Furtwängler Symphony No.2

[Alan Howe]

...from Neeme Järvi/Chandos:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9769853--wilhelm-furtwangler-symphony-no-2-in-e-minor

[John Boyer]

There can be only one question: will it match Barenboim?

[Justin]

Here is a video of him conducting the work last year. I wonder if it is the same live recording that will be on the album.

[eschiss1]

Ooh.
If it comes close to Barenboim I will be well pleased.

[Alan Howe]

I don't think Barenboim's recording is easily available these days.

A rough calculation suggests that Järvi is about 5-6 minutes quicker than Barenboim overall.

[Alan Howe]

There can be only one question: will it match Barenboim?

I don't think it will, but I sort of feel obliged to buy it anyway. And Järvi père is 87, bless him - 88 on 7th June this year. He's always been an adventurous spirit...

[eschiss1]

Re Barenboim: someone's asking USD 86 for it on ebay so I guess not!

[John Boyer]

The curse of algorithmic pricing.

[Gareth Vaughan]

Available from 3rd party sellers on Amazon UK at prices between £12 and £15. But there was also one offered at the truly ridiculous price of £178!!!
Also just checked ebay and found 2 at around £13 (post free), together with, admittedly, quite a few at silly prices.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks, Gareth. Well worth the reasonable prices you quoted.

[tc]

I thought the merits of maestro Jaervi's performance would be the topic here. Now it has turned into a price watch.

The Barenboim/Chicago team is the biggest name among the modern contenders. It doesn't live up to the hype and ended in my dumpster twice -- I did try to preserve my 20 bucks' worth. Jochum/BRSO is preferable in every way including the mono sound. Jochum's performance is of the original version. If that matters, there is a lesser-known digital recording by Albrecht/Weimar still preferable to the Barenboim/Chicago.

The YouTube broadcast is the best performance I've ever heard on this great symphony, in excellent sound and faster tempi that I generally prefer in this work. One never thought that Jaervi in his advanced age was still leading the ENSO exploring their unfamiliar territory. Hats off.