BaL 12.10.24 - Beethoven: Symphony 4

[Pulcinella]

No details given yet for this week.

Edited 30 September 2024.

The work is Beethoven Symphony 4.
I'll update with details of the reviewer when they appear.

Here's the link to the Presto listing: nearly 500!!

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/63225--beethoven-symphony-no-4-in-b-flat-major-op-60/browse

For Alison's peace of mind, there HAS been a BBC MM release:

Volume 12, Number 9, BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda.
Recorded in Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, on 21 May 2003.

Here's the updated website blurb.


1500
Building a Library

Richard Wigmore selects his favourite version of Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major, Op. 60.

By 1806 Beethoven was on a roll. He'd got the Razumovsky Quartets and the Violin Concerto under his belt and this symphony is confident and bouncing with life. It's sometimes seen as being overshadowed by the mighty symphonies Beethoven wrote on either side of it. Robert Schumann dismissively called the Fourth Symphony "a slender Greek maiden between two Norse giants". But Hector Berlioz was nearer the mark when he said that the slow movement was the work of the Archangel Michael, and not that of a human.

[Pulcinella]

News just in:

Thank you for bringing this to our attention! It seems that something has slipped through the net so I will make sure it’s sorted as soon as possible.
The Building a Library work for Saturday 12^th is Beethoven’s Symphony no.4!

Kind regards,

Sarah

Production Co-ordinator
BBC Radio 3

[Petrushka]

My favourite Beethoven 4, for many years now, has been Karajan's 1962 recording on DG.

[silvestrione]

My favourite Beethoven 4, for many years now, has been Karajan's 1962 recording on DG.

Yes, an absolute classic IMHO. The touch is just right all through, the orchestral sound seems ideal, and no-one, but no-one, equals it in the middle two movements in particular (oh that rolling rhythmn in the slow movement, and the clarinet!). Perfect balance of the Apollonian and the Dionysian, as i think Richard Osborne might have said on my original LP sleeve.
Perhaps a touch more audibility in the bassoon here and there, and the splendid first movement introduction may have more mystery in it in the Jochum version.

[smittims]

Herbert's earlier version with the Philharmonia was very fine too, especially the second movement. Another interesting recording was a mid-1970s Philips LP by Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-fields, reminding us that Beethoven wrote it for a small orchestra.

Historically, I came to know the symphony from Toscanini's 78s with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Sir Thomas Beecham recorded it in1945 with the LPO, one of his least well-known recordings. And Wilhelm Furtwangler recorded it twice for HMV with the Vienna Philharmonic, the second being a favourite of mine.

[CallMePaul]

I have 2 versions, both in complete sets: Norrington/ London Classical Players (EMI, presumably now Warner) and Mackerras/ Scottish Chamber Orchestra (the live Edinburgh Festival recordings on Hyperion). I enjoy this stmphony and wish it were programmed more frequently.

[Petrushka]

The Beethoven 4 was in the first classical concert I ever attended: Rudolf Kempe and the RPO in 1972. In the 52 years since then, I've heard it just once more in concert: Claudio Abbado and the VPO at a 1984 Prom.

Why does this Symphony suffer neglect relative to the other eight?

[mikealdren]

My favourite Beethoven 4, for many years now, has been Karajan's 1962 recording on DG.

Interesting, that was my first recording on record in about 1970, I liked it then and must give it another spin.

It was also my 'O' level set work a bit before that so I'll certainly be listening.

[Pulcinella]

OP updated with R3 website blurb.

Beethoven was on a roll, apparently.

[smittims]

I think the reason for the relative neglect of the Fourth in concerts is due simply to the celebrity of the third , fifth, sixth and seventh. I've never considered it a lesser work than the Eroica. In some ways it is more subtle and sophisticated.

[Wolfram]

Zinman was the winner last time out.

[pastoralguy]

It’s programmed with almost monotonous regularity by both the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra to the point that I find myself thinking Oh no - not AGAIN! However, I’m always glad when I hear it. The last movement is a real tour de force for the fiddles.

[richardfinegold]

No details given yet for this week.

Edited 30 September 2024.

The work is Beethoven Symphony 4.
I'll update with details of the reviewer when they appear.

Here's the link to the Presto listing: nearly 500!!

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/63225--beethoven-symphony-no-4-in-b-flat-major-op-60/browse

For Alison's peace of mind, there HAS been a BBC MM release:

Volume 12, Number 9, BBC Philharmonic, Gianandrea Noseda.
Recorded in Studio 7, New Broadcasting House, Manchester, on 21 May 2003.

Here's the updated website blurb.


1500
Building a Library

Richard Wigmore selects his favourite version of Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major, Op. 60.

By 1806 Beethoven was on a roll. He'd got the Razumovsky Quartets and the Violin Concerto under his belt and this symphony is confident and bouncing with life. It's sometimes seen as being overshadowed by the mighty symphonies Beethoven wrote on either side of it. Robert Schumann dismissively called the Fourth Symphony "a slender Greek maiden between two Norse giants". But Hector Berlioz was nearer the mark when he said that the slow movement was the work of the Archangel Michael, and not that of a human.

Was Schumann’s comment meant dismissively?

[richardfinegold]

The Beethoven 4 was in the first classical concert I ever attended: Rudolf Kempe and the RPO in 1972. In the 52 years since then, I've heard it just once more in concert: Claudio Abbado and the VPO at a 1984 Prom.

Why does this Symphony suffer neglect relative to the other eight?

I think it’s actually the Second that gets the most neglect. Furtwangler, for example, regularly programmed the Fourth but not the Second.
The HvK previously mentioned is very good. The first two that I encountered are Krips/LSO and Szell/Cleveland and I still listen to them. I have many others. The only one that I don’t care for is Konwitschny

[Barbirollians]

Agree about the 1962 HVK - one of his very finest records. Other favoutrites of mine are Bruggen's scintillating Philips recording very much the best I think of the HIPP versions I know . Also VPO/Bernstein, Columbia SO/Walter, the Monteux

Wigmore will probably choose Adam Fischer whose First he chose a couple of years back. The Fourth is one of the better records in AF's cycle in my opinion - 3,7,8,& 9were shockers