Mädchen und Spartakus’ Sieg
14. Scene and Dance with Crotalums / Szene und Tanz mit den Crotales 3’30
15. Variations of Aegina and Bacchanalia / 3’39
Variation der Aegina und Bacchanal

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Yuri Simonov
Digitally recorded in August 1994 at C.T.S. Studios, London

Sergey Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)
Symphony No. 1 in D major, op. 25 “Classical” / Sinfonie Nr. 1 D-Dur „Klassische”
16. I. Allegro 4’20
17. II. Larghetto 4’19
18. III. Gavotta: Non troppo allegro 1’47
19. IV. Finale: Molto vivace 4’01

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conductor / Dirigent Yuri Simonov
Digitally recorded in March 1996 at C.T.S. Studios, London
Total Time 71.20

CD 5

■ IVOR BOLTON (*1958)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor KV 466 / Klavierkonzert d-Moll
1. I. Allegro (Cadenza by Ludwig van Beethoven) 14’45
2. II. Romanza 9’25
3. III. Rondo: Allegro assai 7’35

Mariaclara Monetti piano / Klavier
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Ivor Bolton
Digitally recorded in September 1994 at C.T.S. Studios, London

Franz Adolf Berwald (1796 – 1868)
Symphony No. 4 in E Flat major “Symphonie Naïve” / Sinfonie Es-Dur
4. I. Allegro risoluto 9’17
5. II. Adagio 7’42
6. III. Scherzo: Allegro molto 5’32
7. IV. Finale: Allegro vivace 7’09

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Ivor Bolton
Digitally recorded in December 1994 at C.T.S. Studios, London
Total Time 61‘36

CD 6

■ RAYMOND LEPPARD (1927 – 2019)
César Franck (1822 – 1890)
Symphony in D minor / Sinfonie d-Moll
1. I. Lento. Allegro non troppo 19’11
2. II. Allegretto 10’37
3. III. Allegro non troppo 10’44

4. Les Éolides: Symphonic Poem / Sinfonische Dichtung 10’49

5. Le Chasseur maudit: Symphonic Poem / Sinfonische Dichtung 15’11

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Raymond Leppard
Digitally recorded in March 1995 at C.T.S. Studios, London
Total Time 66‘48

CD 7

■ GÜNTHER HERBIG (*1931)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
1. Fidelio, op. 72: Overture / Ouvertüre 6’40

Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op. 55 “Eroica” / Sinfonie Nr. 3 Es-Dur
2. I. Allegro con brio 14’42
3. II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai 14’51
4. III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace 5’40
5. IV. Finale: Allegro molto 12’21

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Günther Herbig
Digitally recorded in June 1994 at C.T.S. Studios, London
Total Time 54‘21

CD 8

■ JANE GLOVER (*1949)
Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809)
Symphony No. 101 in D major, HOB.I: 101 “The Clock” /
Sinfonie Nr. 101 D-Dur “Die Uhr”
1. I. Adagio. Presto 8’09
2. II. Andante 7’31
3. III. Menuetto: Allegretto 7’54
4. IV. Finale: Vivace 4’34

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Jane Glover
Digitally recorded in November 1994 at C.T.S. Studios, London

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791)
5. Le Nozze di Figaro: Overture / Die Hochzeit des Figaro: Ouvertüre 4’12
Symphony No. 41 in C major, KV 551 “Jupiter” / Sinfonie Nr. 41 C-Dur
6. I. Allegro vivace 11’19
7. II. Andante cantabile 8’24
8. III. Minuetto: Allegretto 4’37
9. IV. Molto allegro 8’30

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Jane Glover
Digitally recorded in October 1993 at All Saints Church, Petersham, Surrey
Total Time 65‘25

CD 9

■ VERNON HANDLEY (1930 – 2008)
Richard Wagner (1813 – 1883)
1. Tannhäuser: Overture / Ouvertüre 14’20

Gustav Holst (1874 – 1934)
The Planets, op. 32 / Die Planeten 7’20
2. I. Mars, the Bringer of War/ Mars, der Kriegsbringer 8’34
3. II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace / Venus, die Friedensbringerin 3’50
4. III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger / Merkur, der geflügelte Bote 7’57
5. IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity / Jupiter, der Bringer der Fröhlichkeit 8’40
6. V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age / Saturn, der Bringer des Alters
7. VI. Uranus, the Magician / Uranus, der Magier 5’42
8. VII. Neptune, the Mystic / Neptun, der Mystiker 6’45

St. Paul’s Suite for Strings, op. 29, No. 2 / Suite für Streichorchester
9. I. Jig: Vivace 3’14
10. II. Ostinato: Presto 1’45
11. III. Intermezzo: Andante con moto 4’04
12. IV. Finale (The Dargason): Allegro 3’21

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Ladies of the Ambrosian Chorus (8)
conductor / Dirigent Vernon Handley
Digitally recorded in October 1993 at Saint Augustine’s Church, Kilburn, London
Total Time 75‘52

CD 10

■ BARRY WORDSWORTH (*1948)
George Gershwin (1898 – 1937)
1. An American in Paris 18’47
2. Rhapsody in Blue 17’27

Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
3. Boléro 13’18
4. Pavane pour une Infante défunte 5’57

Claude Debussy (1862 – 1918)
5. Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune 9’19

Frederick Delius (1862 – 1934)
6. Aquarelle No. 1 2’29
7. Aquarelle No. 2 2’06

Christopher O’Riley piano / Klavier (2)
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conductor / Dirigent Barry Wordsworth
Digitally recorded in October 1993 at Abbey Road, Studio One, London (1-5);
August 1994 at C.T.S. Studios, London (6-79)
Total Time 69‘51