These recordings have hardly been out of the catalogue
since they were recorded in the late 1950s. They were laid down at the
same time as a series of concerts at the Royal Festival Hall. My cousin,
who is older than me, attended these and still talks about them in awe.
My first memories of Klemperer’s Beethoven were his performances
in the early 1970s, shown on the BBC. These seemed very slow and ponderous
but the recorded cycle dates from fifteen years earlier and I enjoyed
them, particularly the
Pastoral, in the late 1980s. However,
it’s been some time since I’ve heard them. EMI Classics,
for whom Klemperer recorded, have re-released the entire Symphonies
and Overtures, including the mono recordings of 3, 5 and 7 in a budget
box of 10 CDs. That’s on
EMI 4 04275 2 but typically, these
recordings have not re-mastered: the mastering comes from the 1990s,
apart from the
Pastoral, which was re-mastered in 2003
as a
GROC.
My colleague Christopher Howell described that disc as follows: “The
recordings still sound very fine; this is Beethoven you must have. As
long as you don’t have
only this Beethoven”. Having
reacquainted myself with these middle symphonies in the present splendid
transfers, taken from LPs, I can only concur.
The
Fourth is a classic recording and been highly commended
since its release. The Philharmonia were, based on studio and live recordings,
the finest orchestra in the world at the time, and the playing throughout
is top class. The detail of the instruments comes through and it helps
that Klemperer, like many of the “Old School” divides his
first and second violins, left and right to get the antiphonal sound
that Beethoven wanted. The first movement goes at a fair rate and the
second movement is sublime. The horn player at the end of the movement
is Alan Civil who replaced the great Dennis Brain, who had tragically
been killed two months earlier. The wit of the third movement is well
conveyed and comes over as if at a live concert. Great sound too in
the finale: granite-like comes to mind. This all serves to confirm this
as one of the great
Fourth, along with Walter (Sony),
Karajan 1962 (DG) and Norrington (EMI).
The stereo
Fifth has sometimes been unfavourably compared
with the mono version, recorded in 1955. However, on its own terms it’s
a fine performance. Klemperer recorded the symphony three times in less
than ten years; the earliest being with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra
(Vox) which I haven’t heard for a long time but is craggy, just
like the other two.
The
Pastoral is quite simply one of the finest versions
ever set down. It’s up there with Toscanini, BBC 1936, Walter,
Boult and Stokowski. Right from the start there is rhythm and forward
momentum. I compared the Pristine with the EMI Classics. In the first
movement; whilst there is more bass in the former I found the sound
slightly clearer in the EMI, though both are very good. The original
recording was first class, produced by the unique Walter Legge (Mr Elizabeth
Schwarzkopf). I suspect those who grew up with the LP will prefer the
Pristine version. The first two movements are relatively uncontroversial
and delightfully convey the joy of this piece; especially the splendid
wind playing. The third movement, “Peasants’ merrymaking”
has been the subject of folklore since Legge complained of the slow
speed. Klemperer retorted “You’ll get used to it, Walter!”
Well I have always got used to it, seeing Klemperer’s vision of
old men dancing, possibly having over-imbibed! The storm is very powerful
and the final movement is intensely moving and beautifully played. A
Pastoral for special occasions like Eeyore’s birthday.
Finally we have the orchestration by Felix Weingartner of the
Grosse
Fuge, which I have on a budget
EMI
reissue. I can only endorse Christopher Howell’s recommendation.
If you want to hear this work - wrongly titled according to Hans Keller
- by an orchestra, rather than by a string quartet, then this is one
to go seek out. The sound, from 1956 is admirable - like that achieved
for all the recordings here.
Whilst for many people the EMI set is to be preferred the Pristine set
is excellent and may well also suit those who want only these works.
Listening to these wonderful performances and reviewing them has been
a real privilege.
David R Dunsmore
Masterwork Index:
Symphony
4 ~~
Symphony 5
~~
Symphony 6
