Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Fritz Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra :: Symphonies 1 & 6

Very good Pastoral, but sound could be better

M. A. Scott | Kansas, USA | 09/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very enjoyable performance of Beethoven's pastoral symphony. The second movement "scene by the brook", is played a tad too slow, but that's a minor quibble. Also, the fifth movement "joyous thanksgiving after the storm", goes by very quick at just 9:00, but you don't notice it that much. I'm giving this a ****1/2 and not a ***** because the sound is kind of diffuse and without focus and clarity. I'm sure if Decca would have recorded this they would have done a lot better than RCA. They always had great sound engineering going back to the late 40's. This isn't too bad for being recorded way back in 1961.

I really like this version of Symphony no.1 also. I have some better versions of this symphony, but I'm sure none of you will be disappointed by this fine version. I think this coupling might be due another remastering if it hasn't been done already. I would definitely recommend this recording."