Customer Reviews

Symphonies 5&6

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gould did not like 'pianistic' composers, and as a result he virtually never recorded Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schubert and Liszt. This disc, together with the other containing the Pastorale, seems to be Gould's only entry to Liszt. The only reason for this was that Liszt had once transcribed all Beethoven symphonies. Gould, always looking for interesting new music, found these almost forgotten transcriptions interesting to record. He didn't record all nine, however, but just two. These two symphony transcriptions are now available at separate discs on Sony. Here lies my biggest problem with this disc: Why didn't Sony put both symphonies on one disc? I don't know exactly the lasting period of Gould's Pastorale, because I don't have that one, but even if those two didn't suit on one disc, Sony could have provided some more material on this cd. What we have here is 49 minutes of playing, which is more like an lp-lasting time. It seems to be another marketing trick of those dollar freaks at Sony.

Enough about the cash; on to Gould. This is again a typical Gould recording. Although he plays the fifth symphony extremely slowly at times, the intensity and power of the orchestral version are never lost. The first movement is extremely powerful and aggressive (I have never heard him playing with more power), and it's really a pity that he doesn't repeat the exposition. Great playing, nevertheless, and the second movement is equally impressive, although in a very different way. It is from such a haunting beauty that it should be forbidden to play this piece with an orchestra any longer. Calm, dramatic and moving: every tone has something to say. The fact that he doesn't use the pedal too much adds an extra dimension, and the end of the song is thrilling. In the following Allegro he returns to the aggressiveness of the first part, and although he does not hold the speed record, the tension can be felt, which ultimately results in the start of the final movement. Here Gould shows he could sustain the slowest tempi he'd like, and still sound as if he were playing at high speed. He pushes the piano to its limit of excitement and sound. It is without doubt a great finish. (That first movement of the Pastorale isn't bad either, by the way). What Gould offers is almost equal to -or even better than- an orchestrated version of the Fifth. He is at his very best here. Highly recommended, in spite of Sony's behaviour. Think what could have been, had he recorded all nine symphony transcriptions: Gould in the Ninth's final...

I've heard several performances of Beethoven's Symphonies on piano. The performances by Cyprien Katsaris are far superior to Glenn Gould's. Katsaris closely follows the original score by Beethoven, takes the repeats, and plays at the proper tempo consistently. Gould hums, plays too slowly and never takes repeats.

Comparing the 5th Symphony between Gould and Katsaris, it's easy to hear vast differences. Throughout the symphony, Katsaris plays with passion, excitement and tension. He adds notes left out by Liszt (and Gould) and he takes the repeats (often playing them the "ossia"). The symphony is much more entertaining and accurately played by Katsaris. The final movement by Gould is slow and almost boring. While Katsaris performs it quickly and precisely.

Overall Katsaris adds notes for instruments Liszt left out for all 9 Symphonies and is much more accurate than any other performance I've ever heard. I highly recommend Cyprien Katsaris over anyone else for Beethoven's Symphonies.