Description

ALWIN GEORG KULENKAMPFF-POST (BREMEN, GERMAN EMPIRE, 23 JANUARY, 1898 – SCHAFFHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND, 4 OCTOBER, 1948)

 

 

 

 

Alwin Georg Kulenkampff-Post was a German virtuoso violinist. One of the most popular German concert violinists of the 1930s and 1940s, he was considered one of the finest violinists of the 20th century. Georg Kulenkampff was the son of a well-to-do merchant family in Bremen. He took an interest in the violin from a very young age, and from 1904 (aged 6) began to receive instruction from the concertmaster of the Bremen Philharmonic Orchestra, and afterwards with its conductor Ernst Wendel. He then received lessons and encouragement from Leopold Auer (teacher of Mischa Elman, Efrem Zimbalist, Jascha Heifetz, Nathan Milstein and others) in Dresden, and made a concert debut in 1912 as solo violinist. On Auer’s recommendation he was sent to study with Willy Heß at the Berlin Music Hochschule, and became in time director of the Hochschule Orchestra. Kulenkampff’s health was fragile from early life, and towards the end of the First World War he returned to his home town to become concertmaster of the Bremen Philharmonic. He made rapid progress, especially as a soloist, and in 1923 became professor-in-ordinary at the Berlin Music Hochschule. He taught there until 1926, when his solo career became all-absorbing, but resumed teaching there in 1931 until his departure from Germany in 1944. At the same time he gave concerts throughout Germany and, increasingly, in various parts of Europe, and had a busy broadcasting career. In 1927, he performed the Bach Double Violin Concerto in D minor with Alma Moodie (a student of Carl Flesch) and the Berlin Philharmonic (BPO). In 1935 he formed a celebrated trio with the pianist Edwin Fischer and the cellist Enrico Mainardi, with whom he remained active until 1948. Following his death, he was replaced as violinist by Wolfgang Schneiderhan. He also played in piano duos, especially with Georg Solti and Wilhelm Kempff: with Solti he recorded the Brahms sonatas, Mozart’s 20th sonata and Beethoven’s Kreutzer sonata for Decca, and there is also a Kreutzer with Kempff (DGG, 1935). His (Decca) recording of the Brahms Double Concerto with Mainardi, under the baton of Carl Schuricht, is notable as well. In 1937 he gave the premiere of the rediscovered Violin Concerto in D minor of Robert Schumann, which had been studied and suppressed by Joseph Joachim, but which Kulenkampff now revived with the help of Georg Schünemann, the Nazi-appointed Director of the “Prussian State Library” (German: Preußische Staatsbibliothek), where the autograph score was housed, and Paul Hindemith, whose compositions were already banned by the Nazi authorities. The addition of this work to the repertoire was important, and soon afterwards Kulenkampff made the world premiere recording. Before the war he recorded the Beethoven (BPO under Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt) and Mendelssohn concerti: he continued to perform the Mendelssohn work in Nazi Germany despite the antisemitic ban on his music, and for other concertos used the highly regarded cadenzas by the Jewish Fritz Kreisler. Kulenkampff gave various other world premieres, notable of works by Ottorino Respighi (Violin Sonata No. 2) and by Jean Sibelius. He was very much in demand and very busy during the Nazi period, as an “Aryan” musician although he did not subscribe to Nazi racist-nationalist theories and, by virtue of his importance and his “Aryan” status, was able to maintain proscribed parts of the repertoire. In 1940 he moved to Potsdam, and in 1944, with increasingly unacceptable and intolerant demands from the prevailing powers[clarification needed], he left Germany for Switzerland. From 1943 there is a live recording from Berlin of a performance of the Sibelius concerto conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler with the BPO. From Switzerland he continued to develop his international solo career, and he became successor to Carl Flesch as violin professor at the Lucerne Conservatory. He was first violin of the Kulenkampff Quartet from 1944, and among his students was the Italian-American Ruggiero Ricci from San Francisco. Kulenkampff died in Schaffhausen, Switzerland of encephalitis (spinal paralysis) at age 50, suffering a rapid onset soon after his last concert. His memoirs appeared posthumously in 1952, entitled ‘A Violinist’s Observations’ (Geigerische Betrachtungen).

  

 

TRACKLIST

 

 

Anton Dvorak, Georg Kulenkampff, Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester, Eugen Jochum – Violinkonzert A-Moll, Op. 53

Label: Telefunken – LSK 7004

Format: Vinyl, LP

Country: Germany

Genre: Classical

Anton Dvorak   Violinkonzert A-Moll, Op. 53

A1 – 1. Satz: Allegro Ma Non Troppo

A2 – 2. Satz: Adagio Ma Non Troppo

B – 3. Satz: Finale: Allegro Giocoso Ma Non Troppo

Conductor – Eugen Jochum

Orchestra – Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

 

Georg Kulenkampff, Georg Solti, Brahms / Beethoven / Mozart – Violin Sonatas

Label: London Records – CMA-7218

Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP

Box Set

Country: US

Violin Sonata In G, Op. 78

Composed By – Brahms

A1 Vivace Ma Non Troppo

A2 Adagio

A3 Allegro Molto Moderato

Violin Sonata In A, Op. 100

Composed By – Brahms

A4 Allegro Amabile

B1 Andante Tranquillo–Vivace

B2 Allegretto Grazioso

Violin Sonata In D Minor, Op. 108

Composed By – Brahms

B3 Allegro

B4 Adagio

B5 Un Poco Presto E Con Sentimento

B6 Presto Agitato

Violin Sonata In A, Op. 47

Composed By – Beethoven

C1 Adagio Sostenuto — Presto

C2 Andante Con Variazioni

C3 Finale (Presto)

Violin Sonata In B Flat, K. 454

Composed By – Mozart

D1 Largo — Allegro

D2 Andante

D3 Allegretto

Piano – Georg Solti

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

Matrix / Runout (Side A): ARL-5812-1A

Matrix / Runout (Side B): ARL-5813-1A

Matrix / Runout (Side C): ARL-5816-1A

Matrix / Runout (Side D): ARL-5817-1A

 

Georg Kulenkampff Violin Concerto g-moll Op. 26 (Bruch)

January 26, 1941

Telefunken 78s /SK-3172/4 (025933/8)

 

Georg Kulenkampff Violin Concerto No. 1 In G Minor Op. 26 (Bruch)

1947

Orch Tonhalle Orchester Zürich

Cond. Carl Schuricht

 

Georg Kulenkampff – Ludwig van Beethoven – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Robert Schumann – Violinkonzerte

Label: Telefunken – KT 11 008/1-2, Telefunken – 6.48013 DP

Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Gatefold Cover

Country: Germany

Released: 1961

Genre: Classical

Style: Classical, Romantic

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Konzert Für Violine Und Orchester A-Dur, KV 219

Conductor – Artur Rother

Orchestra – Orchester Der Deutschen Oper Berlin

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

A1 Allebro Aperto

A2 Adagio

A3 Rondeau Di Menuetto

A4 Allegro

B Robert Schumann: Konzert Für Violine Und Orchester D-Moll

Adapted By – Georg Schünemann

Conductor – Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

Orchestra – Berliner Philharmoniker

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

Ludwig Van Beethoven: Konzert Für Violine Und Orchester D-Dur, Op. 61

Conductor – Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

Orchestra – Berliner Philharmoniker

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

C Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Kadenz: Kreisler)

D1 Larghetto

D2 Rondo: Allegro

D3 Romanze Nr. 2 F-Dur, Op. 50

Conductor – Paul Kletzki

Orchestra – Berliner Philharmoniker

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

 

Sibelius, Georg Kulenkampff, The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Furtwängler – Violin Concerto (Recorded 1943)

Label: Unicorn Records (3) – UNI. 107

Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono

Country: UK

Released: Aug 1969

Genre: Classical

Style: Romantic, Modern

Violin Concerto In D Minor Op. 47

A1 Allegro Moderato

B1 Adagio Di Molto

B2 Allegro Ma Non Tanto

Licensed From – Wilhelm Furtwängler Society UK

Printed By – E.J. Day Group

Composed By – Jean Sibelius

Conductor – Wilhelm Furtwängler

Liner Notes – Paul J. Minchin

Orchestra – The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

Made in England

(P) 1943

This Record is Issued in assocication with The Wilhelm Furtwängler Society, England

Half Laminated Sleeve

 

Tschaikowsky, Georg Kulenkampff, Artur Rother, Orchester Der Städtischen Oper Berlin – Violinkonzert D-dur, Op. 35

Label: Telefunken – LT 6512

Format: Vinyl, LP, Mono

Country: Germany

Genre:  Classical

A Satz: Allegro Moderato

Composed By – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Conductor – Artur Rother

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

B1 Satz: Canzonetta (Andante)

Composed By – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Conductor – Artur Rother

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

B2 Satz: Finale (Allegro Vivacissimo)

Composed By – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Conductor – Artur Rother

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

 

Georg Kulenkampff, Johannes Brahms – Kulenkampff Performs Brahms

Label: Past Masters (2) – PM-24

Format: Vinyl, LP

Country: US

Genre: Classical

Style: Romantic

Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 77

Composed By – Johannes Brahms

Conductor – Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

Orchestra – The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

A 1st Movement: Allegro Non Troppo

B1 2nd Movement: Adagio

B2 3rd Movement Allegro Giocoso, Ma Non Troppo Vivace Poco Piu Presto

Composed By – Johannes Brahms

Conductor – Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt

Orchestra – The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Violin – Georg Kulenkampff

Recorded in 1938

 

A. Mozart / L. Spohr – Georg Kulenkampff – Adagio / Concertos For Violin And Orchestra

Label: Melodia – M 10—42819-20

Series:  From the Treasury of World Performing Arts – III. Violin, Viola, Cello

Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Mono

Country: USSR

Released: 1980

Genre: Classical

Style: Classical, Romantic

A1 Adagio In E Major, KV 261

Composed By – W. A. Mozart

A2 Concerto No. 8 For Violin And Orchestra In A Minor, Op. 47

Composed By – L. Spohr

Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O 14 I. (Mendelssohn) Allegro Molto Appassionato

Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O 14 II. (Mendelssohn) Andante

Violin Concerto In E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O 14 III. (Mendelssohn) Allegro Molto Vivace

 Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (1900-1973), Conductor

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

Rec. 1935

 

Beethoven – Georg Kulenkampff, Wilhelm Kempff – Op. 47: Kreutzer-Sonate

Label: Polydor – 67062, Polydor – 67063, Polydor – 67064, Polydor – 67065

Format: 4 x Shellac, 12″, 78 RPM, Album

Country: Germany

Released: 1935

Genre: Classical

Style: Romantic

Op. 47: Kreutzer-Sonate

A 1. Satz: Adagio Sostenuto Presto, I. Teil

B 1. Satz: Adagio Sostenuto Presto, II. Teil

C 1. Satz: Adagio Sostenuto Presto, III. Teil

D 2. Satz: Adante Con Variazioni, I. Teil

E 2. Satz: Adante Con Variazioni, II. Teil

F 2. Satz: Adante Con Variazioni, III. Teil

G 3. Satz: Finale (Presto), I. Teil

H 3. Satz: Finale (Presto), II. Teil

Composed By – Beethoven

Piano – Wilhelm Kempff

Violone – Georg Kulenkampff

JPSE D.G.A. Lisens

Matrix / Runout (E): 35019A 67064A 509½ GS Mechan.Copt. 1935 Made In Germany

Matrix / Runout (F): 35019B 67064B 518½ GS Mechan.Copt. 1935 Made In Germany