Essentials

In June 1975, Deutsche Grammophon released its first symphonic recording with Carlos Kleiber and the Vienna Philharmonic. Reviewer Richard Osborne, defiantly flouting his editor's commissioned wordage, submitted a review three times the length requested. But he'd spotted a winner and within months, this blazing Beethoven's Fifth had become a classic recording. Now, nearly 35 years later, Kleiber's Fifth has become to many the definitive version of this oft-recorded work. Reissued in 1996 with the debut of The Originals series from Deutsche Grammophon, the symphony is perfectly coupled with the Seventh Symphony, also one of the finest on record.

Kleiber, despite his lofty reputation and pedigree as the son of Erich Kleiber, made few recordings, especially compared with his contemporary Herbert von Karajan. But oh, what recordings they are, and the Beethoven Fifth may be his greatest. With its clichéd "fate" opening, Kleiber hits his mark with a combination of tension and elegance. It is visceral and alive to all the shifting moods of the work. It flows along at fast speeds, but never becomes breathless or hard-pressed. In parts, it becomes possessed with unstoppable momentum. Kleiber's touch is all the more assured for being light and inspirational.

Carlos Kleiber was a shy and high-strung maestro who, Herbert von Karajan once commented, "only comes out to conduct when his large freezer runs out of food." He was the son of his famous conducting father and the American Ruth Goodrich. After resigning his post with the Berlin Opera in 1935 as protest over the Nazi policies, Erich Kleiber immigrated to Argentina. His son Karl, who was...more details