Christoph von Dohnányi, The Cleveland Orchestra - Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 7 (1988)

Through his intellectual clarity, high performance standards, and attention to the composer's intentions in the score, Christoph von Dohnányi brings new vitality to these two great, if overly familiar symphonies. While his recordings with the Cleveland Orchestra are not as revolutionary as some authentic performance buffs might like, nor as traditional as might be desired by old-school romantics, Dohnányi nevertheless provides satisfying readings that may appeal to both camps. Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, famous for its violent drama and triumphant apotheosis, receives a well-rounded performance that also brings out the work's considerable beauty and humor. Dohnányi's timing and shaping of the entire symphony lend it a suspenseful buoyancy and drive that holds the listener's attention throughout. The Symphony No. 7, a model of symphonic writing that sometimes receives elevated, Apollonian performances because of its perfection, is instead given a robust and somewhat Dionysian treatment here. Dohnányi's interpretation is down to earth and lusty, and the energy he brings to the work stirs up its rhythmic undercurrent, giving the music a strong dance impulse in all four movements. The Cleveland Orchestra shines in this performance, especially the blazing brass section, which produces a magnificent sound at all their entrances.