The German-born conductor Otto Klemperer, a towering figure in the musical history of the 20th century, died at the age of 88 on July 8th 1973, so 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of his death.
From 1951 to 1971 Klemperer was closely linked with London’s Philharmonia (later New Philharmonia) Orchestra. This period established him as the ‘grand old man’ of the Austro-German symphonic repertoire. Crucial to his global reputation during this period (and after his death) were the many recordings that he conducted for EMI between 1954 and 1971. These were primarily of orchestral music, but also included operas and large-scale vocal/choral works.
Made principally under the guidance of producer Walter Legge, who founded the Philhamonia Orchestra in 1945, these recordings form the main component of the two-box OTTO KLEMPERER: THE WARNER CLASSICS EDITION, for release in 2023. A number of them are considered landmarks of the catalogue.
The 95CD Complete Symphonic Recordings is the first of two boxes that together will form OTTO KLEMPERER: THE WARNER CLASSICS EDITION. The Edition assembles all the Klemperer recordings in the Warner Classics catalogue; they were originally made for EMI Columbia, HMV, Electrola and Parlophone.
While the vast majority of the Complete Symphonic Recordings originate from Klemperer’s period with the Philharmonia/New Philharmonia Orchestra, the box also includes recordings made in Berlin in the late 1920s, and in the 1960s with the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française and Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.
The second box in the Edition, dedicated to Operas & Sacred Works on ca. 30CDs, is scheduled for release in October or November 2023.
All the recordings in OTTO KLEMPERER: THE WARNER CLASSICS EDITION have been remastered in HD 192/24 by Art et Son Studio, Annecy from original tapes (in the case of LPs) or the best available source available (in the case of 78RPM recordings).
Label: Warner Classics – 5054197257049
Format:
95 x CD, Stereo, Mono
Box Set, Compilation, Remastered
Country: Europe
Released: 2023
Genre: Classical