Milan-born conductor Alceo
Galliera (1910-1996) leads the Philharmonia through a swiftly
operatic Tragic Overture. In fact it’s the fastest version
I have ever heard. It comes as a shock to the system if you
are used to Klemperer-like gravitas. It is most beautifully
recorded and the 1956 stereo sounds remarkably well – in
fact let’s not mince words: it’s superb! It’s a useful antidote
to Brahms when you start to feel he has become grim in the
hands of other conductors. At this speed Galliera sounds
more like Muti putting the Schumann symphonies through their
paces.
Two years later came a
characterful Double Concerto from Oistrakh and Fournier.
The sound is full of ambient life and there is no zooming
in on the soloists or if there is it is done with great taste.
This is a sound middle of the road recommendation but the
hairs on the back of my neck did not prickle in the way they
do whenever I hear the Leonard Rose and Isaac Stern version
(see review).
There is a slight pop
that should have been swotted at 1:31 in the finale. Otherwise
the remastering is excellent. Masterful unanimity and sovereign
tone from the orchestra.
Like Galliera Lovro, Von
Matačić (1899-1985) remains for many one of those
peripherally known conductors who was energetically taken
up by EMI in the 1950s and who also was paid court by Supraphon.
He tackled opera including a lauded Merry Widow. He was also
engaged for symphonies by Bruckner, Tchaikovsky and Balakirev.
A popular accompanist-conductor he worked with Oistrakh in
Prokofiev 1, Richter in Grieg-Schumann and Rabin in Glazunov. This
is another excellent version which for me really catches
fire in the finale. It is there at 2.10 onwards in the orchestral
tutti that we hear what these days might be called wilfulness
from Von Matačić. A spate of quickly pumped up
acceleration makes Bruch sound like Tchaikovsky – has Bruch
ever sounded so fiery?
There’s a luxuriously
detailed and allusive note by Tully Potter.
Fine revivals from the
EMI stable and a pleasure to welcome them back.
Rob Barnett
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David Oistrakh (violin) 
