BaL 31.01.15 - Beethoven: Symphony no. 3 in E flat "Eroica"

[makropulos]

I've only once heard the Eroica played live by a professional orchestra, and that was VPO/Bohm in the RAH. It was rather magnificent, but the encore (Die Meistersinger prelude) was even better.

In general, however, i find Bohm to be rather dull conductor.

That was a marvellous concert. I loved the fact that on the programme there was nothing for lower brass or harp, until the encore (!)

I'm sorry you find Böhm dull. I got to know some of his earlier LP recordings (mono Brahms 2 and Heldenleben and so on) and liked them very much. Then I saw him several times in concert, acquired many of his later recordings, and also saw him conducting opera live. Not once did I find him dull - and I still think he tends to be under-rated (except in Japan, where he's revered).

[vinteuil]

Just about to give Liszt 2 piano version a hearing:

'Duo Reine Elisabeth' (Rolf Plagge / Wolfgang Manz)

... and how was it? A necessary purchase? (I have Cyprien Katsaris doing the one piano version - and am looking forward to the Yuri Martynov) ...

[Beef Oven!]

In general, however, i find Bohm to be rather dull conductor.

That's a shame, you're missing out. Perhaps if the 'in general' was put to one side and you listened to specific performances such as his Philips 1960s Ring cycle, VPO Bruckner 4 on Decca, Strauss' Elektra on Deutsche Grammophon or his live Bruckner 8 with the Tonhalle, to name just four off the top of my head that I have in my collection, you might find him an exciting conductor.

[verismissimo]

... such as his Philips 1960s Ring cycle...

I listened to it, thinking that it was a bit, well, dull. And then Birgit Nilsson arrived.

Wow!

[Barbirollians]

So nobody knows the BPO/Bohm ? I shall listen to it later .

[mathias broucek]

There's a live Böhm Eroica on Audite with the Bavarian RSO - often with him the live performances are superior to the studio ones.

Would second (third?) the recommendation for the Decca Masters Erich Kleiber. As well as the two Eroicas, highlights include a stunning Schubert 9 with the Cologne RSO and an outstanding Beethoven 5.

[Gordon]

Only just lately heard the BAL re Eroica. Can't say I enjoyed the Harnoncourt on Monday morning despite JLW's erudite advocacy. He is better at taming his mannersism than he was. I wondered if the orchestra were worrried about missing the last train back up to Vienna!

Anyway Sir Nick did spend a bit of time on the older generation - how things have changed!! Here is the back end of a 2.5 page review of the set from a now defunct mag called Records and Recording; I guess it's from the early 60s - from comments made in the text no later than 73 and possibly even before 1967. The reviewer was one Burnett James and back then the Big 4 were Toscanini, Klemperer, Furtwangler and Walter with Karajan comong up on the inside track. Others like Jochum are mentioned in the recommended list and yet others like Szell mentioned in the main text. The Eroica is Kleiber pere's with the VPO from April '55: I think it's the one that someone at Decca erased the stereo tape!! [EDIT: I checked and it was! According to Philip Stuart's discography - and I would trust Philp's research - this erasure was requested by Arthur Haddy himself. Something odd there as the balancer was Roy Wallace and very experienced at this time with early stereo.] Interesting comment regarding Boult.

I went to Klemperer's RFH 1970 cycle - but some had to be done by Colin Davis because old K was not well. His live Beethoven was more telling that the recorded and I remember the expectant high tension atmosphere in the hall when he was on the podium. He certainly had presence despite his later frailty. Also heard Karajan/BPO do No 8 and No 4 at RFH in the mid 70s - superb orchestral playing of course but something missing.

[clive heath]

I was saving this to be the 200th but things moved on apace and I am sure we are well over. Nevertheless, I recorded some of the Beethoven centenary symphony recordings by the slimmed down LSO conducted by James Loughran and have just uploaded the 3rd in 320 Kbps stereo replacing the previous 128... It has a rather warm acoustic which somewhat muddies the precision which I'm sure the players felt they were achieving.

http://www.cliveheathmusic.co.uk/tapes.php

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Talking of which, wasn't there a Halle/Loughran Beethoven Symphony cycle?

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/beethoven-complete-symphonies-9-halle-275178890

Not available on CD though.

[Bryn]

Talking of which, wasn't there a Halle/Loughran Beethoven Symphony cycle?

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/beethoven-complete-symphonies-9-halle-275178890

Not available on CD though.

Indeed. Surprising that no enterprising company such as Brilliant Classics has issued the recordings under licence.

[Alison]

I am trying to recall if any other Enigma recordings ever made it to cd and if so on which label ?

[Bryn]

I am trying to recall if any other Enigma recordings ever made it to cd and if so on which label ?

The Loughran Beethoven LP series was issued on the ASV (Sanctuary Records prop.)label. Many of their recordings are found licenced to Brilliant Classics.

[I may have misread the intent of your message, the Enigma record label, rather than the symphony, was, after all, associated with the American Columbia company. Can't think of any other recordings of the symphony which have not made it from LP to CD.]

[[O.k., I've got one for you. It's a French Musidisc LP I bought while on an exchange trip prior to my GCE 'O' levels:

RC 821 (Orchestre de la Société des Concerts de Vienne, Karl Ritter.]]

[Barbirollians]

I had that Loughran set on LP - it was the first set of Beethoven symphonies I owned. I must describe it as worthy rather than spectacular. I remember a good 1& 2 , 4 and 8 and a perfectly OK Pastoral and No 5 but No 7 and 9 did not set my world alight and I found the Eroica worthy with its odd groove on one side that stopped the record going on I am not sure why it had that ? Possibly first movement on one side , then funeral march and third on the second side with the finale back on the same side as the first movement .

It took Carlos Kleiber's No 7 on a DG Signature LP to light up that work for me - a performance that still dazzles and then along came Raymond Leppard on Tring and the Bayreuth Furtwangler to open my ears to the Ninth .

I think the Loughran LP's are still in my parent's junk room I shall have to check when I visit them next .

[Bryn]

The Loughran set, plus an uncredited 'bonus' violin concerto, all said to be in 'new' condition, is currently up for grabs on ebay, I see.

[Barbirollians]

I am sure that there isn't a recording of the violin concerto in the box . The overtures were good though as I remember them .