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JANDL100 wrote:

For me, the success of a Beethoven performance comes down to interpretation, not orchestral sound.

Not for me. I look for the “whole package” and not only in Beethoven. I do not relay collect “music” but rather “events” and in my view an “events” is a very fine melt of…. and interpretation, and recordings, and the “circumstances of the play”, and zillion attributes that create “Total Sound”.

In my search for Beethoven’s Sound I went over many stages and today I perceive Beethoven’s Sound as I describe above. The revelation of “how Beethoven shell sound” come to me when I was traveling in Germany a few years back and I was trying to sniff off the dust of Bavarian castles and haze of Pinaceae forests the “tone” of Beethoven’s music. I got that feeling then and from that moment I look for fulfillment of that feeling each time what I hear Beethoven.

I was searching for year a musical regeneration of that sensation and a few years ago I found it. I do not say that it is the best Beethoven performance (big subject!!!) but it is as close to my vision of Beethoven’s TONE as I even have heard form recorded performances or live attendance.

A wonderful Hungarian conductor Carl Melles performed in 90s a cycle of all Beethoven symphonies leading Brunswick State Orchestra. It was not the New Jersey Brunswick band but the “Staatsorchester Braunschweig” – probably the oldest orchestra in the world, founded in mid 16 century.  That orchestra played Beethoven during Beethoven's time…  Anyhow, I do not know what the reason is but the Sound that Braunschweig has in own sound that "ultimate Beethoven’s Sound" that I was looking in Beethoven. I got a CD of Brunswick's Beethoven1-3 symphonies (RAM 59511-2) and then bought all the rest Beethoven CDs Braunschweig ever recorded.

Be VERY careful with Carl Melles interpretations – it is painfully slow. It I so slow that you wish to die… but Braunschweig play it so slow because they are a very unique orchestra that … actually can do it. To play Beethoven so slow you need tremendous amount of “filling tone” of certain nobility… hear yourself what Braunschweig does and you will understand what I mean. If you willing to try but will not able to found Braunschweig recordings (practically imposable in US) then I might upload a demonstration file in here.

Try to listen Anthon Nanuet’s orchestra after the Carl Melles’ orchestra. With all wonderful play of Slovenian orchestra their “tone” sounds more like “toy Beethoven”… or as a Haydn band plays Beethoven…

On the second note – the Braunschweig recording on RAM label are all “live” and you need to hear the discipline of THOSE audiences – it is nothing short of phenomenal.

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