Word: beethovens
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1940-1949
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...record salesman, any music store clerk can tell you that the Beethoven Fifth Symphony is exceeded only by the Tschaikovsky "Nutcracker Suite" and a few others in public knowledge and esteem. The "Fifth" is probably the best known of the so-called "heavier" classical works. The four notes which announce the first theme of the symphony are as familiar to the general public as any other (not excepting "Our Love" and "Moon Love...
...names "Beethoven," "Fifth" and "Toscanini" were enough to sell the album eight unseen (and surface unheard...
...what happened when you listened to this album of super-synthesis? Quite frankly, throughout the time I have been listening to record I have never heard a rendition of Beethoven that I considered to be as inadequate as this one. As a matter of fact, I can remember few recorded versions of anything that struck me as being so completely shallow and without not only comprehension of what the composer wanted, but what could be done with the score itself. Leopold Stokowski is often accused (and Justly so) of rendering Bach in a manner quite unlike what the composed intended...
...Beethoven Disregarded...
This recording by Toscanini is rushed to an almost incredible degree. None of the full majesty that is Beethoven is brought to light. None of the sudden v-like bursts in phrasing that have always been conceded to show Beethoven to greatest advantage are present. No idea is given its full value or properly developed. Some one in speaking of the album said it was "electric"-if by that they mean it travels at the speed of light, It's a good description. The album gives you the Impression that Toscanini deliberately set out to play Beethoven the way Toscanini...