Bruno Walter's recording of the Siegfried Idyll with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra is radiantly beautiful--one of the most affecting of all this great conductor's statements. The horns wobble and nick a couple of notes, ... more »the ensemble isn't always perfect, and little things happen in the winds, but the sense of what the music is about--the character of the solo playing, the phrasing, and the wonderful feeling of delicacy and joy--is unmatched by anyone, except perhaps Karajan. The "cradle song" quality of the oboe solo early in the piece is captured to perfection, and the music moves along without ever being in a hurry. The end just floats away without seeming to drag or slow down at all. The accompanying overtures and preludes are wonderfully warm, vital, energetic accounts that show Walter's masterly touch and his long years of experience conducting these works in the pit. The accounts are full of felicitous details, particularly the Tannhäuser Bacchanale, which is still intoxicating almost 40 years later. These readings were brilliantly recorded (you can even hear a truck in the background at 1:45 in the Overture to The Flying Dutchman), and except for some tape hiss, they show almost no sign of age. As a bonus, Walter's rehearsal of the Siegfried Idyll is included. --Ted Libbey« less
Bruno Walter's recording of the Siegfried Idyll with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra is radiantly beautiful--one of the most affecting of all this great conductor's statements. The horns wobble and nick a couple of notes, the ensemble isn't always perfect, and little things happen in the winds, but the sense of what the music is about--the character of the solo playing, the phrasing, and the wonderful feeling of delicacy and joy--is unmatched by anyone, except perhaps Karajan. The "cradle song" quality of the oboe solo early in the piece is captured to perfection, and the music moves along without ever being in a hurry. The end just floats away without seeming to drag or slow down at all. The accompanying overtures and preludes are wonderfully warm, vital, energetic accounts that show Walter's masterly touch and his long years of experience conducting these works in the pit. The accounts are full of felicitous details, particularly the Tannhäuser Bacchanale, which is still intoxicating almost 40 years later. These readings were brilliantly recorded (you can even hear a truck in the background at 1:45 in the Overture to The Flying Dutchman), and except for some tape hiss, they show almost no sign of age. As a bonus, Walter's rehearsal of the Siegfried Idyll is included. --Ted Libbey
CD Reviews
Superb performance... excellent sound
Marcelo A. Soto Quiroga | Maracay, Venezuela | 03/18/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first statement does not have to surprise anyone since Walter's name only is already a guarantee of precission and heart. The second really surprised me. Good stereo image, clearly identifiable instruments, and a particularly powerful and accurate brass section gives this album a full five stars in sound quality. Needless to say that Wagner is far to be the easiest composer to conduct and play, but the CBS Orchestra had, at that time -late fifties- an excellent lineup of professional players, besides an extraordinary conductor. And that was clearly stamped on this CD."
Walter is the man from "Head-Quarters"
Ryan Kouroukis | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 10/14/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sony has recently released these Wagner recordings and put them together with the complete recordings Walter made of Mahler and Bruckner! It's a bit pricey but an indispensable box set for every collector.
If you just want these Wagner recordings though, grab them as soon as you see them if you ever in life...as they are discontinued. It is some of the best Wagner I have ever heard, especially the Parsifal prelude...transendental.
Bruno Walter is one of those rare individuals from "Head-Quarters" as someone wise once told me, meaning his line of descent could be traced back to the great composers themselves. Other examples of individuals from "Head-Quarters" are Otto Klemperer, Arthur Schnabel, Wilhelm Kempf, Yehudi Menuhin, Fritz Kreisler...etc.
These are very special recordings to love and to cherish for a lifetime.
"
The rehearsal is my favorite
Dale C. Cook | Woodville, MA USA | 12/07/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I ordered this 2 CD set, I figured I'd listen to the Dr. Walter rehearsing the orchestra once but enjoy the complete selections many times. To my surprise I've listened to the rehearsals many many times and enjoyed them each time. It is wonderful to hear the gentleness of the maestro as he coaxes an exact expression for this lyric music. Simply beautiful."
Great set - Can buy here on Amazon as part of Mahler set
Dan Sherman | Alexandria, VA USA | 10/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These recordings of Wagner have long been among my favoraite -- unfortunately the set listed here at Amazon seems to have gone out of print. The good news is that these recordings are available as part of a larger set of Bruno Walter CBS recordings listed as Famous Mahler & Bruckner Symphonies. The Mahler/Bruckner set has 13 disks (I think), with the Wagner spread across disks. The set appears to be available here at Amazon used for $45, which is a great price for some wonderful recordings. It would be nice if the Wagner recordings were available on their own however, in that they really are some of the best out there -- the rehearsal of the Siegfried Idyll is an added gem of a great conductor at work."
Track Listings (3) - Disc #1