Great Conductors of the 20th Century is a joint venture between the production and licensing expertise of IMG Artists and the international marketing and distribution clout of EMI. Sixty volumes were planned with hopes for even more. Unfortunately, though, perhaps reflecting our leaner climate for classical projects, the producers now advise that only forty will be issued. Thus, rather than a proud celebration of the full wealth of this keystone of classical art,six of the Great Conductors of the 20th Century volumes the truncated result is tinged with regret for what might have been. Even so, the edition stimulates many thoughts, not only about its particular subjects but of trends and issues that transcend the specific contents.

Tracklist:
Vol. 26 EDUARD VAN BEINUM # 7243 5 75941 2 7
CD1
Thomas: Overture ‘Mignon’
Grotezaal, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, April 1956
Schubert: Symphony No.6
Grotezaal, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, May 1957
Brahms: Symphony No.2
Live recording: Staatstheater, Stuttgart, September 1955
Concertgebouw Orchestra
CD2
Nicolai: Overture ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’
Grotezaal, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, April 1956
Richard Strauss: Don Juan
Live recording: Staatstheater, Stuttgart, September 1955
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Grotezaal, Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, May 1956
Concertgebouw Orchestra
Elgar: Concert Overture ‘Cockaigne’
London Philharmonic Orchestra; Kingsway Hall, London, May 1949
Vol. 27 KARL BOHM # 7243 5 75944 2 4
CD1
Mozart: Overture ‘Cosi fan tutte’
Kingsway Hall, London, September 1962
Philharmonia Orchestra
Bruckner: Symphony No.8 (Version: 1889-90; edited: Nowak)
Live studio recording: Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, WDR, Cologne, September 1974
WDR Sinfonieorchester Koln (Kolner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester)
CD2
Haydn: Symphony No.91
Musikverein, Vienna, September 1973
Wiener Philharmoniker
Schubert: Symphony No.9 ‘The Great C major’
Live recording: Kulturpalast, Dresden, January 1979
Sachsische Staatskapelle Dresden
Vol. 28 RUDOLF KEMPE # 7243 5 75950 2 5
CD1
Brahms: Tragic Overture
Berliner Philharmoniker; Grunewaldkirche, Berlin, January 1960
Bruckner: Symphony No.4 ‘Romantic’
Live studio recording; Munchner Philharmoniker; Herkulessaal, Munich, November 1972
CD2
Beethoven: Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’
Live recording; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Smetana Hall, Prague, May 1974
Wolf: Italian Serenade
Live studio recording; Munchner Philharmoniker; Herkulessaal, Munich, June 1971
Ravel: ‘Daphnis et Chloe’ – Suite No.2
Live studio recording; Philharmonischer Chor & Munchner Philharmoniker;
Herkulessaal, Munich, December 1974
Johann Strauss II: Leichtes Blut – Polka
Wiener Philharmoniker; Musikvereinssaal, Wien, December 1960
Vol. 29 DIMITRI MITROPOULOS # 7243 5 75471 2 3
CD1
Mahler: Symphony No.6
Live studio recording; WDR Sinfonieorchester Koln;
Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, WDR, Cologne, August 1959
CD2
Berlioz: ‘Romeo et Juliette’ – Orchestral excerpts, October 1952
Debussy: La Mer, November 1950
Richard Strauss: Dance of the Seven Veils (‘Elektra’), November 1956
New York Philharmonic Orchestra; 30th Street Studios, New York
Vol. 30 EVGENY MRAVINSKY # 7243 5 75953 2 2
CD1
Mozart: Overture ‘Don Giovanni’, November 1968
Bruckner: Symphony No.7, February 1967
Live recordings; Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra; Philharmonic Hall, Leningrad
CD2
Haydn: Symphony No.88, November 1968
Tchaikovsky: Francesca da Rimini, March 1983
Glazunov: Symphony No.5, September 1968
Live recordings; Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra; Philharmonic Hall, Leningrad