Repertoire: The BEST Beethoven Fifth

I had never heard this piece before. Was refreshing to hear such an unknown piece after all the tired warhorses endlessly played by American and European orchestras such as Krenek's third, Mennin's fifth, Roy Harris 3, Henze's fifth, Ropartz's first and of course Roger Sessions's fifth (I find it hard to choose between the third and fourth Karajan and the Wand Munich live version). The Holmboe and Robert Simpson 7th symphonies are also too overplayed - the Dudamel Cologne Simpson hangs fire. His later Bavarian RSO is more inspired (and includes the Haas edition tam tam) but only available on vinyl.

Awesome video! Thank you so much for helping us further understand, appreciate and enjoy this great music. I love the positiveness with which you refer to the referencial recordings, establishing that current music making is as enjoyable and good as the "sacred" recordings of past ages. That is refreshing! Love the videos! Please keep them coming!

I've been waiting for this a long time since the Fifth is one of my favorite. Thanks!

As always you offer some great recommendations. Thanks for what you do.

Thank you for this I loved your talk! One thing about this symphony I find the oboe mini cadenza in the recapitulation of the first movement one of the most heartbreaking things in all of music

What a rewarding moment that yo mentioned the bass line of the last movement! Actually, you’re the first person to raise this issue, and I’ve almost given up for the search for proper recordings which let us hear the baseline! Your YouTube channel is a treasure. Stay in shape^

Thank you ,Thank you, Thank you ,for playing excepts from your chosen recordings! Doing so makes your reviews more impactfull. Keep up the good work, David , Regards, Richard ( Timpanist )

You've helped me hear and perceive this symphony in a new way with your profound musicological analysis!

I just listened to the Markavich for the first time. After it was done, my husband in the other room said "that's the best I've ever heard". My guy is a talented amateur pianist, I trust his ear.

Im happy you mentioned Solti. Since I heard my father-in-law‘s LP many years ago, I love this recording. And the sound of the remastered CD is excellent ! Greetings from Northern Germany

I think you recommended the Markevitch in an earlier video, so I have that one and when I first heard it, I could barely believe it was recorded in 1959. It sounded as if it was being performed right there and then for my personal pleasure and delight! Extraordinary. That was a darn'd good talk, too. I like you taking pieces apart like this, and explaining and focusing our attention on what otherwise tends to just wash over us.

,,10 recordings that give you the range of what can be done with it while still respecting what it is,, Great words!

Thanks David a wonderful-FUL talk - learnt so much - 😀

Argh! You finally broke my resistance on the Kletzki cycle, which will be Beethoven cycle #10 for me (plus a few individual discs). Beethoven 5 is one of these pieces that always grabs me in a great performance, no matter how many times I hear it, because there are so many things to listen for as you point out in this video. It is the piece that hooked me into classical music.

Your insights pointed my eyes to the trees beyond the forest - thank you

Bruno Walter's Columbia Symphony recording is a forever favorite, since the 60s LP came with a second companion record of his extensive rehearsal, which I believe that I listened to more than the performance itself.

Wonderful discussion of Beethoven's development and manipulation of thematic material. Your statement about the baselines is so true! Truly enjoyed this video!!!

Fabulous talk, thanks David. A huge task for recommending just ten, then one! Something you said about Klemperer, sort of encapsulated why I like his recordings so much; he may be a little slow on occasions, but that's NEVER detrimental to the music. He has that quality of "keeping you on the edge of your seat." The 4th is another beautiful illustration; those plunging bass notes, really do take you down to unchartered depths. I also find Kleiber (jr) not quite the ticket.

Very happy to find your channel! Cheers

DAVID, very illuminating, informative, and entertaining video. love szell, Klemperer, and Erich Kleiber in particular but i must give credit to a recording you praised highly and it's the grand, mighty, and thrilling account by Giulini and the Lapo which might be my overall favorite!