This morning, I am listening to German conductor Eugen Jochum (1902-1987), the London Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor.
I have encountered Maestro Jochum four times previous to this morning, on…
Day 9. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 27. Rating: Not quite Meh, but not Huzzah! either
Day 45. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 63. Rating: “HUzzah!”
So far, I have been far more favorable than not toward Maestro Jochum. I’m eager to see what today brings.
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 5 in C minor), from this particular conductor (Jochum, at age 75) and this particular orchestra (London Symphony Orchestra), at this particular time in history (February 28-March 1 & October 7 1977) on this particular record label (Warner Classics) is as follows:
I. Allegro con brio (C minor)………………………………………………………8:21
II. Andante con moto (A♭ major)…………………………………………..11:07
III. Scherzo: Allegro (C minor)……………………………………………………5:51
IV. Allegro (C major)………………………………………………………………..11:49
Total running time: 36:28
My Rating:
Recording quality: 4 (seems to lack a smidgen of top end, slightly more tape hiss than usual; otherwise, crystal clear)
Overall musicianship: 5
CD liner notes: 4 (big booklet with lots of information, except for pertinent key details, and an essay about Jochum in English, German, and French)
How does this make me feel: 5 (full-on Huzzah!)
I knew this was going to be “Huzzah!” from the first minute or two of Movement I. If the pace of Movement I is too fast, the full impact of those icon four notes, followed by another four notes, is lost. It sounds like Morse Code, rather than the first eight notes of one of the world’s most instantly recognizable symphonies.
Plus, when the first movement is sped up, there’s nowhere for the rest of the symphony no go. It has to follow suit. Then it, too, gets rushed.
Thankfully, Maestro Jochum keeps things in check. Not too fast, not too slow.
This is an especially welcome breath of fresh air after yesterday’s horrendously bad performance by Bernard Haitink and the London Symphony Orchestra. Their rendition was so brisk that it was a full six minutes SLOWER in length than today’s from Maestro Jochum.
I like my Symphony 5 to play out slowly, to allow me to feel the ponderous nature of the first movement, and the gentle lull of the second. If the tempo is too quick, nothing sounds like it fits.
I enjoyed every moment of Jochum’s rendition of Beethoven’s Fifth, especially the exquisite, grand Third Movement (Scherzo) and its powerful segue into the boisterous fourth movement.
“Huzzah!”
Highly recommended!