Every so often the overseas radio networks will toss a zinger at you. This past week, RSR Espace 2, the famous Swiss Radio outlet broadcast a concert given by l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, conducted by their former Music Director, the legendary Paul Kletzki from 1967 (and 1969). Joining Kletzki is the equally legendary Belgian violinist Arthur Grumiaux, who joins the orchestra in the Beethoven Violin Concerto.

For collectors, the name Paul Kletzki is significant. He was one of the outstanding conductors of the 20th Century whose survival under Nazism, Fascism, and the Stalinist purges occasionally overshadowed his tremendous gift as a musician. His recordings are highly sought after and his live recordings (like this one) are milestones in the area of interpretation.

So it's a special Mid-Week Concert this week and hopefully there will be others in the future.

For now - here's the rundown of what you'll be hearing:

Les archives de l’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.
Concert hommage à Paul Klecki,
chef de l’OSR de 1967 à 1970
Enregistrements réalisés au Studio
Ernest-Ansermet et au Victoria Hall
à Genève entre 1967 et 1969
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Arthur Grumiaux, violon

Direction : Paul Klecki

- C. M. von Weber:
Euryanthe. Opéra en 3 actes (extrait), Jähns 291(Victoria Hall)

- L. van Beethoven:
Concerto pourviolon et orchestre, en ré majeur, op. 61(Victoria Hall)

- S. Rakhmaninov:
Symphonie no 3,en la mineur, op.44 (Studio Ernest- Ansermet)

The concert is broken up between two players - the top player has the Weber and Beethoven and the bottom player has the Rachmaninoff.

A little history to go with your Anti-Road Rage Wednesday.

Over to Basle Switzerland this week for a concert featuring the Symphony Orchestra of Basle conducted by Dennis Russell Davies with soloists Martin Achrainer, Baritone, the Hudson Shad Vocal Ensemble and Marianne Faithfull.

Recorded by RSR Espace 2 in Switzerland on October 26, 2011 it features the music of Igor Stravinsky, Swiss Contemporary composer Rudolf Kelterborn and Kurt Weill.

The program goes as follows:

En différé du Stadt-Casino de Bâle

(26.10.11)
2ème concert symphonique du
Sinfonieorchester Basel
Marianne Faithfull, mezzo-soprano
Martin Achrainer, baryton
Hudson Shad, ensemble vocal
Basel Sinfonieorchester
Direction: Dennis Russell Davies

I. Strawinsky: L’Oiseau de feu, suite (1919)

Rudolf Kelterborn: Espansioni, symphonie no 3 (1974/75)

Kurt Weill: Les Sept péchés capitaux (1933)

The concert is broken up between two players - the top player features the Stravinsky and Kelterborn and the bottom player features the Weill.

A great and adventuresome concert featuring one of the Pop music icons of the 60's, in a serious role and doing it wonderfully well.

Enjoy.

One of the wonderful things about the Festival season this past year in Europe is that there was no shortage of musical experimenting going on. If you were up for the ride, it was generally pretty exciting.

Take for example this one - from The Amadeus Festival just outside Geneva Switzerland during this past September 7th. A concert featuring Pianist and festival Music Director Alexandre Tharaud and Flamenco guitarist and singer Alberto Garcia in a combined program of music of Scarlatti and traditional Flamenco. It was recorded live by Espace 2 of Radio Suisse Romande.

On the face of it, it doesn't seem like a terribly good idea (granted, if you're not familiar with traditional Flamenco singing, it may take some getting used to), but ten minutes into it, you're hooked. As was the audience, since they asked for (and got) no less than two encores.

Pretty adventuresome and exciting stuff. And it's a little over an hour, so it all fits on one player.

Here's a rundown of what you'll be hearing:

07 Septembre 2011
Alexandre Tharaud, piano
Alberto Garcia, quitare et chanteur flamenco

Domenico SCARLATTI (1685 - 1757)
Sonates K64, K239 et K380
Malagueña y verdial*
Sonates K208 et K72
Solea*
Sonates K3 et K430
Vidalita*
Sonate K141
Toná*
Sonate K8
Siguiriya*
* chants traditionnels (Sous réserve de modifications)

I confess to being a big fan of Scarlatti and Flamenco anyway, so that instantly grabbed my attention. It may or may not yours.

If not, there's always last week if you missed it and next week if you'll stick around.

Over to Switzerland this week for a concert by the famed Suisse Romande Orchestra under their soon-to-be-stepping-down Music Director Marek Janowski, recorded live at the Montreux-Vevey Music Festival on September 2nd.

Just two pieces this week, but good ones. Opening with the Beethoven 2nd Symphony and finishing with Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde with mezzo-Soprano Lioba Braun and Tenor Robert Dean Smith.

The concert is broken up between two players with the top player featuring the Beethoven and the bottom player featuring the Mahler.

Announcements are in French and it's edited down from the original 3 hours (long intermission) and recorded live and direct by RSR Espace 2.

Here are the notes:

19.30 L’été des festivals

En direct de l’auditorium Stravinski à Montreux

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Marek Janowski, direction

Lioba Braun, mezzo-soprano

Robert Dean Smith, Ténor

Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonie no 2 en ré majeur pour orchestre, op. 36

Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

Enjoy.

Gearing up for the Holiday weekend with a classic concert by The Pretenders, live at Montreux in 1987. The complete concert, uncut, unaltered and with all the breathless French announcements intact.

Play loud.

Enjoy the weekend and take a break from the spinmeisters.

You'll thank me on Sunday. Or not.

Over to Geneva this week for a concert by The Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra conducted by Michael Hofstetter and featuring the Turkish-born pianist/composer Fazil Say playing the Shostakovitch Concerto for Piano and Trumpet as well as Gershwin's Summertime from Porgy and Bess as an encore. The first half of the concert features the Mendelssohn Symphony Nr. 10 and Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.

A rather short concert (a little over an hour), but I split it up between two players anyway, with the Mendelssohn and Mozart on the top player and the Shostakovitch and Gershwin on the bottom player.

The concert was recorded by Radio Suisse Romande Espace 2 on December 6, 2010. Announcements are in French, the orchestra is German, the soloist is Turkish and the hall is Swiss. Are we talking International here, or what?

Notes as always:

Transmission différée du concert
donné le 6 décembre 2010 au
Victoria-Hall à Genève,
dans le cadre de la série «Les Grands
Interprètes» organisée par l’Agence Caecilia

Orchestre de Chambre de Stuttgart

Direction: Michael Hofstetter
Fazil Say, piano
Jonathan Müller, trompette

Part 1 -F. Mendelssohn: Symphonie no 10, pour cordes, en si mineur

W. A. Mozart: Sérénade pour cordes no 13, en sol majeur KV 525 «Eine
Kleine Nachtmusik», KV 525

Part 2 - D. Shostakovich (sen): Concerto pour piano et trompette no 1, en ut mineur, op. 35

G. Gershwin: Summertime, pour piano

Enjoy.