My listening post this morning is with the classic 1954 holiday movie White Christmas (the first movie filmed in VistaVision) in the background, this year’s Christmas tree (as yet undecorated) on my right, a fresh sliced avocado on the table beside me on my right, a cup of fresh-brewed coffee on my left, and German conductor Eugen Jochum (1902-1987), the London Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F major front and center.
So, while I sip my badly brewed coffee (is there any way to brew coffee at home that tastes good?), I’m watching my wife decorate the Christmas tree.
And I’m listening to Maestro Jochum.
I’ve listened to Maestro Jochum seven 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!”
Day 81. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 99. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Day 117. Rating: “Huzzah!”
Except for that weird, early-in-the-game rating for Day 27, that’s nearly seven “Huzzah!” ratings.
Given that, I can pretty much guess what today’s rating will be.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?
Beethoven wrote his symphonies in four parts (except for the Sixth, which is in five). The time breakdown of this particular one (Symphony No. 8 in F major), from this particular conductor (Jochum, at age 76) and this particular orchestra (London Symphony Orchestra), at this particular time in history (October 13, 1978) on this particular record label (Warner Classics) is as follows:
I. Allegro vivace e con brio…………………………………..9:50
II. Allegretto scherzando…………………………………….4:21
III. Tempo di menuetto……………………………………….5:27
IV. Allegro vivace………………………………………………….7:41
Total running time: 26:39
My Rating:
Recording quality: 4 (minor tape hiss and ambient noises’ seems to lack a bit of top end)
Overall musicianship: 5 (muscular, playful, full-bodied)
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 (“Huzzah!”)
I don’t know what it is about Eugen Jochum. But he – like Leonard Bernstein – seems to have a knack for making an orchestra come alive.
I can tell from the first minute of the first movement if a recording is for me, if it’ll hold my attention and both amaze and engage me.
This recording is no exception.
From that first burst one or two seconds in until that delightful, hum-able melody ceases at the :40 mark (give or take), I was drawn in by the big lush sound.
Movement I is chock-full of a memorable melody and lots of dynamics. It’s a great way to open a great symphony.
Movement II is a playful little romp that seems so lightweight and, yet, is anything but. It’s fun, sure. But it’s perfectly and exactingly constructed. Maestro Jochum and the London Symphony Orchestra treat it with respect whilst having fun with it.
Movement III (“Tempo di menuetto”) features a wonderful French horn somewhere near the middle. I love French horn.
Movement IV (“Allegro vivace”) is the only movement here that disappoints. Well, maybe that’s too strong a word. It’s dynamic and powerful, yes. And it seems energetic throughout. But it wasn’t holding my attention like, say, Movement I or even Movement III.
Overall, this is a tremendous performance of Beethoven’s Eighth. The orchestra is properly energized, and the leadership is both nimble and reverent.
“Huzzah!”