Bruno Walter – The Complete Columbia Album Collection

• DISC 1:
  • Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor”
• DISC 2:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 (1941)
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica” (1941)
• DISC 3:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” (1946) (Remastered)
  • Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759 “Unfinished” (1947) (Remastered)
• DISC 4:
  • Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 (1947)
  • Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, MWV O 14
  • Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Incidental Music, Op. 61: Scherzo (Remastered)
• DISC 5:
  • Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major
• DISC 6:
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 “Jupiter” (1945) (Remastered)
  • Mozart: Così fan tutte, K. 588: Overture (1945) (Remastered)
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 38 in D Major, K. 504 “Prague” (1954)
• DISC 7:
  • Mozart: Don Giovanni, K. 527, Act I: “Madamina!”
  • Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384, Act III: “Ha! Wie will ich triumphieren…”
  • Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K.620, Act II: “In diesen heil’gen Hallen”
  • Mozart: Mentre ti lascio, K. 513: “Mentre ti lascio, o figlia”
  • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Act I: “Se vuol ballare”
  • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Act IV: “Aprite un po’que gl’occhi”
  • Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, Act II: “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen”
  • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Act II: “Voi che sapete”
  • Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384, Act I:” Ach ich liebte…”
  • Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384, Act II: “Welche Wonne…”
  • Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate, KV. 165: III. Alleluja, alleluja
  • Mozart: Il rè pastore, K. 208, Act II: “L’amero, saro costante”
• DISC 8:
  • Schumann: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 97 “Rhenish”
  • Smetana: Má Vlast, JB 1:112, II. Vltava “Die Moldau”
• DISC 9:
  • Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D 944 “The Great” (1946) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Schicksalslied, Op. 54 (1941) (Remastered)
• DISC 10:
  • Dvorák: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 (Remastered)
  • Dvorák: Slavonic Dance in C Major, Op.46, No. 1 (Remastered)
  • Barber: Symphony No. 1, Op. 9 (Remastered)
• DISC 11:
  • Mahler: Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor
  • Mahler: Lieder und Gesänge aus der Jugendzeit (Excerpts)
• DISC 12:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica” (1949)
• DISC 13:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 (1951) (Remastered)
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 (1942) (Remastered)
• DISC 14:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” (1949) (Remastered)
• DISC 15:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36 (1952) (Remastered)
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60 (1952) (Remastered)
• DISC 16:
  • Strauss, R.: Tod und Verklärung, Op. 24
  • Strauss, R.: Don Juan, Op. 20 (1952)
  • Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll, WWV 103 (1953) (Remastered)
• DISC 17:
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 (1953)
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 “Haffner” (1953)
• DISC 18:
  • Mozart: Der Schauspieldirektor, KV. 486: “Bester Jüngling…”
  • Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384, Act II: “Traurigkeit ward mir zum Lose”
  • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Act III: “Dove sono i bei momenti”
  • Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, K. 620, Act II: “Ach ich fühl’s, es ist verschwunden””
  • Mozart: Don Giovanni KV. 527, Act II: “In quali eccessi…Mi tradi quest’alma ingrata”
  • Mozart: Così fan tutte, K. 588, Act II: “Per pietà, ben mio, perdona”
  • Mozart: Don Giovanni, K. 527, Act II: “Non mi dir, bell’idol mio”
• DISC 19:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” (1949 + 1953) (Remastered)
• DISC 20:
  • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492, Act I: “Se vuol ballare Signor Contino”
  • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro K. 492, Act I: “La vendetta, oh, la vendetta”
  • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro K. 492, Act I: “Non piu andrai”
  • Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro K. 492, Act III: “Hai gia vinta la causa! – Vedro, mentrio…”
  • Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro K. 492, Act IV: “Tutto e disposto – Aprite un po’que gl’occhi…”
  • Mozart: Mentre ti lascio, K. 513: “Mentre ti lascio, o figlia”
  • Mozart: Per questa bella mano, K. 612
  • Mozart: Rivolgete a lui lo sguardo, K. 584
• DISC 21:
  • Schumann: Frauenliebe und -leben, Op. 42
  • Schumann: Dichterliebe, Op. 48
• DISC 22:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 (1950) (Remastered)
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 (1947) (Remastered)
• DISC 23:
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68 (1953) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 (1953) (Remastered)
• DISC 24:
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90 (1953) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98 (1951) (Remastered)
• DISC 25:
  • Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, Op. 56a (1953) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81 (1953) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 (1951) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Hungarian Dances, WoO 1: No. 17 in F-Sharp Minor (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Hungarian Dances, WoO 1: No. 1 in G Minor (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Hungarian Dances, WoO 1: No. 3 in F Major (Remastered)
  • Brahms-Dvorák: Hungarian Dances, WoO 1: No. 10 in E Major (Remastered)
• DISC 26:
  • Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Major “Titan” (1954)
  • Bruckner: Te Deum, WAB 45
• DISC 27:
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, K. 183
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 28 in C Major, K. 200
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A Major, K. 201
• DISC 28:
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 36 in C Major, K. 425 “Linz” (1955)
  • Rehearsal of Symphony No. 36 in C Major, K. 425 “Linz”
• DISC 29:
  • Rehearsal of Symphony No. 36 in C Major, K. 425 “Linz”
• DISC 30:
  • Mozart: Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” (1954)
  • Mozart: Six Minuets, K. 599: Minuet & Trio No. 5 in F Major
  • Mozart: 12 Minuets, K. 568: Minuet & Trio No. 1 in C Major
  • Mozart: 3 German Dances, K. 605: Nos. 1-3
  • Mozart: Maurerische Trauermusik, K.477 (479a)
  • Mozart: The Magic Flute Overture, K. 620 (1954)
  • Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro Overture, K. 492 (1954)
  • Mozart: Così fan tutte Overture, K. 588 (1954)
  • Mozart: The Impresario Overture, K. 486 (1954)
• DISC 31:
  • Haydn: Symphony No. 102 in B-Flat Major, Hob. I: 102
  • Haydn: Symphony in D Major, Hob. I:96 “The Miracle”
• DISC 32:
  • Mozart: Requiem in D Minor, K. 626 (Remastered)
• DISC 33:
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 “Jupiter” (1956)
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-Flat Major, K. 543 (1953)
• DISC 34:
  • Strauß, J. II: Kaiser-Walzer, Op. 437 (1956)
  • Strauß, J. II: Die Fledermaus: Overture
  • Strauß, J. II: Wiener Blut, Op. 354
  • Strauß, J. II: Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald, Op. 325
  • Strauß, J. II: Der Zigeunerbaron, IJS 486: Overture
  • Strauß, J. II: An der schönen blauen Donau, Op. 314
  • Strauß, J. II: Kaiser-Walzer, Op. 437 (1942) (Remastered)
• DISC 35:
  • Schubert: Rosamunde, D. 797 (Excerpts)
  • Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op. 102 “Double Concerto” (1954)
• DISC 36:
  • Beethoven: Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano in C Major, Op. 56 “Triple Concerto”
  • Beethoven: Leonora Overture No. 3, Op. 72b
  • Beethoven: Overture to Egmont, Op. 84
• DISC 37:
  • Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor “Resurrection” (Remastered)
• DISC 38:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 “Pastoral” (1958) (Remastered)
• DISC 39:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op.55 “Eroica” (1958) (Remastered)
• DISC 40:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60 (1958) (Remastered)
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 (1958) (Remastered)
• DISC 41:
  • Dvorák: Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95, B. 178 “From the New World” (Remastered)
  • Dvorák: Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88, B. 163 (Remastered)
• DISC 42:
  • Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major, K. 216 (Remastered)
  • Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major, K. 218 (Remastered)
• DISC 43:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36 (1959) (Remastered)
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 (1959) (Remastered)
• DISC 44:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 (1958) (Remastered)
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 (1958) (Remastered)
• DISC 45:
  • Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, “Choral” (1959) (Remastered)
• DISC 46:
  • Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96: Overture (Remastered)
  • Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer, WWV 63: Overture (Remastered)
  • Wagner: Parsifal, WWV 111: Prelude and Good Friday Spell (Remastered)
• DISC 47:
  • Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello in A Minor, Op. 102 “Double Concerto” (1959) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81 (1960) (Remastered)
  • Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54 (Remastered)
• DISC 48:
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68 (1959) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 (1960) (Remastered)
• DISC 49:
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 (1960) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90 (1960) (Remastered)
• DISC 50:
  • Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, Op. 56a (1960) (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E Minor, Op. 98 (1959) (Remastered)
• DISC 51:
  • Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, WAB 109 (Remastered)
• DISC 52:
  • Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, D. 485 (Remastered)
  • Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759 “Unfinished” (1958) (Remastered)
• DISC 53:
  • Schubert: Symphony No. 9 in C Major, D 944 “The Great” (1959) (Remastered)
• DISC 54:
  • Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 (1961) (Remastered)
• DISC 55:
  • Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E-Flat Major, WAB 104 “Romantic” (Remastered)
• DISC 56:
  • Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D Major (Remastered)
• DISC 57:
  • Mahler: Symphony No. 9 in D Major (Remastered)
• DISC 58:
  • Mozart: Serenade No. 13 in G Major, K. 525 “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” (1958) (Remastered)
  • Mozart: The Impresario Overture, K. 486 (1961)
  • Mozart: Così fan tutte Overture, K. 588 (1961)
  • Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro Overture, K. 492 (1961)
  • Mozart: The Magic Flute Overture, K. 620 (1961)
  • Mozart: The Masonic Funeral Music, K. 477 (1961)
• DISC 59:
  • Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Major “Titan” (1961) (Remastered)
• DISC 60:
  • Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde (Remastered)
• DISC 61:
  • Brahms: Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53 (Remastered)
  • Brahms: Schicksalslied, Op. 54 (Remastered)
  • Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Remastered)
• DISC 62:
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 36 in C Major, K. 425 “Linz” (1960) (Remastered)
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-Flat Major, K. 543 (1960) (Remastered)
• DISC 63:
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 38 in D Major, K. 504 “Prague” (1959) (Remastered)
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 (1960) (Remastered)
• DISC 64:
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 “Jupiter” (1960) (Remastered)
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 “Haffner” (1959) (Remastered)
• DISC 65:
  • Haydn: Symphony in G Major, Hob. I:88 (Remastered)
  • Haydn: Symphony in G Major, Hob. I:100 “Military” (Remastered)
• DISC 66:
  • Wagner: Lohengrin, WWV 75: Vorspiel zum I. Aufzug (Remastered)
  • Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll, WWV 103 (1953) (Remastered)
  • Wagner: Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf der Wartburg, WWV 70: Overture & Baccanale (Remastered)
  • Beethoven: Leonora Overture No.2, Op.72a (Remastered)
  • Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 (Remastered)
• DISC 67:
  • Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107 (1961) (Remastered)
• DISC 68:
  • Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (Remastered)
• DISC 69:
  • Gluck: Iphigénie en Aulide, Wq. 40: OvertureBruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major, WAB 107 (1954)
• DISC 70:
  • An Evening with Bruno Walter – with Commentary by Bruno Walter
• DISC 71:
  • Bruno Walter in Conversation with Arnold Michaelis
• DISC 72:
  • Bruno Walter: Selbstportrait
• DISC 73:
  • Bruno Walter in Rehearsal
• DISC 74:
  • A Talking Portrait: Bruno Walter in Conversation with Arnold MichaelisA Working Portrait: Recording the Mahler Ninth Symphony – Narrated by John McClure
• DISC 75:
  • Bruno Walter in Rehearsal
• DISC 76:
  • Bruno Walter in Rehearsal
• DISC 77:
  • Bruno Walter recollects
  • Dear Friends of Japanese Music Lovers …Bruno Walter tributes by Columbia Masterworks Artists

MAESTRO OF ENERGY AND GRACEBruno Walter’s Complete American Recordings He was Mahler’s disciple and friend in Vienna before World War I, then went on to become one of the most illustrious conductors of the century. Accordingly, the recordings that Bruno Walter made for American Columbia between 1941 and 1961, the year before his death, have always enjoyed a special authoritative status. Sony Classical is now proud to present his entire Columbia discography together for the first time in a single release of 77 CDs, with his complete stereo recordings newly remastered from the original analogue tapes and many early recordings new to CD. Born in Berlin in 1876, Bruno Walter (Schlesinger) was committed to the recording medium throughout his exceptionally long career, both before and after the rise of Nazism compelled him to emigrate from Germany and Austria. Though he recorded more than 150 different works, many of them in multiple versions, he concentrated on a handful of Austro-German composers: Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Wagner, Bruckner and Mahler. His European swansong, conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, were the first-ever recordings of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, in 1936, and Ninth Symphony, in 1938, both of which Walter himself had premiered in Vienna shortly after the composer’s death.In 1939, he settled in America (soon becoming the Beverly Hills next-door neighbor of Mahler’s widow Alma), where Walter guest-conducted many of the country’s top orchestras, but he made his studio recordings for Columbia almost exclusively with the New York Philharmonic (he turned down the orchestra’s music directorship in 1942, citing his age). Shortly after beginning work on Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony in February 1957, his first recording in stereo, the conductor suffered a heart attack. Subsequently, he curtailed his activities, sticking close to home in California though completing the Mahler recording in New York in February 1958. A month earlier, back in Los Angeles, he had already commenced a new Beethoven Symphonies cycle for Columbia with a select ensemble of musicians from the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood studios. Thus Walter launched his celebrated “Indian summer” series of recordings with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, mostly remaking the classic Austro-German repertoire he had been setting down in New York but now with the advantage of modern stereo technology.Among the pleasures afforded by Sony Classical’s complete Walter set is the possibility of comparing versions and tracing Walter’s evolving approach to the symphonies, overtures and concertos he had been living with and performing for decades with “energy and grace”, to quote his biographers. While still cherishing all of them, one might conclude that there is a stronger emphasis on “energy” in the earlier readings of Beethoven he recorded with the New York Philharmonic (the Philadelphia Orchestra for the “Pastoral”) in the 1940s and early 50s and a stronger emphasis on “grace” in the Los Angeles stereo remakes from the late 1950s and early 60s – for example the radiant late “Pastoral”, an unsurpassable recording that captures in superb modern stereo the legendary beauty of Walter’s classic pre-war Vienna Philharmonic version and his 1946 Philadelphia remake, which is also included here.A similar comparison could be applied to his multiple recordings of Brahms, whose symphonies were premiered in Walter’s lifetime and whose chamber music he played as a pianist when it was still new. Similarly, his New York recordings of Mahler’s Second, Fourth and Fifth Symphonies will always retain their landmark status, while the valedictory qualities of his Los Angeles Ninth from 1961 richly fulfill the promise of his historically important but technically flawed Vienna premiere recording. And the 1960 Das Lied von der Erde, with Walter returning a last time to record with the New York Philharmonic, is arguably the most satisfying realization of that sublime score ever put on disc. He was a famous Wagner conductor in the opera house, and though he never made a complete recording, he did leave us tantalizing extended excerpts, including glorious Columbia Symphony performances of the “Prelude and Good Friday Music” from Parsifal and the “Prelude and Venusberg Music” from Tannhäuser (with chorus). Walter recorded Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll no fewer than six times in the course of his career, and his superb 1953 New York Philharmonic Siegfried Idyll is included in this set, marking its first appearance on CD, along with the last of the six, from LA in 1959, a reading of extraordinary tenderness and sensitivity. The love and care that went into it can be heard and felt in a priceless 45-minute rehearsal recording, also reissued here. Towards the beginning, Walter exclaims, “Everybody sings!”, and later he frequently exhorts his players to “sing” and avoid undue accentuation in long phrases in order to produce the “singing” instrumental quality that distinguishes his music-making.In this set, there are altogether seven precious discs of Walter rehearsing and of his recollections of Brahms, Bruckner, Mozart, Mahler, Johann Strauss, Vienna and his collaboration with Kathleen Ferrier, as well as spoken tributes by numerous major artists and producers. Most of this material is now issued for the first time on CD.Bruno Walter, as his biographers so aptly observed, “continually strove to make his listeners feel as if they were hearing a world première … The flat rejection of leaden routine, the wild-card element of sudden inspiration, the desire to penetrate to the core of a musical work – all helped to give Walter’s best interpretations an atmosphere of freshness, of first-time creation.” This new complete set of the immortal maestro’s American recording legacy will be an inexhaustible source of joy for all lovers of great music and great music-making.