opinons sought

[Stefan Wood]

Has anyone heard or own these? These have gotten rave reviews, but I can't find any sound samples.

[T.D.]

I see sound samples for the Furtwaengler on the audite.de site:

http://www.audite.de/en/product/13CD/21403-edition_wilhelm_furtwaengler_the_complete_rias_recordings/tracks.html

For the Beethoven/Konwitschny, I had some success looking through individual CDs at Amazon - a number of .mp3 samples were available:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=beethoven+konwitschny

Edited February 28, 2012 by T.D.

[Stefan Wood]

Thanks for the links. -- I ordered the Furtwangler.

[T.D.]

Probably a great buy! I have Furt's Beethoven 1-9 on EMI, the sound leaves quite a bit to be desired in places. Can't go for the new release due to duplication.

One warning about the Berlin Classics Beethoven box:

I bought a 6-CD box of Mozart string quartets (Suske-Quartett) on Berlin Classics. Excellent playing but no documentation whatsoever - no booklet or track listing, just a box and 6 CDs in paper sleeves (track listings on paper sleeves). If you prefer documentation on the Beethoven set, be careful.

Edited March 2, 2012 by T.D.

[Stefan Wood]

I bought the Furtwangler for the performances and the much improved sound quality. For the most part I have ignored the historical performances because most of them were from dubious or second hand sources. I'm on the fence on the Beethoven box -- I think I'll wait for a better price, or maybe it will show up on broinc.com or daedalus.

[Stefan Wood]

I've listened to the first four discs of the Furtwangler Audite box. The music is great, the sound quality is outstanding for the time period.

[Tom 1960]

I've listened to the first four discs of the Furtwangler Audite box. The music is great, the sound quality is outstanding for the time period.

I've been looking for an excuse to purchase a Furtwangler collection since at present I don't own any recordings by this legendary conductor. For the price and the amount of music you get, it sounds like you can't go wrong here?

Edited March 6, 2012 by Tom 1960

[Stefan Wood]

You can't go wrong with this box -- the difference is that these were taken from the masters, direct from the RIAS vaults. Just listened to the fourth disc - Bruckner's 8th and it is a powerhouse!!