This morning, I find myself listening to conductor George Szell (1897-1970), The Cleveland Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in B flat Major.
I first encountered Maestro Szell in my Beethoven project on…
Day 16. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 34. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 52. Rating: “Huzzah!”
What will today 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. 4 in B flat Major), from this particular conductor (Szell, at age 66) and this particular orchestra (The Cleveland Orchestra), at this particular time in history (April 5, 1963) on this particular record label (Sony Classical) is as follows:
I. Adagio – Allegro vivace………………………………………………………………..10:05
II. Adagio………………………………………………………………………………………..9:49
III. Allegro molto e vivace – Trio. Un poco meno allegro………………..5:57
IV. Allegro ma non troppo………………………………………………………………..5:58
Total running time: 31:09
My Rating:
Recording quality: 4 (noticeable tape hiss, not uncommon for its age of 55 years, but a crisp recording with no missing top end)
Overall musicianship: 4
CD liner notes: 0 (none; boo! hiss!)
How does this make me feel: 5 (instant “Huzzah!”)
I took an instant liking to this performance. It had energy. It is very well recorded, with relatively minor tape hiss, a fine top end, and a robust whole-orchestra sound. Every instrument is crisp and clear. Severance Hall must be cavernous because this recording is big.
This performance – from Movement I to Movement IV – is a joy to behold.
The strings are a highlight of the recording. But the flute (both, especially, in Movement I) is also a standout.
Movement I is very, very nice. So lively! So captivating!
I wholeheartedly recommend Maestro George Szell and The Cleveland Orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Fourth.
“Huzzah!”
My quibble with this box set is there are no liner notes.
That’s an unforgivable sin in my book.
If a conductor is as famous as George Szell was, if a performance is as good as this, if a symphony is as lauded as The Cleveland Orchestra, then why aren’t there any notes? Why didn’t Sony Classical care enough about its product or the fans of Szell and The Cleveland Orchestra to have someone write a little something commemorating (or even just explaining) this performance?
Shame on you, Sony Classical!