Beethoven Symphony No. 5/Musica Aeterna/Currentzis. Sony 24/96 via Qobuz Studio.

[Bryn]

Absolutely. But it's been an interesting diversion.



Hay fever? I find that a few doses Otrivine Antistin drops (short-term use only) works a treat if you don't want to be using regular preventive drops like Opticrom or Opatanol. Or is it dry eye? Trial of lubricant drops perhaps?

Hope it's better soon.

Careful, Flay. We'll be queueing up for medical advice . . .

Back to Beethoven, I have only just noted the small print for bar 237 of the 3rd movement in the Del Mar edition study score, "Regarding deleted repeat of bars 1 - 236, see Critical Commentary."

[Barbirollians]

Careful, Flay. We'll be queueing up for medical advice . . .

Back to Beethoven, I have only just noted the small print for bar 237 of the 3rd movement in the Del Mar edition study score, "Regarding deleted repeat of bars 1 - 236, see Critical Commentary."

That Kenneth Woods blog was very interesting - I was definitely with him on the B Flat being replaced by a D .

[Goon525]

Back to the overall performance (though I prefer the repeat in the scherzo, which improves the balance of the piece): I know not everyone here agrees, but I thought the Currentzis Tchaikovsky 6 was outstandingly good, and would have been my record of the year a couple of years ago. I’ve also enjoyed video’d Verdi Requiems from both Milan and Berlin. So I was looking forward to this Beethoven 5th. Even the lack of a coupling made me think of the Carlos Kleiber all those years ago. (As I’m streaming, it makes no practical difference to me.) Anyway, it struck me as a good, interesting performance despite some idiosyncrasies in tempi and dynamics. But Ultimately it’s just not that special, worth a hearing - if you stream - but not worth a purchase, I’d say. And if I remember correctly, even the orchestral layout disappointed. I do think Currentzis is a considerable conductor, but this is not his finest (half) hour.