Furtwangler: Beethoven – The 9 Symphonies (5 CD box set, APE)

Audio CD
SPARS Code: A-D
Number of Discs: 5 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: EMI Classics
Size: 864 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

# Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

# Symphony No. 3 in E flat major (“Eroica”), Op. 55
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

# Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

# Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

# Symphony No. 5 in C minor (“Fate”), Op. 67
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

# Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

# Symphony No. 6 in F major (“Pastoral”), Op. 68
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

# Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

# Symphony No. 9 in D minor (“Choral”), Op. 125
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Bayreuth Festival Orchestra
with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Elisabeth Hongen, Hans Hopf, Otto Edelmann
Conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler

Furtwangler’s Beethoven: A Towering Achievement

Beethoven was a central part of Furtwangler’s art, and he returned again and again to the symphonies, leaving a recorded legacy that appears not only in this EMI set, but in live performances on numerous smaller labels as well. With the exception of the 2nd, the 8th, and the legendary Bayreuth 9th, all of which were recorded live, this set consists of Furtwangler’s EMI studio recordings, made between 1948 and 1954. The sound is decent mono, remastered for this set in 2000 with EMI’s “Abbey Road Technology”.
Furtwangler’s Beethoven cannot be easily described the way Toscanini’s or Klemperer’s might be (though such characterizations are generally unfair in any case, no matter who the conductor may be). He had the ability to sustain slow tempos that in other hands would threaten to topple the entire structure of the symphony, but under Furtwangler’s direction, seem to be just right. His approach never distorts the music, and almost always offers the listener new insight and pleasure in the music.
These recordings were made near the end of Furtwangler’s life. For interpretations that are more spontaneous, his war-time performances are available on the Music and Arts label (as well as other labels, but the Music and Arts set was the easiest to find). They tend to be more driven, reflecting the turmoil of the time, but with surprisngly good sound (including some audience noise).
All of the recordings in the EMI set are also avaialable on separate discs. The 9th is part of EMI’s “Great Recordings of the Century” and is considered by many to be one of the best 9ths ever recorded.
Notes by Richard Osborne are interesting and informative.