Beethoven Symphony No.5

[BorisG]

Just ordered this set, any comments on the fifth, or the rest for that matter?

Tempi throughout are funeral-like. I often appreciate Hogwood, but this set is disappointing. It is to be avoided at any cost.  

[Harry]

Tempi throughout are funeral-like. I often appreciate Hogwood, but this set is disappointing. It is to be avoided at any cost.  

Well to late for that. Listen through some samples, and was not dissatisfied, but yes the first movement of the fifth could have been faster, but there are compensations.

[hornteacher]

I'm going to play my Mackerras card again.   

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=60899


or for period instruments, Gardiner

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2164

[Drasko]

Yikes. How is the performance. Is anyone actually together?

I'll upload first movement later.

http://www.mediafire.com/?cymm4dmmkyb

And because I'm such a terrible person I intend to torment you some more with that god-awful french excuse for an orchestra. As a bonus you get first movement of Honegger's 5th, same orchestra same conductor and not only that but two years earlier recording '57 mono.

http://rapidshare.com/files/49114384/Honegger_-_Symphony_No.5_mov._I.mp3.html

[not edward]

http://www.mediafire.com/?cymm4dmmkyb

And because I'm such a terrible person I intend to torment you some more with that god-awful french excuse for an orchestra. As a bonus you get first movement of Honegger's 5th, same orchestra same conductor and not only that but two years earlier recording '57 mono.

http://rapidshare.com/files/49114384/Honegger_-_Symphony_No.5_mov._I.mp3.html

But that Honegger's a classic recording (assuming that it's the one reissued on DG). I don't care if Markevitch and Munch got dodgy playing from French orchestras in this composer--the interpretation and intuitive understanding of the idiom more than makes up for it.

[Mr. Darcy]

Thanks for the recs so far, everyone! Do need to hear the Gardiner. Very interested in the Weil...

I'm going to play my Mackerras card again.   Smiley

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=60899

Anyone heard Mackerras' latest go-round?:

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=175052

How's the 5th?

[hornteacher]

Thanks for the recs so far, everyone! Do need to hear the Gardiner. Very interested in the Weil...

Anyone heard Mackerras' latest go-round?:

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=175052

How's the 5th?

I've ordered it and its on the way.  According to BBC Music the entire cycle is great.

[Bonehelm]

Karajan 77' does it for me. It didn't do it before, but now it's just gold.

[val]

Above all, I will chose Karajan with the BPO but in the 1977 version: very fast tempo, but also a fabulous legato.

Then Carlos Kleiber by his discipline and global perspective, Reiner by his dynamic and Furtwängler (1943) with the BPO by the intense tragedy, the tension, he gives to this music, Walter by his phrasing and human feelings.

The ones I like less: Szell, almost claustrophobic, Klemperer with no dynamic, Gardiner, too superficial. 

[Hector]

BBC CD Review recently celebrated 40 years of reviewing by repeating the first review, which was of this symphony.

Back then Klemperer's stereo remake was favoured.

This time Stephen Johnson apologised for leaving out so many simply because there are so many.

Top of the pile, inevitably, Carlos Kleiber, unmatched in over thirty years.

Others that took his fancy were Norrington with the LCP, Klemperer 1955 and Toscanini in NY (not the abominably recorded NBC issue).

Among those that faltered were Gardiner, Karajan '63 after the first movement, Kleiber pere and Furtwangler.

I cannot say I agree with all his conclusions but I have no argument with his top choice and the old Klemperer has long been a favourite of mine.

[Sergeant Rock]

BBC CD Review...Stephen Johnson....Norrington with the LCP [took his fancy]...Among those that faltered were Gardiner...

An astute man, that Stephen Johnson 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

My favorite Fifths:




I also enjoy:

Norrington/London Classical Players

Barenboim/Staatskapelle Berlin

Szell/Concertgebouw

Sarge

[Expresso]

Karajan (60's)

Harnoncourt 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FX3_vza3CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbQ9EFcBRHE

Toscanini (NBC 1952)

[dirkronk]

Others that took his fancy were  <SNIP> Toscanini in NY (not the abominably recorded NBC issue).

I have Toscanini's NYPSO Beethoven 5th, coupled with the 4th, on a very old Relief LP, and the sound on THAT is abysmal--far worse than I recall any of the NBC performances being. But perhaps cleaner CD transfers of the NY have appeared since I obtained my vinyl version many years ago. Still, I agree that that particular performance is an appealing one.

Dirk

[MishaK]

http://www.mediafire.com/?cymm4dmmkyb

And because I'm such a terrible person I intend to torment you some more with that god-awful french excuse for an orchestra. As a bonus you get first movement of Honegger's 5th, same orchestra same conductor and not only that but two years earlier recording '57 mono.

http://rapidshare.com/files/49114384/Honegger_-_Symphony_No.5_mov._I.mp3.html

Thank you. Being a masochist, I will download as soon as I get home. 

[dirkronk]

I also enjoy:Szell/Concertgebouw

I agree, Sarge. If I'm going to listen to Szell in this work, that's a good choice...beautifully played and more personally involving IMO than the Cleveland.

For other versions, I like Erich Kleiber's 5th at least as much as as his boy Carlos' much-praised recording. Not as overtly dramatic or speedy, perhaps, but very satisfying, with great structure and convincing presentation.

I have many performances of the 5th in my collection, natch, but I'll refrain from offering a long list. Still, I'll mention one conductor in particular who made me hear this warhorse with "new ears": Mengelberg. Though not as dramatically obvious a top choice among rivals as his 9th is (see my post in the current thread on the 9th), Mengelberg's 5th offers his way of bringing out secondary threads of melody, the inner voices of the orchestra, and IMO it works remarkably well here. Hardly a first choice, but recommended to anyone who thinks they've already heard everything this work has to offer.

Cheers,

Dirk

[ccar]

Recently I posted, in another topic, a note on a Scherchen's Beethoven Symphonies set recently published by Tahra. As I deeply enjoy Scherchen's talent I came back to the less Known (but perhaps even more impressive) Scherchen - Beethoven cycle with the Lugano Swiss-Italian Radio Orchestra. As I commented before some of these recordings are difficult to get but some may be still available like this Lugano Beethoven 5th from Aura (AUR 138-2). And what is probably more interesting in this one is the unforgettable bonus - a  40 min rehearsal before the actual performance.   

Being a newbie in the forum, and with so many new and old closely related topics, I'm having some difficulty knowing where I should post my comment about this Scherchen recording. Searching for a new Beethoven symphonies topic I found it was restricted to HIP. So probably Scherchen could only be thrown into the Historic (nonHIP?) topic. And I was also too timid to repeat myself and try to put him again in the Legendary Recordings topic - it could probably be too pompous for a live cycle with a not very well-known Swiss radio orchestra.

So, in spite of the red warning that nobody posted in this topic for at least 120 days (actually it is almost 2 years) and in spite of the fierce "competition" in this field, with so many giant conductors we all know and respect, I decided to unearth this topic with this Scherchen's 5th.

I find it very difficult to comment on this recording except to say it impresses me, not for the perfection of the execution but because of its freedom and continuous energy and drive. Perhaps some of the other symphonies from the same cycle are even more so. But what I really think must not be missed are the long takes from the rehearsal. Scherchen's introduction and comments (in Italian but with a strong German accent) are illuminating for anyone interested in the art of musical expression and conducting. 

Carlos

[Sorin Eushayson]

I've probably mentioned this here before, but my favourite recording of this piece is definitely that by Mr. Immerseel and the Anima Eterna.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Sl2xh-CoI

Fantastic rendition - enough speed to make it exciting, yet enough gravity to make it effective and dramatic! 

[Dana]

So, in spite of the red warning that nobody posted in this topic for at least 120 days (actually it is almost 2 years) and in spite of the fierce "competition" in this field, with so many giant conductors we all know and respect, I decided to unearth this topic with this Scherchen's 5th.

      ... Just kidding!I could listen to people talk about this symphony for hours on end - it's one of those symphonies that can be performed in a hundred different styles, each with just as much conviction as the next, and I'd listen to each of those performances. Perhaps this is because of the natural "freedom and continuous energy and drive" that you speak of.

[Gurn Blanston]

So, in spite of the red warning that nobody posted in this topic for at least 120 days (actually it is almost 2 years) and in spite of the fierce "competition" in this field, with so many giant conductors we all know and respect, ....

Don't ever let any of that stuff put you off, Carlos. I think the purpose is to avoid topics that are worn out, but in our case here, there are so many topics that inevitably a few sink to the bottom despite the fact that they have plenty of room for expansion.

Unfortunately, that said, I don't have anything to say about historical recordings of anything, since I don't have any or the urge to get any. But I know plenty of people here do, hope they will jump in.