Franz Konwitschny, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra - Reger: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Hiller, Schubert: Symphony No. 8 "Unfinished - Import SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Franz Konwitschny, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

Description:

Commemorative project for the 150th anniversary of Reger's birth. The latest reissue of the rare 1961 stereo recording of Reger in Konwitschny's final years and the prestigious unfinished (1958 monaural recording)! World's first SACD release. Mastered only in the analog domain and converted directly to DSD! The latest reissue of ETERNA's original analog tapes in Japan, and the 29th SACD hybridization of Konwitschny's two masterpieces never before released in Japan! Reger's "Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Hiller" was recorded in stereo in 1961. Based on a theme by Johann Adam Hiller (1728-1804), who was the first conductor of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Reger developed 11 variations and a final fugue in 45 minutes, full of ups and downs, variations, and color. Konwitschny and the Gewandhaus Orchestra devoted their traditional smoked silver tone, superb musicianship, and performance technique to the work, skillfully demonstrating the work's varied flavors and majestic construction. Streuben's excellent recording, which takes advantage of the rich sound of the Leipzig Congress Halle, is also a pleasure to listen to. Schubert's "Unfinished" is a crisp monaural recording from 1958. Here, too, Konwitschny's earnest and exuberant conducting resonates with the ancient sounds of the Gewandhaus Orchestra, and the performance is of a high quality rarely heard today. Max Reger (1873-1916), who was also a professor at the Leipzig Conservatory, left many works, and was especially highly regarded in Germany as a master of variations. He is regarded as an important composer in the fields of fugue and counterpoint, and his works have been heard more often than ever before. The "Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Hiller" is probably one of his best-known works, along with the "Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Mozart," which he composed in his later years. Konwitschny made this recording in stereo about a year before his death, and their respective ties to Leipzig were certainly a major reason for its inclusion. The piece was completed in 1904 and premiered in 1907 under Reger's direction.Before this Konwitschny recording, Kempen & the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra recorded the piece in 1951, and in 1955, Kilebert recorded it with the Hamburg National Philharmonic Orchestra. The music is characterized by familiar melodies based on Johann Adam Hiller's melodies, which make it very easy to listen to. Another attraction of this recording is that Konwitschny and the orchestra play so well that it gives a sense of the greatness of the time. The recording was made by Streuben, and it is an excellent recording that does not sound inferior at all even today, making it an appropriate source for high quality sound. Reger may not be a popular composer yet, but why don't you take this opportunity to listen to his rare works with various aspects? The LP of "Unfinished" was released in STEREO, but when we checked the master, it was in pseudo-stereo. The original stereo recording does not exist, so the original monaural sound is included in this recording. (1/2)