Credits:

Georges Pretre

Description:

[Tower Records "Sony Classical" Special Selection 10th Season] A collection of rare orchestral recordings by France's greatest master conductor. Georges Prêtre, born in 1924, is still active as a conductor at the age of 92. He is well known for his outstanding skills as an opera conductor, especially his collaboration with Maria Callas and his achievements as music director of the Paris Opera, but despite his long career as principal of the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, he has not made any systematic orchestral recordings. This box contains four symphonies and one orchestral work that Praetor recorded for RCA between 1967 and 1969, coupled with a digital recording of "Zarathustra" made in 1983. The works are characterized by the improvisational tempo swings and distinctive emphasis on expression that he developed through conducting operas, and by the dramatic and grandiose scale with which he portrays the works. The performances, including "Fantasy," which seems to inject the drama and energy of the Munsch era into the Boston Symphony Orchestra of the Steinberg era, are all etched with Praetor's exceptional personality.The detailed and bold performance of "Zarathustra" in the early digital era by the famous producer Charles Gerhardt is also a must-see. Recording dates: February 3, 1969, November 9, 1967, October 5-7, 1968, etc. / Locations: Symphony Hall, Boston; Wembley Town Hall, London, etc.

Tracklisting:

1 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE. OP.14 1.REVERIES. PASSIONS / Georges Pretre
2 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE. OP.14 2.UN BAL / Georges Pretre
3 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE. OP.14 3.SCENE AUX CHAMPS / Georges Pretre
4 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE. OP.14 4.MARCHE AU SUPPLICE / Georges Pretre
5 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE. OP.14 5.SONGE D'UNE NUIT DU SABBAT / Georges Pretre
6 HAROLD EN ITALIE. OP.16 1.HAROLD AUX MONTAGNES - SCENES DE MELANCOLIE. DE BONHEUR ET DE JOIE / Georges Pretre
7 HAROLD EN ITALIE. OP.16 2.MARCHE DE PELERINS. CHANTANT LA PRIERE DU SOIR / Georges Pretre
1 HAROLD EN ITALIE. OP.16 3.SERENADE D'UN MONTAGNARD DES ABRUZZES A SA MAITRESSE / Georges Pretre
2 HAROLD EN ITALIE. OP.16 4.ORGIE DE BRIGANDS. SOUVENIRS DES SCENES PRECEDENTES / Georges Pretre
3 SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D MAJOR. OP.43 1.ALLEGRETTO / Georges Pretre
4 SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D MAJOR. OP.43 2.TEMPO ANDANTE. MA RUBATO / Georges Pretre
5 SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D MAJOR. OP.43 3.VIVACISSIMO / Georges Pretre
6 SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D MAJOR. OP.43 4.FINALE: ALLEGRO MODERATO / Georges Pretre
7 NIGHT RIDE AND SUNRISE. OP.55 / Georges Pretre
1 SYMPHONY NO.5 IN E-FLAT MAJOR. OP.82 1.TEMPO MOLTO MODERATO; ALLEGRO MODERATO / Georges Pretre
2 SYMPHONY NO.5 IN E-FLAT MAJOR. OP.82 2.ANDANTE MOSSO. QUASI ALLEGRETTO / Georges Pretre
3 SYMPHONY NO.5 IN E-FLAT MAJOR. OP.82 3.ALLEGRO MOLTO / Georges Pretre
4 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 EINLEITUNG / Georges Pretre
5 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 VON DEN HINTERWELTLERN / Georges Pretre
6 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 VON DER GROSSEN SEHNSUCHT / Georges Pretre
7 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 VON DEN FREUDEN UND LEIDENSCHAFTEN / Georges Pretre
8 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 DAS GRABLIED / Georges Pretre
9 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 VON DER WISSENSCHAFT / Georges Pretre
10 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 DER GENESENDE / Georges Pretre
11 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 DAS TANZLIED / Georges Pretre
12 ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA. OP.30 DAS NACHTWANDLERLIED / Georges Pretre