Dimitri Mitropoulos, conductor 

Dimitri Mitropoulos, conductor 
New York Philharmonic Orchestra Robert and Gaby Casadesus, pianos 

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
  • Concerto No. 10 in E-flat Major for 2 Pianos and Orchestra, K. 365 [23:13]
    (rec. November 13, 1955 at Carnegie Hall, New York) 
  • The Magic Flute – Overture, K. 626 [6:36]
    (rec. February 2, 1958 at Carnegie Hall, New York) 
• Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
  • Symphony No. 2 in C Major, Op. 61 [36:03] (rec. October 1, 1955 at Orpheus Hall, Athens) 

Forgotten Records FR 2038 [62:10] 
Available as a CD — click here to purchase. 

Even with the Sony release of a major retrospective of the work on CBS and RCA by Dimitri Mitropoulos (1896-1960), the legacy to be found from live concert performances will continue to supplement his unique status among 20th century conductors, especially in repertory the major labels assigned to other artists. The music of Mozart provides a good example, since the significant portion of Mozart on CBS prior to the advent of Leonard Bernstein derived from performances by Fritz Reiner and Bruno Walter. The Magic Flute Overture offered on Forgotten Records delivers a briskly energetic reading, ripe in Mitropoulos’ ability to clarify polyphonic lines without his dragging the tempo. Curiously, the 1958 date of performance marks the last year of Mitropoulos’ tenure with the Philharmonic, given the cabal that Bernstein had launched to remove him, in league with the vitriolic assessment of Mitropoulos by critic Howard Taubman. The level of execution stands as a palpable reminder of the discipline Mitropoulos could exert.