Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Felix Weingartner, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra :: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2; Fidelio Overture; Leonore Overture No. 2

A GREAT BEGINNING TO A GREAT CYCLE

Ralph J. Steinberg | New York, NY United States | 08/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Weingartner was the first to record all Nine Symphonies, and his cycle has never been surpassed. The First Symphony is lovingly and virily conducted, and the Second truly has the quality of "fresh youthfulness" that Weingartner mentioned in his essay on this particular work. The Overtures are likewise wonderfully done, my favorite being the "Leonore No. 2." Transfers are of high quality, although not much can be done about the rather cramped acoustic of Symphony No. 2. Still, I don't know that many performances of this Symphony that can equal this one.

Weingartner has the uncanny ability to maintain the structural integrity of these works while being VERY flexible and wholly spontaneous tempi. His Beethoven is a must for all music lovers.

However, I would suggest the Opus Kura transfer for the First Symphony and the other Vienna Philharmonic performances, as they are even superior to the Naxos in quality."