The legendary André Cluytens leading the Cologne Radio Symphony in this 1957 Radio studio performance of Roussel’s Bacchus et Ariane Suite Number 2 – recorded on January 28, 1957.
Skip the below if you already know who André Cluytens is:
André Cluytens was active in the concert hall, opera house and recording studio. His repertoire extended from Viennese classics through French composers to 20th century works. Although much of his career was in France, he was the first French conductor at Bayreuth in 1955; he also conducted Der Ring des Nibelungen and Parsifal at La Scala.
In 1947, André Cluytens was appointed Musical Director at the Opéra-Comique, where he conducted 40 works between 1947-1953, including premieres of La carosse du Saint Sacrement, Marion and Le Oui des jeunes filles. His well-regarded work at the Opéra-Comique included a successful renewal of Les contes d’Hoffmann in a fresh production in April 1948; Francis Poulenc was delighted with his part in the recording with Opéra-Comique forces of his Les mamelles de Tirésias. Also notable was the revival after 180 years of Blaise le savetier (which was brought into the Salle Favart repertoire as a curtain-raiser for La Boheme, Werther and La Traviata), and the French premiere of The Rake’s Progress in June 1953. His revival of Manon was highly praised – and representative of what Paris critics saw as a successful tenure at the Opéra-Comique; he also oversaw many all-Ravel evenings. Cluytens resigned from the Opéra-Comique in December 1953 and conducted his last performance there (Manon) on September 30, 1954. He became a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur in 1953.
André Cluytens became a French citizen in 1940. Having made his debut with the orchestra on December 20, 1942, he succeeded Charles Munch in 1949 as principal conductor of the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, which post he held until 1960. His contract required him to conduct half of the orchestra’s concerts each season; he also led them on foreign tours. Cluytens was due to conduct the first concert to be given by Alfred Cortot in Paris after his disgrace for Vichy activities, in 1947; in the event the concerto was dropped and Cluytens refused to acknowledged Alfred Cortot as he and the orchestra left the stage for Alfred Cortot to play solo. Cluytens conducted the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra in a L.v. Beethoven symphony cycle and then on its tour of Japan in 1964, continuing on his own to conduct the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, South Australian Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony Orchestra and Queensland Symphony Orchestra into July that year.
Okay – sit back and enjoy.
