Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6.Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6. Bruno Weil, Tafelmusik. Analekta AN 2 9831. Beethoven wrote both his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies in 1808 and premiered them together at a concert that any music lover today would give his right arm to have attended. The concert also included a part of the Mass in C, a piano solo The piano is often used to provide harmonic accompaniment to a voice or other instrument. However, solo parts for the piano can be found in some musical styles. These can take the form of a section in which the piano is heard more prominently than other instruments, or in which the piano , the Choral Fantasy, and the Fourth Piano Concerto, with Beethoven himself at the keyboard for all of the piano work. The present disc does not contain all of that music, just the two symphonies, but I wonder why no enterprising record company hasn't thought of issuing a two-disc set that duplicates that famous occasion. Anyway, the Symphonies are played by the period-instruments' group Tafelmusik under the guidance of conductor Bruno Weil. I might have preferred the group's regular music director, Jeanne Lamon Jeanne Lamon, violinist and conductor, born in New York, USA, was raised in New York State, and began studying the violin at the age of seven. Later she attended Brandeis University in Boston where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree studying violin with Robert Koff, the original , but Weil is a fine conductor in any case. He does something with the "Pastoral" Symphony that most conductors don't manage: He directs a brisk, vigorous, ostensibly os·ten·si·ble adj. Represented or appearing as such; ostensive: His ostensible purpose was charity, but his real goal was popularity. "authentic" account without seeming rushed. By comparison, Norrington's groundbreaking period-instruments' rendition (EMI (ElectroMagnetic Interference) An electrical disturbance in a system due to natural phenomena, low-frequency waves from electromechanical devices or high-frequency waves (RFI) from chips and other electronic devices. Allowable limits are governed by the FCC. ) appears slightly hurried. Weil's Sixth moves along at a healthy clip, yet it seems relaxed; not leisurely, mind you, but tranquil, with the storm nicely rambunctious and the concluding Shepherd's Hymn appropriately joyous and consoling. By contrast, Weil's Fifth seems mundane. It, too, moves vigorously along, yet it feels as though it's proceeding too quickly to have much impact. The reading seems almost perfunctory by comparison to people like Kleiber (DG) and Reiner (RCA See RCA connector and video/TV history. ) on modern instruments and Norrington on period instruments In the historically informed performance movement, musicians perform European classical music using restored or replica versions of the instruments for which it was originally written. Often performances by such musicians are said to be "on authentic instruments". , who make much more of the fate motif and create much more of an impression throughout, especially at the end where the big climax shouts down all else. Analekta's sound may be described either as ultrasmooth or ultrasoft, depending upon how generous one wants to be. If your system is at all aggressive or bright, the sound will be ideal; if your system is at all subdued, it may sound mushy mush·y adj. mush·i·er, mush·i·est 1. Resembling mush in consistency; soft. 2. Informal a. Excessively sentimental. See Synonyms at sentimental. b. . There's nothing wrong with the stereo spread, tonal balance, or orchestral depth, however, all of which are excellent. |
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