My office this morning is my office this morning.
I’m sipping coffee from Bagel Beanery, munching on roasted almonds, listening to David Zinman (1936- ), Tonhalle Orchester Zurich, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor.
Today is the last time I hear to Beethoven’s Fifth in this 162-day project of mine.
Tomorrow, I return to the letter “A” (for Abbado) and begin listening to Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony.
But, today is Maestro Zinman and Beethoven’s Fifth.
I have encountered Maestro Zinman four times previous to this morning, on…
Day 18. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 36. Rating: Almost “Huzzah!”
Day 54. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 72. Rating: “Meh!”
So, to date, there are two “Meh!” ratings, one “Almost ‘Huzzah!'” rating, and one “Huzzah!” rating. A decidedly mixed bag.
What will today bring?
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 (Zinman, at age 61) and this particular orchestra (Tonhalle Orchster Zurich), at this particular time in history (March 25 & 26, 1997) on this particular record label (Arte Nova Classics – no web site or Wiki entry available) is as follows:
I. Allegro con brio (C minor)………………………………………………………6:49
II. Andante con moto (A♭ major)…………………………………………..8:45
III. Scherzo: Allegro (C minor)……………………………………………………7:19
IV. Allegro (C major)……………………………………………………………….10:25
Total running time: 33:18
My Rating:
Recording quality: 5 (sounds flawless, if a bit dry; could be the all-digital recording)
Overall musicianship: 5 (energetic, if a bit quick of tempo)
CD liner notes: 3 (a booklet in each CD jewel case; however, the information is a hodgepodge that lacks even running times for each track, as well as total running time for each symphony, plus the essays are technical and academic in nature)
How does this make me feel: 3
I don’t really have an opinion about this.
It doesn’t move me. It doesn’t repulse me.
It’s okay.
Just okay.
The tempo of the first movement is adequate. Not too fast, not too slow.
The meandering, slow second movement is okay.
The third movement, my favorite, is okay. (Actually, the best of the four in this performance.)
The fourth movement is okay.
Nothing stood out to me. No passage of brilliance and magic. No passages of failure and dislike.
Therefore…
The best I can do is rate this “Meh!”
Tomorrow: Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68, also known as the Pastoral Symphony,” according to its entry on Wikipedia.