Karl Ristenpart conducts Brahms and Wagner

There's been a little Karl Ristenpart festival going on at Symphonyshare the past couple weeks and I thought it would be a great idea if I make a small contribution. Ristenpart is mostly remembered for performances of music from the baroque and classical periods but here we have him in music which is most definitely 19th century and romantic in spirit.

Wagner's Siegfried Idyll is a masterpiece of phrasing and gentle lyricism. This is proof that Wagner was a master away from the stage and could draw great inspiration from intimate, personal events, in this case the celebration of the birth of his son Siegfried. Brahms' second serenade is a gentle, bucolic piece of wonderful melodies and strong contrasting harmonies. This serenade and the first one were steps on the path that would lead to Brahms' magnificent first symphony. In these serenades, Brahms is becoming accustomed to larger ensembles and mastering the fine art of orchestration. A methodical man, Brahms would perfect those tools that he would need to create his large scale orchestral masterpieces some years in the future.

Karl Ristenpart's careful and studied approach yields fine readings of these two marvelous works. Though others might impart more urgency or directness in their approach, Ristenpart offers sunny readings that are well, very much in the relaxed South German way. The orchestra, the South German Philharmonic, is probably a pseudonym for the Stuttgart RSO, the Stuttgart PO or maybe even the great Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. Whoever they are (the recording was made in 1967 in Stuttgart), they play well for Ristenpart.

I have enjoyed the "series" of recordings, that others have transferred from lp, made by this wonderful conductor. Whatever can be said of Ristenpart must include the words "consistent." "quality," and "honesty." It's good that we are remembering this excellent musician.

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William Steinberg, Wagner and the Pittsburgh Symphony

   

That's get it over with...that first record jacket looks like something out of a 70's all girl porn flick. I wonder if this reissue experienced record (pardon the pun)sales??!!! Westminster Gold, the brainchild reissue label of ABC, certainly was known more for their quirky record jackets then for the poor quality, cheap vinyl in which they pressed, often classic performances, onto. Here is an example:  two rather fine Wagner compilations, originally recorded by Enoch Light's Command Classics during the early to mid 1960's.

Hans Wilhelm Steinberg was like millions of European immigrants who came to the United States during the first half of the last century; essentially he was born anew and he became in many ways more American then someone native born. Not only did he change his name to William, but he referred to himself as "Buffalo Bill" during his years as music director in that city. Steinberg took great interest in American music, sports and culture and was widely admired for his devotion to the audiences during his tenures in Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Boston. A man of courtly mannerisms, but authoritative nonetheless, Steinberg's interpretations were noted for their clarity, freedom from excess, and above all honesty - no gimmicks.

These two Wagner compilations are yet another example of a Jewish musician who, though driven from his homeland and noting the way that the Nazi's exploited Wagner, chose to recognize the music's genius above the creator's apparent faults. This is above all musical Wagner and Steinberg's beloved Pittsburgh orchestra matches his vision every step of the way. The fault in these recordings lies in the pressings; Wetsminster Gold was a budget shop and their pressings had all the very worst characteristics of a budget label. I do hope that you, the listener, can overlook the less the stellar transfers and just enjoy the music presented in an honest, straightforward, unsentimental manner, as only William Steinberg could do.

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Wagner as a Young Man: Symphony in C and Polonia Overture

I dug out another rather interesting one from my basement: a very good copy of the album above, issued on Urania and billed as stereo though I have my doubts if it is "authentic" stereo.

During the 50's and 60's Urania issued quite a few recordings dedicated to obscure or little played compositions by well known masters and not so well known ones. This particular lp features two of Wagner's earliest works, the Symphony in C and Polonia Overture. Let me say this: if you love the Wagner of the Ring Cycle, there is little here to identify the composer with his much greater, and musically advanced later works. These two compositions are very much indebted to Spohr, Mendelssohn and Schumann and were written to gain the attention of these composers. However, the story goes that Wagner sent along the score to his symphony to Mendelssohn and the latter either lost it or threw it away. Wagner must have thought high enough of the work because in old age he had it performed for his beloved Cosima.

Ok, both of these works deserve the occasional listen for if anything, they illustrate how Wagner grew so very much as a composer. Performances here by two East German radio orchestras are fine, though hardly the last word. In order to fill out a cd, I've included  the Ride of the Valkyries and Siegfried Idyll, from another Urania disc, conducted by the uber-kapellmeister Franz Konwitschny. The Siegfried Idyll is especially well done and if there is interest,  I can transfer the balance of the two lp's that Konwitschny made of highlights from the Ring. Sound is good and its all quite idiomatic.

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