The career of conductor Paul Kletzki (* 1910 in Poland - + 1973 in England) could be emblematic of an artist's fate in 20th century Germany: studies in Poland and Berlin, early success as a composer, highly acclaimed debut as a conductor in Berlin in 1923, hired by Furtwängler to the Berlin Philharmonic in 1932. Then a major cut during this crucial starting phase: As a Jew Kletzki has to flee Germany. First stop Poland, then Italy, from Venice to Milan, where he receives a professorship for composition. He manages yet another escape from Hitler and Mussolini, this time to Switzerland. From 1940 on he teaches at the Conservatory in Lausanne. After the end of the war he succeeds in a brilliant restart as a conductor - with concerts especially in France and Israel. They form important parts of this 10 CD collection, in particular the concert with brothers Adolf and Hermann Busch. Both had formed a trio with pianist Rudolf Serkin. Adolf Busch (1891-1952) had left Germany in protest, when he was banned from performing with the Jew Serkin. In Dallas, Texas, Kletzki later becomes chief conductor of the orchestra (1958-61), also in Bern (1965 – 68), and from 1967 to 70 he is the successor to Ernest Ansermet in Geneva. Kletzki was especially close to the Philharmonics in Liverpool. He died there at the age of 63.

Artists

Witold Malcuzynski (piano), Johanna Martzy (violin), David Oistrakh (violin), Yehudi Menuhin (violin), Mauricio Pollini (piano), Adolf Busch (violin), Hermann Busch (cello)

Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre National de la Radiotelevision Française, Swiss Festival Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockholm Festival Orchestra, Orchestre National de la RTF, Orchestre de la Radiodiffusion Française, Paul Kletzki