Barenboim/WEDO at Carnegie (1): “Nicht Noten, Fleisch”

This was a Fifth that worked in intangibles, in atmosphere. The Divan’s players lived its terrors, its developments, and ultimately its victories. “Nicht Noten,” Carlos Kleiber urges in a rehearsal video, “Fleisch.” Not notes, flesh. How these players now understand, and how deservedly Barenboim was pleased.

I thought that Daniel Barenboim’s Beethoven Fifth at the Proms last year might be as good as I heard for a long time. I was wrong, for this Carnegie Hall Fifth was better played and even more convincing in interpretation. Unpredictable inevitability at its very finest.

The First and Eighth, equally excellent at the Proms, were also gems. You can read the rest of my review for Bachtrack here. Anthony Tommasini, meanwhile, disagrees.