Rarely unavailable if at all since their first issue, George Szell’s stereo recordings of Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies continue to be among the most recommendable of this repertoire, and he died in 1970, hallmarked by the simply superb playing of The Cleveland Orchestra honed to the nth degree by a very demanding maestro. Taking as read the performances’ greatness (allowing that certain movements might be considered as hard-driven or unyielding, and don’t expect too many exposition repeats, only taken in Symphonies 1, 5 & 8), what is worth celebrating is the quality of sound as presented here (and previously in the Szell Complete Columbia Collection) – those tracks sampled reveal negligible hiss (without any degradation of timbres), full and vivid sonics (not least in the bass), and notable clarity and impact, faithfully capturing one of the most-distinguished orchestra-conductor partnerships, from 1946 until Szell’s death. Fifty years on, Szell continues to be a spectre to his successors; here is ample proof as to why. Of the seven Overtures included, three are those connected with Leonore, as well as Coriolan and Egmont. Using original artwork, Sony Classical 19802819962 (7 CDs) is released on December 13.
Symphony 9:
Adele Addison (soprano)
Jane Hobson (mezzo-soprano)
Richard Lewis (tenor)
Donald Bell (baritone)
The Cleveland Orchestra Choir
Finale of Szell’s great, 1957, ‘Eroica’ (astonishing horns in the coda):
Sample complete Symphony, No.7 (recorded 1958):
When I grew up most British critics disparaged Szell for being too stiff, too unyielding, too functional, too literal.
And so on.
I am glad I kept my LPs as today I hear only beauty of tone, a grand design and a most powerful intellect. I play my Eroica LP with huge staisfaction.
Glorious sound too.
His Strauss is also a favourite.