Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Overture To Fidelio
A year after this recording was made, the principal violist of the Vienna Philharmonic confided to a music critic that "When we play Beethoven with Bernstein we do it Bernstein's way, but when we play Beethoven with Bohm, we do it Beethoven's way." Perhaps, but then Viennese string players have been saying that about every conductor since Otto Nicolai. In any case, the VPO strings give their all in this performance; their playing, and that of their colleagues in the wind and brass, is pure guts and glory. Bernstein's affinity for the music is beyond challenge, and the vivid recording brings it all home.--Ted Libbey