You never know what you will find! Here on a Camden reissue (276) is composer-conductor-pianist-musical administrator Harl McDonald's Philadelphia recording of Mozart's Requiem. McDonald leads the Philadelphia Orchestra, the University of Pennsylvania Chorale and unnamed soloists in presumably the Sussmayr version albeit it may also have editing by McDonald himself.
Harl McDonald was an enormous presence in Philadelphia from the 1920's up until his death in 1955. The man pretty much did everything at the University of Pennsylvania and within the workings of the Philadelphia Orchestra, serving the latter organization as General Manager and Board member for 16 years. McDonald was also a strong ally of Eugene Ormandy and the conductor reciprocated McDonald's support by performing scores of the composer's compositions. As a composer, McDonald was rather unexceptional and somewhat dated however, pieces like the Legend of the Arkansas Traveler are tuneful, quite pleasant on the ear and deserving of the occasional listen.
This is solid recording, maybe not first tier, but honest, direct and unfussy. It moves along well without becoming bogged down in sentimentality or romantic flourish. McDonald did premiere the work in Philadelphia during the 1938-9 concert season so I am guessing that this record was cut during that time period.
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