Carlos Kleiber's all too rare concert appearances are always musical
occasions to cherish and remember. The vitality and precision of his
authoritative gestures never fail to generate excitement and inspire
playing of great élan from orchestras throughout the world. When Carlos
Kleiber conducts the Concertgebouworkest of Amsterdam in Beethoven, one can
expect a performance of intense musical concentration and exceptional
expressive power. Carlos Kleiber made this recording with the Dutch
orchestra in 1983, conducting Beethoven's Fourth and Seventh Symphonies.
The mesmeric command of this elusive conductor over his musicians is
fascinating. With none of the excessive glamor of the star performer,
Carlos Kleiber, with meticulous care for detail, creates clear instrumental
textures, compelling rhythmic designs and magical moments of fine repose.
This is spell-binding music-making. This is vintage Carlos Kleiber.
