Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6- Pastorale

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Bruno Walter (Conductor), Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Columbia Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Bruno Walter
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (May 16, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002A7Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,111 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fourth isn't that great, But the Sixth is the best ever, June 19, 2000

By 

Stan Vernooy (Henderson, NV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6- Pastorale (Audio CD)

I have been a devoted follower of recorded classical music since 1963. In those 37 years, there are only two major orchestral works which have had the same almost unanimously-recommended rcording for that entire period of time: The Richter/Kondrashin recording of the two Liszt Piano Concertos, and the Walter recording of Beethoven's Sixth. It is unlikely there will ever be a better recording than this. Every tempo is perfectly judged, every orchestral strand is beautifully blended. The sound is warm and sweet, although perhaps less detailed and vivid than modern recordings. For almost every work in the basic repertoire, a new recording comes along at least once a decade which sheds some new light or produces unexpected insights and emotional responses. But for the Beethoven Sixth, the Walter seems to be the last word. The performance of the Fourth is less successful in my opinion - somewhat scrappy and harsh, which is almost unheard of for Walter. But the primary work here is the Sixth, and this is the definitive recording.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent sixth!, February 12, 2004

By 

Yuske Oshiyama (tochigi,Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6- Pastorale (Audio CD)

You must have it. I mean, you cannot fulfill the world of the Beethoven's sixth without trying to listen to this performance. Here are gentle voices of birds. Also you can see water, trees with green leaves, and whatever you wish to see or hear when you think of nature.

Brono Walter recorded three versions of the symphony; with VPO in 1930s', the other orchestra in 1940s' and the performance in 1958 on this CD. In addition, this version alone is in stereo, the other two are in mono. Some say, however, the first one (with VPO) is the best, though it doesn't have good quality. I personally think you should have both; 1936 version and 1958 version.

As for the sixth, I also recommend Bohm with VPO. But in comparison in the last movement, Walter's is better, that's to say, Walter's performance on this CD is the best of all !

As far as I'm concerned, I would say the fourth is not bad. But it's not so good that I can't highly recommend this performance at all. You should have this CD for the sixth. That's all.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One For the Ages, May 30, 2002

By 

Craig Dorval (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6- Pastorale (Audio CD)

Buy this now. I love the 6th symphony and have listened to many, many performances and recordings of it over the years. I own five excellent recordings of it, but this Walter version is unique. I have it on CD, LP and cassette and listen to it more often than any other classical recording. In short, this 6th is inspired. Listen especially for the extraordinary joy in the last movement. The technical and production quality is excellent, especially considering its recording date. The 4th is a good pairing and is well done. But this sixth is one for the ages. And at a bargain price!