Search - Felix [1] Mendelssohn, George Szell, Cleveland Orchestra :: Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4; Midsummer Night's Dream; Hebrides [SACD]

Desert-Island Szell

boldsworthington | Washington, DC, United States | 04/13/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For 30 years -- from LP to CD to SACD -- this has been my touchstone "Italian" Symphony performance. In all that time, no other performance has come even close to displacing it in my esteem. Szell and Cleveland magically capture the unique quicksilver essence of Mendelssohn's soul to produce moments (like the first-movement coda) of such transcendental perfection that I choke up every time over the sheer glory of it all. (Who ever declared Mendelssohn an emotional "lightweight"? Stravinsky certainly knew better!) This symphony is one of music's few perfect pinnacles -- and this is the recording that best lets us hear why Felix's masterwork remains imperishably fresh. The splendid fillers fare equally fine.The SACD transfer does not pump quite as much "air" into the acoustic as I had hoped for, but this is still by far the best of the performance's many incarnations, with noticeably softer and more natural sonic edges that do not dull the stunning razor-sharp Szell/Cleveland attacks (and releases!) one bit. In whatever format you go for, these performances will delight you to the end of your days."

Tour de force

03/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I originally purchased Szell recording of Mendelssohn's 4th and Hebrides Ov when they first came out on CD. I was impressed then.
With my recent purchase of SACD version, I am absolutely astounded. Where to begin? The audio quality of the SACD remastering is second to none. As others have complained, the original CD versions of the Sony series suffered mightily from artificially amplified midrange. Not here: Szell's interpretation is unmatched in transparency from any concert or recording I have heard.
The Cleveland Orchestra defies belief in the Italian symphony. Uniformity and transparency bring out a logical lyricism that is lost in other recordings. In ways that would become more evident in French music later, Mendelssohn builds not only on sound, but also on color and rhythmic structure: in the opening movement, this is evident in the countermelody. In the next three movements, Szell evokes an almost Beethoven-like quality from the symphony, reminiscent of Beethoven's sixth and seventh symphonies.
The Saltarello flies by. The virtuousity of the Cleveland strings is immediately and impressively evident, particularly in the immaculately captured sound of the cello and bass sections, though I only single them out for the fact that on CD (as opposed to this SACD version) they come across as a confused, low droning noise.
Easily reason enough to buy the disc, the Italian symphony is both fresh in its new form and thoroughly satisfying, listening after listening (and I have only had the new copy for a week!).Previously, I have been detached from the Midsummer Night's Dream incidental music. I am unsure why, but it just was never my cup of tea. The Szell version on this disc is really getting me to appreciate this work like I never have. Affable and approachable, to my ear, it sounds as expertly executed and cogent as any other work on the disc.The Hebrides Overture may be my favorite overture. This recording will not dissappoint for many of the reasons I have already listed, orchestral balance and execution being prime among them. Szell's interpretation is natural, lucid, and conveys the might of the work in very entertaining fashion. Other points: If you are into classical music to be an audiophile, you will not like that this is a stereo (not 5.1) recording. You will not like the barely audible tape hiss (just barely audible). To my ear, neither is a true distraction from the wonderful music making on this disc.
If you are an audiophile for your classical music, this disc is one that you should have in your collection."