Bruno Walter Beethoven - Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 ("Pastorale")

Beethoven Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 ("Pastorale") (Walter, Columbia) on 200g LP from Analogue Productions: Mastered from the Original Tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, Pressed at QRP

Bruno Walter helped shape the very essence of interpretive style among conductors. Walter's rendition of Beethoven's Sixth Symphony is perhaps the greatest ever recorded – his reading of the score comes off sounding like a piece of literature or poetry, but that is a great thing and perfectly blends with the music to create a benchmark recording.

Written in 1808, Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 ("Pastoral"), is deemed one of the most influential by the famed composer. Unlike the vast majority of assumed names by which his works have become known, Beethoven directed from the very outset that his Sixth Symphony be titled "Pastoral Symphony," or a recollection of country life. It was a musical approach to the forces of nature that inspired Beethoven.

Walter's late life was marked by stereo recordings with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble of professional musicians assembled by Columbia Records for many sessions, including this one. Originally released in 1958, this recording still sounds fresh, with a broad soundstage, persuasive depth, and a remarkable sense of "air" and presence. Due to Walter's vibrant, fluid interpretation, taking into account both variable tempi and heightened accents, the result is one of the most passionate, awe-inspiring recorded versions of the Sixth Symphony ever produced!

This reissue is mastered from the original tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound and plated and pressed to 200-gram vinyl by Quality Record Pressings. The Stoughton Printing old-style tip-on gatefold jacket is upgraded by a series of rarely-seen photos of Walter from the Sony Music Archives.

Musicians:
Beethoven, composer
Bruno Walter, conductor
The Columbia Symphony Orchestra

Features:
• 200g vinyl pressing from Analogue Productions
• Mastered from the original tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound
• Plated and pressed at Quality Record Pressings
• Deluxe old-style tip-on gatefold jacket with additional photos from the Sony Music Archives