The artist ü Born into a musical family in Antwerp in 1905,
André Cluytens became a French citizen in 1940. ü He trained and
began his career in Antwerp, moving to France in 1932 to take up
a post at the Théâtre du Capitole in Toulouse. ü In the course of
his career he held posts at several major French opera houses and
orchestras, but he also enjoyed great success at the Bayreuth
Festival (he was the first French conductor to appear there), in
Berlin and Vienna, and recorded with the Philharmonia in London.
He also appeared with the New York Philharmonic. ü Cluytens’
considerable discography, which included many bestsellers, was
produced for Columbia, Parlophone, Pathé Marconi, La Voix de son
Maître & His Master Voice between the early 1940s and the
mid-1960s. ü The respected record critic Robert Layton has
described Cluytens as a conductor “unconcerned with imposing his
own ego on the score; he illuminated the way rather than got in
the way. His refined musicianship and unfailing taste shine
through all the s he has left us.” ü Cluytens achieved
distinction in a wide repertoire, as this 64-disc collection of
orchestral/concerto and choral music attests. He also conducted a
number of celebrated operatic s, including Faust and Les
Contes d’Hoffmann, both available on Warner Classics. ü He is the
first conductor to have recorded the complete Beethoven
Symphonies with Berliner Philharmoniker in 1957-60 - before
Karajan! ü He was a mentor to the most prominent French conductor
of the subsequent generation, Georges Prêtre. ü His career was
somewhat curtailed by ill in the 1960s. The boxset ü The
64 CDs in this boxset contain all Cluytens’ s of
orchestral, concerto and choral repertoire, documenting his
considerable achievements in these musical genres. ü More than 70
composers are represented and the repertoire ranges from the
Baroque to the mid-20th century ü French music has an especially
strong presence, but there is also music by composers from
Germany (including the complete Beethoven symphonies), Austria,
Italy, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Spain and the USA ü The
repertoire ranges from the mainstream to rarities. It includes
seldom-heard works by famous composers (eg Debussy, Stravinsky)
and works by rarely-heard composers (eg Laparra, Pierné, Nigg,
Delage, Bondeville). ü The set include many first-time releases.
The producer of the set discovered a number of treasures in the
Warner Classics archives, including unedited session tapes that
have been carefully assembled for this release. 5 items released
for the first time: - CD6: ROSSINI Semiramide: Overture; PIERNÉ
Cydalise et le chèvre-pied - CD 13: CHABRIER España - CD 17:
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 (with Emil Gilels) - CD 26: HANDEL
Water Music One item officially released for the first time - CD
1: BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 (with Monique de la
Bruchollerie) 44 items appearing on CD for the first time (see in
tracklist) 4 items appearing in stereo for the first time (see in
tracklist) ü Cluytens’ strong relationships with particular
orchestras are reflected in the collection: Orchestre de la
Société des Concerts du Conservatoire Orchestre du Théâtre
National de l’Opéra-Comique Orchestre National de la
Radiodiffusion Française Orchestre du Théâtre National de l’Opéra
Berliner Philharmoniker – Cluytens was the first conductor to
record the entire cycle of Beethoven symphonies with this
orchestra Wiener Philharmoniker Philharmonia Orchestra ü Other
celebrated musicians appearing include: Aldo Ciccolini; Maurice
Duruflé; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau; Zino Francescatti; Samson
François; Nicolai Gedda; Emil Gilels; Marguerite Long; Victoria
de Los Angeles; Marc