In this Beethoven project, I first encountered German conductor Otto Klemperer (1885-1973) on Day 12.
If you want to know some of Klemperer’s background (including his famous actor son), let your mouse do the walking over to that entry.
This morning, I’m listening to him conduct Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major.
How does famed maestro Klemperer compare to previous conductors regarding Beethoven’s Second?
I’ll know in a moment.
As it turns out, I don’t really have much to say about today’s recording.
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 2 in D Major), from this particular conductor (Klemperer, at at 72) and this particular orchestra (Philharmonia Orchestra), at this particular time in history (October 4 & 5, 1957) on this particular record label (Warner Classics) is as follows:
I. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio………………………………………………………………13:27
II. Larghetto………………………………………………………………………………………………….13:08
III. Scherezo. Allegro – Trio……………………………………………………………………………4:00
IV. Allegro molto…………………………………………………………………………………………….7:03
Total running time: 37:38
My Rating:
Recording quality: 4 (Warner Classics is known for high-quality recordings. Aide from some noticeable – and justifiable – tape hiss, this one is no exception)
Overall musicianship: 4
CD liner notes: 4 (standard Warner Classics booklet with lots of information, and an essay about Klemperer in English, German, and French)
How does this make me feel: 3 (too long, lacks energy to sustain it, uninspired)
For whatever reason, I just could not get into this performance. It wasn’t as punchy as I like. It was too long (by at least five minutes). And it was uninspired.
I gave it the ol’ college try, too. I listened to this symphony 3-4 times. I looked for passages that grabbed me, uplifted me, awed me…
And found none.
I have no choice but to give this a “Meh” rating.
It bears repeating that this does not in any way indicate fault with Klemperer, his orchestra, Warner Classics, or the Fates of the Four Winds. This is merely my opinion.