If any one recorded Beethoven cycle stood out for gorgeous engineering, the prize certainly would go to Karl Böhm’s early-1970s versions with the Vienna Philharmonic on Deutsche Grammophon. Time has not diminished their sonic allure one iota. Some listeners might prefer an “Eroica” symphony whose imposing dimensions are conveyed with more fire and nervous energy than Böhm’s steady moderation. At the same time the conductor elicits taut ensemble, astringent sonorities, and detailed rhythm that prevent things from turning slack. The Egmont and Coriolan overtures, for all their weighty countenance, move irresistibly forward, although the quicksilver Prometheus overture scampers in conductoral quicksand. Eloquence’s splendid sound and budget price can’t be beat. [5/5/2000]
