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For collectors of live concerts or broadcasts from the past, this set of performances conducted by Rudolf Kempe (1910-1975) should be of some interest. First a list of the composer, music, orchestra, city, recording date, and type of fidelity:
CD 1- Robert Schumann- Symphony No. 1 in B Major, Op. 38, the "Spring,"- Bamberg Symphony, Bamberg, February 14, 1959- mono.
Sergei Prokofiev- Symphony No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 131- Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Munich, November 11, 1960- mono.
CD 2- The three works listed below feature the Munich Philharmonic and are in stereo Hugo Wolf- Italian Serenade, Orchestrated by Max Reger- June 17, 1971.
Aaron Copland- El Salon Mexico- January 27, 1971.
Richard Strauss- Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme- January 18, 1973.
Whether in the concert hall or in the studio, Kempe gave vibrant, rhythmically flexible performances that were frequently memorable but always consistently good if not that moving. The Schumann and Prokofiev Symphonies were both eloquent and powerful readings easily among the top five choices for these works, as was the sizzling Copland with the most enthusiastic clapping at the end. The Wolf is not a favorite of mine, Kempe's otherwise good performance notwithstanding while the Strauss is a bit tepid next to the studio version that the maestro recorded with the Dresden Staaskapelle for EMI. The great performances here
render this a must have set for all Kempe enthusiasts. The sonorities for the most part are serviceable.
