Week 18 Nos. 11-15
So. Much. Choice. I think I have broken some kind of record for the number of recommendations here with three per piece, but there are just so many great recordings to choose from. And I expect it will only get harder over the last couple of weeks. So, apologies Ben, I hope my brief notes will help you navigate to the ones that are right for you.
11. Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major (Heroic Symphony), Op. 55
741 Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony 1804 Play
Of the many Eroicas I grew up with Pierre Monteux’s 1957 reading with the VPO and Otto Klemperer’s 1959 Abbey Road recording with the Philharmonia remain my favourites. For a great HIP version give Roger Norrington and his London Classical Players a spin.
VPO, Monteux “Beethoven: Symphony No.3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55 ‘Eroica’; Schubert: Rosamunde, Op.26 D.797 (Excerpts)” 2021, 16/44.1
Philharmonia Orchestra, Klemperer “Beethoven: Symphony No.3 ‘Eroica’, Overtures: ‘Leonore’ Nos.1 & 2” 2005, 24/192
London Classical Players, Norrington “Beethoven: Symphonies & Concertos” 2011, 16/44.1
12. Symphony No. 6 in B Minor (Pathétique), Op. 74
825 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony 1893 Play
The stand-out from my childhood was Karajan’s first account (of six!) with the BPO from 1964 and this is the reference against I will judge all comers. Looking at more recent performances I have been a fan of the Pletnev/RNO recording since its release (see also here), but when researching this post I came across this 2017 recording by Kirill Petrenko with the BPO which I also love. Fascinating to compare with the same orchestra under Karajan from 50 years earlier.
Berliner Philharmoniker, Karajan “Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos.4, 5 & 6” 1997, 16/44.1
Russian National Orchestra, Pletnev “Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 ‘Pathétique’ - Marche Slave - The Seasons, Op.21 - The Sleeping Beauty” 1991, 16/44.1
Berliner Philharmoniker, Petrenko “Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 ‘Pathétique’ (Multi-Channel Version)” 2019, 24/96
300 Giuseppe Verdi Opera 1885 Play
My long-term reference is Tullio Serafin’s recording with the Rome Opera from 1960. Listening again now I can hear that the RCA Living Stereo recording is not the last word in SQ (even after the 2022 remastering) but the principals, Jon Vickers as Otello and Leonie Rysanek as Desdemona are absolutely excellent. No such problem with Myung-Whun Chung’s 1993 studio recording with the Opera Bastille, and Placido Domingo and Cheryl Studer are every bit as excellent as you would expect.
Rome Opera, Serafin “Verdi: Otello by Tullio Serafin (Remastered 2022)” 2022, 24/96
L’Opéra Bastille, Chung “Verdi: Otello” 1994, 16/44.1
14. Piano Sonata No. 23 in F Minor (Appassionata), Op. 57
977 Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Sonata 1805 Play
Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas are absolute cornerstones of the classical repertory and have been tackled by just about every pianist of note from the last 200 years. A special mention has to go to Artur Schnabel’s landmark mono set (recorded between 1932-1938) which can probably be considered as “definitive” as any recording of anything. For a classic stereo set my vote goes for Stephen Bishop Kovacevich with, as Gramphone’s reveiwer put it “playing that teeters on the edge of sanity, roars with ferocious power and frequently moves the listener to tears”. For a HIP performance on pianoforte I also love Paul Lewis’s set, beautiful playing throughout.
Schnabel “Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas (2016 Remaster)” 2016, 16/44.1
Kovacevich “Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas” 2003, 16/44.1
Lewis “Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Vol.3” 2007, 16/44.1
15. The Marriage of Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro), K. 492
851 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Opera 1786 Play
Erich Kleiber (1955) and Karl Böhm (1968) are my long-term favourites here. But that all changed when I discovered HIP. Now I find these are the only ones I reach for, my favourites being John Eliot Gardiner and René Jacobs.
VPO, Erich Kleiber “Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro” 1955, 24/96
Berlin Deutsche Oper Orchestra, Böhm “Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro” 1996, 24/192
English Baroque Soloists, Gardiner “Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro” 1994, 16/44.1
Concerto Köln, Jacobs “Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro” 16/44.1
