Back to the vault this week for something historic by way of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from the 1960s. Guest conducted by the great Hans Swarowsky and featuring legendary Pianist Claudio Arrau in a concert of music by Brahms, Alban Berg and Zoltan Kodaly. This previously unheard, never-broadcast and long-thought-lost concert was recorded on January 26, 1967.
Here’s what’s what:
L.A. Phil. – Hans Swarowsky, Guest Conductor
Claudio Arrau – Piano
Concert of January 26, 1967Brahms: Piano Concerto Number 1 (w/Arrau)
Berg: Three Symphonic Excerpts from Lulu
Kodaly: Dances from Galanta
Claudio Arrau studied privately in Santiago for two years and then traveled at the expense of the Chilean government to Berlin, where he studied from 1912 to 1918 with Martin Krause, once a student of Franz Liszt. Arrau’s serious career began with a recital in Berlin in 1914, and during the next decade he toured extensively in Europe, South America, and the United States. Between 1924 and 1940 he taught at Julius Stern’s Conservatory in Berlin, and in 1941 he moved permanently to the United States, becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen only in 1979, after the rise of Augusto Pinochet in Chile. Arrau continued his frequent touring past his 80th birthday.
Hans Swarowsky was celebrated as both a conductor and as a teacher. He studied composition in Vienna with Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern and conducting with Richard Strauss, Felix Weingartner and Clemens Krauss.
Hans Swarowsky held positions in Stuttgart, Gera, Hamburg (1932), Berlin (1934), Zürich (1937-1940), Krakow (1944-1946), Graz (1947-1950) and at the Vienna State Opera (1957). He was chief conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, from 1957 to 1959. From 1959 he was chief conductor of Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and appeared also as guest conductor of the Vienna State Opera.
Perhaps Hans Swarowsky’s fame rests most with his reputation as a teacher. For many years Professor Swarowsky held master classes in conducting at the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where he was head of conducting from 1946. Famous students of Swarowsky’s include Claudio Abbado, Albert Rosen, Jesús López-Cobos, Bruno Weil, Mariss Jansons, Giuseppe Sinopoli and Zubin Mehta. Many aspiring young conductors compete in the Hans Swarowsky International Conductors Competition, held in Vienna.
Enjoy and stay tuned for more historic goodies in the coming weeks. There’s lots more. I promise.
