tenorismo (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Every one forgets Dr. Bruno Walter ?

leowalz (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thanks for posting! It should be further proof that while he was a consummate showman, Stokowski was NOT a charlatan.

Invisus944 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

oh I totally want to do that now

mingweicello (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I think if you can upload furtwangler's only surviving finale of this symphony with BPO in Jan, 1945, all other recordings can be dismissed.

maestrojeremy (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I do try to be open minded, but deep down I really believe there is a right way to perform a piece. And for me Jochum comes the closest in this video.

lewars1912 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

@uhartchristian >>> Your "seems to be the fact" is absolute nonsense. What else can people who have a personal problem with Furtwangler come up with ! Lots of "perfect" human beings seem to love to get on their high horses about this great conductor. It's very easy for people to say what they would have done in such circumstances but these things are always much more complicated and very different in reality.

lymbo100 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Might be hard to verify but Furtwangler's take could be tampered with, to speed it up to conform to A=440. I suggest to try to slow it down and hear if that serves the doktor his rightful place when A=432. The Verdi tuning. Furtwangler saved the spirit of the German people.

photosilent987 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Jochum

uhartchristian (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

you are right the reason for the hardness and fast tempo seems to be the fact that the tension which existed at that time did affect the mental spirit of Furtwaengler. He did not only put his art at the disposal of the naziregime and specially Hitler and Goebbels but also did integrate in his interpretations the spirit of these evil people. The hardness of these criminals is reflected in Furtwaenglers interpretations.

deepfugue (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I wanted Toscanini to keep going! They all moved me. But, Toscanini was, for me, most dramatic and he not as fast as I am use to him conducting say Beethoven. I could best feel the emotional turmoil of Brahms...