RE: What's wrong with the eight others?

Music Lane

It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

Posted by Todd Krieger (A) on September 14, 2014 at 01:31:38

In Reply to: RE: What's wrong with the eight others? posted by amioutaline? on September 13, 2014 at 05:02:58:

Szell's Beethoven I'd call "stiff".... And obscuring melodic line in favor of background details.... Somehow, the B-7 was totally devoid of that....

I recently posted comments of Szell's B-2, with those citations. But his "stiffness" is consistent throughout. His read of the B-9 is indistinguished... The contrast between the nuance of the light melodies and horrific darkness is blunted. Too "monotone" and "autopilot" for my tastes. The B-8 final movement, B-4 opening movement, B-4 final movement, B-3 third movement also show Szell's characteristic "stiffness". I think Szell may have had some conceptions of how Beethoven should sound like, which I disagree with. (Contrast to Dvorak, which I think he's absolute tops.)

If Szell was tolerable with other Beethoven symphonies, the First and Fifth.... The Fifth only because it is so interpretation-friendly. His B-1 is OK as well (the final movement saves him). (The Cleveland Orchestra was also the perfect type of orchestra for the B-1.) So I'll give you those. But I don't like Szell at all with any of the others.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - The Great Szell/Cleveland Beethoven Seven Now on YouTube [yt] - Todd Krieger 18:03:04 09/12/14 (10)

broad brush and minority opinion - docw 17:59:30 09/14/14 (4)

Beethoven #6 w/ Cleve/Szell - oldmkvi 08:44:21 09/15/14 (2)

The Cleve. 6th I have is with Maazel. Damn good performance IMO. nt - Rick W 08:42:10 09/16/14 (1)

RE: The Cleve. 6th I have is with Maazel. Damn good performance IMO. nt - Todd Krieger 19:05:53 09/16/14 (0)

RE: broad brush and minority opinion - Todd Krieger 19:50:41 09/14/14 (0)

RE: What's wrong with the eight others? - amioutaline? 05:02:58 09/13/14 (3)

RE: What's wrong with the eight others? - Todd Krieger 01:31:38 09/14/14 (2)

Wow, disagree at least in part. Haven't heard a better 3rd than Szell/Cleve. nt - Rick W 08:55:04 09/16/14 (0)

So, tell us what you like - TGR 11:29:36 09/14/14 (0)

RE: The Great Szell/Cleveland Beethoven Seven Now on YouTube [yt] - learsfool 23:29:21 09/12/14 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: What's wrong with the eight others? - Todd Krieger 01:31:38 09/14/14 (2)

Wow, disagree at least in part. Haven't heard a better 3rd than Szell/Cleve. nt - Rick W 08:55:04 09/16/14 (0)

So, tell us what you like - TGR 11:29:36 09/14/14 (0)

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