We are currently working on the first purely ‘digital’ product in our catalogue: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, in the 1942 Berlin recording.
We chose this ‘indispensable’ recording for its emblematic character — it was one of our first LPs and one of our first CDs — and also because the CD stock is now exhausted. To repress it would be needlessly expensive. On the other hand, and for those who do not like downloading, a system of engraving on demand is being studied.
Even so, just to transform a CD into a downloadable audio file presents little interest, and it is something that all classical labels do. The SWF, by contrast, is proving itself particularly innovative: we are making available to our members a digital pack that is much more comprehensive, worthy of our editorial tradition and going beyond the norms of the platforms.
Also, in addition to the CD quality audio file (flac format) — and its mp3 compression for those who prefer it, we include in this downloadable pack, as a pdf file and in the now well-known format of our publications:
– an introductory note,
– an exhaustive presentation (digital booklet) with the very fine and ever relevant text of Harry Halbreich, the biographies of the artistes, a list of the ‘Philharmoniker’ of the time, and, not least, an iconography,
– the digital booklet in French,
– a colour facsimile of the concert programme of 22 March 1942,
– a list of the Ninths conducted by Furtwängler..
This product will be on sale to our members at the price of 8€. We plan to release it early May 2018, and are currently working on the final preparations.
NB: The Japanese Brahms CD, announced in the latest newsletter, is now available in our online shop.