Search - Beethoven, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Andre Cluytens

Excellent transfer of a great interpretation

Alexander Leach | Shipley, West Yorkshire United Kingdom | 05/30/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There were three classic accounts of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony from the LP era: this mono Berlin one from 1955, Klemperer's 1957 stereo version with the Philharmonia Orchestra on EMI, and Karl Boehm's 1972 Vienna Philharmonic recording on DG, also in stereo. All three have now been released on CD, Klemperer's and Boehm's at midprice.

Cluytens' performance is wonderfully played by the Berlin Philharmonic and well recorded (excellent balancing between wind and strings), which has great clarity and almost sounds like stereo. His interpretation is uncontroversial, but sounds 'right', and also makes this work sound more unified rather than just a series of episodes. The excellent coupling (in fine 1960 stereo) is a dark, brooding Schubert 'Unfinished' Symphony.

Klemperer's version (which is very well recorded for its age) remains controversial as a result of the rather slow tempo he adopted for the 'Peasants' merrymaking' 3rd movement, but his interpretatio!n does grow on you. Apart from that caveat his is a great performance, superbly played by the Philharmonia at its peak. The coupling is Klemperer's large-scale view of Beethoven's First Symphony.

Boehm's Vienna PO 'Pastoral' (coupled with a pleasing Schubert's Fifth Symphony) is a 'straighter' interpretation than Klemperer's, glowingly played and recorded. This would perhaps be my first choice, ahead of Klemperer, with Cluytens' third, if only because of the absence of stereo, although his coupling is perhaps the best of the three. You won't go far wrong with any of them."