In their long history the SWR Symphonic Orchestras (one covering the Southern part, the other the South-Western part of the federal state Baden-Württemberg) changed their names for quite a few times. In 2016 they merged and are known today as the SWR Symphonieorchester. Over all the years these orchestras have performed with many legendary conductors who either were in charge as chief conductors or occasionally invited as guest conductors. On this 10-CD boxed set the listeners will find 12 great names belonging to some of the greatest conductors of the 20th century. Some, such as Wilhelm Furtwängler, Leopold Stokowski, Hans Knappertsbusch, Karl Böhm, Kirill Kondrashin, Carlos Kleiber or Kurt Sanderling, appeared only sporadically on the podium of the two leading Baden-Württemberg orchestras. Others, such as Carl Schuricht or, of course, the chief conductors represented here, Hans Rosbaud and Michael Gielen (Baden-Baden), Georges Prêtre and Roger Norrington (Stuttgart), have left a mark on the respective orchestra in their collaboration.

Included are symphonic masterpieces like Symphony no.40 by Mozart, Beethoven’s Pastorale, Variations on a Theme by Haydn by Brahms, Enigma Variations by Elgar and the music for the ballet Pulcinella by Stravinsky, to name but a few. The recordings comprehend the years 1955 to 2010.