Eugen Jochum was born on 1st November, 1902 in Babenhausen, near Augsburg and died on 26th March 1987 in Munich. He showed prowess in music early, even playing the organ at church services at the age of eight. Studying at the Augsburg Conservatory, he moved to the Music Academy in Munich in 1922 - primarily as a composition student but later studied conducting and worked as répétiteur at the Munich National Theatre.

In 1926 he made a successful concert debut as a conductor which led to his appointment at the Kiel Opera, where he was soon made first conductor. He acquired a repertory of over 50 operas and also conducted concerts at Lübeck over the next three years. Following a season in Mannheim (1929-30) he had two seasons in Duisburg as Generalmusikdirector, where a performance of Bruckner’s Fifth Symphony brought him the appointment as musical director for Berlin radio before his 30th birthday in 1932. He also had a guest association with the Berlin PO which lasted all his career.

In 1934 he became Generalmusikdirector at the Hamburg Staatsoper and principal conductor of the Hamburg PO where he remained for fifteen years, continuing to conduct Bartók, Hindemith and Stravinsky at a time when they were banned elsewhere in Germany by the Nazis. He also conducted the Concertgebouw Orchestra when the Netherlands were occupied, which brought him a continuing association in the post-war years.

He returned to Munich in 1949 as musical director for Bavarian radio, forming and training their Symphony Orchestra to international standard. His reputation grew particularly in the field of the German Romantic Symphony of Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner - especially the latter as he was President of the German section of the International Bruckner Society for 37 years. He was also presented with the Brahms medal by the city of Hamburg.

The London SO made him their conductor laureate for the season that saw him record his set of Beethoven symphonies.

Contents:
Ludwig van Beethoven
The Symphonies with the London Symphony Orchestra
CD 1
[1]-[4] Symphony No.1 in C, Op.21
[5]-[8] Symphony No.3 in E flat, Op.55 “Eroica”

Total Duration (approx): 78.30

CD 2
[1]-[4] Symphony No.2 in D, Op.36
[5]-[9] Symphony No.6 in F, Op.68 “Pastoral”

Total Duration (approx): 78.50

CD 3
[1]-[4] Symphony No.4 in B flat, Op.60
[5]-[8] Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67

Total Duration (approx): 74.10

CD 4
[1]-[4] Symphony No.7 in A, Op.92
[5]-[8] Symphony No.8 in F, Op.93

Total Duration (approx): 70.00

CD 5
[1]-[4] Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op.125
Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano), Julia Hamari (contralto), Stuart Burrows (tenor), Robert Holl (bass)
London Symphony Chorus

[5] Fidelio Overture, Op 72b

Total Duration (approx): 74.20

CD 6
Johannes Brahms
[1]-[4] Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op.68
[5] Tragic Overture, Op.81
[6] Academic Festival Overture, Op.80

Total Duration (approx): 69.15

CD 7
[1]-[4] Symphony No.2 in D, Op.73
[5]-[8] Symphony No.3 in F, Op.90

Total Duration (approx): 79.20

CD 8
[1]-[4] Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op.98
London Philharmonic Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven
Overtures
[5] Coriolan, Op.62
[6] Egmont, Op.84
[7] Leonore No.3 Op.72a
London Symphony Orchestra

Total Duration (approx): 72.00

Anton Bruckner
The Symphonies with the Staatskapelle Dresden
CD 9
[1]-[4] Symphony No.1 in C minor (Linz version ed. Nowak)

CD 10
[1]-[4] Symphony No.2 in C minor (1877 version)

CD 11
[1]-[4] Symphony No.3 in D minor (1888-89 version)

CD 12
[1]-[4] Symphony No.4 in E flat “Romantic” (ed. Nowak)

CD 13
[1]-[4] Symphony No.5 in B flat (1878 version)

CD 14
[1]-[4] Symphony No.6 in A (Original version)

CD 15
[1]-[4] Symphony No.7 in E (ed. Nowak)

CD 16
[1]-[4] Symphony No.8 in C minor

CD 17
[1]-[3] Symphony No.9 in D minor (ed Nowak)

CD 18
Johann Sebastian Bach
[1]-[12] Mass in B minor, BWV 232 (opening) (Kyrie and Gloria)

CD 19
Johann Sebastian Bach
[1]-[15] Mass in B minor, BWV 232 (conclusion) (Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei)
Helen Donath (soprano), Brigitte Fassbaender (contralto), Claes H Ahnsjö (tenor), Roland Hermann (baritone), Robert Holl (bass)
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

CD 20
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
[1]-[6] Mass in C, K.317 “Coronation”
[7]-[12] Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, K.339
Edda Moser (soprano), Julia Hamari (mezzo-soprano), Nicolai Gedda (tenor), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (bass)
Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Symphonie-Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Total Duration (approx): 52.20