Walter Wilhelm Gieseking

Walter Wilhelm Gieseking (5 November 1895 – 26 October 1956) was a German pianist and composer.

Walter Wilhelm Gieseking (5 November 1895 – 26 October 1956) was a French-born German pianist and composer.

Famed for his subtle shadings and irreproachable technique, Walter Gieseking was one of the most extraordinary pianists of his time.

Walter Gieseking’s Bach interpretations have long been celebrated and are still praised as being modern and contemporary. His legendary 1950 broadcasts, later released on the Heliodor label, included many of Bach’s important works such as The Well-Tempered Clavier, Partitas and Inventions. For the first time, Deutsche Grammophon presents all these recordings, newly remastered, in one original jackets collection. A 7-CD original-jackets collection, newly remastered presenting all of Walter Gieseking’s 1950 Bach broadcasts for Radio Saarbrücken.

The Music & Arts label has released a historic recording of Beethoven's "Emperor Concerto" from 1945, with Artur Rother conducting, surprisingly in then experimental stereo sound. There is also the faint sound during the performance of distant Royal Airforce Lancaster and Halifax bombers dropping bombs and German anti-aircraft guns shooting. (The RAF attacked at night, during the concert, while the Americans bombed in the daytime.) This, plus the startling presence of stereo, in one of the first stereo recordings, and a performance that is considered magnificent, makes for an unsual combination of art and history. - Music & Arts

Conductor Wilhelm Furtwangler already enjoyed a worldwide legendary standing during his lifetime - he was considered the German conductor and performances were greeted with rapturous applause. Today, more than 50 years after his death, Wilhelm Furtwangler is still an icon and his work has become an integral part ofthe music scene.

Conductor Wilhelm Furtwängler already enjoyed a worldwide legendary standing during his lifetime he was considered the German conductor and performances were greeted with rapturous applause. Today, more than 50 years after his death, Wilhelm Furtwängler is still an icon and his work has become an integral part of the music scene.