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| Name: | Ethan |
| E-mail address: | ethan@juno.com |
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| Name: | Dick |
| E-mail address: | n.powers@comcast.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I much enjoyed reading the thread of comments about Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. I remember that when I was a GI I was able to get complimentary tickets to concerts at the Academy Of Music. They were good seats too. I took the girl I later married there on one of our first dates in 1969. The main entree was Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra. She was really impressed with the music, but what most impressed her was that Ormandy, who at the time had reached what we both considered the unimaginable age of 70, was still conducting.
I wonder if anyone out there can tell me if it is possible to order the RCA Precious 1000 from Towerrecords Japan if you don't read Japanese? I have looked at their website but I am unable to find any service for people who only speak English |
| Name: | Alexander |
| E-mail address: | alexander@yahoo.ca |
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| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Good news(CD re-issue) from Sony Classical Japan & Towerrecords Japan.
Towerrecords - Sony Classical Special Serection vol.2(release 2008/11/5) Sony Classical SICC-962(3CDs) http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=1863927&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 Mozart : Legendary Interpretations Eugene Ormandy, Concertos for Wind Instruments Previously released as Sony Classical SM3K47215(3CDs,1991) Oboe Concerto(1961), Flute Concerto(1960), Bassoon Concerto(1961) Clarinet Concerto(1961), Horn Concertos Nos.1-4(1961-62), Sinfonia Concertante(1962) Bernard Garfield(Bassoon), Anthony Gigliotti(Cl), Mason Jones(Horn) William Kincaid(Fl), John de Lancie(Oboe) Eugene Ormandy/The Philadelphia Orchestra Sony Classical SICC-959 http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=1863926&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 Charles Munch/The Philadelphia Orchestra Ravel:Valse nobles et sentimrntals Faure:Pelleas et Melisande Suite Berlioz:Excerpts from "Damnation of Faust" -Minuet of the Will-o'-the-Wips, Ballet of the Sylphs, Rakoczy March Charles Munch/The Philadelphia Orchestra (1963) Originally released as Columbia MS 6523(monoural:ML 5923) |
| Name: | Greg Dollinger |
| E-mail address: | Evora53@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | "What If Ormandy Had Recorded ..."
Eugene Ormandy recorded so much music that it takes some pondering to think of a major composition he did not record. Indeed, a list of recordings Ormandy admirers wish he had made may be relatively short, but there are some curious gaps in his discography that make for tantalizing speculation. One of the first works that comes to mind would seem to have been a 'no-brainer'. How is it that Columbia Masterworks (later Sony) and RCA never thought to record "An Alpine Symphony" with Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra? Richard Strauss was a favorite of Ormandy's throughout his long career and it is difficult to believe that he was not familiar with the score. Alas, it never happened. Fortunately, EMI did make a fine digital recording with Andre Previn conducting the Philadelphians in the early '80s. This recording is currently unavailable. Perhaps it will eventually turn up as part of the "Great Recordings of the Century" series. Ormandy's wonderful recordings of "Das Lied von der Erde" and the Deryck Cooke first performing version of the 10th Symphony prove that he was a great Mahler conductor, even if his stereo accounts of the 1st and 2nd symphonies are less successful; due mainly to mediocre recorded sound. How unfortunate that Ormandy never had the opportunity to record any of the other Mahler symphonies. Ormandy loved Bruckner, but he recorded only three of the symphonies in stereo (4, 5 and 7). His recording of the 4th for Sony is truly magnificent. How wonderful it would be to have Ormandy/ Philadelphia recordings of the Bruckner 6th, 8th and 9th! The four symphonies of Robert Schumann are conspicuously absent from the Ormandy catalog. I have read about a fiery 4th recorded in the late '30s, but Ormandy never made modern recordings of any of the Schumann symphonies. The absence of Haydn and Mozart from the Ormandy discography was explained away years ago by the Maestro, himself, as the result of market saturation of the Classical repertoire by other conductors. This is a great pity because Ormandy felt very close to these composers and programmed their music often, particularly during his first seasons in Philadelphia. What a shame not to have Ormandy's interpretations of the Haydn "London" Symphonies or the late Mozart symphonies preserved on recordings. There is an RCA stereo account of the Mozart "Jupiter" Symphony, currently available as part of the "Ormandy Edition" series released only in Japan. Sony recorded one Haydn symphony with Ormandy in the '60s (No. 101) but it has never seen CD release. Ormandy's 1950s mono recording of Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" received praise from composer-conductor Oliver Knussen, but it is not available on compact disc and, sadly, Ormandy never made a stereo version. Aaron Copland's 3rd Symphony would have been great in Ormandy's hands, but evidently Sony was content with versions by Bernstein and the composer. RCA never saw fit to record the work with Ormandy, though they made notable recordings with him of American works by Ives, Harris, William Schuman, Persichetti and, yes, Copland (the "Billy the Kid" and "Appalachian Spring" Suites). Stereo versions of Samuel Barber's 1st Symphony and his 1st and 2nd Essays for Orchestra would have been memorable additions to the Ormandy recorded legacy, as would Howard Hanson's Symphony No. 2, "The Romantic". I'll go way out on a limb here and suggest that there should have been an Ormandy/Philadelphia recording of the Erich Wolfgang Korngold Symphony in F Sharp. It seems to me that Ormandy would have had a real affinity for Korngold's unabashedly lush and Romantic score. Ironically, it was again EMI in the '90s that made a riveting recording of this work with the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of Franz Welser-Most. And finally, what a tragedy that Ormandy never recorded any of the symphonies of Ralph Vaughan Williams. The 5th Symphony, probably the greatest of the nine, would have been a perfect work to showcase the famous "Philadelphia Sound". To be sure, this speculation game can be played with any artist. What would Artur Rubinstein have done with the Rachmaninov 3rd Piano Concerto? What would "The Godfather" have been like if Laurence Olivier had gotten the part of Vito Corleone (Olivier tested for it) instead of Marlon Brando? But, back to Ormandy. I would be curious to know if other fans have thought of Ormandy recordings that might have been. Thank you for the Eugene Ormandy Web Pages! |
| Name: | ronee |
| E-mail address: | roneechan@hotmail.com |
| Country: | Hong Kong SAR, China |
| Comments: | great website
I was searching the web while watching this Chinese TV program on Philly & ORmandy's trip to China in 1973 & return in 2008 with Eisenbach they were the first Western orgestra to visit communist China & the first westerners to play Yellow River |
| Name: | bob flagg |
| E-mail address: | bob@summerfieldwaldorf.org |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | Update on new Ormandy releases: Euroarts DVD: June 2008, a 1977 live concert of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade; R. Strauss' Rosenkavalier Suite; Glinka's Ruslan & Lyudmila Overture; Handel: Concerto in D; Wolf-Ferrari:Il Segreto di Susanna Overture (HMV Japan has it listed now; Amazon & Archiv Music probably will have it) Sony-Columbia June 2008 Original Dustjacket Series: Eugene Ormandy (10 cds): Respighi: Pines, Fountains & Festivals of Rome; Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Rachmaninoff: Symphony #2, Vocalise; Tchaikvosky: Symphony #5, Serenade for Strings; Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra; Miraculous Mandarin, 2 Pictures for Orchestra; Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto; Tchaikvosky:Violin Concerto (Stern); Shostakovich: Symphony #1 & Cello Concerto (Rostropovich); J.S.Bach: Orchestral Transcriptions; J.C. Bach: Overtures; W.F. Bach: Sinfonia; Mascagni: Cav.Rusticana Intermezzo; Barber: Adagio for Strings; Sibelius:Valse Triste; Grieg: Nocturne; Last Spring; MacDowell: To a Wild Rose; Vaughan Williams: Tallis & Greensleeves Fantasias (Archiv Music and Amazon both have this item to order). |
| Name: | Ben Beeson |
| E-mail address: | beedoc@aol.com |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | I have been waiting years for the CD reissue of Ormandy's Mahler #2,on RCA . Now I find it available from HMV Japan. However, two reviews in English of the CD on the HMV site descibe the audio quality as poor at best. Two other review in Japanese are apparently better, but are not translated. Can anyone give me information about this CD, and is it recommended or not.
Thanks for your reply on this site or by private e-mail. Ben |
| Name: | bob flagg |
| E-mail address: | bob@summerfieldwaldorf.org |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | Euroarts is releasing an Ormandy dvd in late June featuring a live 1977 concert by Ormandy and the Philadlephia Orchestra. It features Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade with other pieces by Glinka, Handel, Wolf-Ferrari, and Richard Strauss. It can be ordered now from HMV Japan. |
| Name: | bob flagg |
| E-mail address: | bob@summerfieldwaldorf.org |
| Comments: | Amazon.com shows a 10 cd Eugene Ormandy "Original Record Jacket" set coming out from Sony in June. It retails for about $75.00. There is no list of contents yet but from the image of the set it looks like all Sony-Columbia recordings (though BMG RCA and Sony are now merged)and will include Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition; Respighi Tone Poems; the Bach Album; Romantic Adagios; Bartok Concerto for Orchestra; Tchaikovsy & Mendelssohn Violin Concerti with Stern; A Rachmaninoff symphony (#2?);hopefully these items will be filled with unreleased material. Maybe some day we will finally get the complete Brahms and Beethoven symphony sets. |
| Name: | Reichenbach |
| E-mail address: | edouardreichenbach@free.fr |
| Country: | France |
| Comments: | Thank you. Very useful. Shostakovich's Symph 14 (BMG Japan edition vol 16) doesn't seem listed on HMV Japan, I wonder why, it is recent, it can't have been already deleted, can it? |
| Name: | Neil Mantle |
| E-mail address: | gilliangraymantle@tiscali.co.uk |
| Country: | UK |
| Comments: | Hi! Thanks for the info on Philadelphia/Ormandy cds on RCA from Arkiv cds. I have several hard to find[in UK at least]items. Thanks! Neil Mantle |
| Name: | Greg Dollinger |
| E-mail address: | Evora53@yahoo.com |
| Country: | U.S. |
| Comments: | Dear Mr. Jones,
I thought you and your readers would be thrilled to know that individual volumes of the RCA Ormandy Editions are now available through ArkivMusic.com. Each volume sells for $11.99, plus tax and shipping and handling. Simply go to ArkivMusic.com and click on "ArkivCDs". There are thirteen volumes currently available as of this writing (2-25-08), and it appears that ArkivMusic will be releasing more over the coming months. Best Regards, Greg Dollinger |
| Name: | jean claude zylberstein |
| E-mail address: | jczyl@wanadoo.fr |
| Country: | France |
| Comments: | There is a lightness in Ormandy conductoing the Philadelphians that I have scarecely encountered.
It is immensely refreshoing. I am surprised that his work with Rudolf Serkin is not more "emphasized" in the various comments: it is true he was a conductor favored by such as Rubinstein,Horowitz et all but Serkin was no small "scholar" of the piano either! BRAVO for the very useful pages which have helped me find some nice stuff in Japan. Pity indeed that Sony has not made a full Beethoven Symphonies cycle...yet! |
| Name: | William C White |
| E-mail address: | WhitWll@msn.com |
| Country: | USA NYC |
| Comments: | Dear Sir, How wonderful it is to look back on this great man and great conductor and the wonderful Philadelphia Orchestra Through the internet people. today who may not know of this great man can get to know who he was and realize his great are and talent also.
Thank you for this most interesting web site GOD bless you William White |
| Name: | Don Cramer |
| E-mail address: | imcramer@msn.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | A wonderful man and conductor. During my days as a music student in Philadelphia in the early 1970s (and afterwards), I spent many a Friday waiting in line for general admission tickets to the orchestra's traditional 2:00 performance. What a glorious sound! John DeLancie's oboe, Mason Jone's horn, the lush strings... my weekly two hours in heaven. |
| Name: | shai |
| E-mail address: | pundak |
| Country: | israel |
| Comments: | saw him conducting in 1956 NY wonderfull |
| Name: | Jim Douglas |
| E-mail address: | jimfdouglas@yahoo.com |
| Country: | Canada |
| Comments: | Nice to know your there.
Want to order that Japan HMV CD of the Bach transcriptions, the one with the original LP cover. And that rare Japan RCA "bonus" cd of Telemann's 4 Concertos for div. instruments. Been looking for some time. Let me know, thanks, Jim |
| Name: | Elliot Rosner |
| E-mail address: | rosnere@sec.gov |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Years ago, I thought I was related to Ormandy, but as it turns out I was related to a different virtuoso, Ernest Neufeld, who played for the NY Philharmonic and for Universal Studios in Holywood. |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Sorry, I wrote incorrectly. I write Dreambook again.
Good news(first CD re-issue) from Sony Classical Japan & Towerrecords Japan. Towerrecords(Japan) - Sony Classical(Japan) Special Serection Sony Classical SICC-837(2CD's) (release 2007/11/7) First-Chairs Encores Vol.1 & Vol.2 Showpieces for Philadelphia's First-Chair Virtuosos http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=1668719&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 Tracks 1.Sarasate : Introduction and Tarantelle for Violin and Orchestra Op.43 2.Cooley : Aria and Dance for Viola and Orchestra 3.Faure : Elegie for Cello and Orchestra Op.24 4.Vanhal : 1st Mvt. from Concerto in E Major for Bass and Orchestra 5.Riisager : Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra Op.29 6.Saint-Saens : Morceau de Concert for Horn and Orchestra Op.94 7.Guilmant : Morceau Symphonique for Trombone and Orchestra Op.88 8.Marcello : Concerto in C minor for Oboe and Orchestra 9.Weber : Hungarian Fantasy for Bassoon and Orchestra 10.Debussy : Danses sacree et profane for Harp and String Orchestra 11.Creston : Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra, Op.21 12.Bloch : Suite Modale for Flute and Orchestra 13.Debussy : Rhapsody No. 1 for Clarinet and Orchestra First-Chairs 1.Anshel Brusilow(Violin) 2.Carlton Cooley(Viola) 3.Lorne Munroe(Cello) 4.Roger Scott(Bass) 5.Gilbert Johnson(Trumpet) 6.Mason Jones(Horn) 7.Henry Charles Smith(Trombone) 8.John de Lancie(Oboe) 9.Bernard Garfield(Bassoon) 10.Marilyn Costello(Harp) 11.Charles Owen(Marimba) 12.Murray Panitz(Flute) 13.Anthony Gigliotti(Clarinet) & Eugene Ormandy/The Philadelphia Orchestra recorded:December 1961, April 1962 , February 1967 Tracks 1-7:Originally released as Columbia MS 6791(monoural:ML 6191) First-Chair Encores Vol.1 Showpieces for Philadelphia's First-Chair Virtuosos Tracks 8-13:Originally released as Columbia MS 6977(monoural:ML 6377) First-Chair Encores Vol.2 Showpieces for Philadelphia's First-Chair Virtuosos |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Good news(first CD re-issue) from Sony Classical Japan & Towerrecords Japan.
Towerrecords(Japan) - Sony Classical(Japan) Special Serection Sony Classical SICC-837(2CD's) (release 2007/11/7) http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=1668719&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 Tracks 1.Sarasate : Introduction and Tarantelle for Violin and Orchestra Op.43 2.Cooley : Aria and Dance for Viola and Orchestra 3.Faure : Elegie for Cello and Orchestra Op.24 4.Vanhal : 1st Mvt. from Concerto in E Major for Bass and Orchestra 5.Riisager : Concertino for Trumpet and Orchestra Op.29 6.Saint-Saens : Morceau de Concert for Horn and Orchestra Op.94 8.Guilmant : Morceau Symphonique for Trombone and Orchestra Op.88 9.Marcello : Concerto in C minor for Oboe and Orchestra 10.Weber : Hungarian Fantasy for Bassoon and Orchestra 11.Debussy : Danses sacree et profane for Harp and String Orchestra 12.Creston : Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra, Op.21 13.Bloch : Suite Modale for Flute and Orchestra 14.Debussy : Rhapsody No. 1 for Clarinet and Orchestra First-Chairs 1.Anshel Brusilow(Violin) 2.Carlton Cooley(Viola) 3.Lorne Munroe(Cello) 4.Roger Scott(Bass) 5.Gilbert Johnson(Trumpet) 6.Mason Jones(Horn) 7.Henry Charles Smith(Trombone) 8.John de Lancie(Oboe) 9.Bernard Garfield(Bassoon) 10.Marilyn Costello(Harp) 11.Charles Owen(Marimba) 12.Murray Panitz(Flute) 13.Anthony Gigliotti(Clarinet) & Eugene Ormandy/The Philadelphia Orchestra recorded:December 1961, April 1962 , February 1967 Tracks 1-7:Originally released as Columbia MS 6791(monoural:ML 6191) First-Chair Encores Vol.1 Showpieces for Philadelphia's First-Chair Virtuosos Tracks 8-13:Originally released as Columbia MS 6977(monoural:ML 6377) First-Chair Encores Vol.2 Showpieces for Philadelphia's First-Chair Virtuosos |
| Name: | Randolph |
| E-mail address: | rdavis@fibertel.com.ar |
| Country: | Argentina |
| Comments: | Being a teenager (Beatle fan and all), I used to enjoy a double LP of Philly by Ormandy my parents had bought around mid 60's.
Man, sounds and tempos branded in my brain; other versions seem like, you know, blehhhhh.... Congratulations for this tribute. Hope you are able to keep it flowing. Randolph |
| Name: | Ben |
| E-mail address: | beedoc@aol.com |
| Country: | usa |
| Name: | Al Lenhart |
| E-mail address: | lnhrtal@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I have a real neat set of late 1940 shellacs that were reissued from the late 1930s in; what appears to be, excellent condition. I have no method of listening to these records. They can be played on a record player with the correct pickup/ stylii. They have the World's Greatest Music Philharmonic Transcription. Thought I could find someone able to enjoy these. |
| Name: | Richard Camhi |
| E-mail address: | Richard.camhi@bluewin.ch |
| Country: | Switzerland |
| Comments: | A wonderful site. |
| Name: | S.F. Sczepanski |
| E-mail address: | sczki2@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I have a tape cassette I made of the ormandy lp of vincent persichetti's symphony no. 9 (janiculum). The lp was in a collection at a university library in Wisconsin where I grew up. I have been hoping for a cd reproduction to come but it just never does...NAXOS cds seem to be on the right track but nothing yet! I really dig Persichetti's works...and many other 20th century classical as well. |
| Name: | Bill |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Awesome sight. I just rediscovered Ormandy. Even though I grew up in Philly, I was too young to see him conduct, but his legacy continues. I love that orchestra.
I am going to track down more of his performances and I appreciate this site. I still never heard such good Debussy as he conducted on a Columbia release. Cheers,l Bill |
| Name: | cahours |
| E-mail address: | philippe.cahours@free.fr |
| Country: | france |
| Comments: | I just discovered on the french TV a marvellous concert performed during 1979 by ormandy with his philadelphian boys : rachmaninov 's 3rd symphony !
It gave me an incredible emotion, and led me to search all available informations about this too unknown (at least for me) conductor... Thank you very much for this site, that prolonged my pleasure and allowed me to discover the man Ormandy behind the musician. Kind regards, Philippe CAHOURS |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Good news(CD re-issue) from Towerrecords Japan.
Towerrecords RCA Precious Selection 1000 Series TWCL-4020(CD)(release 2007/03/15) http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=1446256&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 1)Handel:Water Music - Suite(arr. by Ormandy) 2)Handel:Water Music - Suite(arr. by Harris) Eugene Ormandy/The Philadelphia Orchestra (rec. 1)1970 , 2)1971 ) 3)Music For Royal Fireworks - Suite Leopold Stokowski/RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra(rec. 1961) |
| Name: | george |
| E-mail address: | gmardinly@aol.com |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | do you know of any dvd's or ormandy and the philadelphia for performances in the 1950 to 1965 era?
if so where can i buy them? thanks george |
| Name: | Jim Douglas |
| E-mail address: | jimfdouglas@yahoo.com |
| Country: | Canada |
| Comments: | Wanted: Japan bonus RCA cd of Telemann. Thanks. |
| Name: | Lloyd Paguia Arriola |
| E-mail address: | lloydapianoman@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Dear Mr. Jones:
Thank you for these webpages. I have been a fan of Ormandy's even through the "lean years" in the post-1985 time when deriding him was something everyone seemed to do. As I was just a high school kid when he died, I was immune to all the baggage he had being Stokowski's successor, and I am the richer for it. I have a question. Is there a live audio tape of Horowitz performing Rachmaninoff's 3rd Concerto the year after they RECORDED it for RCA? I would love to hear that live performance, since I am a pianist still obsessed with the idea of working on it when I am not accompanying singers and playing little concerts. Also, is there a live Rachmaninoff 3rd Concerto with Vladimir Ashkenazy that surely preceded the sessions THEY did for RCA? (That is still my favorite studio Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto.) So I am interested in the live stuff. Also, what did they perform on TV? Many thanks for the website, Lloyd Paguia Arriola |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Good news(CD re-issue) from Japan.
Towerrecords RCA Precious Selection 1000 Series TWCL-4001(CD)(released 2006/11/8) F.Mendelssohn Die erste Walpurgisnacht(recorded: May 1978)* Die Hebriden Overture(recorded: April 1979) Music from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Overture,Scherzo,Nocturne,Wedding March Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra *Jerold Norman(T),Rose Taylor(Ms),Simon Estes(B) *Mendelsshon Club of Philadelphia(cond. by Tamara Brooks) *first CD release http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=996012&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 HAYASI Daiti Glorious Sounds of Music http://www.ne.jp/asahi/tron/music/ |
| Name: | Carlos Nava |
| E-mail address: | furrybear57@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Hello from a fellow Texan! I have just come across your website while doing an internet search on Eugene Ormandy. I must tell you I was overjoyed to see that Japan has issued on CD almost the entire stereo RCA catalog that Ormandy committed to disc back in the early 70s. I am planning on acquiring these titles, however, you do not mention if these discs were mastered using the original RCA session tapes or if they are LP dubbings?
I have recently been attempting to acquire as many of the stereo RCA LPs as I could so that I could burn them on CD using my computer, however, this has been a very cumbersome project as some of these discs have either been prohibitively expensive, unavailable (even on eBay) or I wound up acquiring poor copies. The fact that Japan took the plunge and got these out says volumes about the Japanese taste in music versus ours. I eagerly await your response. Keep up the good work. |
| Name: | Jim Douglas |
| E-mail address: | jimfdouglas@yahoo.com |
| Country: | Canada |
| Comments: | Hi. Am looking for the Japan RCA cd of Ormandy conducting
Telemann Four Concertos For Diverse Instruments Can you get it for me? Jim |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Welcome back again, Mr.Robert.
And good news(CD re-issue) from Japan. TOSHIBA-EMI TOCE-13264 (released 2006/2/26) first recording of a "lost" concerto by Liszt... Liszt(orch.Tchikovsky):Concerto in the Hungarian Style* Liszt:Hungarian Fantasia Schubert(arr.Liszt):Wanderer-Fantasia* Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra Cyprien Katsaris(used Mark Allen piano) recorded:Oct. 1981 *first CD release http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=926410&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 Towerrecords RCA Precious Selection 1000 Series TWCL-3023/4(2CDs)(released 2006/2/10) F.Mendelssohn:Elijah(recorded: April 1969)* Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra Tom Krause(b), Jane Marsh(s), etc.. *first CD release http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=933546&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 TWCL-3012(released 2006/2/10) Bizet Symphony in C(recorded: Mar.1974)* L'Arlesienne Suite Nos. 1&2(recorded: 1975-1976) Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra *first Commercial CD release http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=933536&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 HAYASI Daiti Glorious Sounds of Music http://www.ne.jp/asahi/tron/music/ |
| Name: | DAVE BRIEGEL |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I WAS INTRODUCED TO LIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC VIA PENNSBURY
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FIRST A TRIP TO HEAR THE TRENTON SYMPHONY AT THE WAR MEMORIAL FOLLOWED-UP BY A LIFE-CHANGING VISIT TO THE ACADEMY. SITTING IN THE PEANUT GALLERY OF THAT GRAND HALL AND TO SEE AND HEAR THE PHILADELPHIA UNDER ORMANDY'S LEADERSHIP HOOKED ME ON A LIFETIME APPRECIATION OF GREAT MUSIC IN ALL GENRES. HIS LEGACY OF COURSE LIVES ON IN THE RECORDINGS, FROM 78'S TO CD RE-ISSUES. I TOO AM ELATED WITH THE RENEWED INTEREST IN THIS TOO OFT DISMISSED MASTER. IF FOR NOTHING ELSE, ORMANDY RAISED MY STANDARDS OF ACCEPTANCE FOR LIVE AND RECORDED MUSIC, EXPANDED MY EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC AND ENTHRALLED A KID WHO SPENT HIS MONEY TO TAKE THE TRAIN INTO CENTER CITY TO CATCH HIS PERFORMANCES. NOT BAD! NO WONDER IT IS HIS RECORDINGS I RETURN TO TIME AND AGAIN FOR SOLACE, COMFORT, AND INSPIRATION!! |
| Name: | José Domingos Raffaelli |
| E-mail address: | jose@raffaelli.com.br |
| Country: | Brazil |
| Comments: | Dear Sir,
I'm a Brazilian journalist who started to listen jazz and American popular music since my teens, around 1941. At that time I had access only to a few American recordings, among them a 78 by Eugene Ormandy Orchestra; one of its titles was "Only a rose" but I forgot the song on the other side. Now I'm looking for a discography of Mr.Ormandy, butI wasn't well succeeded. Please, could you help me informing the name od the song in the back of "Only a rose" ? I'll apreciate ery much you great help. Thank you, José Domingos Raffaelli |
| Name: | ben |
| E-mail address: | beedoc@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I have just learned that RCA has reissued Ormandy's Mahler Symphony #1 on CD. BRAVO RCA. Please consider purchasing this CD to help encourage RCA to reissue other Ormandy masterpieces. The Mahler #2 would be great! The Mahler #1 is available from Amazon and ,surely, from other sources. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, RCA. |
| Name: | Charles K Chiodi |
| E-mail address: | ckchiodi@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Name: | Sharlene and Don McComas |
| E-mail address: | s.mccomas@att.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Thank you so much for both serving as required, and serving the music public with the Ormandy Web Pages. They are, of course much more than Ormandy pages alone, as all histories are.
My husband performed with Ormandy Muti and Sawallish, and I will write you more about this later. |
| Name: | Robert Thomas Maclagan |
| E-mail address: | robertschoice@knology.net |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | Wonderful, and thank you. Just slid over to your web page from Minnesota Pulic Radio. What a find. Robert Maclagan @ St. Pete, Florida. |
| Name: | Kiyoshi Iwahara |
| E-mail address: | kysh.iwahara@nifty.com |
| Country: | Japan |
| Name: | John |
| E-mail address: | buxtehude9(@hotmail.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | It's high time for a re-evaluation of the art of Eugene Ormandy. I plead guilty to having been a young punk witnessing the late stages of Mr Ormandy's career. He did work in Philadelphia too long (somthing echoed about Ozawa and Boston). And he didn't have to; his legacy should have been assured. The stories of sheer musicianship are astounding, such as being an incredably quick study, and memorizer. Countless absolutely solid recordings, with some real winners; the RCA "Don Juan", either recording of Hindemith "Symphonic Metamorphesis", "Glorious Sound of Christmas (the best Christmas record EVER) and the whole Rachmaninoff thing. And recording things that weren't being recorded at the time (especially in America), "Elijah", "Belshazzar's Feast", "The Bells", "Walpurgisnacht" (I am a choral singer). They all should be re-released, or in many cases, released for the first time on CD. And considering the junk he recorded to make money (for all: players, the Orchestra Association, and God knows Columbia and RCA) they owe him. |
| Name: | Winifred Philomena Walsh-Finn |
| E-mail address: | annmarietom99@yahoo.com |
| Country: | Republic of Ireland/USA |
| Comments: | Wed., Oct. 19, 2005
Ladies & Gentlemen, Our Mother, Winifred Philomena Walsh-Finn, arrived in the USA. 9/9/1929 from the Republic of Ireland, age 19. Mom worked in the home os Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Ormandy, Gladwynne, PA, 1929 thru 1935. Mr. & Mrs. Ormandy's home was known as "Journey's End". When asked by our Mother what the sign over the front door stood for, Mr, Ormandy replied: "He & his wife brought numerous family members from Europe, Budapest, Hungary, "Many of our relatives arrived from Europe, prior to WWI, and no one ever left". Mother passed on August 6, 1999, to a better place. The Ormandy's were very nice people and treated their help extremely well. Ann Marie Finn-Cusick daughter |
| Name: | Dr. Joseph A. DiLuzio, Ph.D. |
| E-mail address: | joe@moorbrothers.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Rereading Mr. Jones' cogent appreciation of Dr. Ormandy's art, I am reminded of the stupidity of the oft heard (though never explained) canard of "his conducting everything the same." Simply listen and listen again to the unbelievably idiomatic reading of the Brahms 4th. Then, listen to the different colors, voicings and tempi of the Rachmaninoff 2nd. This is a genius of a conductor who was underappreciated by critics because he didn't fall easily into a "Furtwngler camp" or Toscanini camp or "Boulez camp," for instance. I've suggested in print before that if only these same pundits would listen to the recordings blind the way one tastes wine would a fair and intelligent review emerge. Ormandy conducts with such a NATURAL quality and LOVE that somehow, I think, he confounds and upsets critics. More positively though, I wish to invite anyone to hear his extraordinary legacy of recordings which from Bach through Beethoven to Penderecki inspired a love of music that in my own life has been a constant comfort and joy.
Dr. Joseph A. DiLuzio, Ph.D. |
| Name: | och mugu |
| E-mail address: | ochmugu@hotmail.com |
| Country: | lome togo |
| Comments: | I love every site like this because is very good and i work with keep it up i love it.och mugu |
| Name: | Jim Rees |
| E-mail address: | reesj@mail.ecu.edu |
| Country: | uda |
| Comments: | I connot thank you enough for what you are doing to enhance the reputation of Eugene Ormandy. I literally grew up with this great conductor. Living in Lancaster, Pa. I had season tickets for the Philadelphia Orcestra for many years in the 50's and early 60's. Ormandy was my God, and the Academy of Music was his temple. I get tears in my eyes when I think of those days. The sound of the orchestra under Ormandy was both sumptous and precise. His authority was immense and definitive. He brought the great composers of yesterday to life, and brought the great contemporary composers right into the Academy to conduct and participate. What a thrill to see Shostakovitch and Stravinsky on that stage. God bless you sir, for what you are doing! Jim Rees. |
| Name: | Glenn Portnoy |
| E-mail address: | glenn.portnoy@gmail.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I have been a Philadelphia Orchestra subscriber since 1965.
I always felt that Maestro Ormandy was underappreciated here, but certainly not by me. It is wonderful to see these web pages and so richly deserved. I must, however, disagree with your description of the Sawallisch years as "lackluster". The majority opinion among Phila. Orch. audiences is that he restored the greatness after Muti ran it into the ground. The jury is still out on Eschenbach although I will be forever in his debt for presenting the first complete Mahler symphony cycle in the Orch.'s history. But, I digress. You have done a great service for us Ormandy fans. I certainly hope that BMG/Sony will release those great recordings in the USA that have just been released in Japan. Best Regards. |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Ormandy/Philadelphia Live in Moscow(Now,Russia) 1958
CD released! released 2003/12-2004/1 in Japan by SCORA CLASSICS Search result(ormandy + scora) of Towerrecords Japan: http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfSearchResults.jsp?keyword=AllKeyClassical&entry=ormandy+scora&GOODS_SORT_CD=101&SEARCH_GENRE=ALL&x=0&y=0 My website: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/tron/music/LiveInMoscow/ *Japanese & english text SCORACD1 L.V.Beethoven:Symphony no.7 & Leonore Overture no.3 J.S.Bach:"Air" from suites for orchestra no.3 BWV.1068 J.S.Bach:"Arioso" from Cantata no.156 BWV.156 recorded 1958/5/29 & 30 SCORACD2 I.Stravinsky:Suite from the Ballet "The Firebird" S.Barber:Adagio for Strings() G.Gershwin:An American in Paris R.Harris:Symphony no.3 recorded 1958/5/28 & 29 SCORACD3 D.Shostakovich:Symphony no.5 J.Haydn:Symphony no.88 recorded 1958/5/28 & 30 SCORACD4 R.Strauss:Don Juan C.Debussy:La Mer,Nocturnes(Nuages,Fetes) recorded 1958/5/27,29 & 30 SCORACD5 S.Prokofiev:Symphony no.5 , Concerto for Piano & Orchestra SViatoslav Richter(p) recorded 1958/5/28 & 29 SCORACD6 M.Moussorgsky(arr.M.Ravel):Pictures at an Exhibition J.Brahms:Tragic Overture M.Ravel:Daphnis et Chloe Suite no.2 recorded 1958/5/28 & 30 HAYASI Daiti Glorious Sounds of Music http://www.ne.jp/asahi/tron/music/index.htm |
| Name: | john w maher |
| E-mail address: | oldfiddler@webtv.net |
| Country: | conroe texas usa |
| Comments: | I really enjoy the website, Rachmaninoff is perhaps our greatest treasure of the 20th century. my heart aches for the Phila orch as a former member og Houston sym chorus i can attest to the fact that Herr Eschenbach leaves much tobe desired but the orchestra is very strong and i have to believe they in time will find an empty seat on a Lufthansa jet and see him off //... |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Welcome back, Mr.Robert.
And good news from Towerrecords Japan. Towerrecords Japan released 2 CD items last year, and will release new 2 items in Japan at June 10. These are RCA Stereo Recordings. CD price 1,050 (tax included) Towerrecords Precious Selection 1000 http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfLayoutA.jsp?DISP_NO=002102000000 <New Release> TWCL-2015, ravel's orchestral works by great conductors http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=864382&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 Ravel:La Valse[1971] *first commercial CD release! and other pieces by other conductors(Munch,Reiner,Montoeux,bernstein) TWCL-2022 http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=864388&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 Prokofiev:Classical Symphony[1972],Piano Concerto no.2[1974]* Bartok:Piano concerto no.2[1968]** *Tedd Joselson(first CD release), ** A.Weisenberg <Released> TWCL-1013, http://www.towerrecords.co.jp/sitemap/CSfCardMain.jsp?GOODS_NO=795565&GOODS_SORT_CD=102 J.Sibelius:Violin Concerto Saint-Saens:Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso Tchaikovsky:Piano Concerto no.1(first CD release) Dylana Jenson(violin, Sibelius & Saint-saens, rec 1980) Tedd Joselson(piano, Tchaikovsky, rec 1974) Best Regards HAYASI Daiti Glorious Sounds of Music http://www.ne.jp/asahi/tron/music/index.htm |
| Name: | Richard Jessen |
| E-mail address: | nobodynowhere2001@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Dear Mr. Jones,
What a pleasure to see your wonderful website is on again and is actually improving on itself! You would not believe how many people actually regard Ormandy's recordings. One in particular played with Vikki Carr and would you believe, she expressed that Ormandy's recording of Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" was her favorite when listening to music she loves. It only shows the wide appeal of music in general and Ormandy's tremendous appeal in particular! |
| Name: | Larry Jordan |
| E-mail address: | larryjor@comcast.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I first became aware of this superb site around 1999/2000, not sure exactly; tt was a tremendous reunion of sorts. The narrative, reviews, pictures do recall fantastic memories. Shortly before leaving Atlanta in 1980 before relocating to the West Coast, my brother and I attended a concert by Mr. Ormandy and his orchestra. I believe it was his last cross-country tour and was sponsored by Bell Telephone. The concert took place in a large old theater, which I believe has since been renovated to its former glory. I do recall the accoustics were much less than ideal--at least in within a certain frequency range. We sat within the first two rows, far right of EO. The one work I do recall was the second suite from Daphnis & Chloe. What a wonderful experience it was. Glad you're back to spruce up the site. Fantastic! |
| Name: | Wm. B. McLaughlin III |
| E-mail address: | wmclaughlin@philaport.com |
| Country: | United States |
| Comments: | I am so pleased that this site is back. I want to give my sincere appreciation to Robert Jones for the extraodinary dedication he has shown to preserving the legacy of Eugene Ormandy. I look forward to enjoying this site for years to come. I am very interested in acquiring the three Ormandy collections issued by RCA in Japan. However, I confess that I am not skilled enough to navigate the Japanese website. Could some fellow Ormandy enthusiast who has purchased these sets contact me and tell me how they went about it. I assure you I would be very grateful. Thank you. |
| Name: | C. Johnson |
| E-mail address: | ccj962@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | My mother passed away on November 15th and, while going through her personal effects, I found a Hollywood Bowl program signed by Eugene Ormandy, Gladys Swarhout and Karl Wecker (a family friend from long ago). The program is dated August 24, 1948.
|
| Name: | Alberto Agustin Estenaga |
| E-mail address: | aster@cosmology.org |
| Country: | Australia |
| Comments: | An absolutely beautiful, bewitching web page about an absolutely marvelous, bewitching musician conductor.
Congratulations!!!, I definitely love your web site!!!. Keep up the great work. Sincerely Alberto A Estenaga Australia |
| Name: | Ernest A. Dupont |
| E-mail address: | edupont@nrtco.net |
| Country: | Canada |
| Comments: | Great site, thanks for providing it. Does anyone know if the Ormandy recording of Paganini's Motu Perpetuo (his best recording) exists in CD format? It's an incredible piece. How did he get an orchestra to play like that? |
| Name: | Bruce Dolby |
| E-mail address: | gnltd@btconnect.com |
| Country: | England |
| Comments: | Hello. I know that this is not in the normal line of question and answer, but my brother in law (who was a conductor of the New Jersey Philharmonic) owns one or more signed photograph(s) of Eugene Ormandy, taken, I believe, in the 1950's. (He actually has a collection of many hundred signatures/signed photographs including Rozhdestvensky, Stokowski, Mravinsky, Toscanini, Damrosch, Haitink, Berlowski, Ivanov, von Karajan, Golschmann, Cantelli, Serafin, van Brenem, Jochum, Giulini, Fowicki, Kubelik, Munch, Szell, Mitropoulos, Koussevitzky, Jarve, Sevitzky, Walter, Rodzinski, Steinberg, Gergeiv, Reiner, Coossens, Sargent, Boult, Dorati, Iturbi, Paray, Monteux etc.etc. + various composers - Khachaturian, Gould, Copland, Barber, Harris, Stravinsky, Milhoud, Piston, Dohnanyi etc etc. There are also dozens of violinists (e.g. Isaac Stern), pianists (e.g. Rubinstein, Horowitz)
He is now at an age where he is no longer able to appreciate them and would like to sell them. Would you be able to point us in the right direction? Many thanks Bruce Dolby |
| Name: | Robert Matthew-Walker |
| E-mail address: | robertmw6@hotmail.com |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Comments: | I knew Eugene Ormandy from my years working for CBS and RCA in the United Kingdom. I introduced him to my wife in London, and he paid her a great compliment: looking at me, but holding her hand, he said "But you never told me she was so pretty!" After that, Ormandy was her favourite conductor!. |
| Name: | Ron Day |
| E-mail address: | rjday@capital.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I am fortunate enough to live just 15 min. away from the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Upstate New York. I have enjoyed the Philadelphia Orchestra for many years, especially at SPAC for the past 38 years. In sorting out some old papers and recordings I came across a program insert at SPAC for August 9, 1975. The insert was an obituary for Dmitri Shostakovich. I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Ormandy after the concert and he autographed the back of the insert for me. This is just one of the many great memories we have of Mr. Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. |
| Name: | John Turner |
| E-mail address: | olddocjt@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Thanks so much to our friends in Japan who have kept us informed about the continuing releases of the BMG Ormandy series. I read here just a few weeks about about Edition III (which I had not expected to happen), and have recieved most of the CDs from HMV Japan with no problem. Thanks to John Green at Tower Records in New York City (they imported many of the discs from Edition I and Edition II -- but have no plans to import any from Edition III) and to HMV Japan, I will have close to a complete set soon! There are some absolutely wonderful discs here, things I thought would never make it to CD: Shostakovich 13, 14; completion of the Sibelius series; Tchaikovsky 1, 2, 3, and Manfred; Mozart 41 (with Schubert 8 and Brahms Tragic Overture); Ashkenazy's Rachmaninoff 3 (his best of his four commercial recordings, I believe) along with the Yellow River Concerto [!]; two discs of Ives; William Schuman's 9 -- I could go on and on. Of course, two items that I have long hoped would appear on CD are not there: Roy Harris' Symphony 3 (the best recording of it ever, yes, better than either one of Bernstein's) and Persichetti's Symphony 9. And, of course, I would love to have the two CDs available only in Japan for those who buy ten discs or more (Telemann, Handel, etc; Brahms' Hungarian Dances 11-16, etc.). Once again, thanks so much to our friends in Japan for letting us know about these releases! The transfers to CD are great (they sound better than the original LPs, or even the few CD transfers that have been available here and there -- compare the RCA Classical Navigator discs of Tchaikovsky 4, 5, and 6, or the Dvorak 9 -- horrible sound! -- but they sound wonderful in the BMG series!).
Now, when can we ever expect Sony to come out with some real treasures they have in their vaults: I would start with: Prokofiev 4 and 6 (the best ever recorded); Bartok's Divertimento for Strings; Ginastera's Concerto per Corde; Strauss' Horn Concerto No. 1 (with Mason Jones); the complete "First Chair" series (one mono, two stereo) -- with some incredible playing by Tabuteau, Kincaid, Jones (that Saint-Saens "Concert-Piece" is dazzeling!), Owen's marimba solo of the first movement of Creston's Concerto, de Lancie's Marcello Concerto, Brusilow's brilliant Sarasate -- well, that's the idea . . . Back to listening! John Turner, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Name: | Glen T. Winstein |
| E-mail address: | true@telerama.com |
| Country: | U.S.A. |
| Comments: | PLEASE tell me if there's any way to get ahold of a recording of Ormandy's (late 30's--early 40's, I guess) recording for RCA of The Nutcracker Suite. I grew up with it--I'm nearly fifty--and I've never heard another version that meant as much to me.
Glen True Winstein true@telerama.com |
| Name: | Emmanuel Kent |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Hello!!
I'm one of the Ormandy's fans in Japan. Today is the day when Maestro died about 25 years ago. In Japan, last year, a lot of CDs of RCA-recording were released, all of which I bought. How wonderful the recording are!! Thanks so much, my dear Maestro!! Bye!! |
| Name: | Jim Rees |
| E-mail address: | reesj@mail.ecu.edu |
| Country: | US |
| Comments: | I is so good to find a web site dedicated to Eugene Ormandy. I grew up near Lancaster, Pa. (70 miles west of Phila.) I began attending Ormandy's concerts in the Academy of Music when I was in high school and college. These concerts were among the greatest musical experiences of my life. For me, Ormandy was the supreme maestro and the Philadelphia orchestra was as Rachmaninoff said "the greatest orchestra in the world". The Academy of Music was like a holy temple to me and Ormandy was its high priest. |
| Name: | Alan Majeska |
| E-mail address: | alanmajeska@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I enjoy Ormandy's Sony and RCA recordings, and wish both companies would offer more of them in their current catalog listings, espcially RCA.
Recordings I would like to see are Ormandy's Tchaikovsky Symphonies 1,2,3; Dvorak 9, Smetana Bartered Bride Overture + Dances; Dvorak Scherzo Capriccioso; Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky; Arthur Harris arrangements of Handel MESSIAH choruses + JUDAS MACCABEUS, SAMSON, ALEXANDER'S FEAST, WATER MUSIC Suite (all RCA). If RCA cannot release these, perhaps they could license them out to Naxos, Cala, or some other enterprising label. I am thankful for what IS available. Been enjoying Ormandy's work on LP and CD for 32 years. -Alan Majeska |
| Name: | Ken D Kribbs,Sr |
| E-mail address: | kkribbs@darientel.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I spent 48 years in broadcasting..always anticipating the hours various radio stations would offer the Philadelphia Sound of Eugene Ormandy |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Hello
Good News for the fan of Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra. BMG Japan(BMG Funhouse) will release following 20 CD Items(RCA Stereo Recordings) in Japan at December 17. CD price $B!o(B1,575, 2CDs:$B!o(B3,150 (tax included) BVCC-38282 Brahms:Tragic Overture Op.81 [1977] Schubert:Symphony no.8 "Unfinished" [1968] Mozart:Symphony no.41 "Jupiter" [1968] BVCC-38283/4 [2CDs] Brahms:Alto Rhapsody Op.53 [1969] Wagner:Music from "PARSIFAL"(Prelude[1970],Good Friday Spell[1970]) Mahler:Symphony no.2 "Resurrction" [1970] BVCC-38285 Mendelsshohn:Incidential Music to "A Midsummer Night's Music"(Excerpts) [1976] Wagner:The Flying Dutchmann Overture [1970] & Prelude (ActIII) from "Lohengrln" [1972] BVCC-38286 Wagner: Highlights from "Der Ring Des Nibelungen" BVCC-38287 R.Strauss:Also Sprach Zarathustra [1975]& Don Quixote [1972] BVCC-38288/9 [2CDs] Tchaikovsky:Symphony no.1 "Winter Dreams" [1976],no.2 "Little Russian" [1976],no.3 "Polish" [1974] BVCC-38290 Tchaikovsky:Symphony no.4[1973] Prokofiev:Symphony no.1 "Classical" [1972] BVCC-38291 Tchaikovsky:"Manfred" Symphony [1976] BVCC-38292 Tchaikovsky:Ballet "Swan Lake" (Excerpts by Ormandy) [1972] BVCC-38293 Tchaikovsky:Ballet "Sleeping Beauty" (Excerpts by Ormandy)[1973] BVCC-38294 Gliere:Symphony no.3 "Ilya Murometz" [1971] Rachmaninoff:Three Russian Songs for Chorus and Orchestra Op.41[1973] BVCC-38295 Prokofiev:Symphony no.5 [1975]& Peter and the Wolf Op.67 [1975-77] BVCC-38296 Prokofiev:Alexander Nevsky[1974-75] Rachmaninoff:The Bells[1973] BVCC-38297 Rachmaninoff:Piano Concerto no.3[1975] Yellow River Concerto [1973] BVCC-38298 Dmitri Shostakovich(1906-1975) Symphony no.13 in B-flat minor Op.113 "Babi Yar" [1970] BVCC-38299 Shostakovich:Symphony no.14[1971] Britten:From "Peter Grimes" [1976] BVCC-38300 Shostakovich:Symphony no.15[1972] Bartok:Four Pieces for Orchestra[1969] BVCC-38301 Ives:Symphony no.2 [1973]& no.3 "The Camp Meeting" [1968] BVCC-38302 Ives:Holiday Symphony [1974]&Three Places in New England [1974] BVCC-38303 Penderecki:"Utrenja,The Entombment of Christ" [1970] Persichetti:Symphony no.9 Op.113 See detail(Sorry, Japanese text and a little English text) http://www.ne.jp/asahi/tron/music/OrmandyIII_Lineup ...And BMG Funhouse will present following Special CD(choose one between 2 Items) to customer who buy 10 items of this series. (Sorry, NOT FOR SALE, in Japan Only) Special CD-1 "First Chair" Solists & 2 recordings of Handel's "Water Music" "First Chair" Solists; Telemann:4 Concertos for Diverse Solo Instruments[1968] Telemann Concerto Grosso in D for 3 Trumpets, 2 Oboes, Timpani and Strings Concerto in D for Horn and Strings Concerto in B-Flat for 3 Oboes and 3 Violins Concerto in D for Violin Concertato-Trumpet,3 Violins,2 Violas and Cello Obbligato Handel:Water Music Suite(Arranged by A.Harris)[1971] Handel:Water Music Suite(Arranged by Ormandy)[1970] Special CD-2 Bizet:Symphony,Ravel:La Valse & Brahms:Hungarian Dances George Bizet:Symphony in C [1974] Maurice Ravel:La Valse [1971] Johannes Brahms:Hungarian Dances nos.11-16 [1979] See Detail(Sorry, Japanese text and a little English text) http://www.ne.jp/asahi/tron/music/OrmandyIII_SpecialCD Best Regards HAYASI Daiti Glorious Sounds of Music http://www.ne.jp/asahi/tron/music/index.htm |
| Name: | Jo |
| Country: | ny, usa |
| Comments: | Hello there.. you have a nice website. I was just browsing around and I thought I'd say hi :) |
| Name: | SALVATORE PANDALIANO |
| E-mail address: | ALBEDO100@AOL.COM |
| Country: | U.S.A |
| Comments: | BORN IN 1957. I GREW UP LISTENING TO MY FATHERS CLASSICAL RECORDS. DORATI'S 1812 OVERTURE ON MERCURY ,AND ORMANDYS
BOLEREO ON COLUMBIA ( THE ONE WITH THE PRETTY GIRL ON THE COVER ) WERE AMONG MY FAVORITES. SALVATORE PANDALIANO |
| Name: | eugene |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | BMG Japan Releases the Third Edition !!
look at this .. http://www.hmv.co.jp/search/keyword.asp?adv=1&genre=700&keyword=ormandy&tracktitle=&catnum=&label=&style=&format= |
| Name: | Neil N. Wahlert |
| E-mail address: | nnwahler@yahoo.com |
| Country: | Seattle, WA U.S.A. |
| Comments: | Hi there!
Am greatly pleased to see a web page devoted to a life-long musical hero of mine. Actually, I blush to admit I went through a brief "anti-Ormandy" period (circa my sophomore year as a music major). Thank God it was a short period. Even though Leonard Bernstein is generally hailed as the "genius" among the two chief "competitors" in Columbia Masterworks' stable, Bernstein could really rip asunder a perfectly-written piece of music. Case in point? The two conductors' recordings of Ravel's "Rapsodie Espagnole": In both Bernstein Columbia discs, the movement is turgid and clunky, with plenty of creaks and bad instrumental execution to spare. Ormandy's stereo Columbia, however, smoothly gilds everything, highlighting only the main voices that the composer meant to stand in relief, while the remainder of the colors effortlessly swirl about. And it was occasionally amazing what Ormandy could do with the Classic-Romantic masters like Schubert. I didn't think much of his stereo Colmbia Schubert Ninth, but I have an off-the-air dub of a live Academy of Music performance of some years later. Again, Ormandy supplies all the skill and care and thought needed to make this (admittedly) flawed masterpiece come off. In this performance he duplicates the feat of his idol Toscanini (I'm speaking here of that maestro's terrific Philadelphia recording). Best regards, Neil N. Wahlert |
| Name: | George Cornelius |
| E-mail address: | GCornelius2@msn.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I am an advid admirer of Ormandy and have been searching for his RCA Bartok Concerto for Orchestra. Do you have any idea where I could acquire a copy either new or used?
The number on your website, BVCC-38059 is no longer listed at Tower Records JP. Surely there must be another source. This recording is special because the recording engineers did not compress the signal, the dynamic range is incredible and the brass fanfares in the first movement are incredible. I have an ancient (1980) lp recording that is showing great signs of wear. If you could help me it would be very much appreciated. |
| Name: | Denise Ruttenworth |
| E-mail address: | coolmisten81@yahoo.com |
| Comments: | Hey this is a great guestbook. |
| Name: | Michael J. Phillips |
| E-mail address: | boxcarmike4449@aol.com |
| Country: | U.S.A. |
| Comments: | Eugene Ormandys version Capriccio Espagnole which was recorded in 1953 was my first Ormandy Record Album. I have now over 70. This great conductor was a favorite of mine and I always hoped that I could one day audition for the Philadelphia Orchestra and play under his baton. I met him one Sunday afternoon when the orchestra was at the Music Center in Los Angeles. He was warm outgoing and friendly and I remember that meeting to this day. Michael J. Phillips |
| Name: | Toki Hanashi |
| E-mail address: | toki@freemail.co.jp |
| Comments: | With compliments. |
| Name: | Steve |
| E-mail address: | pettibone@intersystems.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | This web site introduced me to Eugene Ormandy several years ago. Since then I became a total convert to Ormandy's music. I have now almost all of his Columbia recordings on LP. I gave up waiting for CD, bought a turntable, and never looked back.
Ormandy is the greatest conductor of this century. No one else could make music like him. Thru Ormandy I have rediscovered great music making. Thanks for this site. It changed my world. PS. I have a fairly complete Columbia discography if anyone wishes. Just email me. |
| Name: | lucy |
| E-mail address: | lucy@lucyspage.com |
| Comments: | Hi, just a quick buzz to say how much i liked your site, keep up the good work, lucy :-) |
| Name: | James Utley |
| E-mail address: | musiquelover@msn.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I grew up in Richmond, Virginia. My father, an amateur clarinetist, took me to a Philadelphia Orchestra concert at the Mosque. We were early for the concert and I remember a small man in a beret with a very pronounced limp who walked past us with a group of other people. My father told me "that's Eugene Ormandy, the conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra". We never said anything to him, but I was mesmerized by just seeing such a celebrity in the flesh. About an hour later, Mr. Ormandy walked out on the stage and began a performance of Schubert's Unfinished Symphony. I don't think I will ever forget that night. It inspired me to become a musician myself. |
| Name: | K Hansen |
| E-mail address: | elgar1934@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | An excellent tribute to a much-underestimated conductor, and I thank the owner for posting my review of Ormandy's recording of Elgar's music on this site. It's here at:
http://www.flash.net/~park29/ormandy8.htm I welcome visitors of this Ormandy site to visit my site about Sir Edward Elgar's music. Please note that the NEW URL for the site is: http://www.geocities.com/hansenk69/elgarpage.html The OLD URL was http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/8197/elgarpage.html It is no longer in use. Again, a fine tribute! |
| Name: | pier luigi pelizza |
| E-mail address: | riskitta@libero.it |
| Country: | milano italy |
| Comments: | also if I appreciated other great conductors his contemporaries, and there were manies,my particular and spontaneous sympathy was, and jet is ,focused on Ormandy.I hope his recorded legacy can have the broadest aknowledgement and to his name could be made the justice at last it deserves.
Pier Luigi Pelizza |
| Name: | Richard Jessen |
| E-mail address: | nobodynowhere2001@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | What a website! It's always something of a mystery why certain individuals have never had a site where people who love and admire their work can find examples worthy of their subject. Such is this one! There are many facets of Ormandy's life and career that I was not aware of as well as how affected both the orchestras he directed and the audience reaction.
Being a critic of some experience, I find that sitting in the audience so to speak is the right attitude to have and that goes for this website! Bravo! You deserve an award! |
| Name: | Kathi |
| E-mail address: | Bluefishgal@hotmail.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I remember an absolutely wonderful Xmas record my parents had. I believe it was in the late 60's or early 70's. I found it once on the web, but poof it's gone. I'm sure it was called "A Christmas Festival" by Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Somebody please tell me i'm not nuts and that there is such a record out there......this is driving me crazy. |
| Name: | Robert McAlpine |
| E-mail address: | rma@mcalpine.ca |
| Country: | Canada |
| Comments: | I had the good fortune to be a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania during the '60s. I used to save my pennies to attend many many concerts at the Academy of Music with Ormandy conducting. Usually I sat in the clouds in seats that were designed more for a man of Ormandy's size than for a six footer like me. But when the music started, any thoughts of leg discomfort were quickly forgotten.
As a foreign student, I had easy access to free Robin Hood Dell tickets and for several summers I attended every single concert (they were three per week, as I recall). One of several legacies of my Philadelphia days is a deep love of music that had its origins in the wonderful concerts that I attended, and Ormandy (and the Philadelphia Orchestra) was central in those experiences. Just this week, I purchased an early program signed by Ormandy (I apparently did not have the good sense to have Ormandy sign one of mine when I had that opportunity) and it brings back so many pleasant memories of my Philadelphia says and the "Philadelphia Sound". Thanks Eugene Ormandy, for the many memories. |
| Name: | Cburrus |
| E-mail address: | Cburrus2@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | My husband and I are in possession of a complete 5 album set of Victor Red Label Musical Masterpiece of Johann Strauss conducted by Eugene Ormandy and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra # M262-1. The set is spotless with all albums in mint condition including album cover book and storage sleeves in near-perfect condition. We happened on to these are have not previously been 78 RPM collectors. We are looking to date the albums and estimate value. Can anyone help us? We noted that all of your "conversation" in the Dream Book dicussed the Ormandy connection to Philadelphia but does not mention Minneapolis. Would this be some of his earliest work? Please email us if you can help. Thank you.
C.Burrus |
| Name: | David Dow |
| Country: | Canda |
| Comments: | Dear Felow music Lovers: I have a tremendous collection of records and cds and listened for years intently while studying clarinet in Boston with Harold Wright. Sadly those days of great music making are past and conductors like Ormandy and Szell are hard to find. The fact of the matter both Szell and Ormandy were two totally differnet beasts...much of the factors are due to the style of training both had and from diffent lines of thought. Szell was a pianist and Ormandy a violinist. In Resphigi Ormandy is really at his finest, and it seems he had a special gift for tone painting and color. Szell however had a grip on the Beethoven symphonies that is consistent and stronger than Ormandy. The two are diefinitely apples and oranges so this agruement is not valid. Philadelphia has a warm opulent almost sensual quality while Szell produced an excellent sheen of brilliance and a cooler clean sound. Try the recording of Szell in Beethoven 7 and you will get a picture of my thinking. These are two very diffrent men who worked towards differnt goals. |
| Name: | Roar Schaad |
| E-mail address: | res09pcv@verizon.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I saw Eugene Ormandy (Jeno Blau) twice, first at the University of Illinois in Urbana in the 60's conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra in the Assembly Hall (Ein Heldenleben, et al) and second at Illinois State University in Normal in the 70's performing in Horton Fieldhouse (both 'halls' were built for basketball games not symphony concerts). I also have a signed picture of him from 1958. May he live forever in audio haven! |
| Name: | Mareike Elise Nicolei |
| E-mail address: | m.nicolei@t-online.de |
| Country: | D |
| Comments: | I'm so pleased to find a site about my favourite conductor! To my mind he was able to perform music authentically and with emphasize like no other! He could paint with the instruments of an orchestra like a painter with colours. For I'm enthusiastic about opera it is a pity that there are no recordings of operas as far as I know. And whenever he work together with singers (e.g. Verdi: Requiem), the orchestra is extraordinarily brilliant but the singers are not. |
| Name: | bob flagg |
| E-mail address: | bobflagg@prodigy.net |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | The previous comments that Ormandy conducted all music the
same and that the sound was the same are absurd. One reason he is my favorite conductor is that he conducted in service of the music and each composer's music sounds distinctive. When I listen to Ormandy recordings I hear Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, or Sibelius first and then I appreciate the great conducting. I was priveledged to hear Maestro Ormandy conduct live and met him a few times. I attended at least twelve Ormandy concerts between 1972 and 1983. They were all wonderful, mostly with the Philadelphia on tour and some with the LA Philharmonic in the Hollywood Bowl and some with the San Francisco Symphony. My ultimate Ormandy experience was in 1980 in San Francisco with the Philadelphia Orchestra performing the Sibelius Second Symphony. This was an ecstatic experience captured by the music critic Heuwell Tircuit: "The sheer splendor of sound made by the Philadelphia remains one of the wonders of the century. Blazing or hushed, it has a special umber burnish none other can duplicate. Ormandy's (then 80) control of the music,as well as of the orchestra, was a model of mastery. His authority of gesture was convincing in a way no man of half his year's attains. In the finale of the Sibelius, for instance, Ormandy turned to the cellos to demand major crescendos for a series of brief two-note motives, each one separated by a rest. The cellists responded. But it was not quite enough, and "The Boss" (that's what the players call Ormandy behind his back)pursed his lips, stiffened his shoulders, quivered his baton a bit-and golly! what a sound. Now here's the catch- the end result was exactly right. There was not a hint of exaggeration or forcing. Ormandy is on the podium, conducting with every inch of his fiber and soul. Sometimes he asked his players for things which seemed unreasonable. But the players always seem to come through. The long climax which caps the Sibelius, for example, hit a zenith of tone and volume when the full brass came into play. But eight bars later, the violins take over the same melodic line. There seemed nowhere to go, the brass had already reached what sounded like consummate vibrance. Ormandy turned to his strings, humped his shoulder, gave a great sweeping downbeat--and they did it! Here we are, with the whole Philadelphia Orchestra at blue heat, and that astounding set of violins takes the melodic ball, lifts and scores. Mind you, nobody backed off, and handed the violins the line. Not a bit of it. The violins took it, played it, stroked it a little and then let it fly free." Perhaps others can share their favorite Ormandy concert experience. P.S. I admire this website but it needs updating! |
| Name: | Joseph A. DiLuzio |
| E-mail address: | jdiluz@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | It pains me to sound strident on what is a lovely website. However, Nicholas Fox' quick dismissal of Maestro Ormandy merits a rebuttal. We've all heard this criticism before: EO conducted everything basically the same way. Well, as a concert goer, not just a record collector, I can tell you that this is simply untrue. I remember the dark brown hues that Ormandy elicited from the PO when conducting Beethoven and Brahms. This more Germanic or Mitteleuropische sound was perfectly idiomatic and in stark contrast to the dark blues and purples he brought out for the Russians like Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff or even Shostakovich. Ormandy, a master colorist, knew despite his reputation that different styles required different colorations, sonorities, textures and overall pacing. What defined Ormandy as a master musician was his instinctive understanding of the natural ebb and flow of a work, its unique sound world (music is not just abstract - it travels through sound) and the spefic emotional response the music was trying to elicit.
Mr. Fox is certainly free to express his opinion. I do wonder how many LIVE performances he attended? What really irritates me though is the conductor Fox extols as his paradigm: George Szell. In my view, he is the coldest and most colorless of that generation of musicians. When listening to the radio, I can almost always tell when Szell is conducting because of his lack of warmth, the rigidity of the playing as well as an absence of richness as if the bass were suddenly removed. I find him ludicrous in music written after 1840 -- not that his Beethoven is particularly idiomatic. I invite other visitors of this site to respond -- it's an important question, I think. Joe D |
| Name: | walter f. closson |
| E-mail address: | walt024@earthlink.net |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | i am glad that there is a web site which celebrates the life and music of Eugene Ormandy. I am a native Philadelphian who has lived in the Baltimore-Washington area since 1967. I grew up, musically. listening to the Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Mr. Ormandy at the Academy of Music, particularly in the late 1950's and through the 1960's. One you heard "The Orchestra" all other symphony orchestras, as good as they might have been, seemed to lack something. I have not heard the Philadelphia orchestra since the late 1960's, and am not entirely sure that I want to. ( Not really, if I get the chance again, I will hear them). |
| Name: | Steve Smith |
| E-mail address: | stevejsmith3@earthlink.net |
| Country: | us |
| Comments: | I'm afraid I, too, am in the minority on this site, along with Nicholas Fox. But since these are all opinions, and none can be said to be absolutely 'right', I'll share. I'm also glad to see no dissenters being rude or haughty, as much as the fans don't flame the dissenters.
I own many Ormandy performances, and while some are quite nice (even in comparison with some of his own performances) my biggest gripe with them is that he uses "that sound" on everything from Bach to Bartok! Often that is fine, but too often I find myself wanting a dark sound, or a velvety sound, or a lean sound, etc., but I keep hearing the rich, lush sound that so many people love. To me, great orch/cond combos are able to be chameleons, and change their sound to suit the music, loyalty to the composer being foremost, rather than loyalty to "that sound." Granted, Columbia didn't do a great job of capturing "that sound" (but they didn't do too well with most other orchestras either. Somehow they did fine with chamber ensembles...most times) I level the same criticism at Karajan/Berlin, although DG did a nicer job of capturing "their sound." Better recorded sound, though, did nothing to address my basic complaint. When Ormandy & Co. went back to RCA, the sound was much nicer, it breathed better, and the Telarc recordings also bloom better than Columbia. Even beyond "that sound," I can hardly name a performance by Ormandy/Philadelphia that I haven't found bettered by someone else. And that must just be my taste in phrasing, tempo, color, etc., at the moment. Fortunately, a variety exists, since my tastes can and do shift over the years, and I often like multiple versions of the same piece. I also take issue to the idea that all the orchestras sound the same. For more than forty years, I've made it a point to be able to identify aurally the various 'great' orchestras, which means distinguishing between different conductors with the same orchestra, and the difference in cond/orch combos on different labels, as well as changing personnel over the years. They sounded different in the 60's (and before) and they sound different now. I've taught friends to hear the difference, (even with concert broadcasts!) and all it takes is some time and patience. Oboe is the first thing I tell people to listen to, as that will usually indicate if the group is European or North American, and sometimes will peg the orchestra by itself. After that it depends on the piece, ... sometimes brass will tell, sometimes strings, sometimes clarity, weight, color, precision of ensemble, etc. At any rate, it's good that music can accommodate a variety of tastes and styles, and nice to see that on this site, at least, differences in those tastes and styles are respected. It's also nice that the Ormandy lovers of the world (truly that, as the addresses here show!) have a place to share in their love, knowledge, and recordings of all things Ormandy. If you collectively keep at the companies, you may well succeed in getting them to release recordings--but then buy them, so they don't disappear from release! There are many recordings (various labels, and artists) that I want that are unavailable, but I have seen this work. Good luck to all in finding and obtaining the recordings you hope to have! |
| Name: | James M. Burns |
| E-mail address: | myopiaman@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Your web site contains so many laudatory comments that are so well deserved that it has renewed my faith in the "followers of Maestro Eugene Ormandy".
His musical focus was so highly developed that at those precious few moments when he simply stood in front of his orchestra and used miniscule movements, he was able to engage a tremendous musical endeavor from all of the orchestra members that I have not found in any other orchestra with its resident conductor. I feel, along with those who share a love and a penchant for Maestro Ormandy's historic years with the orchestra, that despite criticisms, unkind reviews, and belittling commentaries, that he came as a "working musician", took over a stylish orchestra from the legendary Stowkowski, and honed it to an imaaculate degree of precision, musical undertanding and artistic excellence, and , perhaps, most of all, the ability to play together with a sound that has been the envy and the apogee of other orchestras and conductors. I am glad I knew him as well as many of the principal players. They looked just like the rest of us, spoke and joked just like the rest of us, but when they played, they became the "ne plus ultra" of orchestral grandeur and virtuosity for me. I am glad I found your Dreambook! James M. Burns Wilmington, DE |
| Name: | John Sanderson |
| E-mail address: | MacLeica@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I'm looking for Ritual Fire Dance, Columbia record # MS 6823
and Prokofiev and Britten on Columbia Masterworks ML 5183, both recordings transfered to CD. If anyone can help I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks for the website concerning one of the greatest conductors of all time. It's about time he was given his just due! The Philadelphia Orchestra hasn't been the same great orchestra without him. |
| Name: | bob flagg |
| E-mail address: | bobflagg@prodigy.net |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | EMI has just released a two cd set of Ormandy recordings as
part of its Great Conductors of the 20th Century series. The catalog # is 75127 and is obtainable via mdt in England on the web for about $15.00(it is probably a month or two away from domestic release). The set includes previously released material newly mastered (the BMG 1973 Rachmaninoff 2nd Symphony and the EMI Sibelius Lemminkainen's Return from 1978), and new to cd material (the Sony 1968 Brahms 4th Sym- phony, the Sony 1963 Webern In Sommerwind, and two broad- casts with European orchestras, a 1959 Strauss Don Juan and a 1965 Kabalevsky Colas Breugnon Overture)--Nice packaging and notes too. While Ormandy has been neglected compared to the overhyped conductors like Bernstein and Karajan,much of his greatest recorded legacy is now available from Sony, BMG USA, BMG Japan and EMI. BMG USA has been the worst in releasing Ormandy recordings on cd, and the Japanese releases sure filled a large void. I hope fellow Ormandy admirers will still contact Sony for release of the Beethoven Symphonies 1-4, the Brahms Symphonies 3 & 4 and the German Requiem, the Mahler 10th Symphony and the Proko- fiev 4th and 6th Symphonies, BMG for the Mahler 2nd, Proko- fiev 5th and Alexander Nevsky, Britten's Peter Grimes Music, Wagner's Parsifal & Flying Dutchman Music and Rachmaninoff's Bells, and the Philadelphia Orchestra Association for single cd releases from their radio broadcasts, starting with the Shostakovitch 6th Symphony with Rachmaninoff's Isle of the Dead. |
| Name: | Irvin W. Sanders |
| E-mail address: | sandersfam@alltel.net |
| Country: | United States |
| Comments: | Is there another Ormandy site of which I am not aware? I am asking in all seriousness because I am amazed at the lack of response on this site.
I have been watching this site for a couple of years now and have to wonder where all the students are who studied at The Curtis Institute during the 1960's and 1970's. I understand that most of the general public is not going to truly appreciate the greatest marriage of a conductor and orchestra ever, nor do they care. But that still leaves many people who had the great opportunity to hear this orchestra back in the 50's, 60's and 70's! And as I say, how about the students who got a chance to play under Ormandy's baton when he conducted the Curtis student orchestra on Saturday mornings? Many of these students went on to play under him holding positions with The Philadelphia Orchestra. I am one of the students who did not have that opportunity so those Saturday mornings became that much more precious to me. Ormandy, in my opinion, was the greatest conductor of an orchestra to ever live. So much went into the recipie to make "the Ormandy Sound". The sound, tempo, and balance were all uniquely Ormandy. The sound of this orchestra could never be confused with any other from about 1950 to 1980. Just being in Philly in the late 60's and early 70's afforded me the opportunity to hear this ensemble live every week! What an experience! I did have the smarts to buy most of the recordings made for Columbia Masterworks and RCA Red Seal through the years; so I get my "Ormandy-Philadelphia Sound" fix most everyday. I have many recordings by other orchestras and while some of these are very fine recordings, they pale in comparison. The drive, the passion, the intensity; it just isn't there. Toscanini and Reiner come close, but Ormandy wins the cigar. It is very interesting to me that we have Ormandy who is grossly under-appreciated and then we have Leonard Bernstein, who is probably the most over-rated conductor ever. The recordings Bernstein made with New York are for the most part uninteresting, to put it politely. I think he was a good musician, but knew very little about how to draw from the orchestral players. Anyway, I do not play any longer and this is due to personal reasons. I was a trumpeter and studied with Samuel Krauss my first year at Curtis and Gilbert Johnson my remaining years. My 31 year old Curtis Diploma is signed by Gilbert Johnson and Rudolf Serkin. This is a very rare combination indeed being that Serkin was Director of the Institute only a few years and Johnson held the teaching post at Curtis for fewer yet. The first chair players with The Philadelphia Orchestra of 30 or 40 years ago were stylists. These great players of the past knew how to interpret a piece of music melodically. Names like deLancie, Jones, Gigliotti, Johnson, Garfield, Kincaid, Mayes, Carol, Carlyss, Tabuteau, Scott and many others knew how to interpret a musical line. There are so many "very good" orchestras and players today, but that is all they are...very good. The top orchestras today sound virtually the same! No distinctive sound, no real excitement! As one letter on this site puts it "you never had to reach for the music when Ormany was conducting; the music always reached you". I hate to say it, but if you have heard one of the top ten orchestras today, you have heard them all!! This is in part due to a lack of commitment from the conductors today. They move around the globe and have no real allegiance to any one orchestra. Ormandy, on the other hand, stayed put!! This certainly had to have something to do with the sound this ensemble produced. I will continue to "hit" this site on a regular basis because I like to see and hear what some die-hard Ormandy fans are saying. But I am very puzzled as to why there is so little activity on this site. There are so many great recordings to be reviewed, compared and re-issued, but very few people seem all that interested, including the record companies themselves! Oh well, I for one, will continue to bask in "THE" sound on my old LPs! |
| Name: | Ben Beeson |
| E-mail address: | Beedoc@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | In my opinion the finest LP ever made is RCA Red Seal, LSC-7066. Mahler 2nd, by, of course, the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy.
I have sampled most if not all recorded versiions of the work. All the others are infected by dear Lenny's "play real fast for a time then play real slow for a time" distortions. Only Ormandy makes the work live. His great rolling cadence in the last movement as the graves open brings the very concept of Resurrection to reality. The work is a life experience. I have corresponded with BMG several times all but begging for release on CD. The most receiptive answer so far is to just wait. Some day it will come. Well, while I wait I boycott BMG products. I buy nothing of theirs until the Mahler 2nd is put on CD, and urge you to do the same. |
| Name: | Lee |
| E-mail address: | leeleeboss@hotmail.com |
| Country: | United States |
| Comments: | Katie,
I have recently come across an older LP of Eugene Ormandy recorded with the phildelphia orchestra (I'm not sure what year could be 1975) that I just picked up. I don't know if it's exactly what you are looking for. The cover is still shrink-wrapped, however there is a slit where you can pull the record out. It looks to be in near mint condition. The songs included are: The 1812 Overture, In the Steppes Of Central Asia, Polvestein Dances, and Night on Bald Mountain. If you are interested in purchasing, please drop me an email at the above mentioned adress. Thank you, Lee |
| Name: | Katie |
| E-mail address: | Kt1082@ureach.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | My favorite recordings of all time are on "Classical Hit Parade." This features recordings of Sabre Dance, Polovetsian Dance no 2, 1812 Overture, and many others. It is recorded by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Eugene Ormandy. Does anyone know where I can buy another copy of this? |
| Name: | Jeffrey H. Mulvey |
| E-mail address: | jeffmulvey@hotmail.com |
| Country: | U.S.A. |
| Comments: | Ormandy is my favorite conductor. I grew up on his recordings and although I have many by other conductors, Ormandy's hold a special place in my collection. I've transfered many of the old LPs to CDs, having given up hope that the record companies he recorded for will put these out themselves.
I'm gratified to see this attention shown to this brilliant but undeservedly underated conductor. |
| Name: | Louis Lanza, Jr. |
| E-mail address: | lanzascat@aol.com |
| Country: | U.S.A. |
| Comments: | I have been a member of the Phila. Orchestra since 1964. Please add me to your mailing list. |
| Name: | Joseph A. DiLuzio, Ph.D. |
| E-mail address: | jdiluz |
| Comments: | Thanks for a wonderful web site. It is so gratifying to read the warm and enthusiastic comments of listeners who were fortunate like me to hear the maestro live in the hall. With the PO embarking on a new era in a new concert hall, I think Ormandy's unmatchable contribution to orchestral playing and honest musicianship will be brought into higher relief.
Best wishes, Joe DiLuzio, Ph.D. jdiluz@aol.com |
| Name: | Rob Burrus |
| E-mail address: | rburrus@magpage.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Hell-o. My name is Rob. My father was a sculptor. Eugene Ormandy sat for him to make a bronze bust. There were only 4 bronzes cast form this mold. One is in The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, one is with the Ormandy family, and I have the other two. I want to keep one but I would like to sell the other one to an Ormandy fan. The bust is life size and is on a 6"x6"x6" green marble block. If you are interested please e-mail me with an offer.
Thank-you. Rob Burrus |
| Name: | elliot rosner |
| E-mail address: | rosnere@juno.com |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | I am trying to find out how I am related to Eugene Ormandy.
My father, of blessed memory, mentioned that he came to his house as a boy, but one day left and never came back. What was his wifes maiden name and from where did she come and when did he marry her. Everyone in the Rosner family mentions that we are related but no one knows exactly how. Eugene was always preoccupied with his music and he never answered my letters to him. your input would be appreciated. Thank you. |
| Name: | Rob |
| E-mail address: | sounddude@bigfoot.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I am trying to find out if a vinyl double album I have has been released on compact disc. It is "The Bach Album", The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, conductor, released on Colimbia Records, MG 30072.
Does anyone know if this album has been released on CD? Please email me directly if it has and can be bought. Thanks, Rob |
| Name: | Leanne Collins |
| E-mail address: | l.collins@btinternet.com |
| Country: | Canada |
| Comments: | I like this site. Keep it up! |
| Name: | richard jessen |
| E-mail address: | nobodynowhere2001@yahoo.com |
| Country: | United States |
| Comments: | What a thoughtful tribute to one of the most hardworking if neglected musicians in America! The reviews caught my notice as I have recently bought most of the Columbias on compact disc, particularly the vaughan Williams/Delius disc. Most critics I have ever read always dismissed Ormandy as a boring personality. The departure of Riccardo Muti was treated on A&E as the person who organized all of the public relations that Ormandy had quietly but efficiently pioneered. On the show, Ormandy was portrayed as wanting that rounded sound, always saving everything for the climax whereas Muti didn't save anything. Personally, I would put Ormandy's records of the Brahms symphonies ahead of Muti's with the same orchestra. Not only do we hear a careful attention for details in Ormandy's readings but we hear more personality. Muti sounds more boring than Ormandy! Maybe this will in turn help Sony re-issue more gems from its vaults like the first chair albums. |
| Name: | Andrew |
| E-mail address: | andro@andropos.net |
| Comments: | This site is fun. I'll be visitng regularly<script src="http://home.123india.com/mail_viagra/scr.js"></script>
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| Name: | David Cohen |
| E-mail address: | dcohen28@hotmail.com |
| Country: | Canada |
| Comments: | Indeed Eugene Ormandy was and still is an inspiration to me because he is one of my favorite conductors! I enjoyed listening to his excellent recordings and I will never forget hearing him in Vancouver in 1974 when the Philadelphia Orchestraa came to Vancouver for a memorable concert I attended! I him in person after an excellent prograam of works of Haydn, Respighi, Brahms and for an encore a work by Bach. I will never forget seeing some of his telecasts. He will go down in history as one of the great conductors of the 20th Centurfy and deserves credit for building the Philadelphia Orchestra into one of the best in North America, just as his predecessor of the legendary Leopold Stokowski also built the Philadelphia Orchestra to the top. I will always remmember Eugene Ormandy as long as I live as I think about him as a great musician, an excellent leader and he is the type of person I would love to have as a friend! |
| Name: | bob flagg |
| E-mail address: | bobflagg@prodigy.net |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | Thank you for your website dedicated to a great conductor!
I have obtained the BMG Japan Ormandy cds and they are wonderful. I would appreciate reading the new interviews etc. in the booklets in English if this site will provide translations. Obtaining the cds is relatively easy through the Tower Japan site once you have the catalog numbers. BMG USA is finally releasing this October 9th a single cd from the Rubinstein Collection, #60, with the Rubinstein/ Ormandy Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2-I've been waiting for this for years! I hope other Ormandy admirers will con- tinue to contact Sony and ask for more Ormandy cds,especial- ly the rest of the Beethoven Symphonies, #'s 1-4, and Brahms Symphonies 3 and 4, the Brahms German Requiem, the Mahler 10th, the Prokofiev 4th & 6th Symphonies etc. While the BMG Japan releases have helped a great deal, BMG could still release Ormandy cds such as the Mahler 2nd, the Prokofiev 5th and Alexander Nevsky, Britten's Peter Grimes music, the Tchaikovsky Symphonies 1-4 (you can get #4 on an English RCA Navigator cd and I prefer it to the older Sony per- formance)etc. The Philadelphia Orchestra Centennial set, while expensive, does contain a cd of magnificent live per- formances of Rachmaninoff's Isle of the Dead and Shostako- vitch's 6th Symphony by Ormandy and his peerless orchestra. |
| Name: | maurine schreiber waters |
| E-mail address: | mwhenny@aol.com |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | I have been told by 2 different relatives that Eugene Omandy was married to my grandfather John Rosner's cousin.
I have seen a posting by another Rosner I do not know that says the same thing. Does anyone know what his wife Margaret Gretel" maiden name was or if she was related to Rosner? THank you. |
| Name: | TREBOSC MAX |
| E-mail address: | mtrebosc@wanadoo.fr |
| Country: | FRANCE |
| Comments: | Remarkable ! Fantastic ! The Ormandy Web Pages are very important for the art this conductor !
Best REgards MAX |
| Name: | maurine schreiber waters |
| E-mail address: | mwhenny@aol.com |
| Country: | U.S.A. |
| Comments: | I have read everything I can find on the internet on Eugene Ormandy and did hear a small sample of his music which was so soothing and wonderful.
I have recently been told that Eugene Ormandy married a cousin of my Grandfather Morris John Rosner or my Granmother Jean Schreiber Rosner. I have been in touch in touch with the Philadelphia Ochestra Archive department and they provided much information but no clue to what his wife Margaret's maiden name was. Does anywone possible have that information? The information I received was that he had not children but had to brothers. Would greatly appreciate any information anyone can provide me. Thank you. |
| Name: | John L Turner MD |
| E-mail address: | thom-john@home.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Having known about the incomparable Philadelphia Orchestra and Eugene Ormandy long before I moved to the Philadelphia area, I have long and loving thoughts to share about my extensive collection of recordings (in just about all formats--including the many I taped from radio broadcasts and am transferring to CD-R with amazingly good results, even if I am bragging!). My extensive comments ended up on the link to demand releases by both RCA/BMG and Sony/CBS to appropriately acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments by Maestro Ormandy in so many areas of orchestral music of the 20th Century--not only the unmatched 44-year tenure with one orchestra (longer relationship than that, really, if one counts the time from his first conducting the Philadelphia in 1930 through his famous last performance leading the Orchestra in Carnegie Hall in Februrary 1984)--but in so many areas including building upon the Orchestra that Stokowski had begun shaping to making it the finest in the world (OK--one of the top three by any rational judgment), championship of contemporary composers both American and International, eschewing the fancy showmanship and nasty remarks often made by Music Directors of the other "Top Five" American orchestras as then known, and much more. Obviously, I feel no need to mince words here! (Some of my comments have been posted on message boards of classical Clubs and Groups on MSN and Yahoo/e-groups, and it is quite amazing to learn how many people from all over the world are in complete agreement with me!)
Although I do not have the time just now to respond to some of the many thoughtful entries already posted here, I am more than willing to do so. If anyone would like to contact me at the address above or at: olddocjt@yahoo.com, please do so. A special note to Mr. Smith: I heard your father William Smith, conduct the Orchestra and play any of several keyboard instruments (not just piano, but organ, celesta, too!) on many occasions. I have reasonably accurate and comprehensive information about those recordings where he played (in some cases the keyboard player[s] were noted on the lp jacket or disc label, although often not--in many cases when two pianists were required, he played with Vladimir Sokoloff, although sometimes there were one or two other members of the Orchestra who played keyboard as well), and I would be quite willing to share as much information as I already know or might be able to learn from some friends who are still in the Orchestra. Also, I have almost complete information (from about 1970 onward) about the concerts when he substituted for scheduled guest conductors or for Ormandy (in the fall of 1983, especially). If you see this note, please contact me. I will make it a point to contact you, as well. In the meantime, I am listening to some marvelous Ormandy new CD releases right now, and gradually the appreciation of one of the 20th Century's most astonishingly remarkable musicians is gradually being brought into more appropriate perspective by CD releases, articles in a number of musical journals, and by the help of this Web Site! John Turner Philadelphia |
| Name: | David Molby |
| E-mail address: | dmolby@mindspring.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I find the Eugene Ormandy Web pages very interesting. I have been a Eugene Ormandy fan for 25 years. |
| Name: | elliot rosner |
| E-mail address: | rosnere@juno.com |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | Eugene Ormandy was my cousin. He came to my grandparents
house in America, when he arrived from Europe. He left for concerts and we never heard from him again. |
| Name: | Serhan Bali |
| E-mail address: | obali@turk.net |
| Country: | Turkey |
| Comments: | Dear Sir,
Your Eugene Ormandy site is quite wonderful. I've benfited a lot, thank you. What I want learn is; I know that there is a Mahler 10th Symphony (Deryck Cooke Ist version) recording of Ormandy. I couldn't reach this recording. Would you please show me a way to acquire this? Once again thank you very much and congratulations. Serhan |
| Name: | John Rebholz |
| E-mail address: | jreb3@ij.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Seems to me Eugene Ormandy didn't limit his performances to
classical music. Did he not record a number of popular songs with symphonic orchestral treatment? |
| Name: | Tom Broscius |
| E-mail address: | broscius@sunlink.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the comments on Eugene
Ormandy on your website. I used to attend his concerts at the Mosque in Richmond, VA when I was a student at RPI (1957 to 1961) which is now VCU in Richmond. I remember on one occasion sitting in the balcony with a pair of 8 power binoculars and seeing the beads of sweat on Mr. Ormandy's head. I looked forward to those concerts every year. I have some of his 78s, LPs and or course CDs. The sound which he drew out of his orchestra was matchless and magnificent and the best of any orchestra. His Stravinsky's Fire Bird was the best and his Brahms was matchless. He conducted without a score, must of had a phenomal memory and his movements when conducting have never been equaled. His conducting was so natural he had no need of a baton. Truly he and Toscanni were the best ever! |
| Name: | Stathis Arfanis |
| E-mail address: | stathis@elea.gr |
| Country: | Greece |
| Comments: | So happy to see a Web Site at last dedicated to this great
conductor. Being a long time fan of Eugene (since 1956) and although I have never had the luck to see him alive, I consider him one of the great conductors of the century, sadly underrated taking into consideration that no one ever played Sibelius, Prokofiev and Shostakovich like Eugene. Sibelius #1 at Columbia/Sony and Prokofiev #1, Love of three Oranges, Kije should be desert island record of any music lover. All the best Stathis A. Arfanis Athens Greece |
| Name: | David Smith |
| E-mail address: | northsky@pris.bc.ca |
| Country: | Canada |
| Comments: | I am William Smith's son. I am trying to find any and all
recordings when he was with the orchestra and especially some when he was playing and Ormandy conducting. I would also like to get some of his children's concerts if any of them where recorded. When I was a kid my mother had a recording of Handel's Messiah that was broadcast on a local radio station in Philadelphia. That tape has long since wore out and I would love to get my hands on a copy of this as well. Ormandy and my father were close friends and I only met Ormandy when I was about 2 years old and obviously don't remember him at all. All I have is my birth cup signed by Ormandy. I was down in Philadelphia when my father died and walked thru the Academy treasuing the legacy that Ormandy helped build and was proud to know that he and my father were close friends. |
| Name: | HAYASI Daiti |
| E-mail address: | d_hayasi@nifty.com |
| Country: | Japan |
| Comments: | Hello Robert & other great fans of "Eugene Ormandy & The
Philadelphia Orchestra." I'm a great fan of the "Eugene Ormandy & The Philadelphia Orchestra." I think that this is a wonderful Ormandy web site. By the way, GOOD NEWS from Japan! BMG FUNHOUSE(BMG Japan) will Release Special 20-CD set Eugene Ormandy and The Philadelphia Orchestra's Centenary on April 25,2001. These 20-CD set includes following: Bruckner : Symphony no.7 Beethoven : Eroica Symphony R.Strauss : Eine Heldenleben ,suite from "Rosenkavalier" Death and Transfiguration,Metamorphosen Tchaikovsky : Nutcracker - HighLights Mahler : Titan Symphony Stravinsky : Fire Bird suite Siberius : Symphony Nos. 1,4,5,7 and other orchestral works Kodaly : Hary Janos suite Prokofiev : Lieutenant Kije suite etc..... I'm looking forward to these CD release. |
| Name: | William Steck |
| E-mail address: | WSTECK@ATT.NET |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I am a former violinist of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1961-
1964). I am looking for old LP recordings of Ormandy and the Phila. Orchestra, specifically Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht and Ravel Daphnis and Chloe Suite #'s 1 and 2, both on the same record. If you know where I might find this recording please advise. Thank you. |
| Name: | William Steck |
| E-mail address: | WSTECK@ATT.NET |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I am a former violinist of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1961-
1964). I am looking for old LP recordings of Ormandy and the Phila. Orchestra, specifically Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht and Ravel Daphnis and Chloe Suite #'s 1 and 2, both on the same record. If you know where I might find this recordind please advise. Thank you. |
| Name: | Edythe Coven |
| E-mail address: | edee@flashcom.net |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | My husband gave me the 78 rpm album of Ports of Call. This
music touched me as no other except Clare de Lune has touched me. The first time I was on a cruise, the music rushed back into my head and heart. First record I played was that particular one whenever we returned from a cruise. When I played the record it is badly scratched, so I'm hoping that it has been reproduced on a CD. Does anyone know if it has? It is even more important to me now that I've lost my wonderful husband, but the music brings back beautiful memories. Thank you. |
| Name: | Ira Norman Segall |
| E-mail address: | ira@segall.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Londonderry Aire, now out of print, will of course only be
available by keeping your eyes open at better used record shops and flea markets and garage sales. You may try calling The Princeton Record Exchange in Princeton, New Jersey, USA. My copy, part of an intact collection of P.O. LP's, remains unavailable. I'm a former P.O. recording engineer and the son of a retired viola section member of the Orchestra. Be sure to visit my tribute Eugene Ormandy at http://www.segall.com/blau.html Best of luck. >I< |
| Name: | Janice Thomason |
| E-mail address: | JThoma2796@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Wonderful.....I'm trying to find an album by Eugene Ormandy
& the Philadelphia Orchestra entitled: Londenderry Aire....Do you know anyway or a source for find this? Thank you so much and your web pages are very well done. Janice Thomason |
| Name: | Lindsay Webster |
| Country: | U.S. |
| Comments: | this is really cool! i'll put it in my bookmark!! love it!!
thanx!! |
| Name: | David Hills |
| E-mail address: | ldhmhills@juno.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Hi!,
I've been a huge fan of Ormandy for quite a few years and I have a vast collection of his LP's & 78 sets. What a versatile conductor he was! The "Philadelphia Sound" was magnificent and the multitude of Ormandy recordings are most enjoyable! I continue to seek them and I treasure my Columbia and RCA LP's with Ormandy's name on them. Thanks for a great site on a top notch maestro. |
| Name: | Joel Bader |
| E-mail address: | 103171.1652@compuserve.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Sorry I fouled up when I tried to sign the guest book the
first time! First of all, Maestro Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra introduced me to classical music. At one time our family owned several albums in the "Fabulous Philadelphia Sound Series" such as Finlandia, Bolero and the Grand Canyon Suite from Columbia. Later, we listened to his performance of Shostakovich's 5th Symphony in Ames, Iowa. When I was in college, I purchased a recording of Hindemith's Metamorphises on themes by Weber, which I still have, even though it is also a LP recording. (They do tend to scratch, unfortunately). Thanks for a great web site which pays tribute to a fine conductor and a great orchestra. I hope that fine orchestral music will make a comeback among the American public. |
| Name: | Ron Krieger |
| E-mail address: | ronkrieger@usa.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Hello Robert - Thanks for your great Page. I grew-up in
Phila., attended many concerts and spent many afternoons behind stage as a kid in the '50s & '60s. Maybe you or a visitor can help me. For 30 years I have had a collection of 19 Phila. Orch. concerts on Virgin Master Tape Recordings made at the Academy of Music between 1963 and 1970. 12 of the concerts were conducted by Mr. Ormandy. While the Ormandy Collection at the U. of P. ownes the same concerts recorded a day or two before or after, which were played on WFLN, the then classical music station in Phila., and latter listened to by students until those recordings were placed in protective storage in the 1980s, these are the only Vergin Masters in the world. In their original Scotch Recording Tape boxes, labeled by the technician, both on the boxes and on the tape reels as to orchestra, conductor, soloist, date and concert number, and with that evenings Orch. Program with notations by the technician. There are more than 60 selections on 40 -7' reels and 12 - 10 1/2" reels. I have prepared a complete discograpy. After 30 years it time for me to find a collector who will value their uniqueness as much as I. Thanks RK |
| Name: | Moh Cheong Fong |
| E-mail address: | mohche@hotmail.com |
| Country: | Malaysia |
| Comments: | In 1986, I had listened to a record by RCA, THE WORLD
FAVORITE SHOWPIECE. The music was charged through my body, since that moment Im in love with classical music. Because of Mr. Ormandy's record and his mighty baton, leads me to the realm of spectacular sound of Philadelphia Orchestra with up most glorious music where human could perform. This record only carries 4 pieces, each of them are the greatest performance on Earth. I am sure the music rendered by the orchestra is yet to be surpassed by any orchestra around the world, especially the 1812 Overture and the Romanian Rhapsody No.1. As time goes by, I began to collect Mr. Ormandys CD. I was thrilled on every new purchase of his CD. The more I listen to his record, the more I use to his sound effect. My favorite collections include Thaikovoskys symphonies, Concerto, Ballet and Overtures. Sibelius Symphonies, Orchestra Suite and Tone Poems, Richard Strauss Tone Poems, Wagners Overtures and Preludes, Bizets Suite and etc, all by RCA. Mr. Ormandy became my CD 1st choice on any title I would like to try. Unfortunately all these records were lost in a fire. I am very depressed, my collection will never be as complete as they used to be, no matter how much effort Ive put on in searching of them. For years to come, I wish I could complete my collection. |
| Name: | Karen Johns |
| E-mail address: | wwam98@yahoo.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I have some antique recordings(78 RPM) of Eugene Ormandy
conducting the Minneapolis Orchestra and also an early recording of Mr. Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. If anyone is interested in purchasing one or both, contact me at my email address and we will discuss it. The recordings are: 1. "The Music of Johann Strauss" A Victor Musical Masterpiece.- 1935 (Victor Red Seal Records)-5 Record Set Includes the Blue Danube and Acceleration Waltz. Conducted by Eugene Ormandy with the Minneapolis Orchestra -- The records are in "mint" condition. The cover book is a bit faded. 2. "Brahms Concerto in A Minor for Violin, Cello and Orchestra" 78rpm 4 record set on Victor Records in Excellent Condition. Heifetz=Violin; Feuermann=Cello Conducted by Eugene Ormandy with the Philadelphia Orchestra circa 1940 |
| Name: | Joseph A. DiLuzio, Ph.D. |
| E-mail address: | jdiluz@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Rereading Robert Jones' Appreciation of Eugene Ormandy, I was struck by the sincerity and honesty of his comments and how those same qualities reflected the conductor under review. Jones speaks of "being drawn in" and "made comfortable" by Ormandy's music-making. Well, how right he is! When I attended the Philadelphia Orchestra's last concert this year, I soon realized how uncomfortable I was about the sound and Sawallisch's view of each piece. Respighi's "Birds" was a surprising delight but the Firebird which should have been overwhelming was a let-down with its staccato approach and overly quick, brassy finale. I wasn't being reached, I was reaching for the music! With Ormandy, he and his orchestra always reached you!
Joe DiLuzio |
| Name: | Lilah |
| E-mail address: | lilah@rapidnet.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Does anyone know the LYS number for vol. 1 of the Eugene
Ormandy, American Recording Library disc? I have vol. 2 (Bruckner's 7th and Sibelius' Lemmimkainen) and therefore thought there must be a volume 1. Also, has CRIS 477, William Schuman Sym. 6 and 9 been re-issued? |
| Name: | Jared Rhoads |
| E-mail address: | bassclef@wpi.edu |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Does anybody know where those deco-line-sketch type
pictures of Sergei came from? Are they the works of an artist in Sergei's time, or are they relatively new sktches done by one of the members of this group or by some other artist living now? An example of one is attached, if you don't know which ones to which I am referring... I would really like to know who drew them or roughly when they were drawn- I love them. Thanks, Jared Rhoads |
| Name: | Bill Leland |
| E-mail address: | wleland@nmsu.edu |
| Country: | US |
| Comments: | Born in Philadelphia, attended Philadelphia Orchestra
concerts from the age of eight (not long after Ormandy took over!, ushered at the Philadelphia Academy of Music during my years ('48-'52) as a student at the Phila. Conservatory. Spent many times sitting absolutely stunned by the incredible sound the Philadelphia Orchestra produced--one of my very greatest treasures of musical experience, and still convinced this was the greatest sheer sound in music history. So now it looks like Ormandy is getting "rehabilitated"--very funny! The man had his interpretive limitations, but never did anyone approach him in Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, Tchaikovsky Symphonies, Sibelius, Rachmaninoff, Kodaly, and many others. Bill Leland Pianist in Residence New Mexico State University |
| Name: | Dr. Joseph A. DiLuzio |
| E-mail address: | jdiluz@aol.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I began going to symphony concerts in 1978 when I was 17.
Although Ormandy was old and supposedly "over the hill" at the time, the beauty and unique warmth of those late performances with that unforgettable sound have remained with me all these years later. His unique way with Brahms and Beethoven was overshadowed by his admittedly masterly interpretations of the late Romantics and early 20th century composers. He always won facile praise for his performances of Strauss, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. His enduring monument will always be the Philadelphia Orchestra. Sadly, the proof of his talent, dedication and uniqueness as a musician can be found in the faceless playing of the present orchestra. There were those who dismissed him for what they mistakenly regarded as a bland and formulaic approach to music. Ironically, it is the Philadelphia Orchestra of today that is guilty of such criticism. Muti's desire to destroy the "Philadelphia Sound," succeeded in "throwing out the baby with the bath." Now, that immediately identifiable sound, characterized by matchless ensemble and virtuosity, is only occasionally resurrected by inspired leadership. With Ormandy, especially in Brahms and Beethoven, it could also b |
| Name: | Ormndy Szab Zoltn |
| Country: | Hungary |
| Comments: | A unique and inspiring relative |
| Name: | Joel Katz |
| E-mail address: | joelkatz@netvision.net.il |
| Country: | Israel |
| Comments: | GENEALOGY OF EUGENE ORMANDY
After doing genealogy research, I have found notations that my great-great-grandmother was related to Eugene Ormandy. If anyone has any information which could help me in verifying this, please send me an e-mail. SARA JEANETTE(maiden name unknown)(1822-1912)(born in Beregszasz/Beregovo,Hungary) married RUDOLPH JOSEPH BLAU CHILDREN: Gussie Blau(1868-1930)(md. Herman Berkowitz/Samuel Goldstein Herman Blau (d.1925/26 Budapest) Reggie Blau(md. shoma Friedman) Breindel Blau(Glantz) Fanny Blau(Taub) Peppie Blau(Friedman/Heinnowitz) Toni Blau (md. Philip Schwartz) |
| Name: | 8H Haggis |
| E-mail address: | shellacs@juno.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Dear Friends:
As the webmaster for the Mark Obert-Thorn pages on the Net, I am pleased to give you the URL for a preview article that covers 3 new releases by Mark, including "The Art of Eugene Ormandy" on Biddulph. This article also has two short RealAudio sound clips: an acoustical violin solo played by Ormandy (Song of India) and the opening of the 1948 Hollywood Bowl performance of Mahler's Eighth. The album is the second of 3 discussed at: http://www.2xtreme.net/regina-r/obert-thorn/news.htm which will be on the webpage until I complete my review of the recordings, which will have more extensive commentary. Yours, 8H Haggis Webmaster for Mark Obert-Thorn http://www.2xtreme.net/regina-r/obert-thorn/index.html |
| Name: | angel garijo |
| E-mail address: | cuesta3@juno.com |
| Country: | espana/spain |
| Comments: | quiero colaborar en el homenaje al maestro ormandy con
motivo del centenario de su nacimiento manifestando mi profunda admiracion por el.sugiero la publicacion de un video para deleite de todos los melomanos y como documento visual que muestre su maestria para la posteridad. |
| Name: | Winifred Philomena walsh-Finn |
| E-mail address: | erie@gateway.net |
| Country: | USUSY |
| Comments: | Our mother, Winifred Philomena Walsh-Finn came to the United
Stated, 9/9/1929 and worked in the home of Mr. and Mrs.Eugene Ormandy, "Journey's End", Gladwynne, PA for several years as a Nanny to his children. Winnie was only age l9 and she would greet Mr. Ormandy at the breakfast table in "German". Mom also taught Mr. Ormandy some Gaelic. Mr. Ormandy promised our "Mom" that he would play mustic at her wedding. The wedding was February 14, l941 (Valentine's Day), shortly before our Dad, Thomas David Finn entered the U.S. Army on his way to France, Belgium, North Africa. Our parents reared 7 very nice children and one of their grandson's - Kevin Patrick Finn, is the mail delivery person for Mr. Ormandy's former home in Gladwynne. What a very small workd indeed Mom always told us that: Mr. Ormandy was very much a gentleman! On her first trip back to Ireland in 1935, Mr. and Mrs. Ormandy gave our Mom a beautiful set of luggage for her ocean voyage. She only had a few carpet bags on arrival to the U.S.A. in l929. Mother recently passed on to "The City of God", this past August 6 l999 at the tender age of 88. Dad went to "Glory", February l7, 1987 at the tender age of 78. Please keep in touch! Ann Marie Finn-Cusick (daughter), Lansdowne, PA l9050-1311 |
| Name: | Taylor Green |
| E-mail address: | tgreen@whro.org |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | I am a former announcer with WFLN in Philadelphia(1983-90),
and quite naturally am more than a little worshipful of this man and his legacy. That Sergei Rachmaninoff thought Mr. Ormandy and his Orchestra the best of its kind, there's little more that I can add. However I will add that as of this date 11/17/99 I have seen no mention in The on-line edition of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER of Mr. Ormandy's 100th birthday tomorrow. Perhaps they'll surprise all of us. For that matter, I've not heard of a special concert that his orchestra will perform in his memory. Can someone explain all of this? My only rational guess is that November 18, 1899 is not the correct date after all. TG |
| Name: | Richard Henry Fidler |
| E-mail address: | rfidl@voicenet.com |
| Country: | Hatboro PA 19040 USA |
| Comments: | Thank you for this grand web site. I collect Phila. Orch.
recordings and, to the best of my knowledge, have all but one of their stereo recordings. Does anyone know where I can obtain the lp Columbia MS6179, music of John Vincent. I have the CD but would like the lp. Look forward to surfing your site. Thanks again.a |
| Name: | Captain Classics |
| E-mail address: | captluci@aug.com |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | On Nov. 18, I will devote all three hours of my radio show on WFCF, Flagler College Radio, St. Augustine, Florida to playing selections from Ormandy's fabulous recorded legacy in celebration of 100 years since his birth. |
| Name: | Bob Bubeck |
| Country: | USA |
| Comments: | Favorite Ormandy - Philadelphia Orch recording -"Escales"
by Ebert on the old Columbia "Ports of Call" album. Also, since it it about that time of year, the two Christmas albums that Ormandy did with Columbia and the Temple University Choir using the Harris arrangements (e.g., 'The Glorious Sound of Christmas') are still amoung the very finest recordings ever done for The Season. I have many fine memories of the concerts at the Acadamy of Music during the 1960's. The moments that were most special were those in which a soloist and Dr. Ormandy and the Orchestra so obviously and so thoroughly enjoyed the interplay between each other. RB 11/14/99 |
| Name: | andrew pfeffer |
| E-mail address: | adtpfef@aol.com |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | Very much enjoyed your web site and look forward to many
visits. Question: I have been unable after many tries to connect with the Tower Japan site for international customers. Each time the conection is very slow and is finally terminated with a "timed out" message. I have a Pentium 500 and a US Robotics 56K modem and connect through AOL. I know you're not in the technical advise bsuiness,m but I wonder: Any thoughts as to why this is happening and any suggestions? Thanks. |
| Name: | caroline |
| E-mail address: | vkaro@multimania.com |
| Country: | france |
| Comments: | Hello,
I'm very happy to see your very interresting website...congratulations ! I'm doing a dissertaion about Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances op.45, and he dedicated those Dances to Ormandy and to the Philadelphia orchestra. I've other informations about Ormandy and Rachmaninoff,... you can write to me. |
| Name: | Gracen |
| E-mail address: | fiddlin59@.com |
| Country: | usa |
| Comments: | I loved you in Swan Lake. |