Rafael Kubelík and the Chicago Symphony
Rafael Kubelík
and
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra
I. Concerts as Music Director (p. 2)
II. Concerts as Guest Conductor (p. 30)
III. Issued Recordings (p. 36)
IV. Unissued Recordings (p. 41)
Compiled by Ramon Khalona
3267 Madison Street
Carlsbad, California 92008
U.S.A.
The author acknowledges the kind support of Ms. Brenda Nelson-Strauss
and her assistants, Mr. Frank Villela and Ms. Alison Hinderliter at the Chicago Symphony’s Rosenthal Archives.
Version 3
31.x.2002
Rafael Kubelík and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The following is a listing of all concerts Rafael Kubelík conducted as music
director (section I) and as guest conductor (section II) with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. All concerts performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, unless otherwise stated. During his tenure as CSO Music Director (1950-1953), Kubelík also conducted a large number of broadcast programs, telecast programs, and popular concerts. These are inserted in the list in chronological order and are designated as such. The series of broadcast and telecast programs was sponsored by the Chicago Title and Trust Company. Telecast programs took place on Tuesday evenings and were broadcast from the Civic Theater over station WENR-TV (Channel 7 at the time) in Chicago from 9:30 to 10 P.M. Broadcast programs took place on Wednesday evenings and originated from the Eighth Street (Civic) Theater over station WCFL, in Chicago, from 8 to 9 PM, except noted otherwise. The popular concerts were normally offered at Orchestra Hall on Saturday evenings. Kubelík also took the orchestra on tour to several American cities. The listings note the various locations. A list of issued and unissued recordings is provided in sections III and IV, respectively.
I. Concerts conducted as Music Director (1950-1953)
1950-51 Season (60th Season)
Broadcast Program (from 8th Street Theater)
20/ix/1950
BRAHMS: Tragic Overture, Op. 81
WEBER: Andante and Hungarian Rondo in C minor for Viola and Orchestra
Milton Preves, viola
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 (“Italian”)
Broadcast Program (from 8th Street Theater)
27/ix/1950
MOZART: Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro”
MOZART: Horn Concerto in E-flat major, K. 447
Philip Farkas, horn
MOZART: Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504 (“Prague”)
Broadcast Program (from Senn High School in Chicago)
4/x/1950
GLUCK: Overture to “Iphigenie en Aulide”
CIMAROSA: Concerto for Oboe and Strings (arr. Arthur Benjamin)
Florian Mueller, oboe
BEETHOVEN: Contra-Dances
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 in B minor (“Unfinished”)
6/x/1950 Concert in East Lansing, Michigan (College Auditorium)
MOZART: Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504 (“Prague”)
HINDEMITH: Theme and Four Variations (“The Four Temperaments”) for String Orchestra and Piano. George Schick, piano
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Broadcast Program (from J. S. Morton High School in Cicero, Illinois)
11/x/1950
SMETANA: Overture to “Libusse”
SMETANA: Vltava (The Moldau)
DVORAK: Serenade in D minor, Op. 44
DVORAK: Slavonic Dance No. 3 in A-flat major
Slavonic Dance No. 1 in C major
12, 13/x/1950
BACH: Suite No. 4 in D major (Dorothy Lane, hpsd.)
BARTOK: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E minor
14/x/1950 Popular Concert
ROSSINI: Overture to “William Tell”
HINDEMITH: Theme and Four Variations (“The Four Temperaments”) for String Orchestra and Piano. George Schick, piano
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
16/x/1950 Milwaukee Concert (Pabst Theatre)
MOZART: Masonic Funeral Music, K.477
In Memoriam Dr. Arthur J. Patek
BACH: Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major
BARTOK: Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Broadcast Program (from 8th Street Theater)
18/x/1950
MOZART: Symphony No. 34 in C major, K. 338
BARTOK: Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta
19, 20/x/1950
MOZART: Masonic Funeral Music, K.477
(In Memoriam Frederick Stock., 11.xi.1872 – 20.x.1942)
MOZART: Symphony in G minor, K.183
MOZART: Symphony in E-flat major, K.184
RIETI: Symphony No. 5 (American Premiere)
MUSSORGSKY: Prelude to “Khovanschina”
MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL: Pictures at an Exhibition
21/x/1950 Popular Concert
BACH: Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major
MOZART: Horn Concerto in E-flat major, K. 447
Philip Farkas, horn
RIETI: Symphony No. 5
RAVEL: Le Tombeau de Couperin
MUSSORGSKY/RAVEL: Pictures at an Exhibition
Broadcast Program (from Evanston High School, Evanston, Illinois)
25/x/1950
WEBER: Overture to “Euryanthe”
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
26,27/x/1950
ROSSINI: William Tell Overture
MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 4
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15
Rudolf Serkin, Soloist,
MOHAUPT: Town Piper Music (1st CSO performance)
30/x/1950 Concert in Toledo, Ohio (Toledo Museum of Art)
BACH: Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major
BARTOK: Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
Broadcast Program (from Roosevelt High School, Chicago)
1/xi/1950
RAVEL: Le Tombeau de Couperin
WAGNER: Siegfried Idyl
RIETI: Symphony No. 5
2, 3/xi/1950
BEETHOVEN: King Stephen Overture
BEETHOVEN: Violin Concerto, Op. 61
Yehudi Menuhin
STILL: Poem for Orchestra (1st CSO performance)
JANACEK: Sinfonietta
6/xi/1950 Milwaukee Concert (Pabst Theatre)
RAVEL: Le Tombeau de Couperin
STILL: Poem for Orchestra
MOHAUPT: Town Piper Music
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83
Frank Glazer, piano
Broadcast Program (from 8th Street Theater)
8/xi/1950
MOZART: Symphony No. 26 in E-flat major, K. 184
MOZART: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622
Ignatius Gennusa, clarinet
SCHUBERT: Ballet Music from “Rosamunde”
BEETHOVEN: Overture “King Stephen”, Op. 117
9, 10/xi/1950
All MOZART Program
Piano Concerto in A major, K. 414
Piano Concerto in C minor, K. 491
Cadenza by Denis Mathews
Myra Hess, Soloist
Symphony No. 41
Broadcast Program (from Thornton High School, Harvey, Illinois)
15/xi/1950
BACH-REGER: Chorale “O Man Bewail Thy Grievous Sin”
GLUCK: Concerto for Flute in G major
Rene Rateau, flute
HINDEMITH: Theme and Four Variations (“The Four Temperaments”) for String Orchestra and Piano. George Schick, piano
16, 17/xi/1950
RAVEL: Suite “Le Tombeau de Couperin”
CHAUSSON: Symphony in B flat major, Op. 20
HINDEMITH: Theme and Four Variations
“The Four Temperaments” for String Orchestra and Piano
(commemorating Hindemith’s birthday on 16.xi.1895
STRAUSS: Dance of the Seven Veils from “Salome”
20/xi/1950 Milwaukee Concert (Pabst Theatre)
MOZART: Symphony No. 26 in E-flat major, K. 184
COPLAND: Third Symphony
DEBUSSY: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
DEBUSSY: Three Nocturnes
Women’s Chorus, Northwestern University; George Howerton, dir.
Broadcast Program (from 8th Street Theater)
22/xi/1950
MOZART: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 361
CHAUSSON: Symphony in B-flat major, Op. 20
23, 24/xi/1950
COPLAND: Third Symphony
BRAHMS: Violin Concerto, Op. 77
Nathan Milstein, soloist
WAGNER: Prelude to “The Mastersingers of Nuremberg”
Broadcast Program (from Holy Trinity High School, Chicago)
29/xi/1950
HAYDN: Symphony No. 82 in C major (“The Bear”)
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Robert McDowell, piano
30/xi, 1/xii, 1950
BLOCH: Concerto Grosso for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato
(George Schick, piano)
BLOCH: Suite for Viola and Orchestra
Milton Preves, soloist
IBERT: Capriccio
DEBUSSY: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
DEBUSSY: Three Nocturnes
Broadcast Program (from Austin High School, Chicago)
6/xii/1950
BLOCH: Concerto Grosso for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato
(George Schick, piano)
MOZART: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 (“Jupiter”)
7, 8/xii/1950
SUK: Meditation on an Ancient Czech Chorale, “Holy Wenceslaus”, Op. 35
MARTINU: Tre Ricercari
MAHLER: Symphony No. 5
9/xii/1950 Popular Concert
MOZART: Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183
SAINT-SAENS: Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor, Op. 44
Mary Sime, piano
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Broadcast Program (from 8th Street Theater)
13/xii/1950
IBERT: Capriccio
DEBUSSY: Two Dances for Harp and String Orchestra
Joseph Vito, Harp
DEBUSSY: Minuet
DEBUSSY: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
DEBUSSY: Two Nocturnes
14, 15/xii/1950
HAYDN: Symphony in C major, “The Bear”
MENDELSSOHN: Violin Concerto
Isaac Stern, soloist
DVORAK: Symphony in D major (No. 6) , Op. 60
16/xii/1950
BARBER: Adagio for String Orchestra, Op. 11
BACH: Concerto for Two Keyboards No. 2 in C major
Rafael Kubelík and George Schick, pianos
SUK: Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra in G minor, Op. 24
Ludmila Bertlova, violin
18/xii/1950 Milwaukee Concert (Pabst Theatre)
ROSSINI: Overture to William Tell
LALO: Symphonie Espagnole, Op. 21
Isaac Stern, violin
DVORAK: Symphony in D major (No. 6) , Op. 60
Broadcast Program (from 8th Street Theater)
20/xii/1950
BACH: Concerto No. 2 in C major for Two Keyboards
Rafael Kubelík and George Schick, pianos
BACH: Aria for Soprano “Art Thou with Me”
BACH: Aria for Soprano from Easter Oratorio “Christin, Myrrh, and Precious Spices”
Suzanne Hamilton, soprano
BACH: Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major
21, 22/xii/1950
All BEETHOVEN program
Symphony No. 6
Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58
Rudolf Firkusny, soloist
Symphony No. 5
Broadcast Program (from 8th Street Theater)
27/xii/1950
SUK: Meditation on an Ancient Czech Chorale “Holy Wenceslaus”, Op. 35
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 (“Pastorale”)
28, 29/xii/1950
All WAGNER Program
Tristan and Isolde:
- Prelude to Act III
- Wesendonck Lieder
- Prelude to Act I
“Twilight of the Gods”:
- Dawn and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey
- Siegfried’s Funeral Music
- Immolation of Bruennhilde
Kirsten Flagstad, soloist
Broadcast Program (from Harrison High School, Chicago)
21/ii/1951
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 in B minor (“Unfinished”)
ROUSSEL: Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 42
22,23/ii/1951
BACH: Suite No. 1 in C Major (Dorothy Lane, hpsd – 1st CSO perf.)
MOZART: Aria (Rondo), “Per Pieta, Ben Mio” from Cosi Fan Tutte
RAVEL: “Sheherazade”, Three Poems for Voice and Orchestra
Suzanne Danco, soloist
ROUSSEL: Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 42 (1st CSO perf..)
24/ii/1951 Popular Concert
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 (“Unfinished”)
WEBER: Konzertstueck for Piano and Orch., Op. 79
Louis Kohnop, piano
DVORAK: Symphony No. 6, D major, Op. 60
Broadcast Concert (from 8th Street Theater)
28/ii/1951
Soloists: Ruth Slater, Adele Norman, Edith Lang, Leonard Balsamo, Harold Brindell
BARBER: Overture to “The School for Scandal”
CARPENTER: Suite from “The Birthday of the Infanta”
CARPENTER: “Skyscrapers,” A Ballet of American Life
SMETANA: From Bohemia’s Meadows and Forests
1, 2/iii/1951
BARBER: Overture to “The School for Scandal”
CARPENTER: “Skyscrapers”, A Ballet of American Life
Soloists: Adele Norman, Edith Lang, Leonard Balsamo, Harold Brindell
SMETANA: “From Bohemia’s Forests and Meadows” (1st CSO perf.)
BRAHMS: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15
Solomon, soloist
4/iii/1951 Concert in Ann Arbor, Michigan (Hill Auditorium)
BARBER: Overture to “The School for Scandal”
DVORAK: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
HINDEMITH: Theme and Four Variations (“The Four Temperaments”) for String Orchestra and Piano. George Schick, piano
WAGNER: Prelude to “The Mastersingers of Nuremberg”
5/iii/1951 Concert in Detroit, Michigan (Masonic Auditorium)
BARBER: Overture to “The School for Scandal”
DVORAK: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
HINDEMITH: Theme and Four Variations (“The Four Temperaments”) for String Orchestra and Piano. George Schick, piano
WAGNER: Prelude to “The Mastersingers of Nuremberg”
6/iii/1951 Concert in Delaware, Ohio (Gray Chapel)
BARBER: Overture to “The School for Scandal”
DVORAK: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
HINDEMITH: Theme and Four Variations (“The Four Temperaments”) for String Orchestra and Piano. George Schick, piano
WAGNER: Prelude to “The Mastersingers of Nuremberg”
Broadcast Concert (from Hyde Park High School, Chicago)
7/iii/1951
DVORAK: Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60
DVORAK: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46
8, 9/iii/1951
ROGER: Concerto Grosso for Trumpet, Timpani and String Orchestra, Op. 27
(1st CSO perf.)
Trumpet: Adolph Herseth; Timpani: Edward Metzenger
PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto No. 3
William Kapell, soloist
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2
10/iii/1951 Popular Concert
SMETANA: From Bohemia’s Meadows and Forests
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11
Maryan Filar, piano
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 2
15, 16/iii/1951
WEBER: Ovt. To “Der Freischuetz”
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1, Op. 38
DVORAK: Cello Concerto, Op. 104
Pierre Fournier, soloist
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Russian Easter Ovt.
19/iii/1951 Milwaukee Concert (Pabst Theatre)
BACH: Concerto No. 2 in C major for Two Keyboards
Rafael Kubelík and George Schick, pianos
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38
ROUSSEL: Symphony No. 3 in G minor, Op. 42
Broadcast Concert (from Maine Township High School, Park Ridge, Illinois)
21/iii/1951
HUMPERDINCK: Prelude to “Haensel and Gretel”
BACH: Keyboard Concerto in D minor
Florence Kirsch, piano
MENDELSSOHN: Music to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 61
22, 23/iii/1951
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 6 (1st CSO perf.)
BACH: Easter Oratorio
Virginia Speaker (soprano); Winifred Heckman (mezzo-soprano),
Ralph Nielsen (tenor), Donald Gramm (baritone);
Chicago Musical College Chorus – James Baar, director
Broadcast Concert (from 8th Street Theater)
28/iii/1951
DEBUSSY: Petite Suite (orch. Henri Buesser)
SAINT-SAENS: Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 33
Dudley Powers, cello
BERLIOZ: Selections from “The Damnation of Faust”
Broadcast Concert (from Fenger High School, Chicago)
4/iv/1951
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 1 in B-flat major, Op. 38
BORODIN: In the Steppes of Central Asia
BORODIN: Polovtsian Dances from “Prince Igor”
Lindblom High School Chorus; Eugene Pence, dir.
5, 6/iv/1951
MENDELSSOHN: Midsummer Night’s Dream
- Overture
- Nocturne
- Scherzo
MAHLER: Das Lied von der Erde
Blanche Thebom and Richard Tucker
9/iv/1951 Milwaukee Concert (Pabst Theatre)
CHOPIN: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Robert McDowell, piano
BRUCKNER: Symphony No. 6 in A major
Broadcast Concert (from 8th Street Theater)
11/iv/1951
VIVALDI: Two Violin Concerti, Op. 8 (Nos. 11 and 12)
Louis Kaufman, violin
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
12, 13/iv/1951
DELLO JOIO: Variations, Chaccone and Finale (1st CSO perf.)
MILHAUD: Violin Concerto No. 2
Louis Kaufman, soloist
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7
Broadcast Concert (from Highland Park High School, Highland Park, Illinois)
18/iv/1951
MENDELSSOHN: Overture to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Op. 21
WEBER: Konzertstueck for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 79
Louis Kohnop, piano
DELLO JOIO: Variations, Chaconne, and Finale
19, 20/iv/1951
DVORAK: Symphony in D minor (No. 7), Op. 70
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 9 in C Major (“The Great”)