Beethoven: Symphonies No. 5 & No. 7
from Telarc

Benjamin Zander has been making his reputation by examining the correct tempos for familiar works, as in his pioneering recording of Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps. Here, on a bonus disc, which is longer than the performances, he offers the most illuminating commentary on music since Leonard Bernstein. Whether you agree with his thoughts on proper Beethoven tempos derived from the composer's metronome markings, if you have any interest in this music at all, you'll find his discussion fascinating. He also has a gift for making poetic analogies to music--a dangerous undertaking--that are utterly convincing. As Zander admits, his performances of the symphonies are not as necessary as his tempo discoveries (he recommends Carlos Kleiber's Deutsche Grammophon recordings, as do we), but they are remarkably fine ones, taken at those controversial tempos and making them work. Telarc, which usually provides such exemplary sound, has let Zander down a bit. These recordings sound somewhat opaque, and you occasionally have to strain to hear the detail that the conductor wanted from the orchestra. But the combination of performance and discussion will still show you new aspects of Beethoven's familiar music, and that's an experience worth having. --Leslie Gerber

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