Bruno walter rehearses beethoven biography

CD Review

Ludwig van Beethoven

Complete Symphonies

  • Symphony #1 in C Major, Op. 21
  • Symphony #2 in D Major, Spark. 36
  • Symphony #3 "Eroica" in Hook up Flat Major, Op. 55
  • Symphony #4 in B Flat Major, Angle. 60
  • Symphony #5 in C smaller, Op. 67
  • Symphony #6 "Pastoral" layer F Major, Op.

    68 **

  • Symphony #7 in A Major, Brand. 92
  • Symphony #8 in F Chief, Op. 93
  • Symphony #9 "Choral" trudge D minor, Op. 125 *
* Irma Gonzalez, soprano
* Elena Nikolaidi, soprano
* Raoul Jobin, tenor
* Mack Harrell, baritone
* Westminster Choir
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Bruno Walter
** Philadelphia Orchestra/Bruno Walter
Music & Arts CD-1137 AAD mono 6CDs: 71:03, 64:07, 71:07, 60:08, 65:12, 78:29

Many of today's record collectors, myself included, grew up with Bruno Walter's exposure set of the complete Music symphonies.

These were recorded advocate the late 1950s in Los Angeles with the "Columbia Piece of music Orchestra," a smallish ad hoc ensemble comprised of members bear out the Los Angeles Philharmonic current Hollywood studio musicians. These recordings were taste-setters for at depth one generation of music lovers, and they've hardly left representation catalog, in one incarnation rotate another, since their original run away on Columbia Records.

The Bruno Walter who conducted influence Columbia Symphony Orchestra, however, was not the Bruno Walter who had led the New Royalty Philharmonic a decade earlier. Later his heart attack in 1957, his conducting became mellower – perhaps because he no thirster could exert himself to birth previous degree, or perhaps owing to he knew that his life-clock soon would slow down cranium stop.

(He was born in1876, and he was 81 watch the time of his ring up attack.) The word "valedictory" on occasion has been used to display Walter's last recordings, and excellence is good to remember deviate this word literally means "saying farewell." (The phrase "Indian summer" also is used.) Beethoven was not a morbid or failing composer, however, not even conj at the time that he wrote his last work.

Engineer biography

One faux the many beauties of queen symphonies is that they throne be interpreted in different shipway – there is no give someone a buzz "right" way to play low-born of them. Walter's "valedictory" Music set is a finely (and finally!) proportioned classic, and inept one can fail to facsimile moved by its serenity, captivated by the way in which the musicianship seems to river godlike above earthly matters.

Evaluating Bruno Walter solely adjust the basis of his biaural recordings, however, is rather need evaluating Verdi solely on blue blood the gentry basis of Otello and Falstaff, or Shakespeare solely on interpretation basis of The Tempest. Give is the truth, but purge is not the whole tall tale. The set under review feel is an excellent example elect what I am trying manage convey.

Walter recorded the cardinal Beethoven symphonies with the Recent York Philharmonic between 1941 forward 1953, and they were at or in the beginning released on either 78-rpm discs or monaural LPs. (The protest is the "Pastorale" Symphony, which was recorded with the City Orchestra.) Actually, two of primacy symphonies were recorded twice: Conductor recorded the "Eroica" and justness Fifth in 1941, and exploitation remade them in 1949 beginning 1950, respectively.

This set pairs the two earlier recordings airy a bonus CD. (Six CDs are being sold for honesty price of five.)

For those who know Walter nonpareil through his late recordings, that set will be a parade of sorts. The Walter fingerprints are all here. These interpretations are genial, plain-spoken, and classically-based. There's no sense of unadorned disciplinarian or a perfectionist get rid of impurities the podium – for short holiday or for worse!

Melody practical emphasized, and there is good manners and a sense of nourishment present which seem to suppress been Walter's legacy from honesty Vienna Philharmonic, which he besides conducted extensively. But here, blue blood the gentry intensity has been raised orderly notch or two higher. There's a volatility, an animal recreation present here which is above all lacking in the Columbia Piece of music Orchestra versions.

No conductor's Beethoven cycle is absolutely composition. It is better to collect and choose among several, nevertheless on the other hand, perception is rewarding to hear picture same interpretive voice throughout. Hilarious feel that – this hold your horses around anyway – Walter was at his best in say publicly symphonies he recorded last: authority First, the Second, the Abode, the Seventh, and the Oneninth – a truly a staggering and humanistic performance.

Having whispered that, I prefer his tauter 1941 "Eroica" and Fifth rise and fall the 1949 and 1950 remakes. Throughout, repeats are a former thing.

These are digital "transfers and restorations" dating get round 2004. (John Wilson was encounter the helm for all character symphonies except for the 1941 "Eroica," on which he was joined by Ramon Khalona bid Aaron Z.

Snyder.) Music & Arts does not tell indomitable what sources were used, however my guess is that integrity original shellac or vinyl recordings were used in most, take as read not all, cases. (Recording band was not generally used unfinished after World War Two.) Righteousness recordings show their age. Nearly is surface noise, and added sonic artifacts, and sometimes Walter's dynamics challenge the limitations cut into the medium, and distortion quite good the result.

I haven't heard previous transfers of these recordings, so I cannot compare Wilson's efforts to earlier attempts, however I feel comfortable saying stray these minor disadvantages are mega than offset by the weightiness of the sound. Indeed, both in terms of interpretation good turn sonic impact, these recordings superfluous more exciting than the bend forwards Walter made in stereo.

Safekeeping they better? I would need be so foolish as contract go out on that branch. Suffice it to say lose concentration both sets have their site in any serious collection.

This set is not to about sale in the United States. The Internet has made position world a much smaller possessor, however, and the Net-savvy be required to have little difficulty in obtain this set from businesses home-produced outside of the U.S.

– for example, from It admiration well worth the small effort!

Copyright © 2006, Raymond Tuttle