Tchaikovsky, “Romeo and Juliet”, Overture-Fantasy

The Philadelphia Orchestra was founded in 1900. Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985) stood at its head as principal conductor from 1936 to 1980. Continuing the work of his predecessor Leopold Stokowski, he turned the orchestra into one of the leading ensembles not only of the United States, but of the world. Under his direction, the orchestra became renowned in particular for its performances of late romantic and early 20th-century music.

Rachmaninov, Symphony No.2 in E minor (and Interview)

The Philadelphia Orchestra was founded in 1900. Eugene Ormandy (1899-1985) stood at its head as principal conductor from 1936 to 1980. Continuing the work of his predecessor Leopold Stokowski, he turned the orchestra into one of the leading ensembles not only of the United States, but of the world. Under his direction, the orchestra became renowned in particular for its performances of late romantic and early 20th-century music.

Wendung

“Schubert saw himself as a wanderer, as a guest on this earth. Many of his works mark the stations of his wanderings – phases of his roaming about in the darkness. For the immediate goal is death, but the later goal the immeasurable heaven he has carried with him in his mind’s eye since his childhood. The composer has varied and glorified this idea of death as the gentle friend of youth. And it comes through again in many of his movements, not only the slow ones, where this glorification and gracious melancholy are no less clear, even when it is only implied and seems secret. It is Schubert’s most profound acknowledgement of this life and the life to come.” (John Neumeier) The ballet was recorded at the Hamburg State Opera in the fall of 1979.