Polish-born conductor Paul Kletzki is one of many artists from his generation whose name has largely been forgotten. His recorded legacy offers a mixed bag ranging from the sublime to the downright sloppy. Kletzki's repertoire was broad, but he had a preference for the late Romantic symphonic works and was particularly noted for his interpretation of Tchaikovsky. This Medici Masters album features two works by the Russian giant. First on the program is the Sixth Symphony, performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Kletzki's ...
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Polish-born conductor Paul Kletzki is one of many artists from his generation whose name has largely been forgotten. His recorded legacy offers a mixed bag ranging from the sublime to the downright sloppy. Kletzki's repertoire was broad, but he had a preference for the late Romantic symphonic works and was particularly noted for his interpretation of Tchaikovsky. This Medici Masters album features two works by the Russian giant. First on the program is the Sixth Symphony, performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Kletzki's background as a string player is abundantly clear in this recording. Special attention is paid to the tone, texture, articulation, and balance in the string sections. In a symphony featuring an elegant 5/4 waltz introduced by the cellos, a nimble scherzo begun by the violins, and a doleful finale demanding a dark string sound, this attention pays off. Kletzki's excitement sometimes gets the better of him, however, and tempos fluctuate often and sometimes even race ahead. Still, the...
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