Just for something different, I decided to start my blog this evening with Andria Hoy, archivist for the Cleveland Orchestra, telling us about George Szell.
I have no idea why.
But it’s likely because I love complete box sets of a conductor’s or composer’s works.
Plus, Andria recommended two Beethoven performances with Leon Fleisher that I’ll want to track down: the 1958 and 1959 Beethoven concertos, both of which she speaks highly.
I’m listening to Hungarian conductor George Szell (1897-1970), the Cleveland Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major.
I’ve encountered Maestro Szell five times previously, on…
Day 16. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 34. Rating: “Meh!”
Day 53. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 70. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 88. Rating: “Meh!”
That’s not a spotless record by any means. But I’m eager to hear Szell’s performance of Beethoven’s Sixth.
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 6 in F major), from this particular conductor (Szell, at age 65) and this particular orchestra (The Cleveland Orchestra), at this particular time in history (January 20-21, 1962) on this particular record label (Sony Classical) is as follows:
I. Allegro ma non troppo………………………………………..9:58
“Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country”
II. Andante molto mosso………………………………………..11:56
“Scene by the brook”
III. Allegro…………………………………………………………………5:35
“Merry gathering of country folk”
IV. Allegro…………………………………………………………………..3:47
“Thunderstorm”
V. Allegretto……………………………………………………………..10:18
“Shepherd’s song: Happy and thankful feelings after the storm”
Total running time: 40:14
My Rating:
Recording quality: 4 (noticeable tape hiss – still, not bad for a recording that’s 56 years old – rich, lush recording, lots of top end)
Overall musicianship: 5 (lyrical, compelling, dynamic, energetic, inspired)
CD liner notes: 0 (none; boo! hiss!)
How does this make me feel: 4 (“Huzzah!”)
I knew I’d like this from the first minute or two. I can always tell how something feels, and I can always hear how it’s recorded. If the sound is big, well rounded (I usually use the word “lush”), I know it’ll be a dynamic recording. By that, I mean the orchestra will be able to play soft and gentle, and loud and vibrant. The whole range of sound and emotion will be present in the recording.
Where that applies for me in Beethoven’s Sixth is in Movement I, my favorite melody. In this recording, it’s found at 8:28 to 8:41. Szell’s rendition lets that beautiful melody ring out.
Movement II was lyrical. Very sweetly played. Not slow. Not boring. But sweet. I was moved and compelled to keep listening. That takes some doing for me. Andantes are rarely my favorite movements.
Another place a well-recording performance of Beethoven’s Sixth will be obvious is in Movement III (“Merry gathering of country folk”). If the performance is lively, even somewhat “reckless,” and I can feel the “merry gathering,” I know it’s good. There’s nothing worse than a “Merry gathering of country folk” with all the energy of a table of senior citizens playing canasta. Simon Rattle’s rendition felt that way to me. Maestro Szell’s rendition actually felt merry.
Movement IV (“Thunderstorm”) had some oomph to it. It felt like a thunderstorm.
Movement V was a very nice closer for this performance. It felt just so. (As in Rudyard Kipling’s Just So stories.) It felt right, especially the last minute or so.
This is a very fine recording of a wonderful performance. It reaches all the high notes, pushes all my buttons.
“Huzzah!”
Someone uploaded the entire performance to which I listened tonight. Keep in mind, YouTube compresses large music files. The end result is a less-than-ideal listening experience.
Be that as it may, here’s what I heard.
Enjoy!