Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein :: Beethoven: Symphony No. 4 & No. 5: "Egmont" Overture

My favorite Beethoven 5th recording!

William J. Finn | Sarasota Florida | 10/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can always come back to this recording and remember when I first heard it. It made an impression on my young soul at the time that can never be shaken. If you like your Beethoven 'hot' then you should look no further. It is impassioned, expresive and very well played. Now that I am older, I am just beginning to appreciate the very nice subtlety in this recording as well. This is the way I hear this music in my head. Lenny just made it easier.But be warned, this is a 1960's era recording - you are now in the 5th row.A very wonderful job of re-mastering I should add, this sounds better than ever on the new CD."

Master at Work

Chris Stober | Philidelphia, Pennsylvania USA | 03/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Leonard Bernstein was arguably the greatest musician alive in the twentieth century. His reign was the golden age of the New York Philharmonic whith innovation and artistry that made every performance a historical event. I personally would have given any number of important body parts to see this genius in front of one of the greatest orchestras that there ever was. Unfortunatly that is no longer possible. This recording and others in the series offer an excellent opportunity for those of us who couldn't see it live to experience a part of the magic that was Leonard Bernstein. Crystal clear recordings of intense energy allow the listener to truly realize the power that Berstein realized in Beethoven. The Fifth Symphony, one the best known and most influential symphonies ever, has an inherent energy and artistry in it that is so powerful that, when combined with the artistry and devotion given by Berstein, you have let it assault your soul. In short, If you always say to yourself "I should listen to more Beethoven," but never actually do, I would strongly recomend you give this one a try."

A dissapointment

M. Huang | Orange County , CA USA | 08/07/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"You would think a legendary conductor like Leonard Bernstein conducting a monumental work like Beethoven's 5th Symphony is a great combination. Unfortuantely it wasn't. Bernstein's tempo for the first movement is way too slow, the playing of the New York Philharmonic is somewhat relaxed. He does a better job in the inner movements. The second movement is majestic,and serene.The transition from the scherzo to the finale is really inspiring. But he chooses to take the repeat in the finale. Maybe its because I'm not used to it but that repeat makes the movement too long and takes some of the excitment form it."