While Season Four Episode Four (“Guardian Angels” – which, coincidentally, aired nearly 11 years ago today) of the TV series House plays in the background, and our cat languishes in the middle rung of his “cat tower,” I’m listening to German conductor Eugen Jochum (1902-1987), the London Symphony Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major.
I have encountered Maestro Jochum five times previous to this evening, 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!”
Nearly five “Huzzah!” ratings. Remarkable.
Will today follow suit?
I will soon know.
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 (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 ma non troppo………………………………………..11:05
“Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country”
II. Andante molto mosso………………………………………..12:39
“Scene by the brook”
III. Allegro…………………………………………………………………6:01
“Merry gathering of country folk”
IV. Allegro…………………………………………………………………..4:03
“Thunderstorm”
V. Allegretto……………………………………………………………..9:38
“Shepherd’s song: Happy and thankful feelings after the storm”
Total running time: 43:26
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 (energetic, inspired, magical, lyrical)
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!”)
The more I hear Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 in F major, the more I love it.
But now, each time I listen to a new performance, I’m listening for three things:
1. A very lush, dynamic recording,
2. Break-out performances in my three favorite areas: the end of Movement I, the middle of Movement II, and Movement III,
3. Energy and passion,
I want to be awed by a performance. I want certain passages to nearly move me to tears. If Beethoven cannot achieve that, then I’m listening to the wrong conductor and orchestra.
For this is truly an achingly lyrical, gorgeous symphony. There are so many solos that are short on duration but eternally long on poignancy that I’m amazed.
For example, the flute-and-oboe “duet” in the middle of Movement II (5:28-5:55).
And that absolutely gorgeous melody in Movement I (9:24-9:40). That short passage is one of the most moving pieces of music I’ve ever heard. And there it is placed toward the end of a movement that doesn’t seem to lend itself to such hidden beauty. Its like a discovered a pearl.
I knew Maestro Jochum’s performance was going to be another “Huzzah!” from the first few seconds of Movement I.
This recording is lush and grand and dynamic. It has depth and breadth. It must have suffered from a lot of tape hiss, though, because there’s a good bit of top end missing. The instruments sound just a touch muffled.
Overall, this is an amazing performance. It’s FM-radio worthy. This is the kind of thing you’d hear on a Classical radio station, introduced by one of those carefully modulated voices.
“Huzzah!”
Tomorrow: Day 100!