Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, George Szell, Eugene Ormandy :: Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies; The 5 Piano Concertos [Box Set]

Szell the master conductor, Cleveland the master's voice

K. Beuchert | Tampa FL | 09/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you want to hear an orchestra that possessed unparalleled

precision, Cleveland's is what you want. I first heard the Cleveland and Szell in Wash DC in 1964 and never since have heard an orchestra whose players sounded as one. When that first note is sounded, you hear the orchestra, not a bunch of individual

musicians. While I like Szell's interpretations of Brahms, Schubert and Mozart above all others, I have to say that I prefer Walter's for a good portion of Beethoven, although Szell's 7th is very good. The one Beethoven work that I found to be best under Szell, by far, is his 5th Concerto with Leon Fleisher. I have never found another interpretation of that work that even approximates the outstanding performance that those two

gave us.



"

STUNNING PERFORMANCES - RIGHTFULLY CALLED CLASSIC - AT A ROC

G. Engler | The Frigid Northeast | 02/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a self-declared audiophile, I continue to be amazed at those reviewers who carp about slight congestion of orchestral tuttis, or tinny high end on classic recordings from the 1950s and 1960s, While I would not necesarily recommend vintage recordings to neophytes awaiting an introduction to the classic, there are some recordings that the discerning listeners "hear through" the mists of time. Some recordings are harder to do this than others. Fortunately, this is not the case with this set.



These classics are truly "classic". Szell's disciplined Beethoven is the stuff of legend, as is Fleischer's performances of the concertos. (As is this pairs recordings of the Brahms Piano Concertos, Leon Fleisher Plays Brahms



As with all true classic music - as opposed to classical - there are few, if any, truly "definitive" performances. (Although, listening this week to HvK's Strauss: Metamorphosen/Tod und Verklarung (Metamorphoses/Death and Transfiguration) I think I've encountered another one of these rarities).



Are these performances definitive? Perhaps to some. I wouldn't want to be without Toscaninis Beethoven 7 from 1937 (talk about fair sonics!) Beethoven: Symphony No 7; Haydn: Symphony No. 101; Mendelssohn: Scherzo from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Carlos Kleibers 5th Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 or - Haitink's recent traversal with the London Symphony Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Choral" But this set is truly something special.



It is not for me to say whether or not this is the best remastering of the Szell Beethoven Cycle. I do not own the original jacket set (currently selling for over $100 used) or the Fleischer concerti set (currently selling for about $25 used). What I can say - with certainty - is that this set sounds fine, just like the Szell Mozart original jacket collection that I do own George Szell Plays and Conducts Mozart [Box Set] Which means this set of discs sounds very well indeed, well in line with other Columbia/Epic recordings of its vintage, and certainly better than many of the Bernstein NYP travesties from the Columbia vaults.



The interpretations are classic - brisk, swift, without Toscanini-like rigidity (1950s rigidity anyways). It has often been noted that Szell rehearsed the Clevelanders to within an inch of their lives, and the results are apparant. Rather than resent this approach, these musicians gave Szell their all - this orchestra knew that Szell's prodigious talents had lifted them up from second class status to world class status as an orchestra. They played for Szell with all their hearts - and their brains. While It is a level of playing that the Clevelanders - always a great orchestra - have seldom attained since. If I had to cite a weakness in the set, it would probably fall to the 6th symphony where Szell can seem a bit forced and relentless. It's a pretty brisk walk through the woods, with few moments to contemplate the scenery.



So - don't be dissuaded by the jaded reviews of some. This set is a treasurable bargain. If you want first rate sonics, you can dip into the Telarc catalogue, but the music you will hear won't be conveyed with the same passion and furious intelligence as these. The same can be said for Solti's first 1970s cycle, although Sir Georg comes a lot closer to the mark than many people give him credit for.



Definitive? Perhaps. To these ears, they are sounding awfully close......."