Cor de Groot (piano), To van der Sluys, Suze Luger, Louis van Tulder, Willem Ravelli, Toonkunstkoor Amsterdam, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Willem Mengelberg

Conductor Willem Mengelberg (1871-1951) was a stimulating force in the musical life of the Netherlands at the beginning of the 20th century. As conductor of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, he transformed Amsterdam into a capital of the musical world. His famed interpretations of works by Richard Strauss, van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, especially the St. Matthew Passion and of the music by Gustav Mahler was acclaimed internationally. For many conductors, Mengelberg established an international standard of orchestral performance. Innumerable musicians around the world admired Mengelberg for his peerless interpretations. This double-cd contains spectacular restorations of Mengelberg’s interpretations of compositions of Ludwig van Beethoven: Egmont Overture (rec. April 1943), Symphony 7 (April 1940), Symphony (May 1940) en Piano Concerto No. 5 (May 1942, with Cor de Groot). Like the previous Mahler/Strauss edition, restored by Jochem Geene (Studio van Schuppen). For some of the recordings, earlier restorations by Hans van Ispelen were used. This publication was financially supported by the Swiss Willem Mengelberg Stiftung.