Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Symphonie No. 6

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

How fortunate we are to have this recording. This is the only time that Kleiber ever conducted the 6th symphony. The sound isn't up to the hi-fi standards on other recordings made from the same period but it is perfectly acceptable. This recording is from an audio cassette made for Kleiber's son. For a cassette tape is the sound really good.

The performance itself is so full of heart and soul. I have always thought that the performances of the 5th and 9th on DG was a little too heavy handed but this symphony is sublime.

A note about what the reviewer below who warned that the disc (this is not a CD since it has "copy protection" software) couldn't be played on a PC or Mac. I had no trouble what so ever playing or ripping the CD on my iMac to be played on my iPod. I have no trouble either playing it on my Cambridge Azur 640 CD player.

There is no one that conducts Beethoven the way Carlos Kleiber did.
I have recordings of them all: Karajan, Gardiner, Solti, Bernstein, Herreweghe etc; all vastly inferior, almost pale and lifeless in comparison; the only one that comes close is Rattle (whose performance of the 6th I recently admired at Carnegie Hall with the BPO) in his latest cycle.
Kleiber's interpretations are of an optimism, a freshness and a vividness that are so unparalleled, it doesn't matter which orchestra he is playing with. Enjoy this live recording with the Bayerische Staatsorchester!
Check also out Beethoven's 5th & 7th with Kleiber and the VPO on DG.

This is a recording of the one and only time Kleiber conducted this symphony. Kleiber's son asked a friend to tape the performance on a little cassette recorder. He also knew that every performance was recorded by the orchestra. Well, the orchestra recording disintegrated in storage and if it weren't for the friend's cassette we would never hear this absolutely spectacular performance. A brilliant engineer cleaned up the sound and although a bit below modern standards one doesn't care. The sense of being out in the open country is palpable and the audience was so mesmerized that they didn't clap when it was over. Kleiber had to have the orchestra stand up to indicate the end. Then there is almost 4 minutes of pandemonium from the audience. Add this to your collection. Sometimes I think Kleiber is Beethoven!

This swiftly but very clear performance is a treasure.

Music for cheer up and enjoy with the master Kleiber.

To comment on this performance I can use only one word: magnificent. Further comments would be superflous and inadequate. The cd sound is quite good for its times and for a live recording.

I'm sure this is a great performance, I own the other available Kleiber recordings of Beethoven's symphonies, in particular the other Orfeo release of the 4th symhony is a sparkling gem. For some reason Orfeo decided to release this specific Pastoral performance as a "copy controlled" disc to prevent piracy, unauthorized copy, etc. Not knowing this, I purchased the item from Amazon but when it arrived in the mail I noticed an icon in the bottom right corner indicated "Copy Controlled". THIS ICON IS NOT VISIBLE ON THE PICTURE PROVIDED BY AMAZON CURRENTLY. On the back it says "this CD will not play on PC/Mac." Many of us these days including myself like to enjoy our music on home computer/iPod etc, not via conventional CD player. If you only listen to music via computer, this CD will not work. I've tried uploading pictures front/back of the CD I received for you to review. I also emailed the Orfeo company for clarification, the response indicates they are taking a hard line with this CD in particular - none of the others I own from them (at least a dozen) are "copy controlled" - I have no idea why they chose to do so with this one.

This recording sounds like it was taped before WWII, although it is only a decade or so old. The tempis are too fast, the playing unprecise. An eccentric approach which misses so many points. Not recommended. The Beethoven "Gold Standard" is still Karajan (1962 as well as 1977) with the Berliners, or, if you will, Abbado with the Berliners.