Beethoven's 6th Symphony

[Bogey]

I have already asked about your thoughts concerning great recordings of LvB's somewhat overlooked 4th (IMO) and his 7th.  Now I would like to get your list of favorite recordings of his "Pastoral Symphony", the 6th, and if you will, your reasoning for each.  Thanks much.

[dirkronk]

Walter/Columbia Symphony ranks first with me. Pacing, phrasing, virtually everything about the performance is simply RIGHT.

If you want alternatives, do try Cluytens, Bohm, and Masur/Leipzig, all of whom have fine things to offer. Some I rank scarcely below Walter.

For historical, go with Mengelberg's Telefunken version.

Cheers,

Dirk

[Dancing Divertimentian]

K
L
E
T
Z
K
I

...again...

[PerfectWagnerite]

I have two darkhorse nominations and they are by far my favorite:

First up is T. Fey's recording with the Heidelberger Sinfoniker on Hanssler coupled with the 4th symphony (another one of your favorites). Both are shockingly good. The Heidelberger Sinfoniker is supposedly playing on modern instruments but the sound they make would make many HIP ensembles blush. Wiry strings, piercing brass and timpany and somewhat breathy winds. A total slamdunk recording that is available for $4 from BRO last time I checked. You can also find it on Amazon here.

Next up is Sir Roger's 2nd go around, this time with the SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, also on Hanssler and coupled with an equally impressive 5th symphony. While Sir Roger's conceptions of these works have not really changed. Tempi are fast and exhilirating. But this time there is MUCH more dynamic contrast and the execution by the SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra would put the London Classical Players to shame. Listen to the 3rd movement from the 6th and you'll know what I am talking about. Anyway you can find it http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-Nos-5-6/dp/B00009QH6T/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1195611149&sr=1-7.

In general I am not too fond of this symphony. The second movement on most recordings (Boehm, Karajan, Barenboim) puts me to sleep. But the above are the two recordings I keep returning to.

[Bogey]

In general I am not too fond of this symphony. The second movement on most recordings (Boehm, Karajan, Barenboim) puts me to sleep. But the above are the two recordings I keep returning to.

I guess my listening and enjoyment of LvB's symphonies took a fairly predictable path, with some minor twists.  First, I fell head over heels for the 9th.  Then I took the hook, line, and sinker for the 5th, especially the last two movements.  I then discovered the 3rd and was WOWed beyond words.  About my only diversion from these three was that I truly enjoyed the 1st almost as much as the 3rd, 5th, and 9th and still do.  My enjoyment of the 8th came next, but with less passion that increases slightly each time I listen to it.  That left me the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and the 7th.  So I decided to dive into these four with a focused attention on each, without comparing them to the others I already enjoyed.  The 7th came easy and stood out immediately for me, and surprisingly, for me, my enjoyment of the 4th was almost as instantaneous.  Now I am down to the two which I have put aside the most, the 2nd (this thread is coming down the road, with maybe one dedicated to the 8th) and the 6th.  Yes I enjoy them already, but I want to have the opportunity to listen to them performed at their highest level; hence the recommendations here are of the most importance to me.

[Mark]

I'm with Dirkronk in nominating the Masur/Gewandhaus (Philips ... or Pentatone for SACD remaster) as an alternative. For a top choice, it's currently (IMO) Gardiner/OReR (Archiv) for HIP, Davis/SD (Philips) for non-HIP.

[BorisG]

Walter is the master. He seems to have an undercurrent that others do not. Like a good canvas for a painter.

Karajan's 1977 is all about power. I could not fully appreciate this recording until its most recent remastering.

Harnoncourt's, the newest of the three, is the oldest sounding. Almost a HIP account.

Three Pastoral styles that I hold dear. 0:)

[Que]

K
L
E
T
Z
K
I

...again...

S E C O N D E D ...again...  and Erich Kleiber/ Concertgebouworkest.
Bruno Walter's stereo Pastorale does not impress me as much as it does many other. I would be curious about his earlier recording with the NYPO. I do not like Böhm.



And for HIP: Bruno Weil (Analekta).



Q

[Holden]

This is my favourite LvB symphony and as a result I've heard a lot of versions. I would recommend any of these:

Reiner/CSO (for a great storm and a well rounded performance)
Furtwangler/BPO 1954 (coupled with a great 5th)
Cluytens/BPO (close to top choice)

and my favourite

Walter/Col SO. This is better than his NYPO 6th on M&A and the best overall 6th for me.

For something a bit different (but still great) try the Liszt transcription played by Cyprien Katsaris - it really opens up the inner workings of this symphony.

[val]

My favorite versions are:

Furtwängler with the VPO (1952): slow, almost mystic, the supreme degree of spirituality.

Walter with Columbia, much more simple, with a beautiful phrasing.The 2nd movement is sublime.

Klemperer with the VSO. It seems that Klemperer didn't like much this work. But in this version with the Vienna Symphony he is very natural, lyrical and even dynamic.

Reiner with Chicago. More conventional, a little too dense sometimes, but with energy.

Jochum with the Concertgebow. Lyrical, almost naif (the 2nd movement) but never forcing the music.

[Todd]

Karl Bohm and Carlos Kleiber.

[Renfield]

My current favourite Beethoven 6ths would be the Bohm/VPO (DG), Karajan/BPO (1980's cycle, DG), and Toscanini/NBCSO (1950's cycle, RCA) in no particular order.

However, there are a lot of other 6ths I've come to appreciate greatly, including the Walter/VPO (Naxos Historical), the Karajan/Philharmonia (EMI), the Kletzki/CPO (Supraphon), and even the recent Haitink/LSO (LSO Live). And this isn't an exhaustive list, obviously.

[Rod Corkin]

I have already asked about your thoughts concerning great recordings of LvB's somewhat overlooked 4th (IMO) and his 7th.  Now I would like to get your list of favorite recordings of his "Pastoral Symphony", the 6th, and if you will, your reasoning for each.  Thanks much.

Norrington's with the London Classical Players, or the Hanover Band's. Reason? Period intruments, brass and drums straight from the battlefield. No lame tempos like this piece is usually plagued with. Can't go wrong with these two disks.

[Mark]

Jochum with the Concertgebow. Lyrical, almost naif (the 2nd movement) but never forcing the music.

Val, I have this symphony conducted by Jochum, only with the LSO instead (on EMI). Have you heard this one, too? An unhurried account with one or two interesting tempi choices that I found slightly disarming, but a pleasant listen, all the same.

... and even the recent Haitink/LSO (LSO Live).

Dammit, Renfield! I was all keyed up to hear some Britten Solo Cello Suites, and you go and mention this Haitink, which I've always felt was the weak link in his recent-ish LSO Live label cycle. I shall now have to spin it again in order to decide ...

[Renfield]

Dammit, Renfield! I was all keyed up to hear some Britten Solo Cello Suites, and you go and mention this Haitink, which I've always felt was the weak link in his recent-ish LSO Live label cycle. I shall now have to spin it again in order to decide ...

[Mark]

So, I just listened afresh to Haitink's LSO Live label Sixth. Despite my feelings towards it having softened slightly, I still found it little more than a reasonable run-through, punctuated all too infrequently by moments where I actually believed that the orchestra and conductor really cared about what they were playing. And that's the issue for me with this interpretation: it's lacklustre in a way that suggests the performers are tired (or bored) of playing it; and that perceived lack of involvement on their part is what causes me to feel equally uninvolved.

[Renfield]

So, I just listened afresh to Haitink's LSO Live label Sixth. Despite my feelings towards it having softened slightly, I still found it little more than a reasonable run-through, punctuated all too infrequently by moments where I actually believed that the orchestra and conductor really cared about what they were playing. And that's the issue for me with this interpretation: it's lacklustre in a way that suggests the performers are tired (or bored) of playing it; and that perceived lack of involvement on their part is what causes me to feel equally uninvolved.

Personally, I find it to have a softer touch than other Beethoven 6ths - perhaps that "tiredness" you're referring to: something which for the Pastoral symphony, and when applied judiciously, makes for a rather nice result, to my ears. Even more so, when compared to the high-powered performances I otherwise generally prefer.

A welcome change, if you will, and very well performed to boot. That's why I like it.

[Mark]

Personally, I find it to have a softer touch than other Beethoven 6ths - perhaps that "tiredness" you're referring to: something which for the Pastoral symphony, and when applied judiciously, makes for a rather nice result, to my ears. Even more so, when compared to the high-powered performances I otherwise generally prefer.

A welcome change, if you will, and very well performed to boot. That's why I like it.

If it's a softer touch you want (but with, IMO, more conviction on the part of the players ), you seriously should audition Davis with the Staatskapelle Dresden on Philips, or Masur with the Leipzig Gewandhaus on either Philips or reissued on Pentatone (and now also on Brilliant Classics). These are far more well-rounded (again, IMO) but less high-powered interpretations which I find hold my interest from beginning to end. With Haitink, my mind starts wandering somewhere by that brook ...

[Renfield]

If it's a softer touch you want (but with, IMO, more conviction on the part of the players ), you seriously should audition Davis with the Staatskapelle Dresden on Philips, or Masur with the Leipzig Gewandhaus on either Philips or reissued on Pentatone (and now also on Brilliant Classics). These are far more well-rounded (again, IMO) but less high-powered interpretations which I find hold my interest from beginning to end. With Haitink, my mind starts wandering somewhere by that brook ...

Do note that it's a softer touch that I welcome as an alternative. Otherwise, I even greatly enjoy the Karajan/BPO "turbo" 1963 recording; yes, that one.

(In other words, I'm a high-powered Pastoral sort of guy. And if nothing else, the Walter/VPO version I mentioned above is also very laid-back. So don't worry, I have alternatives: I just include Haitink's LSO account among them. )

[Bogey]

......Davis/SD (Philips) for non-HIP.

Can you give me a bit more insight on this one Mark?