Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra :: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8

Furtwangler's very last Beethoven's 7 & 8 symphonies

Chung-Whun Chung | Seoul, Republic of Korea | 11/05/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These live recordings with Wiener Philharmoniker are very last conducted by Wilhelm Furtwangler in Salzburg Festival(30 August, 1954). In last period(since summer of 1952), Furtwangler's music making was very weak because failing health. So, these performances are not excellent rate. But I think its a very important Beethoven recordings conducted by Furtwangler. Its recording(made by Rot-Weiss-Rot) condition is very superior. I was very surprised after listening. Some people are misunderstand 'stereo recording' because its recording quality. I think these recordings are deliver purely 'Furtwangler's sound'. Orfeo's restoration technique is definitely superior than other CDs."

The almighty Eighth

David Landau | Los Angeles, CA USA | 11/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For decades, music listeners and record companies have sought to fill a hole in the Beethoven discography: Furtwangler's Beethoven cycle has been missing a worthy 8th symphony --the one he recorded in Stockholm (in 1948) being a weak contender, especially on sonic grounds. This Eighth, with the Vienna Phil in Salzburg from the last year of Furtwangler's life, will become like the newly-remodeled room in your home; next to it, all the others will seem a bit shabby. In cracking good sound, with a reading that finally gives the mighty Eighth its due, Furtwangler's Beethoven legacy moves to a new level --as unlikely as that might have seemed.



On the disc, by the way, the Eighth comes first, in the position of honor, and I don't doubt it belongs there. Indeed, I haven't even started listening to the Seventh --the monumental finale of the Eighth is reverberating around me as I write this-- but whatever happens in the Seventh isn't going to affect my view of this disc. It more than justifies itself with the Eighth alone. Furtwangler fans --you know who you are-- this is a must."