Felix Weingartner, conductor

[Lance]

As I am working on a series of radio broadcasts devoted to conductor Felix Weingartner [1863-1942], this means all his recordings were made during the days of 78rpm recordings. In looking over his discography, it is amazing so much material went to shellac! All Beethoven's nine symphonies, [Weingartner apparently the first conductor to record all nine]; Brahms four symphonies, Mendelssohn 3, Liszt, Wagner, Handel, JS Bach, Berlioz, Mozart, Weber, Wagner. Even some good collaborations with pianists, Sauer, Long, etc. I always felt his arrangement of Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" piano sonata was outstanding. Weingartner appears on many labels including EMI, Lys, Naxos Historical, Pearl, Piano Library, Pristine, Sirio, and Tahra. I wonder what the old guy would think if he knew these recordings would still be heard just shy of a hundred years, in many cases, of when they were recorded. ♫

[david johnson]

I still have his VPO Beethoven #9 on 78s. I listened to it a lot when I was a teen.

[Febnyc]

Are you also considering Weingartner as a composer? I think he was one of the better conductor/composers.

[Lance]

Yes, I am very much aware of Weingartner the composer. I wish I had him conducting his own orchestral works or acting as a pianist in some of his lieder, alas, nothing available that way. I have some songs/lieder sung by DFD and others. I guess here, I'm just illustrating the legendary conducting ability of Weingartner.

Are you also considering Weingartner as a composer? I think he was one of the better conductor/composers.