Reconsidering Beethoven

Posted by: mikeeschman on 13 February 2010

After better than a decade, the Gardiner/ORR Beethoven Symphonies are losing some luster, so I went out searching for a new Eroica.

On GFFJ's recommendation, I got a 1955 mono by Klemperer with the Philharmonia.

It came today, and got a good listen.

The sound is passable, but no more.

The performance is very interesting. The opening and closing movements are utterly convincing. The second seems to drag, and the third is just about right in tempo.

Klemperer achieves a scale and scope that eludes Gardiner, and never suffers the nervous and relentless quality of the Gardiner.

Klemperer is never as exciting as the Gardiner.

It's a nice contrast.

Posted on: 14 February 2010 by u5227470736789439

Klemperer is never as exciting as the Gardiner.

But it so full of sagacious comprehension that it will never cease to show you new facets of the music, noticed for the first time over many listenings!

No single performance of this music can really tell the whole story!

Consider also the recording by the VPO under Erich Kleiber [Decco mono 1954] as your next Eroica and keep all three to listen to as the mood takes you! Gardiner to pep you up, Klemperer and Kleiber both for unfathomed depth of comprehension ..., which will also lead to you enjoying the Gardiner set as well with even more pleasure. One version is never enough for music like this.

I do believe that these two recordings will allow you to find more of the music in the Gardiner recording as well, rather than undermining it.

Enjoy!

ATB from George