Charles Latshaw conducts Beethoven Symphony #7 mvt IV

Movement IV
Recorded July 30, 2006

And as always, more videos and recordings are posted on my website: http://www.CharlesLatshaw.com

Thanks!
-Charles

Category:

Music

Tags:

• charles
• latshaw
• conductor
• conducting
• orchestra
• symphony
• beethoven
• allegro
• con
• brio
• classical

[adamantiaf1]

I personally like the 4th movement to be a bit slower. There have been two conductors who's done just that...Bernstein's final concert and klemperer. Your version is very typical, fast that is, but nicely done.

[clatshaw]

Adamantiaf1--- thanks for your thoughtful comment.

To me, the genius of this movement is its relentlessness. Several times, Beethoven continues to push the orchestra more and more, well beyond what seems the musical breaking point. (Example, measure 319 to 465 is ALL forte and above, with many "sempre piu forte" reminders) That sort of hysteria is exactly what I'm after. Conductors of the older germanic tradition, like Furtwängler, certainly had less tolerance for hysteria! :)

[RileySapphire]

You can't possibly hear the last movement of Beethoven's Seventh and go slow. ~Oscar Levant, explaining his way out of a speeding ticket

[josepharchbold]

The speed of this movement is just right. If anything it could be a tad faster. I disagree with those who say that it's too slow.

[pavethemoon]

God dayummm.. Beethoven owns the universe. And yes, this movement MUST be played on crack. No other way.

[TheClassicalist]

really like how you're totally into the music XD

btw, i think the speed is fine, it makes it sound more... emotionally restless, which is part of why i like beethoven's music

[CTFlink]

I love how the sudden brief pauses increases the drama by tenfold, because it makes the contrast between the overwhelming sound and the silence explicit

[vividimaginer]

Mr. Latshaw, you sure are a badass :)

[moonblossom15]

Bravo, Latshaw! I usually like that part a bit slower too, but that performance made a convert of me! I loved the energy!

[HickysBoy]

@clatshaw I have always felt as Adamantia about the 4th Movement - and for that reason have liked Klemperer the best. Interesting that through the years (50s-60s) he gradually slows it down more and more.

That said I rate this version of #7 on par with Klemperer & Kleiber. While Klemperer is mostly stone-faced, I enjoy the energy displayed by Latshaw and Kleiber when conducting; you can really see what they are doing, their emphasis - it adds significently to the experience for me.

[HickysBoy]

Too fast. The only weak movement of this otherwise awesome performance. Agree with adamantiaf1 - Klemperer has the keys to the fourth movement.

[aslan2026]

There's a bomb on a bus. Once the bus goes 50 miles an hour, the bomb is armed. If it drops below 50, it blows up. What do you do? What do you do?

I'll tell you what you do you play Beethoven's Symphony #7 mvt IV like that and just keep going! Great job Charles!!

[Nachtmarchen]

Though not as mushy as the versions that follow, I think the Karajan '62 version isn't just rushed, it's rather terribly bland - it flows too well, it's too smooth. The different, conflicting voices just blur into each other. His earlier mono recording with the Philharmonia is far better (and he doesn't rape the Allegretto's driving rhythm with artificially soft playing either).