Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 - Leinsdorf conducts the Boston Symphony

Erich Leinsdorf was born in Vienna in 1912 and his early musical studies led him to become an aspiring young conductor. He was in America when the Nazis took Austria over in 1938, so he remained in the USA and soon became an American citizen. He enjoyed numerous directorships in the States and one of these was his appointment in 1962 as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His tenure there was somewhat marked by controversy with performances often described as cold and unfeeling.
However, those words cannot possibly be applied to his white-hot performance of Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony from 15 April 1969. Leinsdorf was not especially known as a great Tchaikovsky conductor but in his notes to this DVD release, Richard Dyer refers to his "fresh approach to over-familiar music, his rigorous observance of the score's markings, his disinclination to wallow, his grasp of form and a degree of involvement and emotional intensity he is not often given credit for." Dyer also refers to the "solidity, flexibility and brilliance" of the Boston Symphony's playing, so this electrifying performance fully deserves its place in the great 'classical archive' that UA-cam has become! (From 'ICA Classics' ICAD 5059.)

[@michaelholbrook3465]

A more substantial brass contribution than I usually hear in the playing of this work. Not much swaying to the music here, which, at first, makes it seem emotionless, but it actually has the same amount of emotion as other performances. The finale is particularly moving with no fear of speed.

[@gerontius3]

"Rigorous observance of the score's markings............" Except he's doubled the winds and trumpets..........The work is scored for 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in A, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, and strings. Nonetheless I heard Leinsdorf many times over the years and he's at his best here.