William Steinberg - Beethoven: Symphony No.4 (1961) Hi-Res

Beethoven's Fourth Symphony has su ered an unenviable fate, that of obscurity. Standing as it does immediately after his
heroic Third and just before his tragic Fifth, it was, in Robert Schumann's words, "a slender Greek maiden between two Norse gods."
The comparison is apt; like that Grecian girl, this symphony has been utterly overshadowed by its indomitable neighbors. Yet the
piece is no less masterful than its companions. In fact, the Fourth Symphony is in many ways an ideal example of Beethoven's
style, for it blends the gracious Classicism of his early years with the hearty orchestrations of his later works. If it is less profound
than the symphonies that precede and follow it, that is merely a product of the composer's state of mind, for in 1806 when
Beethoven wrote the Fourth Symphony, he was enjoying a rare period of happiness. In this work, as in its contemporaries, the
Fourth Piano Concerto and the Violin Concerto, we have proof that Beethoven was not always the anguished artist.
The Fourth Symphony was written for Count Franz von Oppersdorf.

Tracks:

Symphony No. 4 In B Flat, Op. 60
1. Adagio; Allegro Vivace 11:30
2. Adagio 9:00
3. Allegro Vivace 5:39
4. Allegro Ma Non Troppo 6:32

5. Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72a 13:54

Personnel:

Artist(s): Conductor - William Steinberg
Orchestra - The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Recording Info: Recorded 1961 by Command Classics
Engineer Mastering: George Piros
Engineer Recording Chief: Robert Fine
Producer: Enoch Light