Felix Mendelssohn; Béla Bartók; Claude Debussy - Orchestral Works (George Szell; Edith Peinemann)

Information

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn; Béla Bartók; Claude Debussy

• Mendelssohn - A Midsummer Night's Dream (Excerpts)
• Bartók - Violin Concerto No. 2 in B Major, Sz. 112
• Debussy - La mer, L. 109

Edith Peinemann, violin

Cleveland Orchestra

George Szell, conductor

Date: 1967 / 2025

Label: Archipel

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Edith Peinemann (1937–2023) was a distinguished German violinist whose career combined international recognition with a distinctive interpretative voice. Trained initially by her father and later at the Guildhall School under Max Rostal, she rose to prominence after winning the ARD Competition in 1956 and subsequently performed worldwide with leading orchestras and conductors. Awarded the prestigious Plaquette Eugène Ysaÿe, she was noted for her intense commitment, powerful tone, and authority in post-Romantic and twentieth-century repertoire. Though her discography is limited, recordings of works by Reger, Berg, Prokofiev, and Dvořák highlight her robust style and strong musical personality.

George Szell (1897–1970) was a Hungarian-born conductor and pianist who became one of the 20th century’s most influential orchestral leaders. Trained in Vienna under Mandyczewski, Foerster, Reger, and Robert, he debuted as a pianist at ten and as a conductor at sixteen with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. After early posts in Berlin and Prague, he became music director of the Cleveland Orchestra in 1946, transforming it into one of the world’s finest ensembles through his exacting standards and precision. Though known for his strict discipline, Szell earned deep respect from musicians. His acclaimed recordings remain landmarks of orchestral performance.