Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, New York Philharmonic :: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 7

Try Bernstein's other seventh with the New York Philharmonic

11/06/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just realized something. This version of the Seventh, coupled with the First, is actually from 1958 (very early in Bernstein's career with the NYPO). While it is not a bad performance by any means, I encourage you to buy Bernstein's other performance of the Seventh with the NYPO, recorded in 1964. This later version is much better in my opinion. I would suspect the first reviewer's overly enthusiastic review is actually for this later version. This later 1964 version is also available in the "Bernstein Century" collection, paired with the Second symphony."

The finest recorded performance of the Seventh -- Bar None!

John Parker Marmaro | Spring Hill, Florida | 04/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Deutsche Grammophon re-released Carlos Kleiber's recording of the Seventh Symphony, the praise heaped upon it was enormous. Yet Kleiber's interpretation owes a very great deal to Bernstein's earlier New York Philharmonic interpretation (which itself reflects lessons learned from Toscanini). The remasterings have greatly improved the sonic qualities of the recording, but the performance is superlative -- even considering those of Kleiber and Toscanini, the Bernstein/NYPO Seventh is (in my opinion) the definitive version, peerless. It has been written that other symphonies exist as works of art, but that the Seventh simply IS. Of the master's great symphonies it is perhaps the least specific, the most universal. Wagner's often-quoted sobriquet ("the Apotheosis of the Dance") in fact belittles this work: it is timeless, elemental, and Bernstein & the NYPO bring out the Promethean quality of the work better than anyone. The details are never glossed over: the wonderful "blue notes" of the end of the alternative melody in the Allegretto, for example, are often swallowed up in other performances. Not here. The parallelism between the codas of the first and fourth movements - the almost orgasmic quality of mounting tension -- is pointed beautifully. The electric frisson of the buzzing violas at the codetta of the exposition in the finale come through exquisitely: the whole finale fairly gushes with a torrent of libidinous energy, an outpouring of the Life Force. Indeed, in all particulars, the performance is both cerebral and yet spontaneous -- the feeling of sui generis is omnipresent. It is good that Sony are re-releasing these monumental and thrilling performances!"

Bernstein's 1958 Seventh is a little raw, but the First is e

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 02/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sony doesn't let you buy Bernstein's outstanding versions of Beethoven Sym. #1 and #2 without buying two versions of the Seventh, one recorded in 1964, the other this earlier 1958 rendition. both are spirited readings but don't rise to the level of Reiner, Karajan, or Kleiber. Bernstein took a fairly measured, relaxed view of this wrk, a la Bruno Walter, and we've become used to sharper concentration. Of the two readings, this one is inferior. It displays a bit more energy in the Scherzo, but the recording is murky at times and, worst of all, the finale is lax and boring, a far cry from Karajan's joyous, thrilling race to the finish.



The best thing here is the First Sym., as the Second is the gem of the other CD. Sony really shouldn't have forced us to buy both, but there you are. Bernstein's First is big and Beethovenian, with little reference to Haydn's classical decorum and smaller intentions. On its own terms it's quite alert and lively, with abundant humor in the finale. Again, expect somewhat measurd tempos comared to those we've become used to after the period-performance revolution."