20th Century Maestros

Read About This Recording

Having firmly established ourselves within the 21st century, it is now possible to look back at the 20th century as a closed book. And in doing so, the music world is thus able to begin assessing the contributions of the past century’s great classical artists and their recordings as never before.

This European import has selected some of the greatest maestros of the 20th century in a 10-disc boxed set for music lovers to compare side by side. Included here are all the great conductors performing the works that helped define their illustrious careers: Arturo Toscanini’s Schumann, Herbert von Karajan’s Beethoven, Karl Bohm’s Mozart, Fritz Reiner’s Strauss, Serge Koussevitzky’s Mussorgsky and Bruno Walter’s Wagner.

These definitive recordings are all legendary in their own right, and we simply could not turn down the opportunity to offer them in such a convenient collection. We have imported a limited number of this set to offer to Society members. We should note, however, that while many of these are mono recordings, the artists’ true talents nevertheless shine through. These are, after all, possibly the greatest musicians in the history of recorded sound and the music contained on these masterworks is an absolute joy.

—Jeffrey R. Nissim

Quotes

"The conductor must breathe life into the score. It is you and you alone who must expose it to the understanding, reveal the hidden jewel to the sun at the most flattering angles." —Charles Munch

Contents

Imported from Europe!

CD 1 (TT: 63:10 1951): Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major. Berlin Philharmonic; Wilhelm Furtwängler, Conductor.

CD 2 (TT: 63:22 1941-49): Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 97; Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90. NBC Symphony Orchestra; Arturo Toscanini, Conductor.

CD 3 (TT: 68:18 1941-48): Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67*; Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92. Vienna Philharmonic*; Staatskapelle Berlin; Herbert von Karajan, Conductor.

CD 4 (TT: 71:59 1940-51): Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D Major, KV385, Haffner;* Symphony No. 41 in C Major, KV551, Jupiter**; Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D.759. Berlin Philharmonic*; Staatskapelle Dresden**; Vienna Philharmonic; Karl Böhm, Conductor.

CD 5 (TT: 78:03 1946-47): Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40; Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, Sz116. Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra; Fritz Reiner, Conductor.

CD 6 (TT: 56:46 1939): Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major. Jo Vincent, Soprano; Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra; Willem Mengelberg, Conductor.

CD 7 (TT: 40:51 1930-44): Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on the Bare Mountain. Boston Symphony Orchestra; Serge Koussevitzky, Conductor.

CD 8 (TT: 79:06 1946): Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7 in C Major, Op. 60, Leningrad. Berlin Philharmonic; Sergiu Celibidache, Conductor.

CD 9 (TT: 47:07 1934-37): Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, From the New World*; Strauss, Jr.: An der schönen blauen Donau. Czech Philharmonic Orchestra*; Vienna Philharmonic; George Szell, Conductor.

CD 10 (TT: 67:10 1926-35): Wagner: Götterdämmerung: Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt*; Siegfried Idyll**; Rienzi: Overture; Der Fliegende Holländer: Overture*; Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Prelude to Act 1*; Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1. The British Symphony Orchestra*; Vienna Philharmonic**; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Bruno Walter, Conductor.