Rudolf Ganz (1876-1972) was one of the most remarkable Swiss musicians of the 20th-century, as pianist, teacher and conductor. From his earliest days he knew, performed and recorded music by the latest composers before World War I, and when he went to America he was conductor of the New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestras for many years. He continued to give concerts in his 80s as a pianist, and the range of his achievements is considerable. This new CD is a magnificent tribute to a great musician, friend of Bartok, Korngold and Busoni - Ravel dedicated one of his most famous piano works to Ganz - and conductor who gave the world premieres of music by Copland and Elliott Carter, among many others. On this CD, we have recordings from piano rolls of 1913, and a very rare performance of Grieg's 'Holberg Suite' recorded in the USA in the late 1940s. There are rare photographs and the booklet notes are fascinatingly detailed. A most important record.

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