Record Reviews

Beethoven: Symphony No. 2; Overtures to The Ruins of Athens and Prometheus

Eugen Jochum conducting Berlin Philharmonic and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestras; Deutsche Grammophon DGS712006 (stereo) and DGS-12006

Not many a conductor could come along with a Beethoven Second right on the heels of Beecham’s superb interpretation and squeeze into this column’s limited space. Jochum can. In its own way his Second matches the Baronet’s. Jochum, I think, tries to play Beethoven more beautifully than anyone else, and usually (with the Berlin Philharmonic to help him) he does. He focuses on a continuity of string tone, sacrificing a little (not unduly) the drum and trumpet punctuation which Beecham keeps prominent. Thus we have a sonic mellifluence, while the pace keeps dignity. As aid to this, the German engineers have contributed sound even finer than that of the Angel-Beecham. I still slightiy prefer the Beecham style, and his record has the choruses from The Ruins of Athens — real rarities — instead of Prometheus, but the choice is worth care.

Chopin: Concerto No. 2; Andante Spianato; Polonaise in E-flat

Artur Rubinstein, piano; Alfred Wallenstein conducting Symphony of the Air; RCA Victor LSC-2265 (stereo) and LM-2265

I am at a loss to perceive any good reason for calling this album The Rubinstein Story, since it isn’t. It is a flashing new triad of Chopin performances by Rubinstein, and in this part of the twentieth century no more enticing terminology is necessary or, in fact, possible. This man at this work is a magician, and everyone should know it by now. Larghetto: