Not one but two very remarkable CD versions of what is undoubtedly the world's most famous symphony! And neither is in the least like the other in interpretation; Carlos Kleiber full of nervous energy, yet never febrile: Klemperer considerably slower yet never for a moment dull.
Kleiber's performance was extremely warmly received when the LP first appeared. Richard Osborne in these pages called it ''one of the most glorious accounts of the Fifth Symphony I have ever had the pleasure of hearing''; and though he could not have known of the present coincidence of the two versions, he continues '' a version which is already vying in my affection with Klemperer's remarkable Philharmonia recording of 1956). I concur and would only add the reservation that though Kleiber excites me, so that I should always want to play his record at frequent intervals, Klemperer's is the one I should choose to live with.
For anyone who remembers Carlos Kleiber's father, Erich, the son is extraordinarily cast in the same mould, with quick speeds (but not over-quick) and a sheer high voltage of performance, playing the work as if he were daemonically possessed; and this works admirably in this symphony. DG's recording is stunning, to suit the interpretation, and my only slight reservation is that I should like a bit more quality on the upper strings at times (to me a common weakness of digital recording): and since there are acres of spare space on this disc, for the symphony is short, even with the last movement repeat which Kleiber observes, need we have been faced with the slow movement so quickly? That performance of the first needs a bit more time in which to recover. But make no doubt about it, in every way this is a knock-out performance and recording.
It needed some time, in fact, before I was ready to hear Klemperer, since a slower performance always sounds dull after one of such tension, and Klemperer is never dull. His performance has breadth as well as punch; and his perception of inner detail is unequalled. Among the glories that stand out are the great onslaught of the finale, which has a hard-hitting breadth that is incomparable; and the Philharmonia's string tone, the bloom, considerably better caught on this EMI recording—especially the soft playing—is particularly ravishing (the producer here was the legendary Walter Legge).
This symphony, however, is very short measure for a CD and under Kleiber must be even shorter than usual and DG have added nothing, not even an overture. EMI have most generously given us nothing less than Klemperer's delightful and lively account of Symphony No. 8, a handsome bonus, making a playing time of well over 67 minutes; and since there is nothing lacking in quality, many will feel this to be decisive (though the obvious ideal is to own both).
I cannot help teasing EMI about a misprint on the box of their disc. Beethoven's direction for the first movement of Symphony No. 5 is stated to be Adagio con brio—and surely any conductor would have difficulty in knowing what to do about it.'