Questions about Symphonies' recordings

[Harvey]

My favorite cycle of Beethoven symphonies is Monteux.

[euphony131]

My favorite cycle of Beethoven symphonies is Monteux.

Harvey, I've heard recommendations for this by others and am curious to know: what particularly strikes you about Monteux's interpretation? Is his a Traditional Big Band sound? Obviously, he's not HIP, but wondering is he's like of the Old School: Furtie or Mengelberg?

Speaking of the "Pierres," I recently heard Boulez's take on the Fifth and quite liked it. Much slower than the norm. But carries so much "OOMPH." Don't know if there's any truth to a "French sound" but if this is it than I'm all for it.

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXDXMI7PW6M[/YOUTUBE]

[Harvey]

Harvey, I've heard recommendations for this by others and am curious to know: what particularly strikes you about Monteux's interpretation? Is his a Traditional Big Band sound? Obviously, he's not HIP, but wondering is he's like of the Old School: Furtie or Mengelberg?

Speaking of the "Pierres," I recently heard Boulez's take on the Fifth and quite liked it. Much slower than the norm. But carries so much "OOMPH." Don't know if there's any truth to a "French sound" but if this is it than I'm all for it.

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXDXMI7PW6M[/YOUTUBE]

I am afraid that I am the last person who can put much of a review together other than my ear and brain like it. I do get the feeling that Monteux' Beethoven moves along at a nice pace, not like some of those slower cycles (e.g., Klemperer, Walter). I struggled with finding a cycle that I really liked and after about a dozen, the Monteux was doing the job for me. I will quote from a web site about the Monteux VPO/LSO cycle:

Monteux's Beethoven has been described as visionary. Respect for the spirit of the score, directness of expression, exceptionally well-drilled playing and a sense of untainted idealism that lay at the very heart of the composer's vision – these are the qualities that typify Monteux's interpretation of Beethoven.

I read somewhere that Monteux was not into interpretations, but would conduct the music as written.

The other cycle that I recently came across and like a lot is Schuricht with a Paris orchestra.

Well I don't know if this helps much.

[Michael]

The other cycle that I recently came across and like a lot is Schuricht with a Paris orchestra...........

The first time I ever heard the Eroica symphony was on a recording by Schuricht and the Paris Conservatoire many years ago.

I remember he took the first movement at a very fast tempo and the french horns (which were actually French) had an unusual sound - more like saxophones.

I have a recording of the "Namensfeier" overture played by another French orchestra and the horns have that same nasal whine - which I actually like.

[Zevy]

Dear Peter;
The 5th symphony stands out because of the repeat of the trio in the 3rd movement.
Hofrat

Did you mean the 4th movement?

[Peter]

Did you mean the 4th movement?

Unlikely you'll get a response as the post was dated 2006. However I think he meant the 3rd mvt because you'll see in the Zinman recording it lasts twice as long as other recordings. I need to get my speakers working on this PC as I can't hear the youtube version.