Wilhelm Furtwängler conducts Beethoven

On this CD:

1. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with Conrad Hansen
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

2. Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with Erich Rohn
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

Tracks:

Beethoven Symphonies

Tracks:

Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: I. Allegro Con Brio

Amazon.com essential recording

These may be the most gripping performances of Beethoven's symphonies you'll ever hear. No, not necessarily the most enjoyable or even the most accurate, but gripping--to say the least. In these wartime performances of Symphonies Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9, Wilhelm Furtwängler is at his most expressive, angry self. Conducting six of the world's greatest symphonies for audiences in Nazi Germany, Furtwängler has an inner turmoil that seems to shoot straight through his baton. He drives the Vienna and Berlin Philharmonics to the edge of disaster, but miraculously they keep up--rising to the occasion. The Eroica and the Ninth are particularly emotion-filled; the latter features the great Bruno Kittel Choir and the BPO in fine form, but they--like everyone else here--are overshadowed by the conductor's bipolar mood swings and furious pacings. Brace yourself. These are shocking, awesome, thought-provoking performances that--thanks to a great remastering--have never sounded better. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Furtwangler's Beethoven.......2007-04-14

This set belongs next to Schnabel's piano sonatas and the Busch's string quartets as one of the great Beethoven sets in recorded history. There certainly is no better monetary value for Furtwangler's Beethoven. The 3rd, 4th, and 9th are especially definitive. Compared to Furtwangler's later performances, these are tighter, more intense, and faster-paced. It is mainly in the 6th and 7th that you miss the warmer Furtwangler of his later recordings.

No. 3 is intense, concentrated, and perfectly proportioned. I differ with some who consider the 12/8/52 to be Furtwangler's greatest 3rd. While the sound of that one is fantastic, to my ear it is just the slightest bit more slack in concentration when compared to the '44. In any case, these are easily the two best recordings of the work available, and they are both essential. Listen to the '52 for beauty of sound and phrases lengthened to their max, but the '44 would still be my desert island 3rd.

No. 4 is simply the greatest performance on record, giving a whole new level of emotional depth to this symphony.

No. 5 is for many Furtwangler's best. It is certainly well-played and perfectly proportioned. There are several Furtwangler recordings of No. 5 that are deserving of attention, and choosing between them is a matter of strong debate. For me, the two that arise above all others are the 5/23/54 and 5/25/47. The '54 is simply astounding. It is a perfect performance in fantastic sound for its time. It really knocks you out of your chair. This is the recording for people who want to know what all the fuss was about Furtwangler's Beethoven. (How on Earth did the man conduct like this just 6 months before his death?) The '47 is also special for its edge-of-your-seat spontanaity. While not as good in sound quality as the '54, it is more fleet and rhythmically free. The rousing coda of the finale has to be heard to be believed - Furtwangler at his most magical. There is also a deleted DG recording two days later in better sound, but not quite as inspired. The '44 is still a great performance, but for me Furtwangler reached greater heights in these two later recordings.

No. 6 is one that perhaps misses some of the warmth of Furtwangler's later recordings. It is still a great one, particularly in the storm, and the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic is magnificent. You really get the sense of the storm slowly subsiding and sunshine peering through the clouds in the final movement. Like the 5th's with which they are paired, the 5/23/54 and 5/25/47 are the performances that show Furtwangler at his best. The '54 is pretty definitive and in great sound.

No. 7 is exciting and dramatic. Though it has much to recommend it (listen to the beautiful tempo fluctuations in the scherzo), I sometimes miss the more patient pacing of Furtwangler's later recordings. The '53 DG recording is probably his best, with excellent tempo transitions and a rousing conclusion to the finale. The sound is also very present and clean for the period. The '50 EMI recording is not far behind.

No. 9 is simply the greatest orchestral recording ever made of anything. Yes, some will say it is too intense, but what else do you want with this symphony? You simply cannot go back to other interpretations after hearing this one. Only the '51 Bayreuth performance comes close. That one is a good alternative for hearing cleaner sound and some strong brass playing. The '54 Lucerne is by far the best-sounding. However, it does not have the same intensity as the other two. By comparison, it almost sounds tired. Of course this is all relative: The '54 Lucerne still puts every other recorded version after Furtwangler in the shade. And then there is also the '37, which is dimly recorded but still exhibiting Furtwangler's unique intensity.

And let us not forget the overtures, particularly the '43 Coriolan. Along with the '42 9th, this is also one of the greatest orchestral recordings ever made. Astounding drama and concentration. Unfortunately, Furtwangler's definitive '47 Egmont on DG is not presently available.

In short, run out and grab this set while also complementing it with a few of Furtwangler's later recordings. My desert island choices for Furtwangler's Beethoven symphonies would be:

3rd: '44 and 12/8/52, 4th: '43, 5th & 6th: 5/25/47 and 5/23/54, 7th: '53, 9th: '42 and '51

Amazing! Outstanding! Essential!.......2007-04-12

This set collects some of the greatest and awesome Beethoven interpretations in world history. Their classical status is unmatched: at the conductor's rostrum, we have Wilhelm Furtwängler at the height of his exceptional understanding of Beethoven's music. The context of the recordings is WWII, mainly in the wartime Germany (of course, Vienna belonged to Germany after the 1938 "Anschluss", but I choose to see Vienna as the capital of Austria). Like some other great artists and intellectuals, Furtwängler decided to stay in Germany during the Second World War. But unlike disgusting opportunists like von Karajan, he never joined the Nazi party - in fact, he even refused to shake Hitler's hand.

Of course, Furtwängler's impeccable moral contributes to his greatness. Just listen to his magnificent ninth, with its humanist message. It's a breathtaking performance that should move everyone to tears.

Here are the recordings dates of the performances in this box:

Symphony 3: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, 19-20 December, 1944.
Symphony 4: Berlin Philharmonic, 27-30 June, 1943.
Symphony 5: Berlin Philharmonic, 27-30 June, 1943.
Symphony 6: Berlin Philharmonic, 20-22 March, 1944.
Symphony 7: Berlin Philharmonic, 31 October-3 November, 1943.
Symphony 9: Berlin Philharmonic, 22-24 March 1942. (Solists are Tilla Briem, Peter Anders, Elisabeth Höngen, and Rudolf Watzke.)

Music & Arts' remasterings (made by Maggi Payne) are very good. Of course, what we have here are old mono, live recordings, so don't expect HiFi quality. But what you can expect are recordings of the century, essential for any music collection.

Strongly and warmly recommended!

Glorious.......2007-02-10

Impossible to put into mere words the effect of these tremendous performances: they are glorious, powerful, sublime. True these are
(excellently remastered) mono recordings of live performances more than 50 years old, so there is some noise and some harmonic distortions also. But the music and the performances completely and thoroughly transcend this, even on the finest audio equipment. Your Beethoven collection is simply not complete unless you have this one, and also the Bayreuther 9th from 1951 (also available on EMI classics). Indeed, once you have these, you may find you don't want to listen to any other cycles of these symphonies that you may have, however fine and technically perfect they may be.

Remastering an old recording.......2007-01-09

If you want to experience how Beethoven was played 40 years ago, then buy this CD set. But beware of sound quality and some technical glitches. In addition, audience noise can be distracting.

Just Get It.......2006-09-22

...even if this is the only CD of Beethoven's Orchestral Works you ever buy.
Even though they are in mono, old, noisy, with pitch variations at places (but still remarkably good transfers), for many of the works here it's safe to say that you have not really heard them unless you have experienced these recordings.
Four of the works (4,5,6,7) are great performances, but there are other great ones out there as well.
However, the recordings of the ninth (BPO Mar'42) and third (VPO Dec'44)symphonies as well as the Coriolan and Leonore III overtures are definitive and unique, and each of them is by itself worth the price of the whole set. The only downside to getting them is that it might become hard to be attentive to most other recordings afterwards.

Wilhelm Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven Symphonies

Average customer rating:

Supernatural perfection

Wilhelm Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven Symphonies

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001OGQ
Release Date: 1995-06-20

Tracks:

Sym No.3, 'Eroica' Op.55 in E-flat: Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.3, 'Eroica' Op.55 in E-flat: Marcia Funebre (Adagio Assai)
Sym No.3, 'Eroica' Op.55 in E-flat: Scherzo (Allegro Vivace) - Trio
Sym No.3, 'Eroica' Op.55 in E-flat: Finale (Allegro Molto - Poco Andante - Presto)
Leonore No.2 Ov: Leonore No.2 Ov - Wilhelm Furtwangler/Hamburg Phil State Orch

Tracks:

Sym No.5, Op.67 in c: Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.5, Op.67 in c: Andante Con Moto - Piu Mosso
Sym No.5, Op.67 in c: Allegro
Sym No.5, Op.67 in c: Allegro - Presto
Sym No.6 Op.68 in F: Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Awakening Of Serene Impressions On Arising in The...
Sym No.6 Op.68 in F: Andante Molto Mosso (Scene By The Brookside)
Sym No.6 Op.68 in F: Allegro (Jolly Gathering Of Country Folk)
Sym No.6 Op.68 in F: Allegro (The Storm)
Sym No.6 Op.68 in F: Allegretto (Shepherds' Song. Glad And Grateful Feelings After The Storm)

Customer Reviews:

Supernatural perfection.......2005-04-11

I have no hesitation in saying that Furtwangler was the greatest interpreter of Beethoven the world has ever known. His live performances were almost always special, but these are on a plane of inspiration unusual even for him. Especially the Pastoral has a radiant beauty and a sense of spiritual exaltation that I have been unable to find anywhere else. Added to this the sound is incredibly good for the time. Any lover of great music cannot afford to miss this.

Average customer rating:

Five Stars are Not Enough!

Wilhelm Furtwängler conducts Beethoven

Manufacturer: Opus Kura
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
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Furtwangler Conducts Beethoven - Beethoven: symphonies no 3,4,5, & 9, Leonore

ASIN: B0000A4G6X
Release Date: 2003-07-29

Customer Reviews:

Five Stars are Not Enough!.......2004-06-10

This is the legendary 1937 HMV Beethoven Fifth with the Berlin Philharmonic. While there are a number of truly great recordings of this work - Klemperer, Kleiber, Solti, Weingartner, Nikisch - this one tops them all for sheer drive and passion. Likewise, the "Coriolan" Overture will terrify its listener with it shattering climaxes, and the "Egmont" Overture likewise will carry the listener along with its tempestuous course. The transfers are exceptionally lifelike. In a pinch, I still consider Furtwaengler to have been the greatest performing musician of my experience.

Average customer rating:

Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven

Manufacturer: Grammofono 2000
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000025YJZ

Furtwangler Conducts Beethoven Symphony 9

Average customer rating:

Furtwangler Conducts Beethoven Symphony 9

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000006KHM
Release Date: 1993-11-01

Tracks:

Symphony No.9 In D, Op.125: I. Allegro ma non troppo
Symphony No.9 In D, Op.125: II. Molto vivace
Symphony No.9 In D, Op.125: III. Adagio molto e cantabile - Andante moderato - Adagio
Symphony No.9 In D, Op.125: IV. Presto - Allegro ma non troppo - Allegro assai - Presto - Allegro assai - Allegro assai vivace, Alla Marcia - Andante maestoso - Allegro energico, sepre ben marcato - Allegro ma non tanto - Poco adagio - Prestissimo

Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven & Schumann

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Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven & Schumann

Manufacturer: Russian Compact Disc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000507Y6
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Tracks:

Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: I. Adagio. Allegro Vivace
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: II. Adagio
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: III. Menuetto. Allegro Vivace
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: IV. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Pno Con in a, Op.54: I. Allegro Affettuoso
Pno Con in a, Op.54: II. Intermezzo. Andantino Grazzioso
Pno Con in a, Op.54: III. Allegro Vivace - Walter Gieseking

Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Grosse Fuge, Op. 133

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Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Grosse Fuge, Op. 133

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008FG7W
Release Date: 1993-11-01

Furtwängler Conducts Schumann & Beethoven, 1953 (2CDs)

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Furtwängler Conducts Schumann & Beethoven, 1953 (2CDs)

Manufacturer: Elaboration
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000R4IWGI

Product Description

Elaboration 904 (1996 remastering of 1953 recording) ADD - Lucerne Festival Orchestra - Elaboration reissues lack liner notes

Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven's Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

Average customer rating:

Furtwängler Conducts Beethoven's Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00008FG83
Release Date: 1993-11-01

Average customer rating:

Wilhelm Furtwängler conducts Beethoven

Manufacturer: Arkadia: the 78's
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000IMV4
Release Date: 1999-04-01

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