RIP Michael Schwalbe.

[pastoralguy]

Sean Rafferty announced that Karajan's favourite leader, Michael Schwalbe, died on Monday. He was 93.

[Richard Tarleton]

There's a lovely picture of him in action on the sleeve notes of the BBC Testament CD of Heldenleben/Pastoral frm the live concert in the RFH in May 1972. That and the 1975 EMI are my favourite versions of Heldenleben - glorious solos from Schwalbé.

[PJPJ]

Michael Schwalbé - RIP.

A very fine leader for both Ansermet and Karajan.

[amateur51]

Sad news indeed, but 93 is a great age.

His name evokes for me Karajan's recordings of Ein Heldenleben and Also Sprach Zarathustra

Thank you maestro Schwalbé

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Sad news indeed, but 93 is a great age.

His name evokes for me Karajan's recordings of Ein Heldenleben and Also Sprach Zarathustra

- and the solos in the Four Last Songs, the Missa Solemnis and the second movement of Brahms 1st - and a not-at-all bad Four Seasons!

Thank you maestro Schwalbé

[BBMmk2]

How sad to hear this but he had a good innings.

RIP Michel Scwalbe

[EdgeleyRob]

Very sad news,what an interesting and long life he had. RIP.

[Nick Armstrong]

Karajan's recordings of Ein Heldenleben and Also Sprach Zarathustra

- and the solos in the Four Last Songs

Ditto

[Petrushka]

Ditto to all the above.

Coincidentally, another great concertmaster died on exacrly the same day. Theo Olof late of the Concertgebouw has passed away.

[pastoralguy]

Many thanks for the responses. I should have spelt the maestro's name Michel!

Apologies.

[Roslynmuse]

Heldenleben (Karajan's DG 1959 version) for me too. I remember hearing the work for the first time in that recording one Saturday afternoon in November 1979 when - aged 14 - I should have been doing my homework. I listened to it all the way through again straight away! Incidentally, I still can't hear the piece without feeling the need to get up and turn the LP for the start of the battle scene!