Paul Kuentz
Paul Kuentz has become best known as a conductor of music from the Baroque and Classical periods. In particular, he has achieved acclaim for his readings of works by J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Pergolesi, Haydn, Mozart, Rossini (instrumental music), and many other major and minor seventeenth and eighteenth century composers. But Kuentz's repertory has also extended into later periods, taking in works by Glazunov, Ibert, Villa-Lobos, Orff, and others. While Kuentz has largely remained a lesser known figure, he has been prolific in the recording studio, appearing in numerous releases for EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, Decca, and smaller labels like Pierre Verany. Often he has made recordings released as theme albums, such as The Magic Flute, Blue Classics, and many others. Kuentz founded his own orchestra in 1951 and has regularly led it in concert and on recordings.
Kuentz was born in Mulhouse, France, on May 4, 1930. He enrolled at the Paris Conservatory at 17, where his primary teachers were composer Noël Gallon, Eugene Bigot, and Georges Huron. He graduated in 1950 and the following year founded his orchestra, the Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra. Soon Kuentz and his new ensemble began attracting attention for their performances of early music. In 1956 Kuentz married French violinist Monique Frasca-Colombier, with whom he has since appeared in many concerts and on several recordings. By 1970 Kuentz had made numerous concert tours in Europe and the United States, which included one notable appearance at Carnegie Hall in 1968.
Kuentz founded his own chorus, the Paul Kuentz Choir, in 1972, and employed it regularly in concerts and recordings. Over the years Kuentz befriended and performed with some of the leading musicians of the day, including cellist/conductor Mstislav Rostropovich and harpist Nicanor Zabaleta, with whom he recorded a disc of Baroque harp concertos for Deutsche Grammophon in 1989. Among Kuentz's earlier recordings was his acclaimed two-CD set on Pierre Verany of the St. John Passion in 1987. Further successful Bach recordings followed, as well as a spate of others for various labels.
Kuentz often recorded with other orchestras, or in rare instances with his own as well as another ensemble. His acclaimed 1995 recording of Orff's Carmina Burana, for instance, employed both his own ensemble and the Orchestre des Concerts du Conservatoire. Kuentz's recent releases are reissues of older recordings and include the 2006 Deutsche Grammophon CD A Baroque Guitar Weekend.
© TiVo
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Nicanor Zabaleta - Himmlische Harfe
Nicanor Zabaleta, Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Splendour of the Harp
Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 4 okt. 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ibert, Glazunov, Villa-Lobos, Dubois: Saxophone Concertos
Eugene Rousseau, Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Paul Kuentz
Concerten voor blaasinstrumenten - Released by UMSM on 1 jan. 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
J.S. Bach : L'offrande musicale, Musikalishes Opfer BWV1079
Klassiek - Released by Collection Paul Kuentz on 1 jan. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Les quatre saisons avec sonnets originaux
Paul Kuentz Symphony Orchestra, Monique Frasca-Colombier, Paul Kuentz, Pierre Gilles
Klassiek - Released by Pierre Verany on 31 mei 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
LA FLUTE ENCHANTEE
Paul Kuentz Symphony Orchestra, Elisabeth Vidal, Klaus Hager, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Pierre Verany on 1 jan. 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach / Handel: Harp Concertos
Nicanor Zabaleta, Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Concerto For 2 Violins Lute And Basso Continuo In D
Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart - Symphonies N°40 KV 550 et N°41 KV 551
Paul Kuentz, Paul Kuentz Symphony Orchestra
Klassiek - Released by Pierre Verany on 15 apr. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bach / Händel: Virtuoso Harp Music
Nicanor Zabaleta, Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Paul Kuentz, English Chamber Orchestra, Luis Antonio García Navarro
Klassiek - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lalande / Mouret: Simphonies & Fanfares
Adolf Scherbaum, Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lalande / Mouret: Simphonies & Fanfares
Adolf Scherbaum, Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 jan. 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
J.S. Bach : La Passion Selon St-Matthieu BWV 244
Religieuze vocale muziek - Released by Collection Paul Kuentz on 25 mrt. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Concerto pour flûte et harpe, K. 299 - Bach: Suite pour orchestre No. 2, BWV 1067 - Vivaldi: Concerto pour 2 trompettes, RV 537 (Mono Version)
Klassiek - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1957
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Puccini: Messa di Gloria & Crisantemi
Patrick Garayt, Thierry de Gromard, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Pierre Verany on 15 mei 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Teleman’s Works: Concertos en ré majeur et en sol majeur
Collegium Pro Musica de Paris, Paul Kuentz
Klassiek - Released by Astorg Records on 1 jan. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ave Maria et Grands bis célèbres (Orchestre Paul Kuentz, Paul Kuentz, Marie-Noëlle Cros)
Paul Kuentz Symphony Orchestra, Paul Kuentz, Marie-Noëlle Cros
Klassiek - Released by Pierre Verany on 15 aug. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Telemann: Concertos pour trompette, flûte à bec et quatre violons (Mono Version)
Collegium Pro Musica de Paris, Paul Kuentz, Christian Lardé
Divers - Released by BNF Collection on 1 jan. 1958
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Messe du Couronnement
Klassiek - Released by Collection Paul Kuentz on 31 mrt. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antonin Dvorak : Stabat Mater
Paul Kuentz, Marie-Noëlle Cros, Catherine Cardin, Patrick Garayt, André Cognet
Klassiek - Released by Collection Paul Kuentz on 1 jan. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Le Petit Ménestrel: Bastien et bastienne -Opéra de Mozart raconté aux enfants
Paul Kuentz, Paul Kuentz Chamber Orchestra, Claire Bourjac, Patricia Dupont, Danielle Chlostawa, Marie Claude Bourlet
Kinderen - Released by Universal Music Division Decca Records France on 1 jan. 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo