Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 / Schumann: Symphony No. 3

Robert Schumann (Composer), Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Carlo Maria Giulini (Conductor), Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
• Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini
• Composer: Robert Schumann, Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (June 13, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records / Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GN3
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #364,798 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Symphony No.5 In C Minor, Op.67: 1. Allegro con brio

2. Symphony No.5 In C Minor, Op.67: 2. Andante con moto

3. Symphony No.5 In C Minor, Op.67: 3. Allegro

4. Symphony No.5 In C Minor, Op.67: 4. Allegro

5. Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op.97 'Rhenish': 1. Lebhaft

6. Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op.97 'Rhenish': 2. Scherzo. Sehr massig

7. Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op.97 'Rhenish': 3. Nicht schnell

8. Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op.97 'Rhenish': 4. Feierlich

9. Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major, Op.97 'Rhenish': 5. Lebhaft

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Beethoven/Schumann pairing from Los Angeles, February 19, 2002

By 

Erik North (San Gabriel, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 / Schumann: Symphony No. 3 (Audio CD)

Though he was only with them a few short years, Carlo Maria Giulini's tenure as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, replacing the great Zubin Mehta, was a richly rewarding time. Probably the best proof of that is in the recording of these two great German warhorses--the Beethoven 5th and Schumann's celebrated "Rhenish" symphony.

Both recorded at UCLA's Royce Hall--the Schumann in December 1980, the Beethoven two years later--this recording displays the orchestra at its very best under Giulini's inspired direction. Though his tempos would later become very slow, this is not the case with these two pieces, both of which flow very evenly by and make for a great seventy-two minutes worth of listening. The Schumann is excellently done, so much so that it may be one of the finest recordings of this work in the last forty years. Beethoven's 5th, meanwhile, is given a superb performance that is arguably surpassed by no one else, with the possible exception of Carlos Kleiber's celebrated 1976 Vienna Philharmonic recording.

A unique pairing of two seemingly different but equally dramatic German symphonic works, this recording comes vigorously recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very, very fine recording, July 20, 2000

By 

Keith Peters - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 / Schumann: Symphony No. 3 (Audio CD)

I was privileged to be in Los Angeles when Carlo Maria Giulini had his unfortunately short tenure with the Philharmonic there. But from 1978 through 1984, if one went to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion when Giulini conducted the orchestra, one heard some of the finest music making ever. The Philharmonic musicians truly played their hearts out for him. This recording is a prime example. This was the first recording of the Schumann Rhenish that I owned and it remains the "perfect" one to my ears. Tempos to me seem absolutely right and balances are wonderful. The Beethoven is another excellent recording and fully deserving of the phrase definitive. Get this recording!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exhilarating! One of the Best Despite a Couple of Reservations, January 7, 2006

By 

dv_forever (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 / Schumann: Symphony No. 3 (Audio CD)

Wow, just hearing the first movement should have you jumping around and conducting with your eyes closed. The sound that the LAPO produces is just about perfect for Beethoven, I love the lush strings, the pounding timpani and the thrilling horns of this orchestra and they give a majestic performance of this most famous symphony. The first movement is absolutely one of the best I've ever heard, much better than Carlos Kleiber! The only first movement that compares is Karajan's ultra intense 1962 version, which is truly grim and thrilling but Giulini even beats Karajan in some respects. Obviously the slow movement is gorgeous, Giulini leads us on with an expansive tempo and the most wonderful playing from his orchestra, the horns are awesome, no doubt about it! Unforgettable. The scherzo is not as driven as Karajan but the transition to the finale is highly combustible. The finale starts off explosively and wrings out every drop of emotion imaginable. Giulini takes a moderate tempo in the finale, emphasizing it's majestic nature but he also observes the exposition repeat in the finale. Later, because of the overall moderate tempo, towards the end of the symphony, things drag a bit. Oh, so what? The whole thing sounds pretty inevitable and romantically grandiose anyway, it works out. I just think that Giulini should have either taken a faster tempo in the finale or used the tempo he takes but dropped the repeat. You can't have everything when it comes to such an ultimately satisfying performance.

The Schumann Symphony 3, The 'Rhenish' is the coupling. Giulini's version is among the best ever recorded, powerful, lyrical and completely involving. The Cologne Cathedral movement is noteworthy, Giulini takes a faster tempo here than I would have liked but it sounds right somehow. I know for instance Karajan's Cologne Cathedral movement is too expansive in his Schumann recording.

The sound for both symphonies is utterly awesome, weighty, powerful, lush and with plenty of detail and ambience. Who would have known, Deutsche Grammophon could actually make some great digital recordings?! This CD is a must own for fans of great music and shows how fascinating a conductor Carlo Maria Giulini really was.