Karl Böhm’s epic tread through the Fourth Symphony’s sunny fields may be the high point of the Austrian maestro’s early 1970s Beethoven cycle, originally issued by Deutsche Grammophon. While Böhm’s tempo choices clock in at less than the regulation standard, his penchant for absolute textural clarity generates its own momentum. In addition to the eloquent, sustained Adagio, Böhm’s sobriety pays expressive returns by taking Beethoven’s “ma non troppo” indication at face value in the fourth movement’s Allegro finale. For all the Fifth Symphony’s rock solid pacing and imposing stature, Böhm’s unyielding baton serves up a rather four-square meal, as opposed to Carlos Kleiber’s movable feast. Still, the loudest orchestral tuttis are miraculously balanced, with each and every section aligned for maximum clarity and audibility. The gorgeous engineering has not dated a bit. Worth seeking out, considering Eloquence’s bargain-basement price.
