Kletzki

Polish conductor and composer Paul Kletzki leads the Philharmonia Orchestra in this rousing legacy rendition of Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings. The piece was composed in 1880 and is written in standard 4-part Serenade form, with fast movements bookending slower and more romantic middle movements. Tchaikovsky intended the first movement to be an imitation of Mozart's style, and it was based on the form of the classical sonatina, with a slow introduction. The second movement, Valse, has become a popular piece in its own right.

Recorded between 1964 and 1968, Paul Kletzki's respected cycle of Ludwig van Beethoven's symphonies on Supraphon rightly should be classified as a historical item for specialists, rather than as a recommended option for anyone seeking a great (and great sounding) modern set. Kletzki was an admired and popular conductor, noted for working with both European and American orchestras, and his interpretations of Beethoven are intelligent and insightful, regarded by some reviewers as among the finest of their time; the performances are still valuable for their musicality and significance among mid-20th century offerings.

The first complete Schumann symphony cycle on disc, this set was recorded in Tel Aviv in 1956 by one of the most highly respected conductors of the post-war period. Paul Kletzki (1900–1973) brings out the fundamental strangeness and feverish excitement of Schumann’s orchestral writing. His readings of these iconic works are key to understanding the path they have travelled towards the recognition they enjoy today.

The first complete Schumann symphony cycle on disc, this set was recorded in Tel Aviv in 1956 by one of the most highly respected conductors of the post-war period. Paul Kletzki (1900-1973) brings out the fundamental strangeness and feverish excitement of Schumann's orchestral writing. His readings of these iconic works are key to understanding the path they have travelled towards the recognition they enjoy today.

In this era of homogenized classical collections, it is great to see Testament rescue gems from the vaults of labels like EMI and reissue them on CD. This title presents the great violin virtuoso Johanna Martzy performing Concertos by Mendelssohn and Brahms. Both Concertos feature Paul Kletzki conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra, and both recordings are in mono, the Brahms from 1954 and the Mendelssohn the following year. These performances are first-rate, yet I am withholding a fifth star, despite the fact that I love Kletzki and am becoming a big fan of Martzy.