Otto Klemperer
Posted by: bad boy dan on 25 July 2007
Wathching a program about conducters last night i remembered how much i loved his Beethoven,i had the symphonies on vinyl and cut my teeth on them, found it difficult to enjoy other versions,must go and get them on CD,i hope i am not dissapointed.
Cheers BB
Cheers BB
Posted on: 25 July 2007 by u5227470736789439
Dear Dan,
Seems that we agree very much on something!
Perhaps ypu would like to look at this thread which is current, and may help you search out the best Beethoven recordings led by Otto Klemperer. I intend to obtain a good few more Beethovem performances led by him, especially from the Testamant catalogue.
Kindest regards from Fredrik
Seems that we agree very much on something!
Perhaps ypu would like to look at this thread which is current, and may help you search out the best Beethoven recordings led by Otto Klemperer. I intend to obtain a good few more Beethovem performances led by him, especially from the Testamant catalogue.
Kindest regards from Fredrik
Posted on: 25 July 2007 by graham55
Dan
Best advice would probably be to get the EMI GROCs of the earlier MONO recordings of the Eroica, Fifth and Seventh symphonies. These are superlative readings, although not better than Erich Kleiber's roughly contemporaneous accounts on Decca (in my view, of course).
Then possibly you should try the stereo GROC of the Pastorale. One of the two live Testament Ninths is reputed to be way ahead of the EMI studio set, but I haven't heard them, and don't know which to recommend. Fredrik, and others, will no doubt have a view.
That leaves One, Two, Four and Eight: perhaps look elsewhere for these?
Just my thoughts.
G
Best advice would probably be to get the EMI GROCs of the earlier MONO recordings of the Eroica, Fifth and Seventh symphonies. These are superlative readings, although not better than Erich Kleiber's roughly contemporaneous accounts on Decca (in my view, of course).
Then possibly you should try the stereo GROC of the Pastorale. One of the two live Testament Ninths is reputed to be way ahead of the EMI studio set, but I haven't heard them, and don't know which to recommend. Fredrik, and others, will no doubt have a view.
That leaves One, Two, Four and Eight: perhaps look elsewhere for these?
Just my thoughts.
G
Posted on: 25 July 2007 by Basil
The earlier the better is a good rule of thumb as far as Klemperer is concerned, he seemed to get more eccentric as he got older!
His later stereo recordings of Beethoven symphonies are an aquired taste, although having said that I heard a recording of his from 1948 which was truly bizarre! Beethoven's opera, Fidelio, played at breakneck speed. How the singers kept up I do not know!
His later stereo recordings of Beethoven symphonies are an aquired taste, although having said that I heard a recording of his from 1948 which was truly bizarre! Beethoven's opera, Fidelio, played at breakneck speed. How the singers kept up I do not know!
Posted on: 25 July 2007 by graham55
But his 1962 EMI recording of Fidelio (also a GROC) is quite superb.
There again, some think his RFH concert from just before the studio account (available on Testament) to be better still. Again, I haven't heard it, so others may care to comment.
G
There again, some think his RFH concert from just before the studio account (available on Testament) to be better still. Again, I haven't heard it, so others may care to comment.
G
Posted on: 25 July 2007 by Tam
I would second the suggestion that earlier is better (I found the EMI CD box set of Klemperer's late studio recordings rather disappointing - though the concertos with Barenboim are much better).
As regards Fidelio, I have the live 1961 Testament recording, and it really is stunning. I have only listened to bits of the studio version, so I can't fairly judge, but on the bits I've heard, I haven't felt the need to buy it as well.
regards, Tam
As regards Fidelio, I have the live 1961 Testament recording, and it really is stunning. I have only listened to bits of the studio version, so I can't fairly judge, but on the bits I've heard, I haven't felt the need to buy it as well.
regards, Tam
Posted on: 25 July 2007 by Steve S1
quote:The earlier the better is a good rule of thumb as far as Klemperer is concerned, he seemed to get more eccentric as he got older!
How true. The later ones are eccentrically slow to the point of ponderous, IMO of course. Cracking Brahms 1 worth seeking out on EMI (I think).
Steve
Posted on: 25 July 2007 by bad boy dan
As it was the later EMI versions i owned,and the like of slow tempos in general i will ignore all your kind and well meant advise and buy those again.
Cheers BB
Cheers BB
Posted on: 26 July 2007 by Basil
BB,
If you have a taste for slower tempi, keep an eye out for the Anne-Sohpie Mutter recording of the Beethoven Violin concerto with Karajan and the BPO.
If you have a taste for slower tempi, keep an eye out for the Anne-Sohpie Mutter recording of the Beethoven Violin concerto with Karajan and the BPO.
Posted on: 26 July 2007 by Tam
I too like plenty of Beethoven recordings that use slower tempi, but for whatever reason those late EMI ones don't do it for me.
However, you might like to seek out Colin Davis's set with the Dresden Staatskapelle, which are slow (and have been described as being in the Klemperer mould) and have some of the most wonderful orchestral playing in this repertoire going.
regards, Tam
However, you might like to seek out Colin Davis's set with the Dresden Staatskapelle, which are slow (and have been described as being in the Klemperer mould) and have some of the most wonderful orchestral playing in this repertoire going.
regards, Tam