Search - Beethoven, Schmidt-Isserstedt, Szell :: Symphony 3 " Eroica "

Szell's last record, mated with a great Eroica

William L. Chin | Upland CA USA | 10/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have used the LP of the Egmont music for years as a reference test disc for evaluation of audio systems (musicality, power especially in low end, reproduction of voices spoken and soprano). It is George Szell's last official studio record, made in the dead of winter with the VPO, not his own Cleveland Orchestra. It stands as a monument to their collaboration for many years. The Eroica is similarly excellent in performance, concept and recorded sound. Although Schmidt-Isserstedt is a lesser known conductor, just about everything he has done in this genre is good to excellent. The symphony is played pretty fast, the Funeral March is dark and foreboding and the playing is wonderful. Highly recommended especially at the budget reissue price."