Beethoven: Symphonies no 5 & 7

Wiener Philharmoniker
Conductor: Carlos Kleiber
Label: Deutche Grammophone

Philharmonia Orchestra
Conductor: Benjamin Zander
Label: Telarc Digital

Beethoven's Fifth symphony is of no question THE warhorse of classical music. The market is bombarded with many of these recordings, I find it amazing if any conductor would've dare to record it again. That is because you'll have to be formidable to penetrate the elite interpreters of this work: historical interpreters such as Weingartner, Furtwanger, Klemperer, then masters such as Toscanini, Szell, Karajan and HIP (Historical Performance) interpreters Gardiner and Norrington. Even the latter had started to get congested in lists of recommendations, etc. No wonder for the 21st century, conductors have chosen Mahler symphonies as their next warhorses. You have something more to say about Beethoven's Fifth?! Better invest your time elsewhere, because I don't give a flying hoot about the Fifth when it's performed at my own backyard even if you give me free tickets.

Carlos Kleiber's recording tops the recommendation for this warhorse. Even if there are still subjective debates on whether it is the best or not, I am sure you wouldn't object his record to be introduced to anyone who is interested in owning his first record of Beethoven's Fifth. Son of another conducting legend, Erich Kleiber he was remembered for his elusiveness and pickiness when it comes to conducting. You can count yourself among the very elite if you witnessed him live. His appearance was so sparse, managers would've given him the world for him to lift up the baton (he requested a customed Audi for one of his last performances). But he was no sham and almost all of his recordings attained legendary status in a way he is compared with Victor De Sabata and short-lived disciple of Toscanini, Guido Catelli.

Carlos Kleiber's choice of tempos vary only slightly from the composer's controversial metronome markings. The Allegro con Brio for example, as Benjamin Zander noted, is merely eight points slower. There is a sense of momentum without being too hard-pressed or aggressive and the music speaks of nobility and epic drama almost without excess (the only excess is Carlos failing to ignore the dubious "Fate knocking the door" trend by lingering the last note of the famous da-da-da-duuuuummm). The highlight of this performance is surely the Finale, listen to the transition from Scherzo and notice how the maestro controls the crescendo - very few could make it right because either the orchestra climaxed too early, too sudden or the electricity snizzles off by the time the brass fanfare is played. Here the sensation is almost orgasmic, you should hear the Vienna brasses roar here.

Benjamin Zander's Philharmonia recording had been acclaimed for breaking the trend of the symphonies' treatment since Furtwangler's time (not really). In a way, the opening motifs of Allegro Con Brio is played refreshingly without the lingering knock of Fate. Here, you will hear "da-da-da-duuum, da-da-da-duuum" instead of "da-da-da-duuuuuuuuuuumm" etc to infinity. Coupled with Zander's observation towards Beethoven's metronome marking (crochet - 108), the movement is unrelenting in it's menacing drive. Unfortunately, the recording quality is opaque and the Finale is so devoid of depth and strength it will put you to sleep. What a waste, since the string interlude at Scherzo was more menacing than the VPO directed by Carlos and the piccolo arpeggio before the coda was brilliant in a way every note was articulated instead of slurred away.

How about the Seventh? The Zander here is more consistent than Kleiber in his approach to the score, but obviously maestro Carlos/VPO beat Zander/Philharmonia by miles. You can forgive him for rushing the persistent dotted figure for the first movement because his is packed with much vibrant bouyancy and fire. Listen to his Finale, where there is as much wicked playing as the finale of Fifth.

In the end, I think these two recordings are a must grab? Why? The Carlos/VPO recording is a legendary one at a budget price and the Zander comes with a free bonus discussion. The Zander talk about the Beethoven is illuminating, but Gardiner's HIP practice have predated before Zander. Still I can assure you the lecture disc is beneficial to eager classical listeners out there. You might want to discover David Zinman's latest hyped Beethoven cycle on Arte Nova for find what the fuss is it all about (thw writer will grab it in some time). Just ignore all the comments about Karajan, Toscanini, Szell, Abbado etc Fifth for some time and grab Kleiber's(Carlos) recording FIRST.

C.Kleiber/VPO

Technical: 10
Interpretation: 9
Recording: 8

Zander/Philharmonia

Technical: 7
Interpretation: 9
Recording: 6