❖ One of five box-sets exploring Hans Knappertsbusch’s high-risk strategy in which he relies upon the ‘magic of the moment’ to reveal previously undiscovered musical insights
❖ His interpretations of composers’ works lead to pleasing new discoveries, even within well-known scores
❖ Knappertsbusch disliked rehearsals intensely believing that they were an inhibiting influence. He firmly believed in the inspiration of the moment being central to every performance, taking on Wagner’s idea of spontaneity and tempo modification
❖ His courageous artistry is clearly demonstrated in each of the five sets in this collection

Beethoven: Symphonies No.7 & No.8, Leonore III Overture
Brahms: Symphonies No.2 & No.3
Bruckner: Symphonies No.3 “Wagner”, No.8 & No.9
Cornelius: Der Barbier von Bagdad Overture
von Franckenstein: Variations on a Theme by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Glinka: Rousslan et Ludmila Ouverture
Haydn: Symphonies No.88, No.92 “Oxford” & No.100 "Military"
Komzák II: Bad’ner Mad’In
Lanner: Die Schönbrunner
Liszt: Mazeppa
Lortzing: Undine Overture
Mozart: Symphony No. 39, Six German Dances K.509 & K.600
Rossini: Guillaume Tell Overture

Schubert: Symphony No.8 "Unfinished", Military March Op.51 No.1
Schumann: Symphony No.4
Johann Strauß II: Tales from the Vienna woods, Die Fledermaus Overture
One thousand and one nights, Kuß-Walzer, Bei uns zu Haus, Egyptian March, Annen-Polka, Roses from the south
Accelerationen, Donauweibchen, Freut euch des Lebens
Josef Strauß & Johann Strauß II: Pizzicato Polka
Richard Strauss: Intermezzo: Waltz Scene, Salome: Dance of Seven Veils
Till Eulenspiegels, Tod und Verklärung
Wagner: Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1, Götterdämmerung: Siegfried’s Funeral Music, Dawn and Siegfried‘s Rhine Journey
von Weber: Der Freischütz Overture, Invitation to the Dance

Rudi Knabl, Zither
Bayerisches Staatsorchester
Berlin State Opera Orchestra
Dresden Staatskapelle
Recordings: 1925 - 1959