Orchestra: Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Wilhelm Furtwängler
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Warner
Catalogue: 9081192
Release: 2011
Size: 501 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
CD 01
Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K550
01. I. Molto allegro
02. II. Andante
03. III. Menuetto (Allegretto) & Trio
04. IV. Finale (Allegro assai)
Haydn: Symphony No. 94 in G Major ‘Surprise’
05. I. Adagio Vivace assai
06. II. Andante
07. III. Menuetto (Allegro molto) & Trio
08. IV. Allegro di molto
Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 ‘Unfinished’
09. I. Allegro moderato
10. II. Andante con moto
CD 02
01. Schumann: Manfred Overture, Op. 115
02. Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26
03. Smetana: Vltava (from Má Vlast)
04. Weber: Oberon Overture
Schubert: Rosamunde
05. Overture, D.644
Incidental Music, D.797
06. Entr’acte No. 3 in B Flat
07. Ballet No. 2 in G Major
08. Cherubini: Anacréon: Overture
CD 03
01. Gluck: Alceste: Overture
02. Gluck: Iphigénie en Aulide: Overture
03. Weber: Der Freischütz Overture
04. Weber: Euryanthe Overture
05. Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Op. 28
06. Liszt: Les Préludes, symphonic poem No. 3, S97
This 3-CD set couples together a selection of some of the more popular classics recorded by the great German conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler. Furtwängler was born 125 years ago in 1886 and this birthday tribute comes as a timely reminder of his genius. He was, without doubt, one of the truly great musical interpreters of the 20th century and we are fortunate indeed that he was working at a time when EMI were able to capture on record his work both in the studio and on the concert platform.
All the recordings were made with the Vienna Philharmonic in the late 1940s and early ’50s, during the final years of the conductor’s career. The first disc in the set contains three popular symphonies by composers who were close to Furtwängler’s heart. The other two CDs comprise a selection of well-known shorter works, making this the ideal means by which purchasers can familiarise themselves with the work of this great man of music.
Studio Recordings, 1949-1954