Max Rostal ∙ Concert Tours 1956-1965 ∙ 2CD

Max Rostal emerged as a prodigious violinist, initially garnering acclaim in his hometown and later in Vienna, where he pursued his studies. He subsequently undertook advanced training under Carl Flesch in Berlin, during which Flesch prohibited Rostal from performing concerts for a three-year period. In April 1933, Rostal, then the youngest professor at the Hochschule in Berlin, along with other esteemed professors such as his mentor Flesch and Leonid Kreutzer, faced dismissal from their positions due to their Jewish heritage. They were not only terminated but also denied access to university premises. Consequently, Rostal sought refuge in England, where he assumed a teaching role and became a regular performer with major orchestras, often featured on BBC National programs. Additionally, he collaborated with Berlin pianist Franz Joachim Osborn, a fellow émigré. Rostal recorded numerous albums for labels such as Vox, Decca, and Musical Masterpiece Society, although the focus primarily centered on works for violin and piano. Significantly, none of the orchestral works presented on this double album had been previously published with Rostal as a soloist, thereby providing invaluable insights into the depth and diversity of his extensive repertoire.