Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 7
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Conductor: Gustavo DudamelOrchestra: Simon Bolivar Sym. Orch. of Venezuela
Edition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2006-08-08
Music Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Soundtracks:
- Allegro Con Brio
- Andante Con Moto
- Allegro
- Allegro
- Poco Sostenuto - Vivace
- Allegretto
- Presto
- Allegro Con Brio
Free Music Notes for Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 7
Free Music Review: Extraordinary Performance of Beethoven's 7th Symphony
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a must have recording because, all in all, Dudamel's performance of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony is the best that is available in a recorded version. The energy and intensity of the performance rank with Carlos Kleiber's. But Dudamel surpasses Kleiber in the precision and clarity of the sections that are conducted at a fast pace, especially in the presto sections of the third movement and throughout the fourth movement.
The challenge in the third and fourth movements is to perform them at the pace that Beethoven seemed to demand without blurring, and therefore losing, many of the notes. Dudamel accomplishes something that I thought simply must be impossible in the fourth movement -- playing at a pace that is truly allegro con brio while still maintaining a clear statement of every single note. In fact, Dudamel accepts the challenge that Beethoven presented by adopting the fastest pace of any performance of this movement I've ever heard while achieving a clarity that only Klemperer was able to achieve -- and then only by adopting a tempo that is slower than anyone else's. I have commented elsewhere on my dissatisfaction with other recordings of this movement (http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/AQNIZ870KF6GE/ref=cm_pdp_rev_title_3?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview#R2WCA3NT39BB8A). I won't repeat myself but will say that this recording addresses all the concerns expressed there.
Dudamel's performance of the third movement is similarly successful -- the presto sections are as fast as anyone's and match the much slower Klemperer performance in clarity and precision. The assai meno presto sections are slower than most; but this tempo is adopted out of conviction rather than necessity and underscores the contrast with the faster sections.
Dudamel's pace in the second movement starts with an imitation of the majestically slow tempos utilized by Klemperer and Walter. As the movement develops, he accelerates the tempo in a way that is reminiscent of Furtwangler's approach, reaching a speed that is close to the relatively rapid tempo adopted by Kleiber in this movement. In general, I prefer a steady tempo throughout the movement; but Dudamel convinces me that accelerating the pace partway through can be effectuated without diminishing the overall effect.
The performance of the first movement is also quite fine, with an especially dramatic transition from the slow introduction (poco sustenuto) to a rather rapid version of the main section (vivace).
I haven't said much about the youth of the Simon Bolivar Orchestra that is Dudamel's instrument. Without any intention of being condescending, I will note only that they play with a responsiveness and skill that make it easy to ignore the fact that this is not one of the world's great orchestras.
The performance of the Fifth is also excellent. But, unlike the Seventh, that could be said of many available recordings of the piece.
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