Hermann Scherchen conducting Beethoven's 5th Symphony

[Dan Amodeo]

I just noticed there is a CD available for $15 or $16 called "Hermann
Scherchen Conducts Beethoven." It has Beethoven's 5th symphony played by the
so-called Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of London, as well as Beethoven's
opus 19 piano concerto. The label is Idi, which Amazon.com says means Ital
Disc Inst.

Some time ago, Rolf Otterhouse provided us with mp3 files of Scherchen
conducting the same orchestra playing Beethoven's 5th (and 4th), which Rolf
made from what he said was a 1954 Westminster LP recording. I love that
performance, and Rolf did a great job with the mp3 files. I made a CD from
the mp3 files and have been enjoying it ever since.

I'm trying to decide whether I should buy the Idi CD. Does anyone know if
this is the same performance of the 5th symphony? ArkivMusic says it was
recorded in 1951. If it is the same, is the sound quality better than Rolf's
mp3 files?

Dan Amodeo

[jeffli...@hotmail.com]

Dan, I would pass on that IDI disc if it's anything like the other
issues I've heard on that label (a few notches below Urania, another
mediocre Italian knock-off purveyor). The swift Scherchen Beethoven
5th is actually with Beecham's Royal Philharmonic (the orchestra's
name was disguised for contractual reasons). Scherchen's entire
Westminster LP studio set of the Beethoven Symphonies - 2,4, 5 and 8
with the RPO, the others with the Veinna State Opera Orch. - was
issued in quite decent sound about three years ago on a 5-disc
Archipel CD set. I bought my copy of the latter from Berkshire Record
Outlet last year for $19.95, but it's not currently available from
that source.

Jeff Lipscomb

[Paul Ilechko]

jeffli...@hotmail.com wrote:

> Dan, I would pass on that IDI disc if it's anything like the other
> issues I've heard on that label (a few notches below Urania, another
> mediocre Italian knock-off purveyor). The swift Scherchen Beethoven
> 5th is actually with Beecham's Royal Philharmonic (the orchestra's
> name was disguised for contractual reasons). Scherchen's entire
> Westminster LP studio set of the Beethoven Symphonies - 2,4, 5 and 8
> with the RPO, the others with the Veinna State Opera Orch. - was
> issued in quite decent sound about three years ago on a 5-disc
> Archipel CD set. I bought my copy of the latter from Berkshire Record
> Outlet last year for $19.95, but it's not currently available from
> that source.

I have 1, 3, 6 and 8 on two MCA CDs. Don't recall where I got them from,
though - perhaps eBay ...

[jeffli...@hotmail.com]

On Oct 20, 6:56 pm, Paul Ilechko <pilec...@patmedia.net> wrote:

Yes, I have those two CDs from MCA as well. Nos. 1 and 8 are in mono
and identical to those found in the complete set on Archipel. However,
the Eroica and Pastoral are later stereo recordings (they have also
appeared together on a now deleted issue from DG Westminster). The
Eroica is the ultra-fast one (i.e., with exposition repeat observed,
the first mvt. flies by in just 14:31). It's an interesting conception
that somewhat anticipates more recent HIP performances, but I prefer
the mono one on Archipel (my favorite of Scherchen's three studio
Erocas is the earliest one on Tahra). The stereo Pastoral is rather
fast and hectic. I prefer the earlier mono one on Archipel, which is
five minutes SLOWER.

Jeff Lipscomb

[Dan Amodeo]

Jeff said,

> Dan, I would pass on that IDI disc if it's anything like the other
> issues I've heard on that label (a few notches below Urania, another
> mediocre Italian knock-off purveyor).

Thanks, Jeff. That's what I guessed.

> Scherchen's entire Westminster LP studio
> set of the Beethoven Symphonies - 2,4, 5 and 8 with the RPO,
> the others with the Veinna State Opera Orch. - was
> issued in quite decent sound about three years ago on a 5-disc
> Archipel CD set.

I remember. Like Paul, I have commercial CDs of Scherchen conducting 1, 3, 6
and 8, all of which I bought used, that I am very happy with. I'm actually
very happy with Rolf's mp3 files for 4 and 5, too, but I would be willing to
pay a reasonable price for a commercial CD of the same performance of 5, and
maybe of 4, too, if they had very much better sound.

Dan Amodeo

[John Wilson]

There was also a Japanese issue transferred from original source
material and using original cover art. Now sadly OOP but if you can
find a used set they would be the ones to go for.

John