Search - Malcolm Arnold, Gustav Mahler, Ludwig van Beethoven :: The Post-War Revival: Eduard Van Beinum conducts Arnold, Mahler, Beethoven, Brahms, Elgar

A varied program from van Beinum, but too much is average

Santa Fe Listener | Santa Fe, NM USA | 02/20/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is taken from a four-disc box set commemroating the London Phil. on its 75th anniversary. As such, it fits better into a historical survey than as a stand-alone program. Eduard van Beinum was already the principal conductor of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam when he took over the LPO in 1949 after several seasons of guest condcuting. Personally and musically he was easy-going, approachable, and uncharismatic. What works in personal relations doesn't always work in performance, and I've found van Beinum competent but uninspried every time I've encountered his reordings. Ill health forced the conductor's resignaiton in 1950, but he made nearly a dozen recordings with the orchestra for major labels.



Strangely, the notes don't provide recording dates for these mostly admirable, always middle-of-the road recordings. They do mention that Mahler's Lieder eines frahrenden Gesellen were recorded in 1946 with the Ukrainian mezzo Eugeni Zareska. Although van Beinum conducts proficienlty, Zareska cannot pronounce German -- her pronunciation is garbled and at times indecipherable -- and her pleasant voice has occasional technical problems; she also has no interpretation to speak of.



Van Beinum's account of Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 1, a raity for that era, has muffled sound and in any case is no more than medium-good. The same can be said, although the sound is improved, for his straightforward run-thourgh of the Brahms Haydn Vairations. Although Dutch, van Beinum was dedicated to performing British music, and the two best things here are by Edward Elgar -- a suite from his early The Wand of Youth -- and Malcolm Arnold -- a witty if hardly inspired comic overture entitled, inexplicably, Beckus the Dandipratt (the notes tell us nothing about the title). Arnold was first trumpet in the orchestra at the time. Both recordings are in good sound and reveal more energy and brightness than the rest of the program.



In all, this CD works well in the context of the LPO's history, but only the Arnold and Elgar are really memorable."