Some time ago I read an article in the International Record
Collector--on of the many Gramophone Magazine offshoots--that discussed
the history of Urania. It was an American label that got its start
shortly after WWII, licensing broadcast recordings from European (mostly
German) radio stations. The Celi recordings issued by Urania were
actually recorded live or recorded in the studio for broadcast, and not
produced by Urania itself. Eventually Urania actually did produce some
of its own recordings, such as the Rossini/Respigi La Boutique
Fantasque, conducted by Rene Liebowitz.
The Decca recordings of Tschaikovsky's 5th and Nutcracker Suite have
been reissued on an Italian label calling itself Urania that may or may
not have any actual connection with the now-defunct American label.
In the Net broadcast interview with Celi's son Serge, publicizing the
contract with Deutsche Gramophone, I asked whether there were any plans
to issue Der Taschengarten. The response was that there were no plans to
do so at this time, but it might be released sometime in the future.
As I understand it, the LP version was issued only in Japan, however
many copies wound up in the Tower Records cutout bins in New York by the
mid-eighties.
Celi apparently composed using his own peculiar system of notation. I
think it would require a very gifted conductor and orchestra to devote a
great deal of time immersing themselves in his sound world to produce
anything but a travesty of his compositions. I doubt whether Klaus
Heymann has either the resources or the inclination to finance such a
long-term effort in preparation for a recording.
Dan Dickstein
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Some time ago I read an article in the International Record Collector--on
of the many Gramophone Magazine offshoots--that discussed the history of
Urania. It was an American label that got its start shortly after WWII,
licensing broadcast recordings from European (mostly German) radio stations.
The Celi recordings issued by Urania were actually recorded live or recorded
in the studio for broadcast, and not produced by Urania itself. Eventually
Urania actually did produce some of its own recordings, such as the Rossini/Respigi
La Boutique Fantasque, conducted by Rene Liebowitz.
The Decca recordings of Tschaikovsky's 5th and Nutcracker Suite have been reissued on an Italian label calling itself Urania that may or may not have any actual connection with the now-defunct American label.
In the Net broadcast interview with Celi's son Serge, publicizing the contract with Deutsche Gramophone, I asked whether there were any plans to issue Der Taschengarten. The response was that there were no plans to do so at this time, but it might be released sometime in the future.
As I understand it, the LP version was issued only in Japan, however many copies wound up in the Tower Records cutout bins in New York by the mid-eighties.
Celi apparently composed using his own peculiar system of notation.
I think it would require a very gifted conductor and orchestra to devote
a great deal of time immersing themselves in his sound world to produce
anything but a travesty of his compositions. I doubt whether Klaus Heymann
has either the resources or the inclination to finance such a long-term
effort in preparation for a recording.
Dan Dickstein --------------1630C6620BD71305B177E535--