Willem Mengelberg

These recordings were made between 1937 and 1942, and they represent the sum of Mengelberg's commercially released Beethoven for the Telefunken label.

Willem Mengelberg - Concertgebouw Orchestra - Live - The Radio Recordings (2001) {10CD plus DVD Box Set Q Disc 97016}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 2.58 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.62 Gb
DVD5 -> 1.10 Gb | All Regions | PAL 4:3 | Dolby AC3, 2 ch | ~ 18 min | ISO Image
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© 2001 Q Disc | 97016
Classical / Orchestral

Here is fascinating set "issued by Radio Nederland and realized with the generous cooperation of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the AVRO broadcasting corporation house and the publishing house of Cultuur en Media Hilversum ….released to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary, March 22, 2001 of Willem Mengelberg's death." Many of these performances were issued previously on CD, particularly in the Archive Documents "Mengelberg Edition," the Japanese King Record "Mengelberg Legacy" series or on Music & Arts, mostly premium-priced CDs. Now right from the source we have many of these in the best possible sound, and it is a collection to treasure, especially for the invaluable DVD of Mengelberg conducting the Concertgebouw.

Willem Mengelberg - The Concertgebouw Recordings (2013) {15CD Box Set Decca rec 1939-1941}
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© 1939-41, 2013 Decca / Universal Music | 0289 480 7636 9
Classical / Orchestral

Mengelberg attached huge importance to what he considered a link between Beethoven and himself. For through his studies in conducting, theory and composition in Cologne under Franz Wullner, a friend of Anton Schindler who in turn had been a friend, secretary, biographer and pupil of Beethoven himself, he felt that there was a oral tradition passed down to him. At times the conductor does get near to Beethoven's metronome markings with his swift tempi. Well, Mengelberg is not boring.

Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the New York Philharmonic, America’s oldest symphony orchestra. 65 CDs of famous New York Philharmonic performances conducted by many of its most renowned music directors, from the very first recording in 1917 up to 1995.

Eduard van Beinum - Concertgebouw Orchestra - Live - The Radio Recordings (2000) {11CD Box Set Q Disc 97015 rec 1935-1958}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.08 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.80 Gb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 411 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2000 Q Disc | 97015
Classical / Orchestral

Finally Dutch conductor Eduard van Beinum is receiving attention he so richly deserves with many of his superb performances appearing on CD. Philips has issued most of his commercial recordings for that label, available mostly in Holland. Dutton Laboratories, LYS and Japanese Decca also have issued a number of recordings (with many yet unissued—see our Features article on Van Beinum). Now we have this set of live concert performances dating from 1935 through 1958. The earliest are from 78 rpm acetates some of which were not in very good condition. Some, not all, have surface disturbances even the most precise digital processing cannot eliminate. However, for the collector this is relatively insignificant considering these remarkable performances.

RCO - Anthology of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vol 1, 1935-1950 (2002) {13CD Box Set Q Disc 97017, Limited Edition}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.25 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 2.04 Gb
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© 1935-50, 2002 Radio Netherlands Music / Q Disc | 97017
Classical / Orchestral / Symphony / Romantic / Early 20th Century

Böhm was reported to have told the Wiener Philharmoniker towards the end of his life "I loved you as one can only love a woman". Listening to this boxset, capturing the Concertgebouworkest at the peak of its powers (between 1935 and June 1941), still at a commendable level (between July 1941 and 1944) before having to rebuild from the ashes of war (1945 to 1947) to finally come back to the highest level (1949-1950), the careful auditor has history in the making unfolding with its drama, its joys, but essentially its incommensurable beauty.

Recently the fifth album in a great series of unique live recordings was released by the former Dutch Jazz Archive (now: MCN) in its series Jazz at the Concertgebouw. Previous releases contained live recordings by Chet Baker (1955), Gerry Mulligan (1956), J.J. Johnson (1957) and Sarah Vaughan (1958), all originally recorded by Lou Van Rees, then Holland's most well-known producer. The Mengelberg-Noordijk album is the first one which features a Dutch quartet, a legendary group with a certain presence: the Misha Mengelberg - Piet Noordijk Quartet.