Alfred Wallenstein

Alfred Wallenstein (October 7, 1898 – February 8, 1983) was an American cellist and conductor, born in Chicago, Illinois.

At the age of 17, he joined the San Francisco Symphony as a cellist. He subsequently played cello with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra before becoming principal cello of the New York Philharmonic under Arturo Toscanini in 1929. He frequently performed with these orchestras as a soloist.

Toscanini, also a cellist, advised Wallenstein to become a conductor. He conducted the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and then conducted frequently on the radio. From 1943 to 1956, he was music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He later taught at the Juilliard School in New York, where he died in 1983 at age 84.

In 1941, Wallenstein was given a personal Peabody Award for Outstanding Entertainment in Music.

As solo cellist he recorded Strauss's Don Quixote under Beecham in 1932. For Audio Fidelity in September and October 1958, he conducted the specially-formed Virtuoso Symphony of London orchestra in Walthamstow Town Hall.

The LPs included Brahms's 4th Symphony, Tchaikovsky's Pathetique, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, Pictures at an Exhibition, Boléro, Romeo and Juliet, the Nutcracker Suite and a suite from Carmen.

He was a descendant of Albrecht von Wallenstein.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 7, 1898 (Chicago), Died February 8, 1983 (New York City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1946

Roles Represented in DAHR: conductor, cello, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 50 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor B-31180 10-in. 11/15/1924 At dawning (I love you) Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Victor B-31181 10-in. 11/15/1924 From the land of sky blue water Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Victor B-31187 10-in. 11/16/1924 Mighty lak' a rose Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Victor B-31188 10-in. 11/16/1924 I love you truly Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Victor BVE-35033 10-in. 3/10/1926 Simple aveu Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Victor BVE-35040 10-in. 3/10/1926 Serenade espagnole Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Victor BVE-35041 10-in. 3/10/1926 Orientale Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano arranger, instrumentalist, cello  
Victor BVE-35042 10-in. 3/10/1926 Serenade Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Victor BVE-35074 10-in. 5/28/1926 Elegie Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Victor CSHQ-71658 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York ; Mishel Piastro ; Alfred Wallenstein Orchestra, with violin and cello solos instrumentalist, cello  
Victor LCSHQ-71660 12-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra, with violin, viola, and cello solos instrumentalist, cello  
Victor [Trial 1924-06-14-04] 10-in. 6/14/1924 Cantilena concerto Alfred Wallenstein Cello solo, with piano instrumentalist, cello  
Decca L 3491 10-in. 8/4/1944 Oklahoma! (Symphonic selections) : Part 1 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3492 10-in. 8/4/1944 Oklahoma! (Symphonic selections) : Part 2 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3493 10-in. 8/4/1944 Oklahoma! (Symphonic selections) : Part 3 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3494 10-in. 8/4/1944 Oklahoma! (Symphonic selections) : Part 4 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3495 10-in. 8/7/1944 Holiday for strings Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3496 10-in. 8/7/1944 Our waltz Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3497 10-in. 8/9/1944 Warsaw concerto (Addinsell), part 1-1 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3498 12-in. 8/9/1944 Warsaw concerto, part 2 Harry Kaufman ; Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3499 12-in. 8/9/1944 Suite from Porgy and Bess, part 1 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3503 12-in. 8/9/1944 Suite from Porgy and Bess: Part 2 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3504 12-in. 8/9/1944 Suite from Porgy and Bess: Part 3 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3505 12-in. 8/9/1944 Suite from Porgy and Bess: Part 4 Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Decca L 3778 10-in. 4/10/1945 Ave Maria (Schubert) Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
(Results 1-25 of 50 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wallenstein, Alfred," accessed May 31, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105171.

Wallenstein, Alfred. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 31, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105171.

"Wallenstein, Alfred." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 31 May 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105171

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