Oct 10
7
Beethoven – Symphony Nos.5 & 7 Conducted by Fritz Reiner
Ah, Beethoven. My absolute favorite classical composer of all time. And who better to conduct than the extremely cool, red sweater wearing Fritz Reiner. I mean just look at him. Look at that determination on his face, that look of complete immersion in the music. I have to admit, of all the versions out there of Beethoven’s 5th I chose this one based simply on the cover…and good reviews of course. It just looks like it’s going to smoke!
I won’t go too far into reviewing the actual music since Beethoven’s works have been talked about for what seems like thousands of years. As well it should because his work is fantastic, continually exciting, and wholly satisfying. It is both explosive and lyrical, contemplative and emotional. It is, in fact, beauty in every sense of the word and as time goes on Beethoven’s contribution to the world only gets greater.
Beethoven Symphony Nos. 5 & 7 were recorded by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra way back in 1959 during a time when RCA was experimenting with “stereophonic” sound. Yes it’s true, at one time the world was a very monaural place. RCA’s experiments proved to be a success since nearly every single “Living Stereo” album they recorded sounds absolutely fantastic. The transfers to CD were made without any equalization or modern day schlock that makes some recordings sound so bad. Instead, they are warm, full, and breathing with life; you can actually hear the sound of the recording hall.The stereo separation is astounding, with every instrument in the entire orchestra fully detailed and with close listening you can pick out every nuance of the performance.
Speaking of the performance, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is on fire and every time I listen I can’t help but stare at that photo of Reiner, his face perfectly capturing the moment. The first movement of Symphony No.5 breathes with a fury, and the final segment, one of my favorite pieces of music in any genre, explodes from the speakers and dances with dynamic shades of light and dark. With each movement the orchestra swells in tension and releases in peaceful harmony to such a degree it sounds like the music of heaven. That is to say, it’s simply more beautiful than anything on this world should be and should be required listening in schools everywhere.
As good as the 5th is, and trust me, it is truly amazing, what I was really surprised by was the wonderful performance of the 7th. Beethoven’s 7th Symphony is a piece that often gets lost in the shuffle, sandwiched between the majesty of the 5th, the simply stunning perfection of the 6th, and the everlasting power of the 9th. But, I find it to be just as important and a wonderful addition to his work. If you look at this segment of his work as whole, from Nos.5 through 9, it is a truly remarkable run.
The lyricism on display throughout the 7th is astounding and as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra makes its run through the piece you can’t help but marvel at both the dexterity of the orchestra and the genius of the piece. The playing during the final movement is nothing short of astonishing. A miracle really. The demands on the players is almost too much to think about and yet with Reiner at the helm (again, just look at that photo) they deliver the performance without a single falter and come to a jaw dropping conclusion. Amazing.
This particular disc also contains stellar performances of the “Coriolan Overture, Op 62″ and the “Fidelio Overture, Op 72b.” The “Coriolan” is positively explosive and will rock you right out of your listening chair. The orchestra delivers a non stop onslaught of some of the heaviest classical ever to grace the world. I find it hard to even describe since it jumps along at such an alarming pace, the drums in particular going into classical overload. Sheesh!
There is a reason Beethoven is considered one of the great heavyweights of the classical world and this is a truly fine example of his genius. The sound and performances have a very particular charm and Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra deliver nothing but stunning execution of the material. There are a ton of recordings out there of these same works by different conductors and orchestras, but if you’re looking to take a dip into Beethoven this would be a fine place to start.
Tracklist
- “Allegro con brio” (Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op.67) - 7:31
- “Andante con moto” (Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op.67) - 10:04
- “Allegro” (Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op.67) - 5:27
- “Allegro” (Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op.67) - 7:59
- “Poco sostenuto; Vivace” (Symphony No.7 in A, Op.92) - 11:36
- “Allegretto” (Symphony No.7 in A, Op.92) - 8:53
- “Presto; Assai meno presto; Presto” (Symphony No.7 in A, Op.92) - 6:54
- “Allegro con brio” (Symphony No.7 in A, Op.92) - 6:48
- “Coriolan Overture, Op.62″ – 6:53
- “Fidelio Overture, Op.72b” – 6:36
