Wolfgang Sawallisch Collection (43CD Box Set)

To mark the centenary of the birth of Wolfgang Sawallisch, Decca releases the conductor’s complete recordings made for Philips and Deutsche Grammophon, in a limited edition 43-CD Original Jackets collection.

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As conductor, striking is the clarity of his conducting – well balanced, with sharpness of attack and rigorous articulation heard in the woodwinds. There is rhythmic eloquence, harmonic sensitivity, and a sense of naturalness of breathing and phrasing, even when he drives the music.

In the 1960s and 70s, Sawallisch pursued three careers concurrently. He headed the Vienna Symphony Orchestra (1960–70) as principal conductor, was music director of the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra (1961–73), and was artistic director of Geneva's Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (1973–80). He also made regular appearances with Tokyo's NHK Orchestra, the Orchestre de Paris and the Israel Philharmonic. He crowned his career with his 10 years as music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1993–2003), succeeding Riccardo Muti in the role.

Though Sawallisch's pianistic activities were mainly limited to chamber music and lieder recitals with artists such as Schwarzkopf, Hermann Prey and Thomas Hampson, he played the entire first act of Die Walküre from the keyboard – nearly note perfect – when a snowstorm prevented Philadelphia Orchestra members from showing up on one occasion during the 1993/94 season.

The final six discs in this box feature Sawallisch as Lieder pianist, collaborating with singers such as Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Hermann Prey, and a magnificent recital with Peter Schreier.

TRACK LIST

CDs 1–2 BEETHOVEN
Fidelio Overture · König Stephan Overture
Symphonies Nos. 6 & 7
CONCERTGEBOUWORKEST

CDs 3–6 BRAHMS
Academic Festival Overture
Ein deutsches Requiem WILMA LIPP · FRANZ CRASS · SINGVEREIN DER GESELLSCHAFT DER MUSIKFREUNDE
Alto Rhapsody AAFJE HEYNIS · SINGVEREIN DER GESELLSCHAFT DER MUSIKFREUNDE
Schicksalslied SINGVEREIN DER GESELLSCHAFT DER MUSIKFREUNDE
St Anthony Variations
Symphonies Nos. 1–4
Tragic Overture
WIENER SYMPHONIKER

CDs 7–11
HAYDN Symphonies 92, 94, 100, 101
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No.4 “Italian”
SCHUBERT Symphonies 1, 5, 8, 9
WIENER SYMPHONIKER
CDs 12–14 MENDELSSOHN
Ruy Blas Overture
Symphonies 1–5
NEW PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA

CDs 15–16 MENDELSSOHN Elias (Elijah)
THEO ADAM · ELLY AMELING · ANNELIES BURMEISTER · PETER SCHREIER · RUNDFUNKCHOR LEIPZIG
GEWANDHAUSORCHESTER

CDs 17–22 SCHUBERT
Masses Nos. 5 & 6 HELEN DONATH · INGEBORG SPRINGER · PETER SCHREIER · HANS-JOACHIM ROTZSCH · THEO ADAM · RUNDFUNKCHOR LEIPZIG
Overtures 1 & 2 in the Italian Style
Symphonies Nos. 1–6, 8, 9
STAATSKAPELLE DRESDEN

CDs 23–24 J. STRAUSS II
“Strauss Concert” · “Strauss-Walzer”
“Wolfgang Sawallisch dirigiert Johann Strauss”
WIENER SYMPHONIKER

CD 25 TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5
CONCERTGEBOUWORKEST

CD 26 BARTÓK Bluebeard’s Castle
JULIA VARADY · DIETRICH FISCHER-DIESKAU
BAYERISCHE STAATSOPER

CD 27
LORTZING Der Wildschütz: Overture · Count’s Aria HORST GÜNTER
MASCAGNI Cavalleria rusticana: excerpts in Italian & German MARIANNE SCHECH · JAMES PEASE
NICOLAI Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor: Overture
BAMBERGER SYMPHONIKER

CDs 28–29 WAGNER
Der fliegende Holländer: Overture
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Preludes to Acts I & III
Lohengrin: Preludes to Acts I & III
Parsifal: Prelude & Good Friday Spell
Rienzi: Overture
Siegfried Idyll
Tannhäuser (Paris version): Venusberg Music
WIENER SYMPHONIKER

CDs 30–37 WAGNER
Der fliegende Holländer JOSEF GREINDL · ANJA SILJA · FRITZ UHL · RES FISCHER · GEORG PASKUDA · FRANZ CRASS
Lohengrin JESS THOMAS · ANJA SILJA · ASTRID VÁRNAY · RAMÓN VINAY · FRANZ CRASS · TOM KRAUSE
Tannhäuser WOLFGANG WINDGASSEN · ANJA SILJA · GRACE BUMBRY · EBERHARD WÄCHTER · JOSEF GRIENDL · GERHARD STOLZE · FRANZ CRASS
CHOR & ORCHESTER DER BAYREUTHER FESTSPIELE

CD 38 BRAHMS
Liebeslieder-Walzer · Neue Liebeslieder · 3 Quartette
EDITH MATHIS · BRIGITTE FASSBAENDER · PETER SCHREIER · DIETRICH FISCHER-DIESKAU
KARL ENGEL · WOLFGANG SAWALLISCH (PIANO)

CD 39 SCHUBERT Winterreise
HERMANN PREY
WOLFGANG SAWALLISCH (PIANO)

CD 40
BRAHMS Folk Songs
PROKOFIEV Children’s Songs
SCHUMANN Dichterliebe · Der Nussbaum
PETER SCHREIER
WOLFGANG SAWALLISCH (PIANO)

CD 41 R. STRAUSS Lieder
HERMANN PREY
WOLFGANG SAWALLISCH (PIANO)

CDs 42–43 R. STRAUSS Lieder
DIETRICH FISCHER-DIESKAU
WOLFGANG SAWALLISCH (PIANO)