Furtwangler Recordings Beethoven Sixth Symphony

[richardfinegold]

I was scanning my collection and realized that I don't have a Furtwangler recording of Beethoven's 6th. Arkivmusic lists 12 different versions, not including the recent Pristine Audio offering. Do any Furtwanglerians out there have a recommendation s to which version, and which remastering, might be the top choice?

[Thropplenoggin]

I was scanning my collection and realized that I don't have a Furtwangler recording of Beethoven's 6th. Arkivmusic lists 12 different versions, not including the recent Pristine Audio offering. Do any Furtwanglerians out there have a recommendation s to which version, and which remastering, might be the top choice?

Hi Richard

I have this version on Music & Arts, which is on my list of CDs to sell/exchange to reduce duplicates and procure new music (I'm just discovering Wagner!). Would be happy to come to some sort of arrangement, if this suits. It comes with live accounts of the Third and Fifth. Post-war performances with the Berlin Philharmonic.

It's in very good condition, but was ordered s/h, so jewel box, etc. won't look "as new". The performance can be previewed here:

[Karafan]

That's the Pastoral I would have recommended myself, Throppers, (if it's 1952 or '53, not at home so can't verify but the later ones are very satisfying).

K.

[Thropplenoggin]

That's the Pastoral I would have recommended myself, Throppers, (if it's 1952 or '53, not at home so can't verify but the later ones are very satisfying).

K.

For yours and Richard's benefit, here are the details of the performances:

Symphony No. 3: Berlin, Titania Palast (8 December 1952)
Leonore No. 2 Overture: Hamburg, Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra (9 June 1947)
Symphony No. 5: Berlin, Titania Palast (23 May 1954)
Symphony No. 6 'Pastoral': Berlin, Titania Palast (23 May 1954)

[aeolium]

There's also a Vienna Philharmonic recording of the Pastoral from 1952 which I thought was very good (I originally had it on a Unicorn LP, coupled with the Coriolan overture). I'm not sure under what label it has been released on CD, perhaps EMI References.

[Karafan]

Oh yes, it's 23rd May 1954 which I love....so deeply felt and genuinely affecting.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

It's the Nov. 52 Vienna Philharmonic recording that's selected for the 107 CD Furtwangler set.

[gurnemanz]

Oh yes, it's 23rd May 1954 which I love....so deeply felt and genuinely affecting.

I agree. I've just listened again to CD 12 of the Audite set from original RIAS tapes. Seems a bit slow at first but it works.

[richardfinegold]

Hi Richard

I have this version on Music & Arts, which is on my list of CDs to sell/exchange to reduce duplicates and procure new music (I'm just discovering Wagner!). Would be happy to come to some sort of arrangement, if this suits. It comes with live accounts of the Third and Fifth. Post-war performances with the Berlin Philharmonic.

It's in very good condition, but was ordered s/h, so jewel box, etc. won't look "as new". The performance can be previewed here:

Thanks Throp, although the cost of shipping to the US may make such a transaction less attractive. My recollection of Furtwangler's Pastorale --and it's been years since I have heard it, and I can't remember which version I heard--was that it was pretty slow, with his peasants seeming like they have had to much beer and sausage and passing flatus when they try to dance. Given my attractions for all of WF's other recordings, I want to give it another try.
I listened to the excerpts on the Pristine Audio website, and as usual, I am just not to impressed with any of the advertised 'sonic revelations' that others seem to esteem Pristine for. I see that no one here has recommended WF's 1944 performance. His other wartime Beethoven can be pretty tense and driven; it would be of interest to see what effect the war time stresses had on what is supposed to be Beethoven's happiest work.

[Barbirollians]

The Titania Palast performance is a delight - I have it coupled with the Fifth from the same night, the legendary 8.12.52 Eroica , the Lucerne Philharmonia 9th and a splendid Brahms 1 in a Tahra box .

The Fifth is pretty fabulous I think too .