Erich Leinsdorf (1919 - 1993) is still considered to be one of the world’s best opera conductors. His extensive recordings of the symphonic works of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Prokofiev, and others are ample proof, however, that he belongs among the group of European orchestra leaders who influenced American musical life since the 1930s. Born in Vienna as Erich Landauer, he assisted the great Arturo Toscanini at the Salzburg Festival as a young conductor, and also Bruno Walter, head of the Vienna State Opera at that time. He thus came into contact with the musical world elite early on. When Austria was annexed to Nazi Germany, he was in the US, where he was granted asylum as a Jew. Initially assistant at the New York Metropolitan Opera, he became increasingly responsible for the German repertoire during the war years. In 1942 he achieved US citizenship, and from 1943 to 46 became head of the Cleveland Orchestra, interrupted only by his service in the US Army. After the war there followed remarkable and award-winning recordings in Vienna, Bayreuth, London, Berlin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and in 1962 the appointment as director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. This 10-CD box set marks the path of this extraordinary conductor in all of its crucial phases with a host of impressive examples of his work.

Artists

Sviatoslav Richter (piano), Leonard Pennario (piano)

Philharmonia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Concert Arts Symphony Orchestra, Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Wiener Philharmoniker, Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Erich Leinsdorf

Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, BB 123, Sz.116
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 'Eroica'
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 83
Chabrier: Espana
Cornelius: Der Barbier von Baghdad: Overture
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Dvorak: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major 'Titan'
Mozart: Don Giovanni, K527: Overture
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K492: Overture
Mozart: Symphony No. 1 in E flat major, K16
Mozart: Symphony No. 2 in B flat, K17
Mozart: Symphony No. 3 in E flat, K18
Mozart: Symphony No. 4 in D major, K19
Mozart: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, K22
Mozart: Symphony No. 6 in F major, K43
Mozart: Symphony No. 7 in D major, K45
Mozart: Symphony No. 8 in D major, K48
Mozart: Symphony No. 9 in C Major, K73
Ponchielli: Dance of the Hours (from La Gioconda)
Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
Rimsky Korsakov: Russian Easter Festival Overture, Op. 36
Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35
Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia Overture
Saint-Saens: Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila
Schumann: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major, Op. 38 'Spring'
Smetana: Vltava (from Ma Vlast)
Strauss, R: Die Frau ohne Schatten: Symphonic Interludes
Strauss, R: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
Strauss, R: Tod und Verklarung, Op. 24
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Entry of the Masters
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg: Overture
Wagner: Die Walkure: Magic Fire Music
Wagner: Die Walkure: Ride of the Valkyries
Wagner: Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 3
Wagner: Tannhauser: Overture