Search - Knappertsbusch, Berlin Philharmonic :: Knappertsbusch & the Berlin Philharmonic

Generally good

Jeffrey Lee | Asheville area, NC USA | 07/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There are really no markedly high or low points in terms of my satisfaction with these performances. My favorite account among the major works here is the Symphony No. 94 ("Surprise"). As one would expect from Knappertsbusch this is not sharp-edged or driven Haydn. It is relatively soft in outline and easy in its flow, which helps to yield a nice, musical quality to rhythms and tunes. Nor does Knappertsbusch lose touch with the composer's humorous side...The Beethoven "Eroica" is not given a towering or particularly incisive reading. Additionally, the funeral march is shy on tragic depth, however Knappertsbusch's view is unhurried, balanced and melodious. For more interesting detail I prefer Bohm/Vienna and for more urgency and drive, Szell/Cleveland...In the Brahms Third the first movement is rather lethargic, while the final movement proceeds at a normal pace, though the twilight sound of the shimmering strings at the close is not effectively characterized. The two inner movements are nicely and lyrically expressed...Among the lesser works, Weber's Invitation to the Dance, Komzak's Waltz, Bad'ner Mad'In, and Pfitzner's Prelude to Act One of his opera, Palestrina are all given musically sensitive accounts. Overall, Liszt's Les Preludes is probably the weakest in interpretation. Though it has its pleasant moments, Knappertsbusch just doesn't give it the excitement and imposing character it calls for. These performances were all taken from Electrola 78s recordings, 1941-42. To my ears, the sound quality is fairly good."