Introduction
Beethoven's 4th symphony. Schumann called this piece "a slender Greek maiden between two Norse giants", of course referring the world changing Erocia and almost equally revolutionary 5th that sit either side. The 4th sits in the same group as the 1st, 2nd and 8th. Largely overlooked, and wrongly so. I can't for the life of me understand why, particularly in the case of the 4th. The 1st movement takes an awfully long time to actually start, and eventually drops in with a joyous melody. It's 3rd movement is the best of any Beethoven symphony (excluding the 9th). The symphony is far from a mere bench-warmer for the 5th.
Despite it being largely overlooked by the public (in the context of Beethoven's other hugely popular symphonies anyway), conductors seem to love it! I have no hard evidence, but in the past few years I have seen it on programs more than any other Beethoven symphony. I think this is due to the other more 'pop' Beethoven symphonies becoming rather tiresome and overplayed.
As with any work, some recordings criminally understate the importance and grandeur of this symphony, others overstate it. Below is a small compilation of my my favorite recordings of this symphony.
Carlos Kleiber - Bayerisches Staatorchester
Uncharacteristically of C. Kleiber, this recording starts of incredibly tame. Before the melody kicks in, Kleiber creates a bizarre world of random notes and mystery. Only ambiance, no music. Almost exactly like the start of Mahler's 1st symphony. Kleiber really gets this theme down to a tee. This stands the rest of the symphony in good stead. The main theme gets going in a rather fast tempo, more so than most recordings I have heard of this piece. Kleiber and the Bayerisches Staatorchester go for a very jolly, bouncy interpretation of this piece. It works really rather well. The following movements take a rather different path. The E-flat Major adagio in particular. Much more lyrical. The violin and wood sections sing, the tympani calm themselves. I really do find a better recording of the second movement unimaginable. The final two movements follow the lead of the first movement. Fast tempi, and an air of jollity. It is almost tempting to get up and dance, well it is for me anyway. I also cannot forget to mention, the very regal slant Kleiber puts on this symphony. He approaches it with equal respect to that of the other Beethoven symphonies. Generally, there is a huge dynamic range, almost excessive in some sections. However this does at least make the recording sound real, which means a lot when I am listening to it on a fifty pounds stereo in my bedroom in Yorkshire. This recording is perfectly balanced, joyous, dignified, and very beautiful in parts. Could we ever expect anything less from the greatest Beethoven conductor of the 20th century. It goes without saying that it does not match the weight of his 5th and 7th, but that doesn't take away from its merit. This is my benchmark recording.
George Szell - Cleveland Orchestra
No list of the greatest recordings of a Beethoven symphony would be complete without George Szell, the man who arguably put together one of the best Beethoven symphony cycles, overlooked by those who only know the conductors Karajan and
Bernstein. Right off the bat, the tempo is quite strikingly slower than Kleiber's. That formidable introduction is also much more melodic. The whole orchestra takes a much tamer path in this recording. This sometimes leads to the record sounding slightly flat and uninteresting. Without only comparing this interpretation to Kleiber's, the first movement is substantially less 'danceble'. It feels as though the movement it broken down into blocks of sound. I suppose what I am trying to say is that is feels less blatantly rhythmic. The second movement doesn't do much for me. Szell has an undesirable tendency to be anticlimactic almost as though the musicians are not capable, however maybe this has more to do with my sensationalist desires more than anything else. Don't be mislead though, this interpretation really has an extraordinary spirit running through it. In many ways, I'd suggest it is more beautiful and delicate than the above option. This recording is available in the box set seen to your left for eight pounds from HMV, you really should snap it up.
Kurt Masur - Gewandhausorchester Liepzig
This recording comes from my all time favorite Beethoven symphony cycle. Rather bizarre, I know. This isn't usually even mentioned on the various forums discussing the issue. After listening to this recording for the first time in a while, I felt overcome with joy. I'd spent the past few hours listening to different versions of the 4th symphony to compile this list, and this really shone out. It's almost like listening to a different symphony altogether. Everything just feels incredibly bright and confident, and one cannot forget, confidence is the single most important trait of a good performance of a Beethoven symphony. Beethoven doesn't whisper timidly or cry quietly, he shrieks and shouts as loud as he can. The said recording practices this. The climaxes are perfectly balanced and appropriately dramatic. In the first movement after the first few bars, the main theme breaks in in the the most gripping possible fashion. The remaining 3 movements calm down ever so slightly after that, but the general theme is still the same. The orchestra sounds imperfect in parts, but only when pursuing the utmost drama and expressiveness, and this actually makes the recording more compelling in my opinion. Almost like Horowitz's final recording of Chopin's 1 st Ballade at Carnegie Hall, the mistakes make it a masterpiece. Although C. Kleiber comfortably occupies the post of benchmark, this recording comes dam close.
On a side note, if you do find this box set, listen to the 8th symphony. It is sublime.
Herbert Von Karajan - Berlin Philharmic
One feels obliged to leave Karajan on this list. As with all Karajan, everything is deeply intense, all the time. Does this take away from its value? I think not, Karajan treats the symphony with all the respect and attention it deserves. I know if any of the ultra-serious people read this blog, they will not approve, but as with all Karajan, I find the string section to be the most heartrendingly beautiful in the business, and as I, I am sat on the edge of my seat thrilled by the intensity.
Don't be put off by what the snobs say, Karajan and Beethoven is a like Italy and Ferrari.
Beethoven's 4th symphony. Schumann called this piece "a slender Greek maiden between two Norse giants", of course referring the world changing Erocia and almost equally revolutionary 5th that sit either side. The 4th sits in the same group as the 1st, 2nd and 8th. Largely overlooked, and wrongly so. I can't for the life of me understand why, particularly in the case of the 4th. The 1st movement takes an awfully long time to actually start, and eventually drops in with a joyous melody. It's 3rd movement is the best of any Beethoven symphony (excluding the 9th). The symphony is far from a mere bench-warmer for the 5th.
Despite it being largely overlooked by the public (in the context of Beethoven's other hugely popular symphonies anyway), conductors seem to love it! I have no hard evidence, but in the past few years I have seen it on programs more than any other Beethoven symphony. I think this is due to the other more 'pop' Beethoven symphonies becoming rather tiresome and overplayed.
As with any work, some recordings criminally understate the importance and grandeur of this symphony, others overstate it. Below is a small compilation of my my favorite recordings of this symphony.
Carlos Kleiber - Bayerisches Staatorchester
George Szell - Cleveland Orchestra
Bernstein. Right off the bat, the tempo is quite strikingly slower than Kleiber's. That formidable introduction is also much more melodic. The whole orchestra takes a much tamer path in this recording. This sometimes leads to the record sounding slightly flat and uninteresting. Without only comparing this interpretation to Kleiber's, the first movement is substantially less 'danceble'. It feels as though the movement it broken down into blocks of sound. I suppose what I am trying to say is that is feels less blatantly rhythmic. The second movement doesn't do much for me. Szell has an undesirable tendency to be anticlimactic almost as though the musicians are not capable, however maybe this has more to do with my sensationalist desires more than anything else. Don't be mislead though, this interpretation really has an extraordinary spirit running through it. In many ways, I'd suggest it is more beautiful and delicate than the above option. This recording is available in the box set seen to your left for eight pounds from HMV, you really should snap it up.
Kurt Masur - Gewandhausorchester Liepzig
This recording comes from my all time favorite Beethoven symphony cycle. Rather bizarre, I know. This isn't usually even mentioned on the various forums discussing the issue. After listening to this recording for the first time in a while, I felt overcome with joy. I'd spent the past few hours listening to different versions of the 4th symphony to compile this list, and this really shone out. It's almost like listening to a different symphony altogether. Everything just feels incredibly bright and confident, and one cannot forget, confidence is the single most important trait of a good performance of a Beethoven symphony. Beethoven doesn't whisper timidly or cry quietly, he shrieks and shouts as loud as he can. The said recording practices this. The climaxes are perfectly balanced and appropriately dramatic. In the first movement after the first few bars, the main theme breaks in in the the most gripping possible fashion. The remaining 3 movements calm down ever so slightly after that, but the general theme is still the same. The orchestra sounds imperfect in parts, but only when pursuing the utmost drama and expressiveness, and this actually makes the recording more compelling in my opinion. Almost like Horowitz's final recording of Chopin's 1 st Ballade at Carnegie Hall, the mistakes make it a masterpiece. Although C. Kleiber comfortably occupies the post of benchmark, this recording comes dam close.
On a side note, if you do find this box set, listen to the 8th symphony. It is sublime.
Herbert Von Karajan - Berlin Philharmic
Don't be put off by what the snobs say, Karajan and Beethoven is a like Italy and Ferrari.
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