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Who is your Favorite Historical Conductor?

For discussion purposes I am limiting this to

1) Wilhelm Furtwangler

2) Arturo Toscanini 

3) Bruno Walter

 

feel free to introduce others.  I will be arbitrary and cut off Conductors who worked after the death of Leonard Bernstein.

  Furtwangler and Toscanini died just short of the onset of the stereo era.  They were however recorded with the best technology of the times, and the work of restoration technology of today has done wonders.  Walter recorded until 1962 but perhaps his best work was done in the mono era.

  Walter was renowned for his “humanity” Furtwangler for his near mystical ability to rechannel German/Austrian music, and Toscanini for his finely chiseled intensity

mahler123
mahler123 OP
3,029 posts
 

@antigrunge2 

 

Presto Classical lists 105 Celi CDs

antigrunge2
1,331 posts
 

Yep,

most are though live performances and he didn’t like them in his lifetime

mahler123 OP
3,029 posts
 

My understanding is that he authorized them to be released after he died, so presumably he thought they had some merit?

antigrunge2
1,331 posts
 

Best I know he left the decision to his wife and son, he himself called LPs ‘pancakes’ all his life

antigrunge2
1,331 posts
 

His whole point was that music dependends on the acoustics of the venue which inter alia defines the tempo of individual movements and that could neither be captured nore rendered by recording. Quite the Anti Audiophile, him. He was deeply into Zen Buddhism and believed in living in the moment to create musical fulfillment. Listening to him live was special.

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