Ludwig van Beethoven; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Violin Concertos (David Oistrakh)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Beethoven - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, Op. 61
• Beethoven - Romance No. 2 in F Major, Op. 50
• Mozart - Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 5 in A Major, KV 219

David Oistrakh, violin

Staatskapelle Berlin

Franz Konwitschny, conductor

Date: 1958; 1955; 1960 / 2025

Label: Archipel

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David Oistrakh (1908–1974) was a Soviet Russian violinist, violist, and conductor, who is acclaimed for his exceptional technique and tone production. He graduated from the Odessa Conservatory in 1926 and made his Moscow debut in 1929. Oistrakh gave recitals throughout the Soviet Union and eastern Europe and in 1937 won first prize in the Eugène Ysaÿe violin competition. From 1934 he taught violin at the Moscow Conservatory. Oistrakh was first heard in western Europe and the United States through his recordings for Melodiya. From 1951 he toured extensively in Europe and the United States.

Franz Konwitschny (1901–1962) was an eminent German conductor and violist, trained in Brno and Leipzig, who began his career as an orchestral musician before turning to conducting. He held major posts across Germany, including Chief Conductor of the Stuttgart Opera, Generalmusikdirektor in Freiburg and Frankfurt, and, from 1949 until his death, Principal Conductor of the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. He also led the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Berlin State Opera, becoming one of the most influential conductors in the Eastern bloc. Renowned for his expansive, expressive interpretations, Konwitschny recorded widely, including a complete Beethoven symphony cycle, and remained devoted to musical craftsmanship throughout his career.