The Dawn of Recording: The Julius Block Cylinders

[Opus106]

Starting in 1889, what is now recognized as one of the earliest dates to record music, Julius Block recorded some of the most important artists and personalities of his time on cylinder. His cylinders range in date from 1889 to 1927, and were recorded in Russia, Germany, and Switzerland. Our three-CD set includes artists who have previously remained "silent" and will change the conception of many artists whose discography up until now were thought to be complete. These are the only known recordings of Anton Arensky, Paul Pabst, Sergei Taneyev, Leo Conus, Jules Conus, Anna Essipova, Jan Hrimaly, Anatoly Brandukov, Elizaveta Lavrovskaya, and Paul Juon. These are also the earliest surviving recordings of Josef Hofmann, Nikolai Figner, Eddy Brown, and Egon Petri. And, they include the first recorded performances of Bach, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Donizetti, Verdi, Bizet, and Arensky.

http://marstonrecords.com/

Article in NYT

[ezodisy]

aha, so the "mystery recording" they've been talking about for over a year has been announced at long last. It's a shame Marston & co. are not releasing as many piano recordings as they used to. I once enquired about a Bolet vol. 2 and was told that there are not enough subscribers, or something like that, which I find hard to believe, as I think they only require 150 assured buyers before going to work and I would assume they have that amount already based on piano subscriptions. 

[Sorin Eushayson]

I think someone here noted an early woodblock recording of Haydn conducting one of his symphonies.  Anyone know anything more about that?

[Lethevich]

I think someone here noted an early woodblock recording of Haydn conducting one of his symphonies.  Anyone know anything more about that?

This forum also has some very slippery characters... 0:)