Beethoven - Choral works (Concert Hall SMS 2841-2) - Free Archive Audio

The Concert Hall Society was a mail order company where you could order records by subscription. The history of this label, founded by David and Sam Josefowitz, can be found here.

The Musical Masterpiece Society is the European branch of the American-based Concert Hall Society.The label was not allowed to use the word Masterworks, because Columbia already released a Masterworks Series. Therefore the word Masterworks was changed to Masterpiece.

David Josefowitz (Kharkov, Ukraine, 25.12.1918 - 10.01.2015). Chemist, entrepreneur, conductor.

Born in Kharkov, Ukraine. Studied violin as a 7-year-old at the Klindworth-Scharwenka conservatory in Berlin, later in Lausanne, Switzerland (École Nouvelle). Studied chemistry and chemical engineering in the United States in Massachusetts and Brooklyn, and continued his musical education in Boston.

Together with his brother Samuel, founded the Concert Hall Society in America in 1946 and later the Musical Masterpiece Society in Europe, which became a great success in many countries. Read a detailed story about the history of these record clubs, where subscribers could buy LPs at a reduced rate, here.

David was particularly skilled in the musical and technical production of records; LPs recorded under his supervision won many awards. He worked closely with Pierre Monteux, Carl Schuricht, Charles Münch and Walter Goehr, among others. He also recorded quite a few records as a conductor for his own label.

Ludwig van Beethoven: Choral works

1  "Die Ruinen von Athen" op. 113

2  "Opferlied" op. 121 b

3  "Cantate auf dem Tod Kaiser Joseph II"

4  "Meeresstille und glückliche Fahrt" op. 112

Costanza Cuccaro, soprano

Andrew Foldi, baritone

Members of the Mixed Chorus of Zürich

Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo

David Josefowitz, conductor (1, 2)

Boris Mersson, conductor (3, 4)

LP 30 cm:  Concert Hall SMS 2841-2842 (2 lp's) Synchro-stereo