This morning, I am sitting at a nearby Chick-fil-A restaurant.
The sun has just risen.
The sky is overcast.
The time is 7:33am.
My wife joined me this morning because, technically, we’re both on vacation for the next few days. And yet here we are – me at my blog and she and her laptop answering her 300+ e-mails from work.
Go figure.
We do plan to knock off when I finish here, load our bikes in the rack on the back of the car, and head to the Muskegon lake shore area to do some thrifting, some biking, and a whole lotta eating.
But first, there’s German conductor Otto Klemperer (1885-1973), the Philharmonia Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E flat Major.
I first encountered Maestro Klemperer in this Beethoven project on Day 12, and then again on Day 30.
On Day 12, I awarded his performance with a “Huzzah!” rating.
On Day 30, I awarded his performance with a “Meh” rating.
What will this morning’s performance bring?
I’ll soon find out.
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 3 in E flat Major), from this particular conductor (Klemperer, at at 74) and this particular orchestra (Philharmonia Orchestra), at this particular time in history (October 29 & November 11-13, 1959) on this particular record label (Warner Classics) is as follows:
I. Allegro con brio………………………………………………………………………16:41
II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai……………………………………………….16:54
III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace – Trio…………………………………………………6:34
IV. Finale: Allegro molto – Poco andante – Presto…………………..13:26
Total running time: 53:26
My Rating:
Recording quality: 4 (Warner Classics is known for high-quality recordings. Aside from some noticeable – and justifiable for its age- 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: 5 (lively, but even-keeled, a classic!)
This performance is remarkable for its contained energy. Its pace is obviously relaxed (compared to previous performances from other conductors), and yet it feels like it’s bursting at the seams with energy barely contained within its slower tempo. This is especially true in Movement III (Scherzo). The orchestra roars with power, like an 8-cylinder car finally seeing open road. (Or, like “Ludicrous Mode” on a Tesla, which takes the car from 0-60 mph in 2.275507139 seconds.)
I love how this recording sounds – crisp and clean, with lots of dynamic range, especially in the string instruments.
Okay. I grok Klemperer’s magic touch. I can hear it and feel it.
And I say…
“Huzzah!”
Highly recommended.
NOTE: I discovered a very rare video on YouTube – a 1970 performance from Otto Klemperer. He was 85 years old. He looks it. (He would pass away three years after this performance) at the time.
The video is grainy and appears to have been copied from a VHS tape.
But what I find truly gratifying are the comments from viewers listed below the video.
People are still awed by Maestro Klemperer, and rightly so.
Watch this. Read the comments below it.
You’re welcome.