All’ombra dei giganti — Conducting in Germany and Austria (1900–1950)

All’ombra dei giganti is a Capsa Symphōnĭa audio anthology devoted to the great German and Austrian conducting tradition, conceived in dialogue with Andrea Bedetti’s book of the same title and the listening guide in GRooVE back Magazine n. 009/26. The title reflects the historical scope of the book; the recorded selection also includes later material for some of the conductors represented.

Ten interpreters, ten documents of orchestral conducting

The collection brings together Felix Weingartner, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Bruno Walter, Otto Klemperer, Hans Knappertsbusch, Oswald Kabasta, Hermann Abendroth, Carl Schuricht, Leo Borchard and Hermann Scherchen in music by Beethoven, Bruckner, Mozart, Wagner, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Bach. The recordings span different schools, periods and recording practices, from studio and 78 rpm sessions to radio and live recordings.

Recordings

Beethoven’s Fifth conducted by Weingartner with the London Philharmonic Orchestra was recorded between 31 January and 2 February 1933 at Abbey Road Studio 1; Furtwängler’s Bruckner Ninth with the Berliner Philharmoniker was made for radio in Berlin’s Beethovensaal in autumn 1944 rather than as a public concert; Mozart’s Jupiter under Bruno Walter with the Wiener Philharmoniker dates from January 1938; Klemperer’s Eroica with the Philharmonia Orchestra was recorded at Kingsway Hall in 1955; Knappertsbusch’s 1962 Parsifal from the Bayreuth Festival was captured live.

Oswald Kabasta’s Bruckner Fourth with the Münchner Philharmoniker is a radio recording from 30 June 1943 preserved from RRG tapes. Hermann Abendroth’s Brahms Fourth with the Leipzig radio orchestra dates from 15 April 1956; Carl Schuricht’s Beethoven Ninth with the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire was recorded at Salle Wagram in Paris in 1958.

Available formats

This digital edition, code CS001, is available as File PCM 44.1kHz • 16bit — CD Resolution. The file is PCM 44.1kHz • 16bit and is not a Hi-Res format.

Tracklist

1. Ludwig van Beethoven — Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: Allegro con brio [08:09] — Felix Weingartner, London Philharmonic Orchestra.
2. Anton Bruckner — Symphony No. 9 in D minor: Scherzo. Bewegt, lebhaft – Trio. Schnell [09:31] — Wilhelm Furtwängler, Berliner Philharmoniker.
3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 “Jupiter”: Molto allegro [06:35] — Bruno Walter, Wiener Philharmoniker.
4. Ludwig van Beethoven — Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”: Marcia funebre [14:43] — Otto Klemperer, Philharmonia Orchestra.
5. Richard Wagner — Parsifal, WWV 111: Vorspiel, Act I [12:00] — Hans Knappertsbusch, Bayreuther Festspielorchester.
6. Anton Bruckner — Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major, WAB 104 “Romantische”: Bewegt, nicht zu schnell [16:02] — Oswald Kabasta, Münchner Philharmoniker.
7. Johannes Brahms — Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98: Allegro energico e passionato [10:20] — Hermann Abendroth, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Leipzig.
8. Ludwig van Beethoven — Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral”: Molto vivace [11:18] — Carl Schuricht, Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire.
9. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky — Romeo and Juliet, Overture-Fantasia [22:30] — Leo Borchard, Berliner Philharmoniker.
10. Johann Sebastian Bach — Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 [15:08] — Hermann Scherchen, Orchester der Wiener Staatsoper.

Credits

Conductors: Felix Weingartner, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Bruno Walter, Otto Klemperer, Hans Knappertsbusch, Oswald Kabasta, Hermann Abendroth, Carl Schuricht, Leo Borchard, Hermann Scherchen.
Digital edition: Capsa Symphōnĭa
Code: CS001

The listening guide connected with this anthology is available in GRooVE back Magazine n. 009/26. Andrea Bedetti’s book All’ombra dei giganti. La direzione d’orchestra in Germania e in Austria (1900–1950), the first volume in the GRooVE back Parallel series, is also available on the website.

What are DSD and DXD?

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) is a 1-bit digital encoding system based on pulse-density modulation. DSD64 operates at approximately 2.8 MHz, DSD128 at approximately 5.6 MHz, and DSD256 at approximately 11.2 MHz. Playback requires a DAC or player compatible with the selected DSD rate.

DXD (Digital eXtreme Definition) is a very high-resolution PCM format; in the version presented here it operates at 352.8kHz. Originally developed also as a professional editing and post-production environment for very high-resolution workflows, it requires a compatible DAC or player.

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