Classical Sunday: Furtwängler conducts Brahms in Hamburg

Brahms – Symphony No.1 (recording of the Century : Wilhelm Furtwängler 1951)

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Symphonie No.1 Opus 68 / Ut mineur

1 – Un poco sostenuto – allegro (00:00)
2 – Andante sostenuto (14:56)
3 – Un poco allegretto e grazioso (25:03)
4 – Adagio, più andante – allegro non troppo ma con brio, più allegro (30:18)

Sinfonieorchester des Norddeutschen Rundfunks
Wilhelm Furtwängler
Live performance in 1951 (Hamburg)

Wilhelm Furtwängler is probably a name that you have heard before.  They say that this recording is Furtwängler’s most fantastic performance of this symphony, which he conducted many times.  How fitting, since he was performing in Johannes Brahms’ town of birth, Hamburg.

Enjoy!