Ormandy Documents Box

[FredT]

I have a number of the 10CD collections produced by The International Music Company. The most interesting, and important in my opinion, is the set cronicling Eugene Ormandy's early years, specifically his time in Minneapolis and fist decade in PhiladelphiaThere are tresures in this set including, I believe that first American Mahler recording (that of 2 in Minneapolis) and Lucien Calliet's orchestration of Pictures at an Exhibition. One performance that I have a question on is the Bruckner 7, again I believe that this is the first Bruckner performance recorded in the US. It's really quite wonderful...not sure of the edition though. The box says that the recording was made in Philadelphia in 1935. I believe that it's a Minneapolis performance. Can anyone help?

By the way, the sound is pretty good on these 10 cds. This really is a special set and listening to it, one can now understand why Ormandy was so highly thought of early on. Most of us remember him in his later years when his performances were not as inspired and somewhat dated in conception.

[Lilas Pastia]

I have that TIM box and it is indeed fascinating.

The Bruckner 7th is from Minneapolis according to John Berky, who gives the exact same dates (Jan 5 and 7, 1935) as the back cover of the TIM disc. The string phrasing in this version is simply jaw dropping. I've never heard so many portamentos, and they sound utterly natural, creating a curvaceousness of sound that is quite at odds with the linearity of the musical argument. The sound is recessed but quite clear.

Other than that, the box brings no revelations, but confirms what a reliably solid and lucid interpreter Ormandy has always been. I suspect the producers thought so themselves, as this is probably the only box of that extensive series where so many soloists appear, and the featured conductor and orchestra become almost supportive cast to the likes of Rubinstein, Arrau, Szigeti, Casadesus, Piatigorsky, Heiftz, Oscar Levant, , Rachmaninoff, Feurmann. Some of these concerto performances are outstanding. Pity the Arrau Liszt 1 didn't find its way in there.