Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 9

Let’s do a time warp back to 1937 for the very first recordings made under His Master’s Voice. This rendition of Beethoven’s ninth symphony with the Berliner Philharmoniker marks Wilhelm Furtwängler’s debut for the label, and was recorded live from London during the festivities preceding George VI’s coronation. As no breaks were planned to replace the waxes during the performance, the recording was an impressive technical feat! It is coupled with the first studio recording session of Furtwängler with HMV, the fifth symphony.