First listen to CDs 19-21 from "Ferenc Fricsay - Complete Recordings On DG Vol.2 - Operas, Choral Works." Mozart - Don Giovanni performed by the RIAS-Kammerchor and the Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Bruckner's "cathedral" as some Brucknerians call it. One of my all-time favourite symphonies. I also love 4 (heard it too many times, though) and 7, followed at some distance by 5, 6 and 9.
Operas and other vocal works are not my thing, so I passed on this box, but I did get Vol.1 with Fricsay's orchestral and concert recordings; a great set.
It’s a shame Furtwängler never recorded in stereo. It’s funny when you think that Karajan recorded in stereo in 1944, a full 10 years before Furtwängler’s death, yet Furtwängler himself never did.
Maybe Andrew Rose of Pristine Records released a Furtwängler recording in "ambient stereo", he's often using that kind of manipulation (my description) of mono recordings.
Which Karajan's 1944 stereo recording? I know Bell Lab made a few in the early 30's but they were not commercial recordings or were they? Didn't Bell Lab help Stokowski record his Fantasia in stereo in the early 30's?
He recorded a single Bruckner movement in stereo in 1944. There are also other conductors’ recordings from that era in stereo, all done on magnetic tape before the rest of the world knew what that was.
I have the following Karajan's DG box with recordings mostly from the 40's but they are all mono to the best of my knowledge ... But where is that single Bruckner's movement?
Would you mostly be referring to pieces from the big time "warhorse" composers like Mozart, Brahms, Beethoven, Mahler, Bruckner etc? If so after thinking about it a while I could easily come up with a nearly exclusive European conductor/orchestra list in my mind where the performances were top tier. So I guess I am in agreement with you! Funny I never really thought about country of composer/recording before. I simply love the sound of the VPO, but besides that I don't really distinguish between orchestras. I am more wary after hearing an orchestra playing poorly on numerous recordings.
I have really enjoyed these last few years where I've been listening to many more historical recordings, primarily pianists and violinists not conductors... mostly because I prefer more modern (tape era and beyond) recording of symphonies. If the music suits it, why not a more personal interpretation- that's my moto now
First listen to CD 2 from "Rafael Kubelik - The Complete Recordings On Deutsche Grammophon." Beethoven Symphony 1 - performed by the London Symphony Orchestra Beethoven Symphony 3 - performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker
Up watching the first of a 5 disc set dubbed Discovering Masterpieces of Classical Music: Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A Minor Normally I find these programs deadly dull but this series is well done. You don't think of the great composers making concessions in terms of composition for the marketplace (in Schumann's case, it was publishing) but it absolutely altered the writing of this well known concerto. I wondered if it was on the web and was delighted to find that it was. as well as the Marth Argerich/Riccardo Chailly full performance. Both are included in the set, a nice package for lovers of the music.
Paul Hindemith Avant-gardist and Freethinker For literally just a few dollars this 4 CD set recorded primarily in mono but featuring the key works of Hindemith (performed alternately by the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Berliner Philharmoniker and various uncredited "performers") is a must own, imo; particularly if you're unacquainted with his work.
The cantor, a tenor, sings the melodies before each of the choral preludes upon which it is based. Mason plays the C.B. Fisk organ named in her honor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Recorded by Brookwood Studios. Engineer: David Lau. CD from 1993.
Recorded March through May, 1978, Gedächtniskirche, Stuttgart. Producer: Hans-Jochaim Daub. Engineer: Teije van Geest. 1991 CD reissue.
This is the one, @coopmv. From the same series is also the 1944 stereo Gieseking Emperor concerto recording, which can be found in better quality in Youtube than on any CD. It’s a well-known recording, I’ve mentioned it before. Funny that this is played so slowly. I’ve come to associate faster playing with Karajan.
The early Karajan Stereo Bruckner 8 is from 1944. https://www.amazon.com/Bruckner-Symphony-No-minor-Anton/dp/B000001SUN Unfortunately only movements 3-4 survive (or were recorded)
