Beethoven: Symphony No 2 (1940) Mengelberg/Concertgebouw

Описание: Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op.36

1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio (0:07)
2. Larghetto (12:36)
3. Scherzo: Trio (24:59)
4. Allegro molto (28:55)

Willem Mengelberg, conductor
The Concertgebouw Orchestra

Recorded Live on April 21, 1940
in the Grosser Saal of the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam

Beethoven was already recognized as a genius from the opening chord of his "Pathetique Sonata", and he was destined to emerge as the most important symphonist of his era. His first symphony was in the mold of the Classical masters who preceded him. In his Second Symphony, he began to step out from under their shadow.

Only the great symphonies which followed have kept the present symphony from being seen as a masterpiece; a fate that also came to his magnificent Fourth Symphony as well. Of course, if we let ourselves just enjoy this symphony on its own merits we are greatly rewarded, because it is Beethoven after all, and that speaks volumes in musical terms.

Mengelberg's performance with the Concertgebouw is one of the highest points, in our opinion, of his output with Beethoven. Like his contemporaries, such as Toscanini and Furtwängler, he regarded all nine of the symphonies of Beethoven as important music, and he treated them accordingly.

The present recording is from an 82 year old transcription, and some artifacts are present.

Field acoustic restoration (2022): Paul Howard-The Yucaipa Studio