The most exciting part of running this little society is the new discoveries; whether they be new articles, new photos or new recordings. But let’s face it – the bottom line is MUSIC!

So, once again, accolades galore go out to the esteemed director of ORF (Austrian Radio), Gottfried Kraus, who continues to not only release new performances from the Salzburg Festival radio broadcasts but also brings out previously available material in what can only truly be called, ‘the best possible sound.’ This newest release way surpasses his July 1999 one which featured the July 1948 Leonore III overture of Beethoven simply because it is the Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor from August 1951!!! (Orfeo C533001B) I really thought I’d ‘heard it all’ but this performance is proof that I hadn’t. This is hands down one of the greatest musical experiences I’ve ever had and I am so blown away by its sheer beauty and spiritual energy as to be unable to properly describe in detail just how phenomenal it is. Can you believe it??? Yet another Furtwängler Beethoven’s 9th!!! The Vienna Philharmonic and team of first rate soloists: Seefried, Wagner, Dermota and Greindl played and sang their hearts out. What a fabulous way to close out the 1951 Salzburg Festival. (You may recall that these same singers had also taken part in Furtwängler performances of the Magic Flute and Otello during that same Festival.) “The audience hailed the performance in storms of passion, as one could only experience with Furtwängler,” hailed the local press. Therefore, we offer not only just another CD for your collections but yet another milestone event in the recorded catalogue of Wilhelm Furtwängler the conductor.

Speaking of milestones, we also happily offer the newest release from Arte Nova (74321 76828 2) of a live performance of the composer Furtwängler’s Symphony No. 1 in B minor. I was at this performance in Weimer last March (the photos of which are included in our last Newsletter, Vol. 9, #2) and it was a great and very moving experience. The conductor, George Alexander Albrecht, along with the totally dedicated Staatskapelle Weimar held the entire audience spellbound for nearly 1_ hours. This is very intense, spiritually probing music that left us all quite drained at its conclusion. Here we offer the sequel CD to the Symphony No. 3 which we introduced in Vol. 9, #2. Thus, are we proudly able to offer unforgettable experiences by Furtwängler the conductor and Furtwängler the composer.

Musically yours, Dade

Dade Thieriot
President, WFSA