BackUpUrMusic
Here is a beautiful and surprisingly well preserved recording of Gioachino Rossini‘s iconic work, created nearly 100 years ago when recording technology and the record business were together taking their first baby steps. The inspired and energetic performance by Cesare Sodero‘s orchestra – who recorded for Edison under the unassuming name of “Sodero’s Band” – would help cement the William Tell Overture’s fate to become one of the most popular and beloved pieces of music of all time.
“William Tell Overture” (part 1, 1914) (play/download mp3)
“William Tell Overture” (part 2, 1914) (play download mp3)
And here is a 1927 recording of the entire piece in one pass, from a magnificent performance by the Victor Symphony Orchestra. The digital transfer is remarkably clean – hardly a scratch is audible – and the powerful dynamics of the top flight ensemble come through clear as day, making this an outstanding listening experience.
Victor Symphony Orchestra, “William Tell Overture“ (play/download mp3)
BackUpUrMusic
Beethoven’s evocative “Egmont Overture,” performed by the New York Philharmonic on January 14, 1930. Few composers have been able to traverse such dramatic plateaus and valleys so effortlessly as our good old Ludwig Van. The dynamic range of this great orchestra going full bore on this work is breathtaking.
Beethoven – “Egmont Overture” mp3
BackUpUrMusic
Here is a beautiful and surprisingly well preserved recording of Gioachino Rossini‘s iconic work, created nearly 100 years ago when recording technology and the record business were together taking their first baby steps. The inspired and energetic performance by Cesare Sodero‘s orchestra – who recorded for Edison under the unassuming name of “Sodero’s Band” – would help cement the William Tell Overture’s fate to become one of the most popular and beloved pieces of music of all time.
William Tell Overture – part 1 (1914)
William Tell Overture – part 2 (1914)
And here is a 1927 recording of the entire piece in one pass, from a magnificent performance by the Victor Symphony Orchestra. The digital transfer is remarkably clean – hardly a scratch is audible – and the powerful dynamics of the top flight ensemble come through clear as day, making this an outstanding listening experience.
Victor Symphony Orchestra – William Tell Overture (1927)
BackUpUrMusic
It was the holiday season, December 17, to be exact, in 1936, when this magnificent performance of Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” was recorded by The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Under the inspired leadership of the great German conductor Bruno Walter, each movement of the masterpiece comes to life and crackles with joyful energy.
Kudos to F. Reeder for the outstanding audio transfer to digital from the original Victor 78 RPM record. Here are all four movements, as breathtaking and unpretentiously beautiful as any music ever conceived. You can click the first one and the player will take you through the rest in sequence, or if you prefer you can download them by right clicking the links, select “save as” and download the files. Enjoy!
I. Allegro
II. Romanze (Andante)
III. Menuetto and Trio (Allegretto)
IV. Rondo (Allegro)
Here is an absolutely stellar performance of 
