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Two important works (both on The
CDs with technical deterrents) he ècomplete
only conducted once were Mahler’s orchestral and
Song Of The Earth and Beethoven’s opera recordings
‘Pastoral’ Symphony. He agreed to Kleiber made for
stand in for Josef Krips to conduct DG [477 8826;
the Mahler composition with the 10CDs]
Vienna Symphony Orchestra on
June the 7th 1967. Preparing the
work, he met with Otto Klemperer
in Zurich to discuss Mahler’s score
in detail. A much-pirated tape copy

was finally remastered for the VSO’s
own label [WS007]. It proved to be
Christa Ludwig’s night (Waldemar
Kmennt, the tenor, was far too close-
mic’d), so worth hearing for her.
But given the technical problems
with the sound I’d suggest listening
to the YouTube upload rather than
spending money. And after the that he had built, in Konjšica – as Music-lovers who regularly
success of his live Symphony No 4 Karajan put it ‘he only came out watched the TV transmissions from
[Orfeo C100841B] the ‘Pastoral’ when his freezer was empty’. Vienna on the 1st of January will
was rather disappointing – it was Diagnosed with untreatable prostate remember the shock of this elegant
transferred from a Nov ’83 cassette cancer, he died seven months after new figure patently enjoying the

recording made by Kleiber’s son his wife Stanislava, a former ballet sounds he choreographed in 1989
[Orfeo C600031B]. These are both dancer, in July 2004. The two had [see ‘Essential Recordings’ boxout,
with the Bavarian State Opera Orch. met when he was conducting at below] and again three years later.
Düsseldorf in the early ’60s. A rehearsal clip shows how hard
he worked even in the VPO’s core
OPEN APOLOGY Strauss repertory.
Shortly after the success of his Violinist and former VPO Director
Beethoven 7th and Schubert No 3 Clemens Helsborg said ‘In art there
LPs he gave two concerts with the are no upward limits. Yet each
LSO including these symphonies, generation needs at least one artist

Kleiber in June 1981, Milan then London. who exemplifies this. Carlos Kleiber
PHOTO: YOUTUBE ëconducted But the critics here were hostile reached to the stars for us; even
and the Observer’s Peter Heyworth
the VPO’s
when he broke down in his efforts,
‘New Year Day’
Kleiber himself said, enigmatically,
concerts in 1989 wrote an open apology on their he still proved that they exist’.
behalf. Needless to say, Kleiber never
One recording that was much and 1992 returned to the Festival Hall. ‘One shouldn’t leave traces in life’.
anticipated, we never had. Kleiber
was to record R Strauss’s Ein
Heldenleben with the Vienna ESSENTIAL RECORDINGS
Philharmonic for Sony, but either
walked away or refused to allow Beethoven: Symphonies Nos 5 & 7 Brahms: Symphony No 4
publication (YouTube has a 1993 DG 471 6302 (SACD) DG 457 7062; also 479 2687 (3CDs + Blu-ray)
VPO concert version). And we might Kleiber’s unmissable VPO coupling from Kleiber’s 1961 VPO version ‘blends intellectual
never have had his Dresden Tristan 1975/6 – one of the few SACDs to remain in rigour, passion and perfectionism’ [BBC
und Isolde, which some sources say DG’s catalogue. Orfeo has a 1982 live Seventh. Music]. De-Luxe set also has the two Schubert
he declined to approve, although and Beethoven Symphonies remastered.
Gramophone says he assisted in the Schubert: Symphonies Nos 3 & 8
digital remix for CD [DG 477 5355]. DG 449 7452 VPO New Year Day Concerts 1989/92
He was a constant source of Kleiber’s 1978 VPO recordings with a superb DG 0734014 (DVD)/Sony G010001399438J;
bewilderment and frustration. ‘Unfinished’ and with No 3 especially thrilling Philips E701529 (DVD)/Sony COLSK48376.

Conductor Manfred Honeck (then in the fi nal Presto. An odd mish-mash of labels for these two
in the VPO): ‘Time and again he historic events, on DVDs or CDs.
first said yes, then called the next Verdi: La Traviata

morning to say he’d changed his DG 479 7287 (2CDs + Blu-ray audio) Carlos Kleiber: I Am Lost To The World
mind. A short note “I’m off into the Cotrubas as Violetta – ‘an ideal heroine’ – C major 705608 (DVD)

blue” and that was it’. Domingo (Alfredo), Milnes (Germont) and the Musicians define the art and personality,
Kleiber liked nothing more than Bayerischer Staatsoper. German original film with UK subtitles.

to drive back to the Slovenia home

DECEMBER 2020 | www.hifi news.co.uk | 81