These recordings by
David Zinman and the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich are more than superlative modern performances of Beethoven's Third and Fourth symphonies; these are model demonstrations of new editions of Beethoven's Third and Fourth symphonies. Either one would have been enough: after decades of overweight, over-muscled, and overwrought performances by
Karajan,
Solti, and
Bernstein, any clean-limbed, hard-muscled performance would be happily accepted; and after centuries of ever-so-slightly corrupted editions, any clear-eyed, tough-minded edition would be deeply appreciated. But
Zinman and the Zurich Orchestra play with the dedicated fervor of true believers and their performances here stand with
Claudio Abbado's or even
Carlos Kleiber's in terms of pure passion and relentless energy. But, better yet,
Zinman and the Zurich are playing new editions of the central works of the orchestral repertoire prepared by Jonathan del Mar. There are innumerable improvements in del Mar's edition: colors are brighter, balances are clearer, blends are more astringent, attacks are more aggressive, and, best of all, Beethoven sounds more like Beethoven, more original, more imaginative, more powerful, and more awesome. As preserved in Arte Nova's open but evocative sound, these are recordings that listeners who value Beethoven's symphonies owe it to themselves to hear.