Word: philharmonia
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...roster of artists is impressive. In many cases the Angel touch has helped to make stars out of performers once little more than names in the U.S., notably Soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Conductor Herbert von Karajan with London's Philharmonia Orchestra, Russian Pianist Emil Gilels. Some record shoppers will buy the bright, cellophane-wrapped Angel albums for the label alone. Although Angel's sales are still well behind Victor and Columbia, the company now ranks fourth in classical LP sales (just behind London), and rival record executives have come to regard the muscle-flexing cherub nervously...
This week Jean Sibelius is 90, and the anniversary is being observed in many cities of the world. Manhattan's Symphony of the Air gave an all-Sibelius concert under the direction of a Sibelius son-in-law, Jussi Jalas; London's Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic both scheduled Sibelius evenings; even Tokyo's NHK (radio) Symphony is going all-Sibelius for one performance...
When it came to Debussy's La Mer, with its enormous orchestral apparatus, the Philharmonia showed the negative side of being a child prodigy. It played all the notes and played them beautifully, and listeners heard unfamiliar details, but somehow the music failed to billow and surge. It was as if a dry land breeze were blowing over Debussy's sea that day. Berlioz' Fantastic Symphony suffered similarly: the fragrant resonances, the languid rubatos and the snarling brasses were there, but the fantasy was hard to find...
Growing Up. The reason probably lay with Conductor von Karajan, 47, who was suffering from an old back ailment, and who is perhaps not his best self in French music anyhow. For the Philharmonia is a chameleon-like instrument that almost too easily adapts to its conductor. It was formed of Britain's choice musicians primarily as a recording orchestra, which, unlike Toscanini's NBC Symphony, never had a permanent conductor. Its founder: Walter Legge, London impresario and record executive (Electrical & Musical Industries Ltd., which successfully launched Angel Records in the U.S.). In order to keep the orchestra...
...remains to be heard whether, as it grows up, the Philharmonia ever acquires a real character of its own. In the mean time, it is a thoroughly brilliant and attractive young person to find among the orchestral oldsters...