Word: toscanini
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
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...
This is the same Toscanini that made a fortune out of an American concert tour, and will play no American works. Part of this description is due to the fact that so much was expected because it was Toscanini, and it was the NBC orchestra-but most of it is due to the fact that they failed miserably...
...only Toscanini was at fault; the recording was nowhere near the excellence of something like "La Mer" by Koussevitsky, also on this month's release. The base is shallow and distorted, and the highs are brittle and sharp-all of which is exceedingly destructive to Beethoven...
...garbing it in a cloak of false colors. The Furtwaengler is a truly magnificent recording, not as literal as the Weingartner, but with tremendous sweep and surge, and recorded beautifully, even though it was issued several years ago. The Furtwaengler is best, but all three are better than Maestro Toscanini's version which sound like the "Hoof Movement" from the "Overture to William Tell...
Both Victor and Toscanini should be ashamed of themselves for ruining an opportunity such as this. The former had best look to its standard of recording, and the latter to an investigation of who writes the music, the composer or the conductor...