Search - Beethoven, Saarbrucken Radio Sym, Skrowaczewski :: Symphonies 1-9 (Clam)

Subime performances!

Richard Steiger | Murray, KY USA | 02/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't claim to have heard all of the sets of the complete Beethoven symphonies, but I've heard more than my share, and this set, in terms of both performance and recording, is far and away the best I've heard. Skrowaczewski's performances always sound perfectly natural, neither inflated nor trivialized, and the work of his orchestra is beyond praise. Though all of the performaces are outstanding, I would single out the Pastoral, the finest performance of the work I've heard. As one example among so many, listen to the rapt slow movement, particularly the second theme, which opens with a solo bassoon, joined after a few measures by the violas and cellos. As Skrowaczewski plays it, the frail sound of the bassoon registers very softly (but audibly) until the theme is underlined by the strings. It's absolutely beautiful here. Over the years I've found it harder and harder to listen to the Ninth, since performances are so often overloaded with gestures of profundity that usually translate into sheer ponderousness. Skrowaczewski plays the first movement as if it were middle rather than late Beethoven, and if he misses some of the mystery of the movement more than compensates with energy and structural coherence. I found the performance shattering. If I have any complaint at all, it's that the slow movement of the Seventh seems to me a bit too fast and detached and its finale could use a bit more adrenaline, but those are tiny complaints and may reflect my taste more than any reasonably objective opinion. By the way, Skrowaczewski separates first and second violins, producing some marvellous effects, particularly in the Fourth and Seventh symphonies. Add glorious sound to the performances (the Eroica is a live performance, the rest are studio performances) and you have a set indispensable to beginners and veterans alike."

Sanity at last!

Dace Gisclard | Houston, TX | 06/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I couldn't agree more with Mr. Steiger's positive review of this set, and I share his opinion of the 6th. At last a first movement that doesn't sound like Beethoven is rushing through the countryside on the autobahn; at last a slow movement that sounds like Beethoven is really relaxing by the brook, not just impatiently waiting for the tour bus to arrive! The single positive quality that impresses me most about this set is its sane tempi, uninfluenced by trendy notions about following the composer's obviously flawed metronome markings. I've had quite enough of sets like that, resulting in performances that are rushed to the point of trivializing the music-I include Gardiner, Abaddo (Berlin) and Zinman among others. This is NOT to say that Skrowaczewski's tempi are predominantly slow-he merely allows each movement to project its own character. If that calls for a more moderate tempo than is currently fashionable, he does so--if not, he does so--this demonstrates brave independence of spirit. Skrowaczewski remarks on this very thing in the booklet, quoting Weber's remark, "Never mind about marks on paper-use your brain"-I couldn't agree more. The Fifth and Seventh bristle with energy, as does the Ninth, when called for, but the slow movement has all the expansiveness one could wish, without dragging. The orchestra plays wonderfully, In the scherzo of No.3, the horns positively bloom in the trio-often a moment of embarassment. The playing is full of delicious touches like this. As for the text, I don't have access to a copy of the new Barenreiter editions, so I couldn't say whether or not Skrowaczewski uses it-does anyone know?--input, please! Perhaps these remarks seem a bit "scattershot", but it's difficult not to enthuse over this set. Bravo, maestro, I hope you chance to read this-I'm one of your biggest fans!"