Tamás Vásáry playing the Chopin 2 Piano Concertos with Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

[Stanfordian]

Can anyone give me the recording dates and venues of my personal favourite recordings of the two Chopin Concertos that Tamás Vásáry made with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the 1960s? Vásáry used a different conductor for each Concerto; Jerzy Semkov in the E minor and Janos Kulka in the F minor score. My release on Deutsche Grammophon Collection du Millenaire gives no information.

[makropulos]

Can anyone give me the recording dates and venues of my personal favourite recordings of the two Chopin Concertos that Tamás Vásáry made with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the 1960s? Vásáry used a different conductor for each Concerto; Jerzy Semkov in the E minor and Janos Kulka in the F minor score. My release on Deutsche Grammophon Collection du Millenaire gives no information.

The dates I have are: No. 1 - July 1963, No. 2 - June 1965. At that time the likely venue is the Jesus-Christus Kirche, but I don't have that information.

[Stanfordian]

Hello markopoulos,

Thank you so much for that valuable information. Yes, I agree that the venue was probably the Jesus Christ Church at Berlin, Dahlem. The new Philharmonie didn’t officially open until 15 October 1963 and was used for recording virtually straight away in tandem with the much admired acoustics of the Jesus Christ Church. I am hoping to visit the said church in September. Maybe someone is still able to confirm the location of Vásáry’s Chopin recordings?

[gradus]

Sorry I can't help but why not drop Vasary a line c/o his agent and ask him?

[HighlandDougie]

The "1st" of each of the months looks a bit suspicious but

http://www.passionato.com/album-detail/AU4b0d493e3af3d/

would seem to confirm that the recording location was indeed the J C Church in Dahlem. DGG sleeves of that era don't, alas, tend to give information about recording venues. The Passionato info on the producer/engineer(s) is certainly correct. Have a great trip to Berlin.

[Nick Armstrong]

Can anyone give me the recording dates and venues of my personal favourite recordings of the two Chopin Concertos that Tamás Vásáry made with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in the 1960s? Vásáry used a different conductor for each Concerto; Jerzy Semkov in the E minor and Janos Kulka in the F minor score. My release on Deutsche Grammophon Collection du Millenaire gives no information.

If you like, I can ask him He happens to be my upstairs neighbour He's not been around much but I think I remember rightly that his wife mentioned he's back at the end of the month for a little while.

[amateur51]

If you like, I can ask him He happens to be my upstairs neighbour He's not been around much but I think I remember rightly that his wife mentioned he's back at the end of the month for a little while.

Namedropper, Caliban

I accidentally poked a woman at the checkout in Marble Arch M&S with my stick the other day. As I turned to apologise, I realised that it was Una Stubbs

I told her she was wonderful in the new Sherlock Holmes TV series ... and I think she's forgiven me.

She called me 'darling'

[Nick Armstrong]

Namedropper, Caliban

I accidentally poked a woman at the checkout in Marble Arch M&S with my stick the other day. As I turned to apologise, I realised that it was Una Stubbs

I told her she was wonderful in the new Sherlock Holmes TV series ... and I think she's forgiven me.

She called me 'darling'

I thought you might pop up, Ammy!

Una is a gem and was indeed great as Mrs 'Udson. Funny coincidence - on the train back from France this lunchtime I was listening to the Warren Mitchell Desert Island Discs from the R4 archive - he mentions her, as she was of course the hapless daughter of Alf.. It's another cracking programme, by the way - WM's Antony Hopkins, Richard Burton etc impressions are flawless!!

[Stanfordian]

If you like, I can ask him He happens to be my upstairs neighbour He's not been around much but I think I remember rightly that his wife mentioned he's back at the end of the month for a little while.

Hello Highland Dougie and Caliban,

Thank you both for your asistance. I am interested in all things concerning the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Yes, it looks like the recording venue is almost certainly the Jesus Christ Church at Berlin, Dahlem. Pre the new Philharmonie the Berlin Philharmonic did use one or two venues for their recordings other than the Jesus Christ Church in the late 50s and early 60s. But it would be good if Caliban could ask if the man himself can remember.

In my view Tamás Vásáry's playing of the Larghetto of the F minor concerto has never been surpassed. Vásáry creates an ethereal mood where time almost stands still such is the beauty of the music and the playing.

[Barbirollians]

Sometimes I think one's whole perception of a work can be influenced by your first recording. It can be of course that a later recording opens you up to a work when the initial recording was a disappointment. In the cas eof the Chopin concertos I was very lucky - Pollini Kletzki in No1 and Vasary in No2

[Nick Armstrong]

But it would be good if Caliban could ask if the man himself can remember.

Btw still no sight or sound of him back yet this summer, but I'm glad this thread was bumped back up as a reminder

[Barbirollians]

A google search suggests he is performing in Mumbai this week and then Budapest !

[umslopogaas]

I have the LP of the first concerto, with the BPO conducted by Semkow: SLPEM 136 453. Its stamped 1965 on the run-out groove. No details are given of the recording venue.

[Nick Armstrong]

Dear Stanford's Legacy - you are quite right. I enquired of Tamas, and indeed his two Chopin concertos with the BPO were recorded in the Jesus Christus Church in Berlin Dahlem.

[Stanfordian]

Many thanks for that Caliban. The information is very much appreciated. I have a large collection of recordings by the Berlin Philharmonic and I like to know as much information about each one as possible. Tamás Vásáry’s versions of the Chopin concertos that I have on French DG disc are as fine as I have heard.

Whilst in Berlin 3 weeks ago for the berlin musikfest 2011 I had a look at the Jesus Christ Church in Berlin Dahlem. I took some photos from the outside but was not able to get in. Why? There was a piano recital being recorded. It still remains a top choice for recordings.