BEETHOVEN. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, Op. 55, "Eroica". Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Karl Böhxn. DGG 0 LPM18814: 0 SLPM 138814 (12 in., 305. 100. plus 95. 00. P.T.).

Selected comparisons:

NBC SO, Toscanini (7/54) (7/58) (R) 421 RB16102

Philh., Klemperer (7/56) Q 33CX1346

VPO, Kleiber (5/59) Q ACL35

Columbia SO, Walter (3/61) Q ABL3367: (5/60) 0 SABL132 Philh., Klemperer (3/62) Q 33CX1710: Q SAX2364

Not the most electrifying Eroica but always intelligent and reliable, with few idiosyncrasies. The Berlin Philharmonic plays as stylishly as ever, and comparing this with, say, the Walter version the extra beauty of the Berlin oboe soloist in the funeral march is a great asset. But after the versions listed above there is almost inevitably something a little flavourless about this. The first movement is just a little stiff, the funeral march is on the fast side—Walter is, too, for that matter—and the final break-up of the theme sounds too well controlled rather than agonised. The last two movements are most refreshing in their live straightforwardness, my one complaint being the undue slowing for the trio of the Scherzo. But even there the rounded clangour of the horns makes amends. If the recording was outstanding I should have no hesitation in recommending this alongside the other versions, but it sounds duller and a little less clear than most DGGs with some top cut, I suspect, in the stereo version. Unexpectedly though, on a small stereo machine it sounded comparatively well. E.G.