Sir Georg Solti (1912-1997), one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, was a testament to the elegance and impeccable tastefulness of Central European music-making. Born in Budapest in 1912, he studied with Béla Bartók, Ernö von Dohnányi, Zoltán Kodály and Leo Weiner. In 1937, Toscanini chose him to be his assistant at the Salzburg Festival. After the war, Solti was appointed Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera. Further stations in his career were the Frankfurt Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the London Philharmonic. His remarkable partnership with the Chicago Symphony began in 1954; he was named Music Director in 1969 and held this post for a phenomenal 22 years. He is credited with greatly extending and enhancing the orchestra’s worldwide reputation. Solti died in September 1997, just before his 85th birthday.
Double Life – Güher and Süher Pekinel
Weiner, Prince Csongor and the Goblins from the music to “Csongor és Tünde”, op.10
Sir Georg Solti was an exclusive artist of Unitel for many years, and during this time the larger part of his abundant repertoire was recorded for television, predominantly with his orchestra, the Chicago Symphony. To honor the great maestro, Unitel got together with him once again in 1995 to record a concert with the Vienna Philharmonic, in which Solti paid homage to his Hungarian homeland, his roots and his teachers, the Hungarians Kodály, Bartók and Weiner. It is only natural that Berlioz’s Rakoczy March could not be absent from such a dazzling Austro-Hungarian concert. The second part of the concert is devoted to Beethoven, who was not Hungarian but was adopted by Hungary’s Austrian neighbors. The concert is Unitel’s last recording with the great artist, who passed away on 5 September 1997. Sir Georg Solti (1912-1997), one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, was a testament to the elegance and impeccable tastefulness of Central European music-making. Born in Budapest in 1912, he studied with Béla Bartók, Ernö von Dohnányi, Zoltán Kodály and Leo Weiner. In 1937, Toscanini chose him to be his assistant at the Salzburg Festival. After the war, Solti was appointed Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera. Further stations in his career were the Frankfurt Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the London Philharmonic. His remarkable partnership with the Chicago Symphony began in 1954; he was named Music Director in 1969 and held this post for a phenomenal 22 years. He is credited with greatly extending and enhancing the orchestra’s worldwide reputation. Solti died in September 1997, just before his 85th birthday.
Bartók, Rumanian Folk Dances
Sir Georg Solti was an exclusive artist of Unitel for many years, and during this time a large part of his vast repertoire was recorded for television with “his” orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. With great awe and respect, Unitel joined forces with the maestro once again in 1995 to record a concert with the Vienna Philharmonic in which Solti paid homage to his native Hungary, to his roots and his teachers, the Hungarians Kodály, Bartók and Weiner. Of course, in a concert featuring dazzling music from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Rakoczy March in Berlioz’s arrangement could not be omitted. The second part of the concert is devoted to Beethoven, who was not Hungarian but had been adopted by Hungary’s Austrian neighbors. The concert is Unitel’s last recording with the great artist, who died on 5 September 1997.
Kodály, Háry János Suite
Sir Georg Solti was an exclusive artist of Unitel for many years, and during this time a large part of his vast repertoire was recorded for television with “his” orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. With great awe and respect, Unitel joined forces with the maestro once again in 1995 to record a concert with the Vienna Philharmonic in which Solti paid homage to his native Hungary, to his roots and his teachers, the Hungarians Kodály, Bartók and Weiner. Of course, in a concert featuring dazzling music from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Rakoczy March in Berlioz’s arrangement could not be omitted. The second part of the concert is devoted to Beethoven, who was not Hungarian but had been adopted by Hungary’s Austrian neighbors. The concert is Unitel’s last recording with the great artist, who died on 5 September 1997.
Orff, Carmina Burana
The “Carmina Burana” is a manuscript collection of medieval songs which was discovered at the Bavarian monastery of Benediktbeuren in the 19th century. The songs glorify the secular aspects of life as a counterweight to the menaces of plague, war, terror and the Inquisition. The texts radiate the ribald, robust love of life shared by all social classes – nobility, clergy and peasantry. The premiere of “Carmina Burana” in Frankfurt/Main on 8 June 1937 caused an absolute sensation. It seemed as though Orff had reduced music to its most basic elements of rhythm and melody. He utilized the simplest harmonies and eliminated virtually all counterpoint and polyphony. Called a “scenic cantata” by Orff, the work was intended to be danced and staged. Horant Hohlfeld’s production enhances Orff’s music with its sensuality and primeval energy.