It is a fact that one has to leave a door open for other possibilities no matter how much experience or knowledge one accumulated. When I thought that I heard everything that is to be heard and everything that is to be understood about Beethoven's great 3rd symphony, another recording comes along and proves that this infinitely reach piece of music can provide land for new discoveries and revelations. This new recording comes from the French conductor Andre Cluytens. He has as musical vector the great Berliner Philharmoniker, already, at the time, Karajan's orchestra and already an extremely well-polished instrument. Strangely or not, the Berliners play for Cluytens better than they did for their director. They sound more refined and elastic than under the baton of the Austrian master. And I think part of the reasons can be found in the artistic personality of Cluytens as we'll see below.
The first thing that impressed my musical brain was the fundamental rhythm that sustains the whole musical edifice. It's as commendatory as the pulse of life itself. It takes the power of concentration and the logic of a master to accomplish such a consistent musical foundation. The phrasing is as accurate and makes the individual ideas and the fine interplay between them come forth with utter eloquence. Mindful power drives a character play that keeps you on the edge of the seat.
It is difficult to imagine that such a powerful statement could be made after the profound versions of the likes of Furtwangler, Wallter, or Klemperer, yet Cluytens manages to change all the lenses and provide a marvelous construction that brings the great masterpiece in front of the auditory with magnificent clarity and beautiful musical drive.
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