|
The discography makes a distinction between official and
unofficial recordings. For this study, an official recording
is one made for general commercial distribution. In practical terms, this is another way of saying
"planned and brought to market by record companies", as opposed to a broadcasting or other organization.
The results show a bit of recording-industry history.
For example, the large number of recordings from 1950-1965 might give
the impression that the record companies were more active than in later years.
But this is not the case: many of those recordings were made by broadcasting
organizations, and only issued on disc many years later. Instead, the highpoint
of record-making activity (as far as the 'Eroica' is concerned) turns out to be 1985-1995.
The large number of unofficial recordings from 1950-1965
shows that this period is considered a golden age by many connoisseurs.
Every known performance by Knappertsbusch has made it to disc, probably every Furtwängler,
and possibly every Klemperer as well; from an earlier period, Mengelberg and Toscanini can also be heard 'complete'.
Unfortunately, not all conductors benefit from this thoroughness. The final performances of Klemperer, Knappertsbusch,
and Giulini, for example, memorialize their longevity more than their musicianship.
| 
