Classical music performers have been recording for over a century. The Classics a Day team declares July the Summer of 78. Or rather, the summer of 78s. For July, post recordings that were originally issued on 78 rpm discs.
Many legendary performances have been captured on 78 rpm. And more than a few 20th Century composers playing or conducting their own music. Here are my postings for the third week of #Summerof78s.
07/18/22 Georg Friedrick Handel – Hallelujah Chorus
BBC Choir with organ and orchestra; Sir Thomas Beechem, conductor
Beecham recorded this for Columbia in 1927. This was long before the concept of historically accurate performance practices came into being.
07/19/22
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet in F major, Op. 18, No. 1
Lener String Quartet
This Hungarian quartet was formed in 1918, and recorded the first complete cycle of Beethoven quartets. The series was started in 1927, the centenary of Beethoven’s death.
07/20/22 Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Soanta No. 21 “Waldstein”
Artur Schnabel, piano
Schnabel recorded this sonata for HMV in 1934. It was part of a complete traversal of Beethoven sonatas by Schnabel, beginning in 1933 and finishing in 1937.
07/21/22 Franz Schubert – Ständchen
Sergei Rachmaninoff, piano
Rachmaninoff was a performer as well as a composer. He made this recording for HMV in 1942, a year before his death.
07/22/22 Giacomo Puccini: “Un bel di vedremo” from Madama Butterfly
Rosa Ponselle, soprano
Ponselle made this recording in 1919 for Columbia. It’s important to remember that the composer, Giacomo Puccini was still alive at the time.
