My favourite Eroica (5) and Beethoven Fifth (2)

This Eroica came from the famous 1939 NBC cycle. The ghost of the usual stereotype of Toscanini's rigid inflexible conducting style was exorcised by his pre-war recordings.

Here we can hear subtle plasticity of expression and his (Italian) singing quality, before these were degenerated into a rigid pulse throughout a movement in the post-war NBC recordings that many come to know the Maestro. The mourning in the funeral march is almost personal.

The indomitable will as expressed by him in this symphony can readily be felt.

This is the true Toscanini we should get ourselves accustomed to.