KLEIBER Beethoven: Symphonies 5, 6 and 9 (1952/53) - PASC651

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overviewfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fBEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 'Pastoral'BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 'Choral' Studio recordings, 1952/53Total duration: 2hr 1 8:34 Hilde Gueden (soprano)Sieglinde Wagner (contralto)Anton Dermota (tenor)Ludwig Weber (bass)Singverein der Gesellschaft der MusikfreundeVienna Philharmonic OrchestraConcertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdamconducted by Erich Kleiber578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_titlefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_quotefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9review_bodyfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9main_samplefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fsamples/PASC651.mp3578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fProducer's Note578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcontent578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f “Five Fifths; and they really do now include one that approaches perfection. Their progress has been quite systematic - each release has been, arguably, in turn “the best ", to be superseded eventually by the next comer. Now Kleiber and the Amsterdam orchestra will take a great deal of superseding; a performance full of fire and tension is matched by a flawless recording. In fact the onslaught on the first movement will take many people by surprise; but balance, both within the movement, and of the movement within the whole symphony, is assisted by making the initial repeat—a highly desirable one. A more lyrical style can be enjoyed in the slow movement, in which Kleiber nearly makes history by actually observing Beethoven’s più mosso towards the end—whether we think it improves the music or not, it is certainly in the score, and now is equally certainly audible…“ (M.M., Jan 1954) “Beethoven’s hymn of thanksgiving can certainly be joined in on this occasion; this is a fine record, fully worthy of being put alongside last month’s Fifth from the same conductor and orchestra. The recording is superlative. It has warmth and virility; if a quibble is to be made, it is that now and again the balance of strings and wind could usefully be adjusted to allow the latter to sing through rather more readily. But the defect, hypothetical in any case, is negligible in relation to the recording's outstanding other qualities. The performance is straightforward, and immensely effective. Kleiber, in general, is well on the way to becoming the world's Beethoven conductor by what you would think is the simple process of letting his orchestras play just what they see, which is just what Beethoven wrote in the first place. But it is not so simple as it sounds, though the problem is more human than musical; it is that it is difficult to live the life of a star conductor for some years and still believe that Beethoven knew best…” (M.M., Feb 1954) “…Some crackling ushers in the Decca last side, but settles down with the music in full swing. I can only mention memorable point: the 'cellos and basses make their comments with a single and almost verbal voice; the “tune” sounds exquisite on these Vienna strings; Ludwig Weber strikes the exact attitude on the first vocal entrance, with words and notes (unlike Hotter s in the Karajan) of precise clarity; words all through are good; Hilde Gueden is dramatic and striking, though she uncomfortably snatches her breath here and there; the quartet blends well; Dermota has liquid nasals and a beautifully free delivery; the quiet chorus in “Ihr stürzt nieder” and the following passage is superb; and there is a tremendous driving energy that does not seek exaggerated effects. But for all its excellence, and with the most sympathetic handling. Kleiber's recording does not flood us with warm, embracing, inspiring sound in the way Karajan does on his 78s, And words of special praise should be allotted to the singers of the Musikfreunde — the chorus in both recordings — for their persistence, variety and control. Casting my mind back over these long listening sessions, I think that if I had no recording of the Ninth in my library, I would buy the Kleiber. If I had the Karajan already, I should be very contented. As a final judgment, Kleiber's is in my view the slightly better performance.” (H.F., Oct 1952) As these three reviews from The Gramophone indicate, this is Beethoven playing of the highest calibre. All three recordings - and especially that of the Ninth - have been improved greatly in sound quality thanks to these Ambient Stereo XR remasters, giving, body, air, space and breadth to these three timeless masterpieces. Andrew Rose578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab1_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fFull Track Listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5ftrack_listing578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fBEETHOVEN Symphonies 5, 6 and 9 DISC ONE (72:54) BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 671. 1st mvt. - Allegro con brio (7:16)2. 2nd mvt. - Andante con moto (9:13)3. 3rd mvt. - Scherzo. Allegro - Trio (5:20)4. 4th mvt. - Allegro (9:31)recorded Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 26 September 1953 BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, 'Pastoral'5. 1st mvt. - Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande. (9:08)6. 2nd mvt. - Scene am Bach. Andante molto moto (14:05)7. 3rd mvt. - Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute. Allegro (5:12)8. 4th mvt. - Gewitter. Sturm. Allegro (3:27)9. 5th mvt. - Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm. Allegretto (9:41)recorded Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 25 September 1953 Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam DISC TWO (65:40) BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, 'Choral'1. 1st mvt. - Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso (15:49)2. 2nd mvt. - Scherzo. Molto vivace - Presto (10:17)3. 3rd mvt. - Adagio molto e cantabile (15:55)4. 4th mvt. - Presto - Allegro assai (23:39)recorded Grosser Saal, Musikverein, Vienna, 1-5 June 1952 Hilde Gueden (soprano)Sieglinde Wagner (contralto)Anton Dermota (tenor)Ludwig Weber (bass)Singverein der Gesellschaft der MusikfreundeVienna Philharmonic Orchestraconducted by Erich Kleiber XR Remastered by Andrew RoseCover artwork based on a photograph of Erich KleiberOriginal recordings made by Decca Records Total duration: 2hr 18:34578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab2_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_labelfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fCover Art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_typefb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcover_art578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_contentfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers/thumbs/PASC651.jpg578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_thumbnail2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_cover_download_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5fcovers/PASC651.pdf578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample1_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample2_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample3_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample4_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample5_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f578a9379d1e540bd96d26f03a79628d9tab3_sample6_s3_locationfb55cd020f0643f08418183279e63a5f Show more