Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 7

Gustavo Dudamel (Conductor), Simon Bolivar Sym. Orch. of Venezuela (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Simon Bolivar Sym. Orch. of Venezuela
• Conductor: Gustavo Dudamel
• Audio CD (August 8, 2006)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000G6BJNA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,782 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Calm down a bit, January 12, 2008

By 

Ursiform (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 7 (Audio CD)

Gustavo Dudamel is clearly an extraordinarily talented young conductor, and I look forward to hearing him grow with the LA Phil. While interesting, these recordings are not the interpretations of a mature conductor who has fully worked his way to an understanding of Beethoven. The orchestra, while excellent for a youth orchestra, is not world class. And the recording itself is not one of DG's best.

I think this CD is well worth listening to for the energy and potential Dudamel manifests. But with so many great recordings of these symphonies available, this is not among the best. This is a purchase for someone who already has one (or several) great recordings of these symphonies, and is looking for an opportunity to make the musical acquaintance of the young maestro Dudamel. Someday he will make mature recordings of these symphonies, and it will be interesting to look back at this disk and see how he grew.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good first effort for the young Venezuelan(s), August 14, 2006

By 

Xyp (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 7 (Audio CD)

Highly touted young Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel makes his recording debut on this DG disc in the Beethoven 5th and 7th. There are a good many things to recommend this disc, not the least of which is that the orchestra is excellent for anywhere- when one considers that they are a youth orchestra, well, that's even better. They follow Dudamel's sense of shape and line very well, and I had no complaints about intonation.

The real star of the show, of course, is Dudamel- having conducted ensembles since the tender age of 12, the recording shows every bit of his experienced manner. He has the practiced ear of one who not only has been conducting for years, but moreover has specific ideas about the external and internal movement and form of the symphonic sound. His aforementioned sense of shape and line are well developed: listen to his opening of the Fifth, the control of the crescendos and tempo of the Andante movement, and finally the youthful vigor and energy of the fourth movement Allegro. But while his execution is surprisingly good, it is apparent that it has not come full flower yet: it should be no surprise that, in his mid-twenties, Dudamel is currently in the early stages of what will become a recognizable style and flair with an orchestra. If this debut disc is any indication of things to come (and, someone at DG needs a talking to: do we really need another Fifth and Seventh?!?) Dudamel's is certainly a talent to keep a close watch on for the future.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh, exciting interpretations for old favorites, November 21, 2007

By 

Bert Kleinkauf (Tucson, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies 5 & 7 (Audio CD)

I find Gustavo Dudamel Beethoven's 5th and 7th refreshing, original, electric, exciting, magical but above all beautiful. It was like hearing these old favorites for the first time. I was first drawn to an articulation of lines, threads in Beethoven's fabric, that I'd never noticed, or perhaps better said, never noted before. Room is made for the diversity of line -- each can be heard, each contributing to the whole.

The interpretation is fresh. Most noticed by me were the slow tempi: patience leaving room for dramatics, for accumulation. But Dudamel and friends aren't shy when it comes to allegro con brio, as in the close to the seventh. Slightly faster than von Karajan, they make Kleiber and Norrington seem positively pokey. But the pace isn't simply show-off speed, rather a breezy flight to the finish with sweep and drive.

Maestro Dudamel is able to extract brilliance from his orchestra, the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. Don't let that "youth orchestra" fool you. There's nothing second rate with their playing. And it's not just virtuosity, they play as one mind, with both softness and energy as called for. To be sure the CD is well recorded. The sound is clear and crisp. Not the muddle we've learned to live with from the late analog years.

I've listened to this CD a dozen times in the last week. I really believe it will stand the test of time. Surely I will continue to listen to my other interpretations, but Gustova Dudamel now gets my first listen for these old favorites.