Beethoven: Symphonie No. 6 [Import]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Carlos Kleiber (Conductor), Bavarian State Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Bavarian State Orchestra
• Conductor: Carlos Kleiber
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (May 25, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Orfeo D'or
• ASIN: B00022XOAO
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,647 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankinft auf dem Lande. Allegro ma non troppo

2. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Szene am Bach. Andante molto mosso

3. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute. Allegro

4. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Gewitter, Sturm. Allegro

5. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm. Allegretto

6. Applause

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not to all tastes, November 11, 2005

By 

Alan Majeska "Alan Majeska" (Bad Axe, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonie No. 6 (Audio CD)

Listeners raised on Bruno Walter's classic 1959 Columbia Symphony recording of Beethoven's PASTORALE Symphony will possibly not like Carlos Kleiber's 1983 live recording of this work with the Bavarian State Orchestra. Kleiber (1930-2004) takes fast tempos and seems to drive the orchestra hard in places. Those who are fans of Bohm/Vienna (DG); Walter/Columbia (Sony); Bernstein/Vienna (DG); Klemperer/Philharmonia (EMI) may find Kleiber driven and too literal to be enjoyed. But I did find something refreshing in Kleiber's breezy freshness, with faster than usual tempos in I, III and V which create a feeling of high spirits. Kleiber plays this work in just 39 minutes, about 3 minutes faster than usual. The Bavarian orchestra plays very well for Kleiber, and their precision is amazing.

It should be mentioned the source of this disc is a cassette owned by Carlos Kleiber's son; the original reel tape had deteriorated, and when Orfeo decided to release this recording, it was deemed not acceptable as a source recording. So the dynamic range is a bit narrow (technology is amazing, but it can only do so much) and not as open as one might expect a 22 year old recording to be.

This is not my favorite Beethoven 6, but a worthy one in my library to stand by Bohm, Walter, Klemperer, Bernstein/Vienna, Monteux/Vienna and Karajan/Berlin (1976). Recommended, but it will not be to all tastes.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dazzling account of the Pastorale, February 12, 2005

By 

Marc Haegeman "Marc Haegeman" (Gent, Belgium) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonie No. 6 (Audio CD)

Carlos Kleiber has always been fascinating in Beethoven (as in most of the selective repertoire he used to play). This unique document of the Pastorale, taped live in Munich in 1983 (according to the liner notes the only time Kleiber performed this symphony), is no exception. His account is fluid, urgent, feverish, dazzling even, and is sure to keep one spellbound long after the performance is finished (just as the audience seemed to have been during the actual concert), as if a work deemed familiar was really heard for the very first time.

Since the original master tape was in poor condition, the producers of this CD preferred to use the audio cassette made by Kleiber's son. Although carefully mastered there is quite some tape hiss left. Another minus is undoubtedly the short total time (39 minutes). Yet no admirer of Kleiber or Beethoven's Pastorale should be without this CD.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kleiber's best work, February 6, 2006

By 

M. Muckler "Nwarth" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonie No. 6 (Audio CD)

I have seven different versions of Beethoven's Pastoral. This one is, by far, the best. Some compalin that his interpretation of the tempo is poor, and off the mark. First, this is factually incorrect. Kleiber is simply the first person of the modern era to follow Beethoven's OWN tempo markings. The first movement is 8.34 long (Compared to Solti's interpretation at 11.47 and Karajan's at 9, and Rattle's at 12.36). This fast tempo is weird at first only because we aren't used to it, but once one allows it to penetrate them, they realize a Pastoral Symphony that is not pretentious. One that shows the pure enlightment of a man who has conqured his Fate and is now exuberant to return to the country.

Compared with von Karajan's sloppiness, and Rattle's almost sleepy interpretation, Kleiber's is a breath of fresh air. Also, towards the end of the first movement he quiets the rest of the orchestra so that the singing birds may really come through. This piece is filled with many other such surprises which make it a must purchase for any Classical library.