Credits:

Jonathan Antoine

Description:

Beethoven is a martial art! Scherchen Lugano Radio Symphony Orchestra Beethoven Zycles on UHQCD including rehearsalsThe Beethoven Zycles in Lugano, Switzerland, which brought Scherchen's fame to a new level. It is hard to believe that this is the performance from the year before his death. Scherchen was a former viola player of the Berlin Philharmonic, and if you listen carefully, you can hear his strict instructions to the strings. The use of many tightening and loosening techniques is especially noticeable. Even in the smaller pieces such as No. 1, No. 2, and No. 8, the orchestra is overwhelmed by its no-nonsense, no-frills, no-holds-barred competition. The yells and bravos are also terrific! In principle, the style runs at breakneck speed. Rather than pursuing fluidity, the rhythm is always brawling, and the performance is a martial arts masterpiece in every way. The way the famous "Fate" motive is played is extraordinary. The orchestra has technical problems, but the woodwinds are always charming. The passionate performance, desperately trying to get a bite out of the prodigy's stick, thrills the audience. Moreover, the rehearsal of "Fate" is very instructive, as he gives detailed instructions to the orchestra in his fluent Italian.A Japanese translation of the over 40-minute rehearsal is included in the liner notes and is a must-read. This is a masterful performance that could not have been possible without this detail. The Lugano Broadcasting Company insists that no recording exists, so LONGANESI PERIODICI, which owns a copy of the original, has made a superb recording available on UHQCD. Muse Trading Co.