Backhaus W., Zaun F. - Mozart KV 537 (Electrola DB 5674-7) 1941 - Free Audiobook

Wilhelm Backhaus (Leipzig, 26.03.1884 - Villach, 05.07.1969): (Leipzig, 26.03.1884 - Villach, 05.07.1969): German pianist and teacher.

From 1891: student of Alois Reckendorf

1894-1899 Leipzig conservatory (Alois Reckendorf).

1896: debut in Leipzig as 12 year old

1899: lessons from Eugen d'Albert in Frankfurt. Then lessons from Alexander Siloti.

1900: First tour at age 16.

1905: Won the Anton Rubinstein Competition (Bartók came second).

1921: gave 17 concerts in 3 weeks in Buenos Aires

1930: moved to Lugano and became a Swiss citizen.

From 1933 he got to know Hitler. Backhaus became an advisor to the Kameradschaft der deutschen Künstler. In 1936, Backhaus wrote in Die Musikwoche, "No one loves German art and especially German music more passionately than Adolf Hitler."

An appointment as a professor followed a month later.

Wilhelm Backhaus had a very long career as a pianist (70 years), during which he gave more than 4,000 concerts.

He recorded many records from 1908 until just before his death. In 1909 he was the first to record a (nearly complete) concerto: the piano concerto of Grieg.

In 1928, Wilhelm Backhaus was the first to record Chopin's complete etudes.

He recorded for HMV (EMI), and for Decca after the war.

Fritz Zaun (Cologne, 19.06.1893 - Düsseldorf, 17.01.1966): German conductor and music teacher. Studied in Cologne and Bonn music and theater sciences, philosophy and literature.

Was choir director of the Opernhaus in Cologne, then opera conductor in Mönchengladbach, Zurich and Cologne, the Städtischen Orchester Berlin, then conductor in Zagreb until the end of the war.

Was Generalmusikdirektor at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein (Düsseldorf/Duisburg) from 1956 until his death in 1966.

Mozart: Piano concerto no.26 in D KV 537 "Krönungskonzert"

1  allegro

2  larghetto

3  allegretto

Wilhelm Backhaus, piano

Städtisches Orchester, Berlin

Fritz Zaun, conductor

78rpm: Electrola DB 5674-5677

Matrix nrs.: 2RA.5290-2; 91-3; 92-2; 93-2; 94-2; 95-2; 96-2; 97-2

Recorded Berlin, ca. nov.-dec. 1941