Beethoven: Sinfonie Nr. 6 "Pastorale“–Karl Böhm & Wiener Philharmoniker/DG The Original Source vinyl reissue

Karl Böhm and the Vienna Philharmonic give a beautiful performance of Beethoven’s most genial symphony on this DG The Original Source LP released this week. The Symphony Nr. 6 "Pastorale“ has fared particularly well on record with marvellous performances of great variety from Reiner, Dorati, Barenboim, Klemperer, Ashkenazy and others. Although many famous performances have good sonics to match, if an audiophile or vinylphile wanted a 6th with a great performance in great sonics, it was the Reiner/Chesky from 1993 (remastered by Jeremy Kipnis from the 1963 RCA original or the stereo EMI/Klemperer). Now we have this outstanding new LP from the Emil Berliner Studios (EBS) team for Deutsche Grammophon.

The new EBS series takes DG records and remasters from the original four tracks (or eight!) and mixes them into two tracks with, usually, a huge improvement in the sound. From DG’s original house sound, spotlighting, glacial soundstage, clinical halls, and odd perspectives, these new reissues are being reconstituted as benchmark recordings with the hall sound recaptured and controlled—Fairfield Hall, Musikverein and Boston Symphony Hall never sounded so good.

What DG always had going for it was its artist’s roster. Berlin, Vienna, Boston, Chicago, LSO, and the greatest soloists, conductors and chamber groups, with Karl Böhm & Wiener Philharmoniker team chief among them. As such, this Pastorale was always going to be very special. And the original pressing was not half bad. Good sound with a seminal performance, typical of Böhm’s aristocratic outlook and expectations. And, of course, the great Vienna Philharmonic plays this magnificent music as if to the manor born. Interestingly, the other DG star team (Karajan and the Berlin Phil) recorded a full Beethoven cycle in 1963; it was very famous and sold in the millions, but the 6th was Karajan’s weak link.

Let’s be honest, if you’ve ever played the 6th or conducted it, this flawless piece of music is by far the easiest to navigate technically. Get the tempos right, have a fine, flexible orchestra (and a great clarinettist and horn soloist) and you’re good. With a professional orchestra, it almost plays itself. Try that with any of the other eight symphonies and you’ll end up in the rhubarb! Not that the Vienna Phil sounds like it’s on autopilot. There are so many magnificent moments, from the ensemble to the amazing soloists (listen to the superb bassoonist popping his head up once in a while with a perfect staccato, the Vienna pumpenvalve horn either as a solo in the “Shepherd's song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm” or the wonderful cuivré playing as a section in “Merry gathering of country folk” and the clarinet (Alfred Prinz or Peter Schmidl) throughout—although the player slurs the on-every-audition lick contrary to Beethoven’s markings.

The new recording, as we now expect from the EBS team, is superb allowing the generous reverb of the Musikverein to blossom and envelop the unique sound of the orchestra. They don’t call it the Golden Hall (Goldener Saal) for nothing. The orchestra sounds very beautiful from the perfectly placed aforementioned bassoon to the clarinet, oboe and horn soloists having some breathing room. This is especially beautiful in Böhm’s well-paced “Scene by the brook'“ as each pizzicato that emphasizes the pulse is round, fat and gorgeous (they are positively scrawny on the original) and the three “bird” soloists (flute/nightingale, oboe/quail, clarinet/cuckoo) are wonderful.

During the final movement, when Beethoven ups the orchestration ante (he brings back the harmonic progressions previously under the horn solo; it’s so brilliantly done, you’ll swear you are hearing the horn melody—nope, just the harmony and rhythmic impetus now fortissimo) I think there may have been some deterioration on the original tape. It sounds in brief moments a little congested but nothing to detract from this exceptional remastering.

I filmed a video on my YouTube Channel about my choices for the hits and misses in this series. Very few misses, lots of hits! Another hit with the Beethoven/Gilels I just reviewed. And so it goes with this magnificent Pastorale from the A team in Vienna and Berlin.

These releases are expensive and the prices fluctuate wildly if you follow on Amazon, but my recommendation is to buy before it’s gone. I’m sure they’ll repress it, but just in case, you’re going to want this important Pastorale. Very highly recommended.

Release on: 05/03/2024