Beethoven: Symphonies no 5 and 7 / Ashkenazy (Penguin Music Classics Series)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Recorded in the early '80s, this pairing of Beethoven's Symphony Nos. 5 and 7 is a classic. Vladimir Ashkenazy leads the Philharmonia Orchestra through these Beethoven classics in a powerful, if slightly conservative, manner. As part of the Penguin Music Classics collection, this disc features liner notes by author Arthur Miller. Miller's story is particularly striking and descriptive of Beethoven's prowess. He describes the rising tension during the pre-show hours of the debut night of Death of a Salesman in 1949, where actor Lee J. Cobb (playing Willie) was quickly letting fear get the best of him. For a distraction, the pair went to hear to hear Beethoven--the Seventh Symphony--played across the street at a concert hall. It was there, listening to the dramatic, yet bridled, near-climaxes of the Symphony, that Cobb and Miller found their inspiration for the night's performance. Listening to the Philharmonia Orchestra, it's easy to understand Miller's sentiment. The piece is driven by tension, right until the moving climax at the end, just like a good play. --Jason Verlinde

Tracks:

Allegro Con Brio
Andanta Con Brio
Allegro
Allegro
Poco Sostenuto - Vivace
Allegretto
Presto
Allegro Con Brio

Beethoven: Symphonies no 5 and 7 / Ashkenazy (Penguin Music Classics Series)

Average customer rating:

I agree
One of the best reditions I've hear
Ashkenazy's vision of Beethoven's 5th and 7th symphonies
wow, I'm confused...

Beethoven: Symphonies no 5 and 7 / Ashkenazy (Penguin Music Classics Series)
Arthur Miller
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B00000AFQL
Release Date: 1998-09-29

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: II. Andante con moto
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: III. Allegro
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: IV. Allegro
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: I. Poco sostenuto -- Vivace
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: II. Allegretto
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: III. Presto
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: IV. Allegro con brio

Amazon.com

Recorded in the early '80s, this pairing of Beethoven's Symphony Nos. 5 and 7 is a classic. Vladimir Ashkenazy leads the Philharmonia Orchestra through these Beethoven classics in a powerful, if slightly conservative, manner. As part of the Penguin Music Classics collection, this disc features liner notes by author Arthur Miller. Miller's story is particularly striking and descriptive of Beethoven's prowess. He describes the rising tension during the pre-show hours of the debut night of Death of a Salesman in 1949, where actor Lee J. Cobb (playing Willie) was quickly letting fear get the best of him. For a distraction, the pair went to hear to hear Beethoven--the Seventh Symphony--played across the street at a concert hall. It was there, listening to the dramatic, yet bridled, near-climaxes of the Symphony, that Cobb and Miller found their inspiration for the night's performance. Listening to the Philharmonia Orchestra, it's easy to understand Miller's sentiment. The piece is driven by tension, right until the moving climax at the end, just like a good play. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

I agree.......2004-01-12

Some push the music too much, some too little and it drags. Ashkenazy keeps it moving perfectly and perfectly balanced. I hear details which get lost in other famous conductor's conducting. I think famous conductors sometimes make it crash and bang just to "sound" exciting. But Ashkenazy is perfect - you hear many details like never before. Top recommendation.

One of the best reditions I've hear.......2001-08-07

This is most certainly one of the best reditions I've ever heard, and as far as the Fifth Symphony is concerned, I've hear quite a few. In many recordings of these two symphonies, the tempos either rush the music too much, or are two slow and make it drag. This, to me, results in the orchestra sounding like it's "pushing" the tempo or at least like they want to. I found that this recording of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony to be just the right speed to keep the music moving with all the vigor that the orchestra could put out-- being quite a lot in this case. The Seventh Symphony is just as powerful in its own more pastoral way. Ashkenazy takes the bold Beethovien themes and creates full sound that only an orchestra with the technical ability of Philharmonia can do. Since hearing this CD, one of my first, I have measured all other's to it. While it may not be the most definitive preformance, it is still definately worth hearing. I would recomend this CD to anyone that wants to hear a truely recording that is probably quite under-rated. Keep in mind that it is older, recorded in 1982 for the Fifth and 1984 for the seventh, but the age doesn't detract from the power of the music in any way. This is a must-have for any veteran Beethoven lover or someone just begining their classical music collection. It certainly worked out as a great place to start for me!

Ashkenazy's vision of Beethoven's 5th and 7th symphonies.......2001-05-18

Vladimir Ashkenazy's conservative view of Beethoven's 5th and 7th symphonies remains valid when fresh insights from Jonathan del Mar's edited scores are increasingly in vogue. While this fine coupling won't supplant classic recordings by Carlos Kleiber, and Leonard Bernstein with the Vienna Philharmonic, it is still one worth hearing. The Philharmonia Orchestra's level of playing is as fine as the Vienna Philharmonic's; both symphonies are played with much warmth as well as technical precision. Ashkenazy's tempi are slow, giving him time to wring out as much lyrical phrasing as he can from these scores. Alas his best Beethoven symphony recording with the Philharmonia Orchestra, that of the 6th symphony, isn't available here at Amazon.com. Yet you won't be disappointed with this coupling.

wow, I'm confused..........2000-12-14

This might be great. I'm just not sure. On the one hand it's really wonderful to buy a recording and sitting down(I began with the 7th) to be struck with "Wow, that's different then my other versions..and I like it." Refreshing and all that. But then "Whoa, what was that! The Penquin Guide said 'well recorded'." I'm speaking about a very obvious 'digital artifact' or something noise in the first movement. Then in the second movement when the strings get quiet they sound like fuzz not violins. I heard once "early digital recordings had trouble with low-level detail"--is this what I'm hearing? Yuck. So then I think "Well I still like it because when it doesn't sound wierd it's very pleasant." Then in the forth movement the orchestra starts to fall apart..but..really gets it together in the final moments. Damn I'm lost! Should I feel ripped-off? The fifth is also enjoyable and sloppy in the forth movement too. I'm giving 4 stars because there are(!)some nice things about this reading, but it's makin' me crazy. Say what you will about the idiosyncrasies of Karajan, Bohm, or Solti when it comes to Beethoven, but at least their records are more or less consistant in quality of playing (and recording!) across four movements.

Average customer rating:

Grandes sinfonias...
Outstanding in every way

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: I Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: II Andante con moto
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: III Allegro
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor: IV Allegro
Symphony No. 7 In A Major: I Poco sostenuto - Vivace
Symphony No. 7 In A Major: II Allegretto
Symphony No. 7 In A Major: III Presto
Symphony No. 7 In A Major: IV Allegro con brio

Customer Reviews:

Grandes sinfonias..........2005-01-07

Dos sinfonias de Beethoven portentosas, alegres, solemnes y vigorosas.
La Orquesta Philharmonia es una de las mejores del mundo, escuchen cualquier grabacion de ella a junto Karajan, Klemperer o Cluytens y sabran de su capacidad.
Ashkenazy abusa de la suavidad y capacidad lirica de la orquesta para presentarnos unas sinfonias extensas, estan atenuados los tempos para hacerlas mas sensibles pero nos parecen lentas y faltas de vigor, de fuerza, la quinta es una obra solemne pero no carente de intensidad, los movimientos finales son suaves y debiles.
La 7ª en su caso es una obra luminosa que tambien se hace extensa en virtud de una expresionable y sugestible insinuancion de sentimentalismo y sutileza.
Suenan geniales pero son obras distintas a las que uno esta acostumbrado.
Gran CD, pero para estas obras Bohm, o el genial Szell son opciones imperdibles.

Outstanding in every way.......2000-01-08

Among the many versions of these two symphonies I own and play frequently, I return to this disc most frequently. Although some regard Kleiber's wonderful recording of the Fifth as the standard(with good reason), I would also raise this disc among the best. The Fifth is a warm, noble, evocative performance with astonishingly clear sound from the Philharmonia(the recording quality is better than Kleiber). Ashkenazy's view of the Seventh is altogether more exciting than Kleiber and other rivals, more joyful and more dancing. If anything it outshines the Fifth. Again, the recorded sound is spectacular. In my opinion this cd proves that Ashkenazy is not only a brilliant pianist, but also one of the best conductors of our time. This cd is also available in the "Penguin Music Classics" series also available thru Amazon. You won't be disappointed with this cd.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

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La Musica de Chopin a la Orilla del Mar

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Have Trumpet, Will Excite! [Original recording remastered]

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My Funny Valentine

Preso De Amor

Mirame Ahora

Nothin' but the Truth

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