Gustav Mahler: William Steinberg conducts... (ICA Classics Audio CD)

Stefania Woytowicz (soprano)
Anny Delorie (contralto)
Kölner Rundfunkchor & Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester
William Steinberg, conductor


William Steinberg was born in Cologne and by 1933 had become conductor of the Cologne Opera.

He was an early protégé of Otto Klemperer, and with Bronislav Huberman was the co-founder of the Israel Philharmonic, which was first conducted by Arturo Toscanini. The great Italian conductor invited Steinberg to the US to help him form the NBC Symphony Orchestra, and after a highly acclaimed series of concerts, he went on to prestigious positions with the Buffalo and Pittsburg Symphonies. He spent 24 seasons with the Pittsburg Symphony before becoming Music Director of the Boston Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as being Principal Guest Conductor of the New York Philharmonic.

This live studio recording is a rarity as it has never been issued before. Steinberg was a frequent performer of Mahler’s works in the US, though he only recorded the composer’s Symphony No.1 with Pittsburg in 1952 for Capitol Records.

This blazing account from 1965 of Mahler’s titanic ‘Resurrection’ Symphony in brilliant stereo sound confirms his authority as a great Mahlerian.

Dutch contralto Anny Delorie (1925-2009) sings the ‘Urlicht’ very beautifully and is joined in the final movement by the radiant Polish soprano Stefania Woytowicz (1922-2005).