Karl Bohm - Mozart & Strauss (2005) (8 CDs Box Set)

Born in Graz, Austria, Böhm studied law and earned a doctorate on this subject. He later studied music at the Graz Conservatory. On the recommendation of Karl Muck, Bruno Walter engaged him at Munich's Bavarian State Opera in 1921. Darmstadt (1927) and Hamburg (1931) were the next places he resided as a young conductor, before succeeding Fritz Busch as head of Dresden's Semper Opera in 1934. He secured a top post at the Vienna State Opera in 1943, eventually becoming music director.
Perhaps his greatest contribution to music lay in bringing to life the operas of his close colleague Richard Strauss. Böhm led the premieres of Strauss's late works Die Schweigsame Frau (1935) and Daphne (1938), of which he is the dedicatee, recorded all of the major operas (often making cuts to the scores), and regularly revived Strauss's operas with strong casts during his tenures in Vienna and Dresden, as well as at the Salzburg Festival.

Tracklist:

CD1
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Requiem in D minor, K.626 (compl. by Franz Xaver Süssmayer)
1. Introitus: Requiem
2. Kyrie
3. Sequentia: Dies
4. Sequentia: Tuba
5. Sequentia: Rex
6. 3. Sequentia: Recordare
7. Sequentia: Confutatis
8. Sequentia: Lacrimosa
9. Offertorium: Domine Jesu
10.Offertorium: Hostias
11. Sanctus
12. Benedictus
13. Agnus Dei
14. Communio: Lux aeterna
Teresa Stich-Randall - soprano
Ira Malaniuk - contralto
Waldemar Kmentt - tenor
Kurt Bohme - bass
Wiener Staatsopernchor
Wiener Symphoniker
Recording: Vienna, November 1956
Symphony No.26 in E flat, K.184
15. Molto presto
16. Andante
17. Allegro
Symphony No.32 in G, K.318 (Overture in G)
18. Allegro spiritoso
19. Andante
20. Tempo I
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Recording: Amstardam, 19-22 September 1955



CD2
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No.34 in C, K.338
1. Allegro vivace
2. Andante di molto
3. Minuet
4. Finale (Allegro vivace)
Symphony No.36 in C, K.425 - "Linz"
5. Adagio - Allegro spiritoso
6. Andante
7. Menuetto
8. Finale (Presto)
Symphony No.38 in D, K.504 "Prague"
9. Adagio - Allegro
10. Andante
11. Finale (Presto)
Wiener Philharmoniker
Recording: Vienna, Musikverein, Grosser Saal, November 1954



CD3
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No.39 in E flat, K.543
1. Adagio - Allegro
2. Andante con moto
3. Menuetto (Allegretto)
4. Finale (Allegro)
Symphony No.40 in G minor, K.550
5. Molto allegro
6. Andante
7. Menuetto (Allegretto)
8. Finale (Allegro assai)
Symphony No.41 in C, K.551 - "Jupiter"
9. Allegro vivace
10. Andante cantabile
11. Menuetto (Allegretto)
12. Molto allegro
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Recording: Amsterdam, 19-22 (No39) & 22-27 September 1955



CD4
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Serenade in G, K.525 "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" - Orchestral version
1. Allegro
2. Romance (Andante)
3. Menuetto
4. Rondo (Allegro)
Serenata notturna in D, K.239
5. Marcia (Maestoso)
6. Menuetto - Trio
7. Rondeau (Allegretto - Adagio - Allegro)
Berliner Philharmoniker
Recording: Berlin, Jesus-Christus-Kirche, 22 December 1956 (K.525), 12&13 September 1957 (K.239)
Carl Maria von Weber
8. Overture Euryanthe
9. Overture Oberon
10. Overture Preciosa
11. Peter Schmoll und seine Nachbarn - Overture
Wiener Philharmoniker
Recording: Vienna, Musikverein, Grosser Saal, May 1951



CD5
Richard Stauss
1. Don Juan, Op.20
2. Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks (Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche), Op. 28
Recording: Dresden, Kreuzkirche, 18&25 (op.20), 26&27 September 1957
Ein Heldenleben, Op.40
3. Der Held
4. Des Helden Widersacher
5. Des Helden Gefährtin
6. Des Helden Walstatt
7. Des Helden Friedenswerke
8. Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung
Staatskapelle Dresden
Recording: Dresden, Kreuzkirche, 7-9 February1957



CD6
Richard Stauss
Alpensymphonie, Op.64
1. Nacht - Sonnenaufgang
2. Der Anstieg
3. Eintritt in den Wald
4. Eintritt (cont.) - Wanderung neben dem Bache- Am Wasserfall- Erscheinung
5. Auf blumige Wiesen-Auf der Alm-Durch Dickicht-Auf dem Gletscher
6. Gefahrvolle Augenblicke - Auf dem Gipfel - Vision
7. Nebel steigen auf - Die Sonne verdüstert sich - Elegie
8. Stille vor dem Sturm
9. Gewitter und Sturm, Abstieg
10. Sonnenuntergang
11. Ausklang - Nacht
Staatskapelle Dresden
Recording: Dresden, Kreuzkirche, 14-18 September 1957
12. Tod und Verklärung, Op.24
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Recording: Amsterdam, 27 September 1955



CD7
Richard Stauss
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op.30
1. Prelude (Sonnenaufgang)
2. Von den Hinterweltlern
3. Von der großen Sehnsucht
4. Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften
5. Das Grablied
6. Von der Wissenschaft
7. Der Genesende
8. Das Tanzlied
9. Das Nachtwandlerlied
Michel Schwalbe - violin solo
Berliner Philharmoniker
Recording: Berlin, Jesus-Christus-Kirche, 15-17 April 1958
Vier letzte Lieder
10. Beim Schlafengehen
11. September
12. Frühling
13. Im Abendrot
Lisa Della Casa - soprano
Wiener Philharmoniker
Recording: Vienna, Musikverein, Grosser Saal, June 1953



CD8
Karl Bohm
A Life Retold
1. Early Years in Graz
2. First Conducting Experiences
3. Munich, Darmstadt and Alban Berg
4. Dresden, Richard Strauss and Mozart
5. Strauss as Conductor and Composer
6. Interlude in Vienna
7. Mozart's Genius
8. The Vienna State Opera Destroyed and Rebuilt
Recording: Salzburg, July 1960