Deryk Barker wrote:

>Jeffrey Hall ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
>
>>Dear CM fans, In regards to Beethoven 5th symphony, how does the famous
>>Carlos Kleiber recording compare to the 1977 von Karajan recording? I've
>>seen both recommended and both are supposed to be hard-driven.  Thanks.:-)
>
>I think I'd apply the term 'hard-driven' more to Kleiber's 7th on the same
>disc.  His 5th is heroic, noble and very intense.  I'd prefer it to HvK any
>day.

What about recent (past 20 years) recordings with top-notch recorded sound?
I have Harnoncourt and Kleiber.  Harnoncourt is good, but wearies my ear
with explosions of valveless brass and stick-struck timpani.  I like the
Kleiber too, but sometimes I wish for a performance in which the music is
allowed to breathe rather than being driven along like a herd of camels
loping across arid stones.  And I like to be able to hear all the inner
intracacies of the orchestration.  Can anyone recommend a recording? Wand
is supposed to be good.  I tried Sawallisch's most recent recording . . .
too soft and washy.  What about Ashkenazy? Solti? Giulini (LA Phil)?

Jim Saunders
Portland, OR