Beethoven - Symphony 4 [Bohm-Wiener Philharmoniker]
Now this is a disc i recently won on Ebay, a fair amount of money too as it was from Taiwan or Hong Kong, this is a Japanese issue, DG have a re-issue cycle called 'The Originals', with a slanted LP cover on the front, this is similar but no slanting, just a small logo in the bottom corner, but the booklets look incredible, from the original LP cover, the Japanese really know how to do some re-issues, i really enjoyed this programme, there's insights aplenty, discs like this offered on Ebay only come once in a very long while, if you miss out you might never see them again, i'm glad i got this.
Karl Bohm was an Austrian Conductor, born in 1894, and died in 1981, wow almost a hundred years, he's one of the famous 'old guard' of Conductors that elevated Classical music to new levels, recording extensively for DG, his interpretations have stood the test of time, however i'm a 'digital man', and on the whole i've avoided older recordings because of what i call 'analogue hiss', i can't stand mono recordings either, i must admit that these recordings are absolutely superb, this Symphony was recorded in 1972, i wish i could honour the photographer, as it's a truly superb shot of the Musikverein in Vienna, lovely glowing chandeliers, everything bathed in a golden light, and of course Bohm himself on the stand, i really love this front cover.
The Fourth Symphony is not one that i play all that often, or not often enough, but wow!, what a lovely experience today, it's a Symphony that is far better than i remember it, my favourite Beethoven Symphonies in order are 3, 5, 6, 9, 7, 4, 8, 2, 1, but maybe the Fourth is biting on the heels of the Seventh, it was the first movement that really got me, i have a soft spot for the second movement, it has such a touching tune, but the first movement has a real stature to it, it's in B Flat Major, a really nice key, Mozart's Gran Partita, Brahms's Piano Concerto 2, and Schubert's Symphony 5 and Piano Sonata 21 are all in this key, it starts off with a long 3 minute introduction, dark and ominous at times, quite a tease as at other times, you think it's going to explode, but it keeps going, i love the way that Bohm is able to let all the individual woodwinds speak clearly, the build up to that explosion is well paced, and when it goes it's a tremendous moment [2:56+], it casts the ominous shadows away, and here Bohm shows his way with the woodwind, with bassoon, oboe, then flute all in quick succession [3:53-4:03 & 6:13-6:23], the genius of Beethoven comes to the fore, the way he resolves all his knots! [4:20+], satisfying culminations to all his arguments, it's like a tremendous end to a film, Beethoven is a master of 'build up & release', i like the chugging / bubbling bassoon in the background [5:36-5:47], after a while you almost forget about analysing the whole thing, and just bask in its superb invention, there's so much going on, that to point it all out, you will be here forever, the trio of woodwinds comes in again [10:21-10:31], but this time with bassoon, clarinet, and oboe in succession, what a glorious experience it was getting to know this Symphony again, and already i feel that this disc is going to become a real treasure.
Here's Carlos Kleiber playing the first movement on YouTube, he's such a joy to watch, my favourite 'visual' Conductor.
