Restoration of 78 rpm records

Classical Selection

Some of the records that I have processed by a combination of analogue and digital methods.

This page is mainly orchestral. Classical..2 is mainly Chamber music and Piano.

1 Tchaikovsky Symphony No.6, Furtwangler, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

  • Tchaikovsky, Symphony No.6 in B minor, Opus 74
  • played by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler
  • Discs HMV D.B.4609-14 Recorded 1936?
  • The outer movements contained some ugly thumps (now mostly removed) which seem to be the conductor getting over-excited on the podium
Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
1 Adagio-Allegro non troppo start
2 Allegro con grazia 19:24
3 Allegro molto vivace 27:55
4 Finale. Adagio lamentoso-Andante 36:53
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2 Bach Brandenberg Concerto No.5, Ecole Normale Chamber Orch.

  • Bach, Brandenberg Concerto No.5 in D major
  • played by CORTOT-Piano, THIBAUD-Violin, CORTET-Flute and Ecole Normale Chamber Orch., Paris
  • Discs HMV D.B.1783-4 Recorded ?
  • This recording contained some very unseemly thuds (now reduced to near inaudibility) in the piano cadenza toward the end of the first movement which do not seem to be unique to my set of discs as I heard them broadcast. The second and third movements are much quieter and the loudness of the start is not reached until the closing bars of the whole composition.The third movement starts extremely quietly!. The opening of the second side was badly distorted- it would be a pleasure to reprocess these discs if a set in good condition were available.
Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
1 Allegro start
2 Affetuoso 09:17
3 Allegro 13:44
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3 Bach Brandenberg Concerto No. 6, Busch Chamber Players

  • Bach, Brandenberg Concerto No. 6 in Bflat major
  • played by The Busch Chamber Players under the Musical Direction of Adolf Busch
  • Discs Columbia LX 447-9 Recorded ?
Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
1 Allegro start
2 Adagio ma non troppo 08:11
3 Allegro 15:11
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4 Brahms Symphony No.3, Walter, VPO

  • Brahms, Symphony No.3 in F major , Opus 90
  • played by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bruno Walter
  • Discs HMV D.B. 2933-2936 Recorded 1936
Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
1 Allegro con brio start
2 Andante 08:28
3 Poco Allegretto 15:42
4 Allegro 21:04
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5 Schubert Symphony No.9, Walter, LSO

  • Schubert, Symphony No.9 in C major (The Great C Major)
  • played by London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bruno Walter
  • Discs HMV D.B.3607-12 Recorded 11-12th September 1938
Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
1 Andante-Allegro ma non troppo start
2 Andante con moto 12:37
3 Scherzo-Allegro vivace 26:00
4 Finale-Allegro vivace 34:33
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6 Bach Suites Nos.3 and 4, Busch Chamber Players

  • Bach, Orchestral Suite No.3 and 4 both in D major
  • played by The Adolf Busch Chamber Players ; Musical Director and Leader, Adolf Busch
  • Discs H.M.V. D.B. Recorded ?
Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
1 Suite No.3 start
Ouverture, Air, Gavottes 1 and 2, Bourée, Gigue
2 Suite No.4 19:40
Ouverture, Bourées 1 and 2, Gavotte, Menuet, Réjouissance
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7 Mozart C Major Piano Concerto, Schnabel, Sargent, LSO

  • Mozart, Concerto in C Major, K.V.467
  • played by Artur Schnabel and the London Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Dr. Malcolm Sargent
  • Discs H.M.V. D.B. 8355-8 Recorded ?
Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
1 Allegro Maestoso start
2 Andante 06:28
3 Allegro vivace Assai 07:41
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8 Schumann Piano Concerto, Hess, Goehr

  • Piano Concerto in A minor, Opus 54
  • played by Myra Hess with the Symphony Orchestra conducted by Walter Goehr
  • Discs H.M.V. C.2492-5
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Allegro Affetuoso start
    2 Intermezzo-Andantino Grazioso 15:10
    3 Allegro vivace 19:47
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9 Elgar Violin Concerto, Menuhin, Elgar, LSO

  • Yehudi Menuhin and the LSO conducted by the composer
  • These discs have been giving enjoyment for many of the first 30 years of their life. Some distortion has inevitably crept in, nevertheless the sound is, I hope, acceptable.
  • Discs H.M.V. D.B. 1751-6
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Allegro start
    2 Andante 16:50
    3 Allegro molto 29:27
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10 Bach Preludes,Fantasias and Fugues for Organ, Schweitzer

  • Bach Organ Pieces
  • Albert Schweitzer at the organ of All Hallows, Barking by the Tower in 1935
  • Recorded for the "Organ Music of J.S.Bach" label by Columbia
  • Discs ROX 146-52
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Prelude and Fugue in C major start
    2 Fantasia and Fugue in G minor 07:02
    3 Fugue in G minor, "The Little" 19:27
    4 Prelude and Fugue in G major 23:36
    5 Prelude and Fugue in F minor 33:10
    6 Prelude and Fugue in D minor 43:22
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11 Dvorak Symphony No.8, Talich, Czech Philharmonic Orch.

  • Dvorak, Symphony No.8 in G major, Opus 88 (called No.4 on the labels)
  • played by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vaclav Talich.
  • Discs H.M.V. D.B.2691/5. Recorded February 1936
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Allegro con brio start
    2 Adagio 09:36
    3 Allegretto grazioso 19:37
    4 Allegro ma non troppo 26:08
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12 Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.2, Moiseiwitch, LPO, Goehr

  • Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No.2 in C minor, Opus 18
  • played by Benno Moiseiwitch with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Walter Goehr.
  • Discs H.M.V. C. 2793-6 Recorded November 1937
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Allegro moderato start
    2 Adagio sostenuto 09:52
    3 Allegro scherzando 20:23
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13 Schumann, Mozart and Bach Fantasy and Concerti , Edwin Fischer

  • Edwin Fischer, piano, performs:
  • Schumann, Fantasy in C minor, Op. 17 for solo piano
  • Mozart, Piano Concerto in E flat major, K.V. 482 with the John Barbirolli Chamber Orchestra
  • Bach , Piano Concerto in F minor with the Edwin Fischer Orchestra
  • Recorded 11/4/1938, 6/6/1935 and May 1949 respectively
  • Discs HMV D.B.4679/80, D.B.2681/4 and D.B.6959/61
    • Movement Description approx. timing (h:m:s)
    Fantasia
    1 In modo fantastico-Allegro legenda-Tempo primo start
    2 Moderato- sempre energico 10:55
    3 Andante sostenuto 17:45
    Mozart Concerto
    1 Allegro 26:52
    2 Andante 37:37
    3 Allegro-Andante cantabile-Allegro 52:37
    Bach Concerto
    1 Allegro moderato 58:03
    2 Largo 1:01:53
    3 Presto 1:05:25
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14 Shostakovich, Ireland Piano Concertos, Eileen Joyce

  • Shostakovich, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 35, Eileen Joyce (piano), Arthur Lockwood (trumpet)
  • Ireland, Concerto in E Flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, Eileen Joyce (piano) both with the Halle Orchestra conducted by Leslie Heward.
  • between the concerti Eileen Joyce plays two short preludes by Scriabin
  • 1 Opus 11, No. 9 in E
  • 2 Opus 11, No. 10 in C sharp minor
  • Discs Columbia DX 1072-4
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    Shostakovich, Concerto
    1 Allegro Moderato start
    2 Lento-Moderato 5:30
    3 Allegro brio - Presto 10:20
    Scriabin, Preludes
    Opus 11, No. 9 19;50
    Opus 11, No. 10 21:33
    Ireland, Concerto
    1 In tempo moderato 23:00
    2 Lento espressivo 31:50
    3 Allegro 38:00
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15 Dvorak Cello Concerto, Casals, Szell, Czech Philharmonic Orch.

  • Dvorak, Cello Concerto in B minor, Opus 104, Pau Casals (cello), Czech Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by George Szell
  • This is a very physical performance by Pablo Casals(as he is usually known) and the microphone picks up a lot of attack, bow to string, as well as some popping from the fingerboard.
  • Discs HMV D.B. 3288-92
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Allegro start
    2 Adagio ma non troppo 5:30
    3 Finale-Allegro moderato 10:20
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16 Mozart, Beethoven Piano Concerto in B Flat, Violin Sonata, Lili Kraus

  • Mozart, Piano Concerto in B Flat K.V.456. Lili Kraus, piano, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Walter Goehr
  • Beethoven, Violin Sonata Opus 96, No.10. Simon Goldberg, violin, and Lili Kraus, piano
  • Discs Parlophone R20405-7 and R 20383-5
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    Concerto
    1 Allegro vivace start
    2 Andante un poco sostenuto 11:06
    3 Allegro vivace 20:45
    Sonata
    1 Allegro moderato 27:39
    2 Adagio espressivo 35:29
    3 Scherzo 41:15
    4 Poco Allegretto 43:06
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17 Beethoven Symphony No.6, "Pastoral", Toscanini, BBC Symphony Orch.

  • Beethoven, Symphony No.6, "Pastoral" in F major, Opus 68, BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Arturo Toscanini
  • The first movement starts quietly. The recorded quality is bass rich and the oboes are quite prominent. You wouldn't know there were trombones at all but everything else is clear enough!
  • Discs HMV D.B. 3333-7
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Erwachen heitere Gefuhle bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande: Allegro ma non troppo start
    2 Szene am Bach: Andante molto mosso 8:58
    3 Lustiges Zusammesein in der Landleute: Allegro 20:38
    4 Gewitter, Sturm: Allegro 25:40
    5 Hirtegesang-Frohe, dankbare Gefuhle nach dem Sturm: Allegretto 29:06
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18 Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1, Schnabel, Szell, London Philharmonic Orch.

  • Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 1 (Opus 15) London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by George Szell
  • Artur Schnabel, piano
  • Discs HMV D.B. 3712-7
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Maestoso start
    2 Adagio 20:56
    3 Rondo - Allegro non troppo 36:48
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19 Brahms Violin Concerto, Heifetz, Barbirolli, London Philharmonic Orch.

    Brahms, Violin Concerto in D major, Opus 77, Jascha Heifetz (vln), London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli

  • Discs HMV D.B. 2915-8 and D.B.S 2919
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Allegro non troppo start
    2 Adagio 20:33
    3 Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo- Poco più presto 28:44
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20 Walton, Elgar Viola,Cello Concerti, Riddle, Casals

  • Walton, Viola Concerto. Frederick Riddle, viola, with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer
  • Elgar, Cello Concerto in E minor Op.85. Pau Casals, cello, with the B.B.C. Symphony conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
  • Discs Decca X.200-2 and HMV D.B.X. 6338-41 recorded 1937, 1945
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    Viola Concerto
    1 Andante comodo start
    2 Vivo, con molto preciso 7:55
    3 Allegro moderato 12:09
    Cello Concerto
    1 Adagio — Moderato 22:51
    2 Lento — Allegro molto 30:36
    3 Adagio 35:15
    4 Allegro — Moderato — Allegro, ma non-troppo — Poco più lento — Adagio 39:19
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21 Sibelius 3rd, 7th Symphonies. Kajanus,LSO. Koussevitsky, BBCSO

  • Sibelius, Symphony No. 3 in C major, Op. 59. The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Kajanus
  • Sibelius, Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op.105. The B.B.C. Symphony conducted by Serge Koussevitsky
  • Sibelius Society Volume 2
  • Discs HMV D.B. 1980-6 recorded 1934 , 1933
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    Symphony No. 3
    1 Allegro moderato start
    2 Andantino con moto, quasi allegretto 10:00
    3 Moderato – Allegro ma non tanto 21:05
    Symphony No. 7
    ...in one continuous movement 29:23
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22 Beethoven 5th Piano Concerto, Gieseking, Walter, Vienna Philharmonic Orch.

    Beethoven, Piano Concerto in E flat major, Opus 73, Walter Gieseking (pno), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bruno Walter

  • Discs Columbia LX 342-6
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Allegro start
    2 Adagio un poco mosso..... 18:40
    3 ..Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo 25:05
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23 Mozart Violin Concerto, Heifetz, Barbirolli, London Philharmonic Orch.

    Mozart, Violin Concerto in A major, K.219, Jascha Heifetz (vln), London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by John Barbirolli

  • Discs HMV D.B. 2199-2202
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    1 Allegro aperto start
    2 Adagio 18:40
    3 Tempo di Menuetto 20:19
    4 Allegro 23:42
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24 Mozart Piano Concertos, Long, Kentner

    Mozart, Piano Concerto in A major, K.488, Marguerite Long (pno), Orchestre Symphonique of Paris conducted by Phillipe Gaubert

    Mozart, Piano Concerto in A major, K.414, Louis Kentner (pno), London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham

  • Discs Columbia LX 8270-2, LX 894-6
    • Movement Description approx. timing (m:s)
    K.488
    1 Allegro start
    2 Andante 11:12
    3 Presto 16:59
    K.414
    1 Allegro 24:33
    2 Andante 34:42
    3 Allegretto 42:14
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