1933 recordings all in the Camden Church Studio
number 1
1933 - Wagner - 'Symphonic Synthesis' of Das Rheingold
recorded his 'Symphonic Synthesis' of Das Rheingold. Part 1 consists of the Prelude,
Alberich and the Rhinemaidens and The descent of Wotan and Loge into Nibelheim, and Erda's warning to
Wotan. Part 2 consists of the Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla
Click here to listen to (download) the 1933 Das Rheingold - Symphonic Synthesis Part 1
Click here to listen to (download) the 1933 Das Rheingold - Symphonic Synthesis Part 2
1933 - Brahms - Symphony no 4 in e minor
As you can read in the
1931 Stokowski Electrical Recordings page, in April, 1931
, Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra recorded the Brahms
Symphony no 4 on 10 sides of Victor Red Seal ten inch records. For
the reasons described in discussing this 1931 Brahms recording, these
disks were not released by Victor.
Then, two years later, in March and April, 1933, Stokowski and the
Philadelphia Orchestra again recorded the Brahms Symphony no 4, this time on twelve
inch Red Seal disks.
The Brahms Symphony no 4 was one of Stokowski's mainstays in his concert
repertoire. He programmed it as part of his second season with
the Philadelphia Orchestra, and with the NBC and Houston Symphonies.
Throughout his career, Stokowski's vision of the Brahms Symphony no 4 was
consistently fleet and vital. This 1933 recording is notable not only for
its electric performance, but also that with this recording, Stokowski was the
first conductor to have recorded all four Brahms symphonies for the gramophone.
This recording made in the Camden Church Studio with a reduced
Philadelphia Orchestra is closely miked, and lacking in acoustic ambience.
Therefore, I have added some acoustic reverberation, seeking to add 'air' around
the instruments.
This recording was issued on five Victor 12 inch Red Seal records: 7825,
7826, 7827, 7828, 7829 in Victor Musical Masterpiece album M-185. The
recording matrices were: CS 75162, CS 75163, CS 75164, CS 75165, CS 75167,
CS 75168, CS 75169, CS 75171, CS 75172, CS 75174, CS 75175.
Click here to listen to (download) the 1933 Brahms Symphony no 4 movement 1
Click here to listen to (download) the 1933 Brahms Symphony no 4 movement 2
Click here to listen to (download) the 1933 Brahms Symphony no 4 movement 3
Click here to listen to (download) the 1933 Brahms Symphony no 4 movement 4
1933 - Wagner - Die Götterdämmerung Excerpts
In March, April and October, Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra recorded excerpts
from Die Götterdämmerung. These were Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey, Siegfried's
Death and Funeral Music, the Immolation Scene and Finale with soprano soloist Agnes Davis
as Brünnhilde.
The Gramophone Magazine review of praised this recording: '...From the first
notes the Wagner records are tremendously impressive. The rhythmic spring
on side 2 is especially keen. This and the size of the music give a
wonderful impression of the happy hero. Wagner remains a supreme test
for recorders. I have not had in any former records such an impression
of the cosmic scale of his work, of its universal truth...'
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