Search - Dvorak, Haydn, Klemperer :: Symphony 9 / Symphony 101

Another fine Klemp!

Ryan Kouroukis | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 03/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Klemp does it again! He totally blew me away with his Dvorak. (Okay, so it's not the Kondrashin, but it's Klemp!)
He really gives a whole new look to the symphony and plays it superbly without dabling in emotion, he keeps it moving.
The Haydn is also a rare specialty by Klemperer, it's really something special, and the Philharmonia sound is impeccable.Unfortuantly, the bozos at EMI have discontinued it...so if you ever find it used or something, get it because it's so worth it."

Amazing Haydn, adequate Dvorak

Tanner J. Knight | greenbelt, md United States | 01/04/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I recently found this disk at Rasputin's in San Jose (which is worth checking out if you are in the Bay Area). I have been looking forward to the day when I crossed paths with this disk to see how Klemperer interpreted Dvorak. To my surprise, it wasn't all that I had expected. Being as incredibly German as he was, he and the incredibly British Philharmonia Orchestra fail to achieve a truly inspiring performance filled with the spirit of Czechoslovakia. Of course, all that you would expect from this formidable pairing is in place, such as a lush, warm sound that is pleasant through-out, slower than normal tempi, and precise and metered playing. However, in my estimation of Dvorak's 9th Symphony, passion and excitement should be at the foreground while precision and "good taste" should come secondary...at least when dealing with an orchestra as accomplished and polished as the Philharmonia. The climaxes are lacking and the brass feels held back in all the wrong places, namely, the fourth movement. I will say, however, that the second movement, the Adagio, is specacular, and all of these demerits become assets in this lush and earthy movement. All in all, I would take Kertesz, Kubelik, and von Dohnanyi's over this performance any day. It usually takes a Czech (or at least a Hungarian) to satisfactorily interpret a Czech masterpiece like the New World Symphony. This recording warrants a spot on your shelf due to the fact that it's hard to find, and if you come across it, I would recommend buying it just for that fact. But the main reason to buy this disk is the Haydn Symphony 101 "Clock". Where Klemperer's traits are deficiencies in the Dvorak, they are most definitely positives in regards to Haydn and other German masters.



This reading of Haydn's Clock Symphony nearly attains perfection on all accounts. The tempi, the clear and radiant sound of the Philharmonia, the smoothness of each transition show exactly why Klemperer is so highly regarded. I myself am not a Haydn junkie, but when played like this, I easily fall in love with the father of the Classical Period. There is much to explore here and if you like a fuller, rounder sound with Haydn's symphonies, then you will turn to this performance over and over again.



What I love so much about classical recordings by the great masters of the podiums are their ability to continually surprise me. I bought this disk for the New World Symphony, but ended up falling in love with the late symphony by Haydn. There is an inexhaustible wealth of recorded beauty out there, and I encourage you to give it all a try. You never know what you will find out about a piece, a conductor and sometimes, even yourself."