Bruno Walter :Great Conductors of the 20th Century

Bruno Walter | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: November 28, 2005
• Release Date: June 4, 2002
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• Copyright: (C) 2002 EMI Records Ltd
• Total Length: 2:23:28
• Genres:
• ASIN: B000THEKDM
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,600 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Bruno Walter, May 11, 2004

By 

Jeffrey Lee (Asheville area, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Bruno Walter (Audio CD)

Bruno Walter directs a pastische of French, British, American and Viennese orchestras in compositions by some of the best known German and Austrian composers. The sound quality varies, but considering the sources, there are no real disappointments. Disc one actually contains two favorite pastoral symphonies---the Sixth of Beethoven and the Second of Brahms. Comparing this 1936 Beethoven with Walter's Indian summer account (Columbia Symphony Orchestra) nearly a quarter century later indicates little has changed in what some have considered to be a trademark piece of his. The same kind of leisurely, songful approach is evident. The Brahms Second with the New York Philharmonic is the best recorded opus in the two disc set. Though Walter begins in much the same vein as his later 1960s Columbia stereo version, he ultimately reveals a little more firmly shaped musical outline. Also, the range of dynamic contrasts is broadened. Even so, the poetic and musical aspects are retained, especially in the conductor's beautifully expressed second and third movements. In the final movement, things move very nicely to the closing passages where Walter unleashes at breakneck speed in the manner of Eugen Jochum's mono Berlin Philharmonic Second (DGG "Originals" set). Overall, an outstanding performance, and one I would rank along with Jochum's, at the very summit of Brahms Seconds....On disc two, both the Overture to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and the Haydn Symphony 92 ("Oxford") are played with briskness and charm. The Haydn is particularly enjoyable because it reveals those traits of gentleness and warmth that so typified Walter's style of conducting. There's also a nice sense of exuberance in the final movement. Wagner's Die Meistersinger Overture gets a good though not memorable performance. In general, I reserve comment on the vocal selections. I'll only opine that the wonderful Kathleen Ferrier's Mahler contribution is very fine. Though I've heard the adagietto from Mahler's Fifth played with more polish, beauty and depth of feeling, Walter's representation is fine. Strauss' Die Fledermaus Overture is given an affectionate and tuneful account. A very nice set.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Conductors of 20th Century = Best Reissues of the 21st, May 25, 2003

By 

Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Bruno Walter (Audio CD)

It's sad that the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" reissue series has not gotten more notice on www.Amazon.com and in other places, because it has my vote for the best reissue program thus far of the 21st Century. Drawing from the archives of all the major classical labels (EMI, Sony, BMG, DG, Decca, Philips, Supraphon, etc.), EMI and IMG Artists have assembled a wonderful series of affordable two-disc sets by the leading conductors of the last century. And unlike its counterpart, "The Great Pianists of the 20th Century," which are basically compilations of material already available on other CDs, the "Great Conductors" features rare and, for the most part, previously unreleased performances!

This particular CD, Volume 15, features the great Bruno Walter leading a variety of orchestras including the Vienna and New York Philharmonics, British Symphony, and Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire. All of the recordings here except for two are from the 1930s, and even a quality remastering job, like the one here, can only do so much. Still it is delightful to hear a youthful Walter tackle the Pastoral, and I have enjoyed comparing it to his 1958 account with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. The real gem is the Brahms Symphony No. 2 from 1953. While I love his stereo cycle in the Bruno Walter Edition, this is my first experience with a recording from his mono cycle with the New York Philharmonic. I can see why some critics still hail it as the best of all Brahms cycles, despite the mono sound -- it is breathtaking and worth the price of this set alone!

Whether you are a serious collector of classical music or a beginner, the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" has something for everyone. If the prized, rare performances previously unreleased on CD (or ever!) doesn't excite you, then use this as an opportunity to check out one of the greatest conductors ever recorded. Since stores are offering increasingly homogenized classical music sections, this conductor may not be in your collection, and that would truly be a shame.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Murky recordeings easily found elsewhere, November 5, 2005

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Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Bruno Walter (Audio CD)

Bruno Walter was very fortunate to live long enough to record in stereo, because these early versions of two staple pieces--a Beethoven Sixth from vienna (1936) and Brahms Second from New York (1953)--are quite murky, the Beethoven in particular. One can buy either performance from various pirate sources in sonics no worse than we hear on this 2-CD set.

The second CD is filled entirely with bits and pieces except for the Haydn "Oxford" Sym., and here again the murky 30's mono is no pleasure. Walter recorded almost exclusively for Columbia from the Fifties until he died in 1962 (how amazing to think that Walter was born in 1876, when Bruckner and Brahms had twenty years yet to live). Apparently Sony didn't cooperate in the Great Condcutors project, so those Columbia years aren't represented except for the Brahms, which was set to go off copyright. In any event, it can be found in remastered sound from Sony, adding yet another reason not to bother with this colleciton unless you are new to Walter's early career in Europe before the Nazis forced his years of wandering and eventual emigration to Los Angeles.