Even in mono sound, this is as good as it gets. Wilhelm Furtwângler was one of the great conductors of the twentieth century without a doubt. The drama and power of this fourth movement of the Brahms fourth symphony is unparalleled. He gave the music real "soul".

'Furwangler's final wartime concert in Berlin. It would be two and a half years before he made music in Berlin again. It stands not only as the most exacting, extraordinary performance of a piece of symphonic music by Brahms, but one of the most thrilling orchestral recordings in existence. It is a rare combination of supreme impetuosity, imagination, and control - an unforgettable instance of a score, an ensemble, and a conductor fused into a single expressive entity. It is impossible to hear it without imagining some of the rage and helplessness that Furtwangler must have felt during the final months before Germany's collapse, when all he had known and loved was crumbling about him. Even after repeated playings, this performance leaves one feverish, as well as crushed by the knowledge that the remaining three movements were either not recorded or have not survived.' John Ardoin, The Furwangler Record, 1994

Furtwangler gives meaning to the symphony, it isn't just music, it's a great ongoing drama. The rest's breathe with the life from the notes that went before it. There's a tumbling of energy from one note to the next, all making perfect, thrilling sense. This performance is the mind and soul of Brahms as he conceived it.

I am not a fan of Brahms at all. But I have to say: the sincerity of Furtwänglers approach impresses me. Like always with him he has a deep understanding of the structure, the flow, the dramaturgy of a piece and a marvellous ability to transfer his ideas via the orchestra to the listener. Every measure, every note has a meaning. Everything counts. Just incredible intense. Thank you for sharing!

1988年のNHK-FMを思い出しました。 あれは衝撃的だったなぁ。

This is dark and wonderful - is it possible to buy this recording on CD or vinyl?