Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 6- Pastorale

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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.

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.

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!

Both these recordings of the Beethoven Fourth and Sixth were made in Hollywood in 1958, the same time that Walter was turning in rather slack and unfocused readings of the other symphonies. Here he recovers some of the dash and intensity that marked his 1930s Pastorle with the Vienna Phil. The Columbia Sym. plays with energy and inflection, even though Walter's tempos are on the leisurely side.

As is generally acknowledged, he found magic in every movement of the Pastorale, which will surely stand as the best of the romantic versions of this symphony (far more charming than Bohm's often recommended but unsmiling recording on DG). The Fourth is in the same mode, with more incisiveness than his Eroica, Fifth, or Seventh. But Walter is somewhat less alert here; the result is another mellow performance of good if not superb quality.

Newcomers might suppose, hearing these performances, that the rest of Walter's Beethoven must be of equal stature. It's not, but we can be grateful for this charmed moment in his old age. Look to his Bruckner, Mozart, and Mahler for similar inspiration.

Among the finest recordings of these famous symphonies, even after 45+ years since they were committed to tape. Bruno Walter did a terrific job of getting the Columbia Symphony Orchestra - many of them free lance musicians, studio musicians, and members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic who were doing some work on the side - the play like a Viennese orchestra - very gemuchtlichkeit where it's called for. Bruno Walter's kindness shines through here; this is the loving, kind Beethoven, a reflection of the conductor and worlds apart from Reiner or Toscanini.

Tempos in both Symphonies 4 and 6 are slower in Allegro movements (I, III and IV for Symphony 4; I, III, IV and V for Symphony 6) than in Szell's recordings, for example, but slower tempos allow for better phrasing and articulation.

I am thankful Walter recorded these works in stereo when in his 80s. Sony Classical has done great service to music lovers everywhere by making this available.

This recording made the Pastoral Symphony my favorite piece. Artistically: It's lush like the greenery of the German forest, gentle and innocent like the birds. Technically: The Pastoral Symphony is a piece that's easy to mess up, with many harmonizing melodies all interweaving and threatening to overtake each other at any point. Bruno Walter keeps them all in line without confusion, subdues the voices that are meant to be, well, subdued, and brings out the right ones at the right times. If you own one classical CD, this is the one to own.

Beethoven illustriously asserted that his Pastoral Symphony was more feeling than painting. Indeed, the idyllic brook in the B flat Andante paints with deft brushstrokes on the most fertile canvas in the universe - the human mind. Listening carefully to the closing bars, the birdsong of quail, nightingale, and cuckoo lilt with a precious enchantment. The evocative imagery of this five-movement masterpiece ranges from open countryside to merry-whirling townsfolk to wrathful storm and a new hope beyond.

Fortunately for us, Beethoven's crowning jewel does not strain for the musical realism of Strauss or Berlioz. Rather than prescribing some programmatic storyboard, he respects us far more, giving us the freedom to envision the poetry in our own minds as vividly as we would.

That this symphony was first performed in 1808 in Vienna is only fitting, for Beethoven's walks in the country near the culturally vibrant city were part of its impetus. Even his notes, haphazardly scrawled on symphonic sketches, attested to Beethoven's affinity for nature. Perhaps the Pastoral was Beethoven's way of saying that music alone squanders potential; imagery and atmospheric suggestion can take it to an even higher plane. In 1810 Beethoven remarked fondly, "How delighted I will be to ramble for awhile through the bushes, woods, under trees, through grass, and around rocks...surely woods, trees, and rocks produce the echo that man desires to hear."

Enter now the avalanche-melting warmth of Bruno Walter. In his later years at the Columbia Symphony Orchestra he had what many have called his 'Indian Summer', his resurgence in musical inspiration and execution which has left us some of the great recordings. Now it is true that at times the twilight of his mastery became evident; this is particularly true in the 4th symphony of this recording, which despite its warmth suffers from feeble playing and a lack of energy. But the 6th symphony is Walter on the mountaintop, and arguably the best recording of the Pastoral ever made. In truth, Otto Klemperer's 1957 Pastoral matches it, and with better sound quality. Yet Walter stands beside Klemperer, these two titans producing Pastoral recordings of historic value that hopefully shall never be forgotten...

The Pastoral Symphony is for me the most admirable of Beethoven's achievements, yet I realize not all may share this view. For many the excitement and drama of the 5th, 7th, and 9th overshadow the 6th's sprightly warmth. Yet I think many of you will find as the ears age and the mind yearns for peace and tranquility, that this Pastoral recording is not only something you can enjoy. You can come back to it again and again, and rather than exhaust your emotions it replenishes and renews.

This is a most pleasurable rendition of the Pastoral Symphony: warm, lyrical, and the heavier passages are not overdone like in some other versions. The Beethoven symphony number 4, also on this cd, is also very good. I highly recommend this album.

Beethoven's "Pastoral" was one of Bruno Walter's signature symphonies, so one is not at all surprised at this superb performance, which is as gentle and warm as could only be. The Fourth is also fine. Obviously, among the Big Nine, these two fit the conductor's personality best.

Bruno Walter's rendition of Beethoven's 6th symphony is perhaps the greatest ever recorded, even when you consider that the Columbia Symphony Orchestra was not on the same level as the major American and European Orchestra's of the day. Though on this disc, one hardly notices the fact many considered the CSO to be a lesser orchestra.

Walter's reading of the score comes off sounding like a piece of literature or poetry, but that is a great thing and perfectly blends with the music to create a benchmark recording. Geaorge Szell and Wilhelm Furtwangler also recorded memorable renditions of the 6th symphony, with George Szell's recording having a superior orchestra.

Furtwangler's legendary performance is not always readily available and was done in mono, so Walter's only real competition comes from George Szell. Given that both Szell and Walter recordings are available for bargain prices on the Sony label, you could easily get both. In fact, George Szell's entire Beethoven cycle is something to consider buying, as its well worth the bargain price and most of it is still available. Though I would still encourage you to listen to this recording as well.

The 4th symphony on this disc is good, but there are better. You are mainly getting this disc for the 6th symphoy, with the 4th as a nice bonus. I recommend looking elsewhere if you want a benchmark 4th, though Walter's recording did just fine for me. I have Omso Vansk's entire Beethoven cycle and have compared his 4th to that of Walter's, and its a trade off between better playing / sound quality and a superior conductor.