Bruno Walter: Beethoven & Mahler
This is the rare Volume 2 for Grammofono 2000's "His First Recordings in America for Columbia". Bruno Walter conducts the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. And he plays the piano in "Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit" for Desi Halban, soprano.
I really enjoyed Mahler's Symphony no. 5 with Walter, as compared to Claudio Abbado's. I think Walter's is how it was intended... much more subtle, playful, serene (of course, his closeness to Mahler must have played a key role in his interpretation). While Abbado's gives it a cinematographic touch, very much with the grandiosity used in incidental music, Walter's is more situated, theatrical... less lights and more imagination. The comparison would be similar to Hollywood productions today vs. Hollywood productions from the 50's.
Regardless, both are worth listening to. Enjoy particularly the fifth movement of Mahler Symphony No. 5.
Beethoven's Eroica is very expressive, especially with his use of dynamics.
Link to Amazon's page for this CD set: Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Mahler: Symphony No. 5
| Name | Key | Catalogue | Musicians | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disc 1: Beethoven | ||||
| Symphony No.3 | Eb | Op.55 Columbia M449 | Jan. 1941 | Eroica |
| Disc 2: Mahler | ||||
| Symphony No.5 | C#m | Columbia SL 171 | Feb.10,1947 | |
| Selection from "Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit" for Voice and Piano(1880-1890) | Columbia SL 171 | Desi Halban, soprano Bruno Walter, Piano Dec. 16, 1947 |
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