Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra :: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 8

Vintage Szell/Beethoven

Jeffrey Lee | Asheville area, NC USA | 01/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Little or nothing stands in the way of this sweeping account of Beethoven's Third ("Eroica") Symphony, though some might feel that in certain places during the first movement Szell is excessively driven. Some of the chords seem to be expressed with near vehemence, nevertheless, it is hard to deny that there is some measure of satisfaction with the kind of power and excitement generated by Szell, who appears to be in top form. In the ensuing funeral march that same feeling of power is wedded to an intense level of tragic and majestic expression. As in the first movement, horns assume a dominant role. At times, it seems, a kind of muted tension is present. Though different in some ways from Bohm's characterization, Szell's ceremony is nonetheless still very convincing. It displays high drama. Bohm's places greater emphasis on the sorrow of the occasion. When it comes to the scherzo, Szell has it hands down over Bohm, who just doesn't offer the former's intensity and tautness. Moreover, the Cleveland horns, once more, are commanding. Szell's forceful style advances straight to the final movement, where , for the most part, I favor Bohm's less driven and, I feel, more melodious rendition. But OH those Cleveland horns ! In the last movement, as the final sections approach, Szell uses them to impart an awesome sense of stature. The close is blazing, and the final chord is quickly bitten off. Interpretively, I prefer the sound of the more well rounded yet still emphatic final chord. In sum, though different in character from the Bohm/Vienna Philharmonic "Eroica" (see my review), I still consider the Szell/Cleveland to be among the best Beethoven Thirds.



In the Eighth, Szell again offers a concise reading, but though very well played, I find his view of this work a little too cut-and-dried. It won't do for repeated listening. By contrast, Bruno Walter's first two movements are more fluid and musical, but his third movement gets a little too "chummy" for me, and his third and fourth are a little too soft. My current choice in this symphony is the 1962 Karajan. When called for, he is able to combine the tautness and drive of Szell with the musicality of Walter. At times, his presentation seems a bit larger than life, but it has a sense of sweep that is attractive. Noteworthy also is the relaxed elegance Karajan brings to the third movement menuetto."

High Mark in the Szell cycle...!!!

David Lee | Canada | 10/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You just don't get any better in this music than what is recreated in these 60s sessions. The 8th is quite relaxed with super phrasing. The opening of the 8 is the finest on disc and a touch slower which gives the music a bit more breathe and fullness..



I find the 3rd to be one of the most intense...very clean winds and super playing throughout all sections...the recording isn't great but the performance is among the very best ever done...who can complain when the orchestra is this fine!!!"

My Desert Island Eroica

Music Lover | United States | 02/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While a nice little symphony, you don't typically hear heated debates about what the best version of the 8th is. However, if you flip through the relevant pages of this website, you will see reviews where people line up in favor of their favorite version of the magnificent 3rd, known as the "Eroica" symphony. I have heard many wonderful versions of Eroica, but this is my desert island Eroica. The wonderful range of colors, the precision of the orchestra, the control and vision of the conductor transform Eroica from a symphony into an experience. Don't believe me? Listen to the first movement about 6 minutes into the track. The staccato chords getting progressively quieter has never been played more precisely and perfectly than on this CD. It sounds like the distant echo of a war call. That's just one example of the beauty of this performance. And even if you already own 10 other versions of Eroica, the disc is so cheap that there is no reason not to own this one. I wholeheartedly recommend this CD to anyone who loves Beethoven."