Just when one is puzzled by the seemingly endless reissues of Furtwängler's previously available recordings, here comes a "new" one from a private archive (Delta DCCA-0076). Although it is far from a complete live recording of Bruckner 5 on one of the days between 25 to 28 October 1942, it offers us a further glimpse of the wartime Furtwängler style nontheless.
When one realises that the sound source is from a private aircheck recorded on acetate discs, one can already have a fairly good idea of the sound quality. The first movement is missing. Only 5 minutes 28 seconds of the Adagio is included, the sound being as if one is listening to a radio under water. The last two movements are almost complete, with slightly better sound, but decorated by loud spinning acetate noises and abrupt interruptions due to disc changes.
This CD is apparently intended for Furtwängler, or for that matter
Bruckner, completists. One needs a healthily sympathetic and nostalgic
mindset to appreciate the beautiful music out of the poor sound. I begin
to enjoy it, but not until after a few listens to acclimatise myself to
this sound world.
