Beethoven

Symphonies Nos 3 & 5 London Philharmonic Orchestra/ Kurt Masur

LPO LPO-0112 83:02 mins

In these dignified and at times grittily intense performances, it’s clear that Kurt Masur sees both these symphonies whole. If there’s a slight departure from the printed score – like the traditional enhanced trumpet parts in the Eroica’s first movement coda – it’s very much part of Masur’s dramatic overall conception. Nothing is done for passing effect. And few conductors have made the case for restoring the discarded long repeat in the scherzo of Symphony No. 5 so persuasively.

That’s not to say that the overview always elbows out telling detail or the momentary play of light and shadow. There are some fine moments of dark introspection in the Eroica Funeral March, particularly towards the end, which breaks down (musically and emotionally) memorably. The triumphal final appearance of the main theme in the Andante of No. 5 also has an unusual ardent hopefulness, once again without anything feeling underlined for emphasis. And there aren’t many conductors who’ve made the long succession of C major chords at the end of the Fifth Symphony seem so grandly inevitable.

To be in the audience for either of these performances must have been a treat. But on disc is this a Fifth to rival Carlos Kleiber, or an Eroica to match Toscanini or Riccardo Chailly? Not quite – though there are times when both do come close. Stephen Johnson

PERFORMANCE ★★★★

RECORDING ★★★★