These broadcast recordings contain decent performances of both symphonies, but they don’t compete in terms of quality or interpretation with Kleiber’s studio recordings with the Concertgebouw Orchestra on Decca. In the Fifth, the 1950s mono broadcast sound is congested, and the finale comes across as strangely inert and plodding. Yes, the opening movement is exciting, and I can only applaud the healthy “con moto” that Kleiber builds into the second movement’s andante; but we’ve heard all of this before, better played and better recorded.
The same holds true for the Sixth, although here the sonics are a bit better, with nicely forward woodwind placement. Unfortunately, the papery strings seem to be having a bad day, especially during the fourth-movement storm, where the ensemble nearly comes apart at one point. In short, this isn’t special enough to warrant purchase by anyone other than Kleiber completists. It would be much more interesting to hear something new to his discography, rather than the same old stuff.
