Building a Library - Beethoven's 4th Symphony

[Seán]

Building a Library

Rob Cowan compares recordings of Beethoven's 4th Symphony and makes a personal recommendation.

[Seán]

The SSRattle with the VPO might make a good but expensive beer mat.
The Walter and CO sound great
The Kubelik and BRSO merit a place in my basket.
The Szell and Cleveland Orchestra sounds fabulous, definitely one to explore further
The second Brüggen with the 18 Century Orchestra sounds great but as Rob said the sound is 'cloudy'.

Very enjoyable programme.


No CD Review next week.

[fergus]

The SSRattle with the VPO might make a good but expensive beer mat.
The Walter and CO sound great
The Kubelik and BRSO merit a place in my basket.
The Szell and Cleveland Orchestra sounds fabulous, definitely one to explore further
The second Brüggen with the 18 Century Orchestra sounds great but as Rob said the sound is 'cloudy'.

Very enjoyable programme.


No CD Review next week.

I think that it is one of the best performances that I have heard Seán. In fact I think that the Bruggen 2 cycle is better overall than Bruggen 1.

[Seán]

The SSRattle with the VPO might make a good but expensive beer mat.
The Walter and CO sound great
The Kubelik and BRSO merit a place in my basket.
The Szell and Cleveland Orchestra sounds fabulous, definitely one to explore further
The second Brüggen with the 18 Century Orchestra sounds great but as Rob said the sound is 'cloudy'.

Very enjoyable programme.


No CD Review next week.

I think that it is one of the best performances that I have heard Seán. In fact I think that the Bruggen 2 cycle is better overall than Bruggen 1.

But it wasn't the number one recommendation......

[fergus]

But it wasn't the number one recommendation......

Just somebody else's opinion Seán, valid maybe, but one's own is equally valid to oneself. Because all Art is totally subjective and I stopped listening to that show and others like it because I did not need someone else determining my preferences . As we have always said around here "Trust Your Own Ears".

[Seán]

But it wasn't the number one recommendation......

Just somebody else's opinion Seán, valid maybe, but one's own is equally valid to oneself. Because all Art is totally subjective and I stopped listening to that show and others like it because I did not need someone else determining my preferences . As we have always said around here "Trust Your Own Ears".

I do enjoy listening to BAL and hearing the rationale behind the first preference. That said I am rarely swayed by it. I do have Zinman's recording with the Tonhalle and it's not my favourite performance of the Fourth Symphony.

[james]

I'm still not sure what was the final recommendation ?
Zimman ?

[No mention of Karajan -- is he still really that out of fashion ?]

James

[Seán]

I'm still not sure what was the final recommendation ?
Zimman ?

Yep, the Zinman and Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra recording was the first choice recommendation by Rob.

[No mention of Karajan -- is he still really that out of fashion ?]

James

The 1962 recording with the BPO did get a mention and a little airtime too. There are so many recordings of Beethoven's Fourth to choose from that Cowen by his own admission could only mention a small number of them by name and not include them in his final selection, for example, the last Abbado & BPO and the Vanska & MO recordings. I would place the Zinman/ZTO behind both of them, but that's me. All in all it's an interesting exercise. =D

[james]

Thanks -- I actually bought the Zinman when it came out. The selling point was a new edition of the symphonies. I remember when I heard it I did not really notice the changes [they were listed in the booklet and were fairly minor]. I must listen to it again.

In one sence Karajan was the pinnacle of an era in that he had more or less infinite rehearsal time and infinite studio time to produce a 'perfect'/'flawless' recording. Personally I don't like live recordings because eventually I start to anticipate the coughts once I know the recording. In Karajan's day there was real money in classical muisc and, I believe, Karajan had his own privete plane.

[fergus]

I do enjoy listening to BAL and hearing the rationale behind the first preference. That said I am rarely swayed by it. I do have Zinman's recording with the Tonhalle and it's not my favourite performance of the Fourth Symphony.

Cheers Seán. What is your favourite recording in your collection?