Not unexpectedly, these performances share a lot in common with the ones in the companion set devoted to Symphonies 1, 2, 3, and 8. They offer traditional readings in the European mold that are big, bold, and superbly played. The taut and exciting Fourth and Seventh symphony performances are the best: alive and exciting from beginning to end, they feature the virtuoso Concertgebouw Orchestra in top form, with a special mention for the glorious-sounding horns in the Seventh. The Sixth could use more relaxation at times; this reading turns out to be a fairly rambunctious day in the country. Perhaps some of that energy should have been funneled over to the Fifth, which, as is often the case in Beethoven symphony cycles, is the one disappointment in the set. Sawallisch has such an energetic approach to the other symphonies that I thought his Fifth would take off and fly away, but it doesn’t. It’s just good–a bit stolid and earthbound in the outer movements. Let me add immediately that these are picky criticisms that won’t keep me from looking forward to hearing these performances again. The sound is very warm and reverberant, yet has adequate definition. And as before, this two-disc set is offered in the Double fforte series, so is a real bargain.
