Anyone who began collecting Classical music during the 78 era, or later when 78s went out of favor – only to return in recent years has at least one Felix Weingartner performance in among the shellac (or CD or lp reissue). To most people it was his cornerstone recordings of the Beethoven Symphonies or the much treasured Liszt First Piano concerto with Emil von Sauer.
But virtually none of his concert performances has either survived or as yet been unearthed. Which is why this particular concert recording from December 1, 1941 stands out. From what was undoubtedly a complete concert broadcast from Radio Suisse Romande in Geneva, the only remaining (so far) recording is this one; Overture to Benvenuto Cellini by Hector Berlioz.
Weingartner never made it to the lp era – he died in May of 1942, five months after this concert was recorded.
Felix Weingartner has had the great fortune of being one of the most reissued of the 78 era conductors – virtually his entire recorded output for Columbia has made it, either through official channels via stampers or via enthusiast labels with best available commercial discs committed to digital preservation and CD production.
Needless to say, Felix Weingartner has been considered one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century – his reputation rivals that of his contemporaries, Wilhelm Furtwängler and Arturo Toscanini and he had the extra bonus of being a student of Franz Liszt, so his recording of the Piano concerto with Emil von Sauer was considered definitive for a long time.
Weingartner was also a composer of considerable output – Despite his lifelong career as a conductor, Felix Weingartner regarded himself as equally, if not more importantly, a composer. Besides numerous other operas, he wrote seven symphonies which are being recorded, with his other orchestral music, by CPO, Germany, a sinfonietta, violin concerto, cello concerto, orchestral works, at least four string quartets, quintets for strings and for piano with clarinet and other pieces including a great many lieder for voice and piano, one of which, Liebesfeier (text: Lenau) achieved a status as his most famous short work, in effect a “hit”. Weingartner’s choice of verse for his songs mirrors that of his contemporary composers: Max Reger, Joseph Marx, Richard Trunk and Richard Strauss.
Sadly, all we have to go on right now is this 10 minute snippet of what was no doubt a memorable concert. But you have to take what you can get and be grateful this performance has survived at all.
The original recording is a bit creaky in spots but easily ignored by what was a “no-holds-barred” performance after the first few seconds.
Enjoy.
