The Best Recordings of Beethoven Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”
Vložit
- čas přidán 21. 09. 2023
- Gil Zilkha, singer/collector/music enthusiast
In this installment of Essential Classical Music, I cover the best recordings of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica.” This video is taken from my larger video covering the major symphonies and their best recordings. Featured conductors include Klemperer, Karajan, Furtwängler, and Toscanini, among others. - Sport
I'm glad you mentioned Paul van Kempen. My father had a lot of LP's of his Philips-recordings and he certainly belonged in the same category of Mengelberg, Van Beinum and Haitink.Van Kempen's Erioca is indeed in the grand old style, but also passionate, exciting, and the ''Berlin sound' is regonizable from the very beginning.
I'm not sure what Gil means about the van Kempen recording being "limited in sound" at 4:55. This is one of the best recordings of all time in terms of sound and acoustics in the history of recorded music.
There is ample reverb and resonance captured from the concert hall in this recording which sounds warm and with the fullest sonorities captured by the Philips engineers, sounding a lot like what it is like to be in a old-time, long, shoe-box concert hall or cathedral.
There is plenty of weight from the BPO strings which is very obvious even in the first two notes of the symphony. Even Furtwangler was never recorded this well.
This recording reminds me a lot of the Lindsey Quartet recording of Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" and Quartetsatz on ASV, Andre Previn's recording of Brahm's German Requiem with the Royal Philharmonic with Teldec, Giusepe Sinopoli's recording of Schubert's 8th Symphony on DG, and Herbert von Karajan's recording of Verdi's Aida with the VPO on EMI. These are some of the best recording capturing the acoustics of the concert hall experience ever to grace the catalogs.
I think the finest 7th of Beethoven is also by Toscanini and NBC orchestra. Tempos are fast and it has an Italian intonation; very noticeable in slow movements. But the performance is quite moving and very musical
I have a CD of the Eroica couple with Coroilan Overture by Karajan decades ago. The gap or space of the 3rd to 4th mvt is just one and a half second. The fast intro of the 4th makes you fall from your seat. And I like the 'in your face' LOUD last note of the tuba(?)
Manfred Honeck the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is the best recording of the Eroica in my opinion without a doubt, it's the best recording.
the furtwängler 12.8.1952 is the best rendition ever in my opinion.
I'm not familiar with any of your recommendations but I have certainly heard good things about Klemperer and Toscanini Beethoven performances. One performance that is definitely under the radar is Von Matacic with the Czech PO...probably similar to the Toscanini approach...the performance in very energetic...the opening chords send shock waves. I've loved this reading since encountering it in the 60s on LP.
To my ear, Matačić and Toscanini have little in common. Matačić had notably more depth of expression in his interpretations than Toscanini, who often seems to me somewhat mechanical. I think if Matačić had enjoyed the same opportunities, his name would be much better remembered as the exceptional conductor he was.
I guess I'm talking about the incisive accents and drive more than the expressive content. Nevertheless, I agree with you that Matacic is a terribly underrated conductor...The Supraphon Tchaikovsky and Bruckner recordings are wonderful. He did a slammin Merry Widow and Fanciulla for EMI and some other early recordings for them that are hard to find!@@leestamm3187
I'm not sure what Gil Zlikha means about the van Kempen recording being "limited in sound" at 4:55. The van Kempen is one of the best recordings of all time in terms of sound and acoustics in the history of recorded music.
There is ample reverb and resonance captured from the concert hall in this recording which sounds warm and with the fullest sonorities captured by the Philips engineers, sounding a lot like what it is like to be in a old-time, long, shoe-box concert hall or cathedral.
There is plenty of weight from the BPO strings which is very obvious even in the first two notes of the symphony. Even Furtwangler was never recorded this well.
This recording reminds me a lot of the Lindsey Quartet recording of Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" and Quartetsatz on ASV, Andre Previn's recording of Brahm's German Requiem with the Royal Philharmonic with Teldec, Giusepe Sinopoli's recording of Schubert's 8th Symphony on DG, and Herbert von Karajan's recording of Verdi's Aida with the VPO on EMI.
These are some of the best recordings capturing the acoustics of the concert hall experience ever to grace the catalogs which can only be captured in a handful of concert halls around the world (e.g., Musikvereinsaal, Boston Symphony Hall, the Concertgebouw, Kingsway Hall, etc.) or churches.
Klemperer is the best on this one.
EVERYONE knows Karajan's digital cycle is AWFUL
Not the Eroica
@@GilZilkha 🤣