The one recording you think everyone should bin

[Renfield]

Only get Furty on either EMI or Music & Arts. They are the only good transfers. Plus the 1942 recording is the only great performance of Furty LvB 9th to me.

1) Tahra has also done a remastering.

2) Regarding the emphasised text: !!!???!!!

No, seriously, I think you're being a bit unfair to both the excellent Bayereuth 1951 performance, and of course the scintillating, awesome and superb Lucerne 1954 Beethoven 9th. Though it is your opinion, and I do respect it.

[Bonehelm]

1) Tahra has also done a remastering.

2) Regarding the emphasised text: !!!???!!!

No, seriously, I think you're being a bit unfair to both the excellent Bayereuth 1951 performance, and of course the scintillating, awesome and superb Lucerne 1954 Beethoven 9th. Though it is your opinion, and I do respect it.

I respect your's too. Something about that recording (probably the war time setting) just adds that much devilish power and intense cruelty to it.

[Renfield]

I respect your's too. Something about that recording (probably the war time setting) just adds that much devilish power and intense cruelty to it.

Absolutely: and precisely why I don't prefer it, respect it as I do. To me, Beethoven's 9th Symphony is about "cosmic awe", and jubilation in the company of others; and the way Furtwangler transforms it for that 1942 performance, though an admirable and impressive achievement, is still not Beethoven's 9th, in a way.

Like his superb Brahms recordings with the BPO and VPO, which are also outstanding, but also not Brahms' symphonies, to me.

[Bonehelm]

Absolutely: and precisely why I don't prefer it, respect it as I do. To me, Beethoven's 9th Symphony is about "cosmic awe", and jubilation in the company of others; and the way Furtwangler transforms it for that 1942 performance, though an admirable and impressive achievement, is still not Beethoven's 9th, in a way.

Like his superb Brahms recordings with the BPO and VPO, which are also outstanding, but also not Brahms' symphonies, to me.

Well Furty is Furty. He has always been like that, criticized for being "over-the-top", overly dramatic, too much exaggeration, too this too that...but in a way he is also the most exciting conductor ever, making his performances extraordinary. You never get the same kind of intensity that be brings with any other conductor...so when you listen to his recordings, pretend you never knew the piece; don't think he is being disloyal to the composer's music. Just try to appreciate Furtwangler's unique sense of drama and personality...

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Only get Furty on either EMI or Music & Arts. They are the only good transfers.

You're forgetting the best transfers of all: Tahra. They're the gold standard for live Furtwängler on records. They reissue if at all possible using only original source material. No other company strives for such standards. Not Music & Arts, not Melodiya, not even DG (according to BBC Music Magazine) in their latest Furtwängler releases.

Tahra's reputation is based on delivering high quality live Furtwängler performances in beautifully refurbished sound.

And I don't understand the EMI reference. EMI only reissues what was originally recorded by EMI in the first place. Nothing more. They're not a player in the live Furtwängler reissue-go-round like Tahra, M&A, etc... Moreover, the vast majority of EMI's recordings are studio (the ninth excepted) and are not highly sought after by Furtwängler aficionados. Nothing against them but it's the live recordings collectors go after.

[Brian]

Any LvB symphony on Naxos.

false.

Edlinger's Zagreb recordings are perfectly fine, Halasz' Pastorale is wonderful, and Konstantin Scherbakov's solo piano cycle is excellent.

[Bonehelm]

false.

Edlinger's Zagreb recordings are perfectly fine, Halasz' Pastorale is wonderful, and Konstantin Scherbakov's solo piano cycle is excellent.

To you.

[not edward]

You're forgetting the best transfers of all: Tahra. They're the gold standard for live Furtwängler on records. They reissue if at all possible using only original source material. No other company strives for such standards. Not Music & Arts, not Melodiya, not even DG (according to BBC Music Magazine) in their latest Furtwängler releases.

Given the family background of the person behind Tahra (Hermann Scherchen's daughter Myriam), is it any wonder they do such a good job?

Tahra must be one of the few labels which are run almost entirely for artistic reasons, not commercial ones.

[Renfield]

Well Furty is Furty. He has always been like that, criticized for being "over-the-top", overly dramatic, too much exaggeration, too this too that...but in a way he is also the most exciting conductor ever, making his performances extraordinary. You never get the same kind of intensity that be brings with any other conductor...so when you listen to his recordings, pretend you never knew the piece; don't think he is being disloyal to the composer's music. Just try to appreciate Furtwangler's unique sense of drama and personality...

Of course he was, and of course I do. But seeing as he has, in my opinion, given the world a nonpareil 9th (Lucerne), I won't put his more "Furtwanglerised" accounts before it, despite how much I enjoy and/or appreciate them musically.

Concerning Tahra, which I did mention above (), I'll agree with the comments so far: their transfers are outstanding, and the performances they reissue are generally superb. In fact, just recently I bought a Bruckner 8th by Jochum with the Hesse Radio Symphony Orchestra (I think), which is positively outstanding, and far superior to his DG account, to my ears.

Also a fabulous Schubert 9th by Fricsay with (again, I think) the same orchestra, and the list goes on!


Edit: Incidentally, Weingartner, Toscanini, and Walter's Beethoven recordings are issued on Naxos, too: are they recordings you think everyone should bin!?

[Brian]

Any LvB symphony on Naxos.

To you.

"The best pastoral I've heard is by Slovak Philarmonic [sic] on Naxos" - Bonehelm.

Oh wait ... that's you! 

[Mark]

"The best pastoral I've heard is by Slovak Philarmonic [sic] on Naxos" - Bonehelm.

Oh wait ... that's you! 

Did he really say that? But that's an AWFUL performance (or at least, nowhere near a good one). Belongs in this thread, actually ...

[Keemun]

Plus the 1942 recording is the only great performance of Furty LvB 9th to me.

To which 1942 recording are you referring?  There are two different 1942 recordings. 

[Mark]

"The best pastoral I've heard is by Slovak Philarmonic [sic] on Naxos" - Bonehelm.

Oh wait ... that's you! 

Bonehelm, not to get on your case here, but if you want a better version of the 'Pastoral' on the Naxos label, this is the one to choose.

However, if you want a truly beautiful version, give the one in this set a spin:

[Bonehelm]

Thanks for the recommendation, Mark.

And Keemun, I prefer the March recording, in which Furty played the music in celebration to Adolf's birthday.

By the way, the comment about the Pastoral on Naxos, that was clearly sarcasm. Can't believe some people don't get it 

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Given the family background of the person behind Tahra (Hermann Scherchen's daughter Myriam), is it any wonder they do such a good job?

Tahra must be one of the few labels which are run almost entirely for artistic reasons, not commercial ones.

Hadn't known about the connection to Scherchen, Edward.

A labour of love for her, indeed!

[Great Gable]

To which 1942 recording are you referring?  There are two different 1942 recordings. 

I have one '42 version - the one from the eve of Hitler's birthday. It is on a bootleg label - Archipel, so I don't know if it sounds better on another, legitimate one. The sound on mine is pretty awful. The performance? It's like being in the path of an oncoming, crashing, train!

Yet this version, as I'm sure most other Furtwangler aficionados will be aware, is so so different from the '51 Bayreuth with Schwazkopf. This belies the apparent reputation of him being all sturm und drang with the slowest take on the ninth that I have yet heard (I only have nine versions so there are probably many slower). Whereas some slow versions of pieces can destroy the tension, Furtwangler's interpretation allows the first three movements to breathe and I find myself listening even more intently. It is the most involving version of any large-scale piece of music I have ever heard.

Is there a Furtwangler or a Beethoven's ninth thread?

[Que]

Is there a Furtwangler or a Beethoven's ninth thread?

The Art of Wilhelm Furtwängler

Your favorite recordings of the LvB's 9th

Q

[Great Gable]

^Thanks   

[George]

The Art of Wilhelm Furtwängler

Your favorite recordings of the LvB's 9th

Q

Que should be hired to be Concierge of GMG. 

[Keemun]

And Keemun, I prefer the March recording, in which Furty played the music in celebration to Adolf's birthday.

I believe the April 19, 1942 recording (not the March recording) is the one played in celebration of Hitler's birthday (April 20).  Here is his  DISCOGRAPHY.