Beethoven - Die Symphonien (Symphonies 1-9) / Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Beyond argument, Claudio Abaddo's second Beethoven cycle puts his previous DG traversals of the nine symphonies in the shade. His Berlin Philharmonic musicians, for starters, play with more precision, fire, suppleness, and ensemble sophistication than the Vienna Philharmonic did for Abaddo's live 1980s DG cycle. More significant, Abaddo's interpretations turn nearly 180 degrees from a soft-grained, middle-of-the-road vantage point toward the fleet tempos and tart sonorities favored by such "historically informed" Beethovenians as Charles Mackerras, Nicholas Harnoncourt, and David Zinman. Like Zinman, Abaddo makes use of the much-discussed Barenreiter edition, featuring Jonathan Del Mar's textual revisions based on original sources. One might characterize Abaddo's remakes as the Zinman with better playing.

Symphonies One and Two are cases in point. Both are jam-packed with crisp, fleet articulation and pungent accents. In similar fashion, the Third symphony's radical classicism hits home in a lean, driving performance redolent of the like-minded Kleiber-Concertgebouw and digital Karajan-Berlin recordings of the Eroica. Clarity, however, is often sacrificed for speed in the Fourth. If Abbado's new Fifth lacks the elemental thrust and surging bass line distinguishing Carlos Kleiber's and Gunter Wand's powerful readings, one hears important lines that often get lost in the mix, such as the cellos' countermelody underneath the finale's second theme.

The remaining symphonies boast reams of prodigious, effortless orchestral execution, but they often fall short in dynamic thrust, dramatic momentum, and even humor when appropriate. The finale of the Seventh, for instance, goes too fast for the swirling music to really take shape, and ditto for the wacky last movement of the Eighth. Abaddo's excellent live Berlin Ninth on Sony is hardly superseded by the present lightweight, ill-balanced traversal, although Thomas Quasthoff's riveting declamation in the finale is gorgeous and meaningful. DG's excellent packaging includes an interview with the conductor and informative annotations. All told, an uneven cycle as a whole, but its finest moments easily stand among the best modern Beethoven symphony recordings. --Jed Distler

Beethoven - Die Symphonien (Symphonies 1-9) / Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic, Music, Ludwig van Beethoven, Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic, Box Sets (Audio Only), Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Orchestral & Symphonic, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic

Average customer rating:

Great LIVE performances

Don't miss this set!

Gee. I thought I knew something about music.

Dear Beethoven Fan, I Urge You, DO NOT Buy This Abbado Cycle! Here are the Reasons...

Two prestigious cycles from Abbado and Rattle--which to choose?

Beethoven - Die Symphonien (Symphonies 1-9) / Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic
Ludwig van Beethoven , Claudio Abbado , and Berlin Philharmonic
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2000-11-21

Tracks:

Sym No.1 in C, Op.21: 1. Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.1 in C, Op.21: 2. Andante Cantabile Con Moto
Sym No.1 in C, Op.21: 3. Menuetto. Allegro Molto E Vivace - Trio
Sym No.1 in C, Op.21: 4. Finale. Adagio - Allegro Molto E Vivace
Sym No.2 in D, Op.36: 1. Adagio - Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.2 in D, Op.36: 2. Larghetto
Sym No.2 in D, Op.36: 3. Scherzo. Allegro - Trio
Sym No.2 in D, Op.36: 4. Allegro Molto

Tracks:

Sym No.3 in E flat, Op.55 'Eroica': 1. Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.3 in E flat, Op.55 'Eroica': 2. Marcia Funebre. Adagio Assai
Sym No.3 in E flat, Op.55 'Eroica': 3. Scherzo. Allegro Vivace - Trio
Sym No.3 in E flat, Op.55 'Eroica': 4. Finale. Allegro Molto - Poco Andante - Presto
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: 1. Adagio - Allegro Vivace
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: 2. Adagio
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: 3. Allegro Molto E Vivace - Trio. Un Poco Meno Allegro
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: 4. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

Tracks:

Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 1. Allegro
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 2. Andante Con Moto
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 3. Allegro
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 4. Allegro - Presto
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastorale': 1. Pleasant, Cheerful Feelings Awakened...
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastorale': 2. Scene By The Brook: Andante Molto Moto
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastorale': 3. Merry Gathering Of Country Folk: Allegro
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastorale': 4. Thunderstorm: Allegro
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastorale': 5. Shepherd's Song: Happy And Thankful Feelings...

Tracks:

Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 1. Poco Sostenuto - Vivace
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 2. Allegretto
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 3. Presto
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 4. Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: 1. Allegro Vivace E Con Brio
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: 2. Allegretto Scherzando
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: 3. Tempo Di Menuetto
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: 4. Allegro Vivace

Tracks:

Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 1. Allegro Ma Non Troppo E Un Poco Maestoso - Karita Mattila/Violeta Urmana/Thomas Moser/Thomas Quasthoff/Swedish Radio Chor/Eric Ericson Chm Chor
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 2. Molto Vivace - Presto - Karita Mattila/Violeta Urmana/Thomas Moser/Thomas Quasthoff/Swedish Radio Chor/Eric Ericson Chm Chor
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 3. Adagio Molto E Cantabile - Andante Moderato - Karita Mattila/Violeta Urmana/Thomas Moser/Thomas Quasthoff/Swedish Radio Chor/Eric Ericson Chm Chor
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 4. Presto - Allegro Assai - Karita Mattila/Violeta Urmana/Thomas Moser/Thomas Quasthoff/Swedish Radio Chor/Eric Ericson Chm Chor
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: Presto - 'O Freunde, Nicht Diese Tone!' - Allegro Assai - Allegro Assai... - Karita Mattila/Violeta Urmana/Thomas Moser/Thomas Quasthoff/Swedish Radio Chor/Eric Ericson Chm Chor

Amazon.com

Beyond argument, Claudio Abaddo's second Beethoven cycle puts his previous DG traversals of the nine symphonies in the shade. His Berlin Philharmonic musicians, for starters, play with more precision, fire, suppleness, and ensemble sophistication than the Vienna Philharmonic did for Abaddo's live 1980s DG cycle. More significant, Abaddo's interpretations turn nearly 180 degrees from a soft-grained, middle-of-the-road vantage point toward the fleet tempos and tart sonorities favored by such "historically informed" Beethovenians as Charles Mackerras, Nicholas Harnoncourt, and David Zinman. Like Zinman, Abaddo makes use of the much-discussed Barenreiter edition, featuring Jonathan Del Mar's textual revisions based on original sources. One might characterize Abaddo's remakes as the Zinman with better playing.

Symphonies One and Two are cases in point. Both are jam-packed with crisp, fleet articulation and pungent accents. In similar fashion, the Third symphony's radical classicism hits home in a lean, driving performance redolent of the like-minded Kleiber-Concertgebouw and digital Karajan-Berlin recordings of the Eroica. Clarity, however, is often sacrificed for speed in the Fourth. If Abbado's new Fifth lacks the elemental thrust and surging bass line distinguishing Carlos Kleiber's and Gunter Wand's powerful readings, one hears important lines that often get lost in the mix, such as the cellos' countermelody underneath the finale's second theme.

Customer Reviews:

Great LIVE performances.......2007-04-19

I have this cycle on DVD and just noticed today that the audio cycle has been posted at Rhapsody and I am now listening to the first symphony.

One of the reveiws below gave the set a single star and blasted it for poor sound quality. HEY BUD, maybe it is your 2 dollar boom box and not the cds! The DVDs have a nice documentary with Abbado. He said their is not a mutt in the whole litter of the 9 symphonies(to paraphrase). Not one of these performances by Abbado & the BPO is a pound puppy! You may be able to get the DVDs for roughly the same as the cds at Amazon.

The Amazon review plus reviews posted by patrons go into issues like the faster tempos, the critical edition of the musical score employed, etc. I will not beat this horse any longer but will simply note that the playing and conducting is superb and the recorded sound is awesome.

There must be one or two dozen great Beethoven 9 cycles available! I just saw at Rhapsody that the MN Symphony Orchestra has Beethoven symphonies posted and almost screamed , "can't you folks find something else to record?" This charge can also be made of Abbado and the BPO. The BPO must have close to a dozen Beethoven Symphony cycles recorded since 1960! Even so, I am very happy that they decided to crank up the band one more time! You would think that by now the BPO would sound like the Beach Boys singing "good vibrations" for the 200th time! But nothing could be further from the truth. The playing is vigorous and fresh.

Don't miss this set!.......2006-10-17

This is brilliant Beethoven set for the Twenty First Century, with a far greater understanding of Beethoven's music than Karajan ever managed to produce with this outstanding orchestra. Only the third fails to convince, since it is far away from the standard of the powerful performances we have in Klemperer's or Furtwängler's accounts. Nonetheless, on balance, this is probably the best contemporary set we have, when compared with some of other recent DDD sets (Barenboim, Wand, Zinman). And it is far better than some other, older famous sets as well (e.g., Karajan's overrated 1963 cycle).

Sound quality is outstanding, with presence, clarity, dynamics, and detail.

Finally, soloists in #9 are also excellent: K. Mattila, V. Urmana, T. Moser, T. Quasthoff. In particular, I think Quasthoff is among the very best that we now have on record in the baritone part (together with Talvela, for Schmidt-Isserstadt).

Consequently: strongly recommended.

Gee. I thought I knew something about music........2006-04-30

I studied piano from age 4 to 20, I, believe it or not, received a book of miniscores of the Beethoven symphonies when I was around 10. I learned the pieces like that back of my hand.

Flash forward very many years. I don't do music for a living, but I think I know something about it. I read rave reviews of the new Abbado recordings of the Beethoven symphonies. I thought "what the heck, I'm in NY City, I'll buy them." I come back south, listen to the recordings, and I was thrilled. Overwhelmed.

Well, I'm obviously just a rube, because a recent reviewer has denounced the recordings as both technically and musically inadequate. I can't tell you how much it hurts me to learn that what I thought were definitive readings of these wonderful pieces weren't worth the CDs on which they were printed. Maybe it's time for introspection. Perhaps I really don't understand music.

Or perhaps the reviewer in question is just being contrary. I'm sorry, but anyone who would disparage these recordings really doesn't understand music. Both the interpretation and the recording are wonderful. While I might have a quibble or two about no. 9, nos. 1-8 more than make up for it.

If you can afford these recordings, buy them.

Dear Beethoven Fan, I Urge You, DO NOT Buy This Abbado Cycle! Here are the Reasons..........2006-03-29

I know this recent Abbado cycle with the Berlin Philharmonic looks like a tempting proposition, but don't make the mistake of buying this thing! I bought part of it separately and I listened to the rest of the symphonies I didn't buy and I must tell everyone to beware the very poor recording quality that this set offers. You would think that such an expensive set would have great sound, right? Well, you would be severely wrong to think that the imbeciles at Deutsche Grammophon could actually provide a decent digital recording!

The sound as you will instantly notice is recorded at a very low level. It is very distant, like the equivalent of listening to your neighbor play music through their apartment wall and you strain to hear the details. Ok, so it's not that bad, but it is still awful! I turn up the sound really loud and still get a very rounded, small, constricted experience. I know I'm not deaf, I just put on Karajan or Bernstein or Gardiner or damn near anyone and hear the full impact of this music so much more clearly. I recently reviewed Simon Rattle's Vienna Philharmonic Beethoven cycle, ( see my review ), I thought Rattle's cycle was very poorly recorded but Abbado's is just as lousy.

Do not be confused that because the BPO play in a chamber-scaled ensemble for several of the symphonies that the recorded sound should be so low. Gardiner and Harnoncourt play with small orchestras and sound much more powerful.

Ok, so you're saying, the sound is awful, but are the interpretations worth persevering for? Quite simply put, NO!
Claudio Abbado has been studying Beethoven for many years, he recorded the symphonies in the 1980's and since then he's been conserving his energy for something new and radical?! I wish. The only new thing Abbado brings to this cycle is lighter textures, crisper ensemble and faster tempos. That's it, no revelations. The period instrument movement was way ahead of him. The performances are shockingly polite, sedate and boring.

I applaud the Berlin Philharmonic for their wonderful playing but isn't there something more about Beethoven than wonderful playing? How about drama, power, passion, a sense of adventure? You don't find that in this Abbado cycle, but you will find a polite and delicate ensemble. It's true that Abbado once in a while struts his stuff, like the finale of the 7th symphony for instance is taken at a very hectic tempo but the effect is muted by the distant sound.

I listened to the Eroica and felt absolutely nothing! Listening to Abbado's vapid Ninth might make you hate classical music. John Elliot Gardiner is quite vapid too for instance, but at least he's gutsy and fun.

Do you enjoy dinner parties with friends and need some inoffensive background music for the occasion? This Abbado cycle will be perfect for that.

Do you actually want to hear the rage, the power, the beauty, the passion of Beethoven, one of the greatest musical minds that ever lived?

Try the following performances. Karajan in Symphonies 1 and 2 from the 1960's cycle on Hybrid SACD. The digital Karajan Gold performance for the Eroica. Furtwangler's insane Symphony 4 on Music and Arts. Karajan's massive 5th from 1962, on Hybrid SACD. For the Pastoral, try Karl Bohm or Bruno Walter. For a truly devastating 7th, Furtwangler on Music and Arts. Karajan Gold again for a thrilling 8th, and last but not least, listen to the magnificient Solti Ninth with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1972 if you like slow speeds, available in the Solti Collection or the hair-raising Gunther Wand record on RCA if you like fast intensity. For a historical Ninth Symphony, Furtwangler is the man to go to, in 1942 or 1951.

Any one of those recordings is an 'event', an experience to cherish. I will not however be cherishing Claudio Abbado's Beethoven cycle, it's disposable. If you want to hear Abbado and the BPO in full glory and great sound, try out their great Brahms symphonies, recorded more than a decade and a half ago. At least you'll know they can be great together in something!

Two prestigious cycles from Abbado and Rattle--which to choose?.......2005-09-24

The recording industry is in such bad shape now that only the most super of superstar conductors can release a complete set of Beethoven symphonies. EMI opted for Simon Rattle with the Vienna Phil. while DG bet on Abbado with the Berlin Phil. Both conductors declared that they had totally rethought these works, which is code for "I have something to offer beyond Karajan."

They do, in a way. Both sets feature faster tempos, leaner ensembles, a less grand approach, and diminished heroism and Romanticism. If that is how you like modern Beethoven--not lean to the bone like Gardiner, Norrington, and other "authentic" conductors but not fat and sluggish like Barneboim and other traditionalists--then to my ears Abbado and Rattle come out about neck and neck.

In neither case do I hear best-of-class readings of any symphony, and the rethinking often slides by without making a strong impression in the absence of total commitment, which is what Klemperer, Furtwangler, Toscanini, and Karajan brought to Beethoven, each in a different way. Rattle and Abbado have superficially jazzed up the symphonies, but they almost make me want to mourn the end of Beethoven as a living force rather than just a museum piece. Of the two, Rattle will revert to the old ways more often--the Adagio to his Ninth, for example, has no period flavor at all.

The fact that these two conductors seem about equal suprised me, though, because Rattle has studiously avoided Beethoven almost his entire career while Abbado has been devoted to him for decades. Rattle's live concert performance of Fidelio with substandard singers was no great shakes, but Abbado has yet to hit one out of the park, either, having turned in a disappointing live Beethoven Ninth on Sony, some quite lackluster symphonies with the vienna Phil. when he was much younger, and a so-so set of concerti with Pollini.

The reviewer below compalins bitterly about the unsatisfactory sonics on the Abbado set. It was also my experience that DG didn't do as good a job as they might have, but unfortunately EMI gives Rattle somewhat tight, boxy, shrill sound as well.

If I had to, I would choose the Abbado set since Rattle is just starting out. It makes an impact when two high-profile ocnductors basically declare that period proponents like Norrington, Harnoncourt, and Gardiner were right. But I don't expect to return to either cycle very often.

Average customer rating:

Individual, Profound
My favorite cycle of the symphonies
Far short of bernstein's best Beethoven, which was in NY
Bernstein outdoes Beethoven
Bernstein, Beethoven and the Vienna Philharmonic : Great Set

Beethoven: 9 Symphonien; Ouvertüren

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies (Collectors Edition)
SanDisk 2 GB Ultra II Memory Stick PRO Duo

ASIN: B000001G98
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Sym No.1 in C, Op.21: 1. Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.1 in C, Op.21: 2. Andante Cantabile Con Moto
Sym No.1 in C, Op.21: 3. Menuetto. Allegro Molto E Vivace
Sym No.1 in C, Op.21: 4. Adagio - Allegro Molto E Vivace
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 1. Poco Sostenuto - Vivace
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 2. Allegretto
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 3. Presto
Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 4. Allegro Con Brio
'The Creatures Of Prometheus' Ov, Op.43: Adagio - Allegro Molto Con Brio

Tracks:

Sym No.2 in D, Op.36: 1. Adagio - Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.2 in D, Op.36: 2. Larghetto
Sym No.2 in D, Op.36: 3. Scherzo. Allegro
Sym No.2 in D, Op.36: 4. Allegro Molto
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: 1. Adagio - Allegro Vivace
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: 2. Adagio
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: 3. Allegro Vivace
Sym No.4 in B flat, Op.60: 4. Allegro Ma Non Troppo

Tracks:

Sym No.3 in E flat, Op.55 'Eroica': 1. Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.3 in E flat, Op.55 'Eroica': 2. Marcia Funebre. Adagio Assai
Sym No.3 in E flat, Op.55 'Eroica': 3. Scherzo. Allegro Vivace
Sym No.3 in E flat, Op.55 'Eroica': 4. Finale. Allegro Molto
Goethe's Tragedy, 'Egmont' Ov, Op.84: Sostenuto, Ma Non Troppo - Allegro
H.J. Von Collin's Tragedy, 'Coriolan' Ov, Op.62: Allegro Con Brio

Tracks:

Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 1. Allegro Con Brio
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 2. Andante Con Moto
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 3. Allegro
Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 4. Allegro
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: 1. Allegro Vivace E Con Brio
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: 2. Allegretto Scherzando
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: 3. Tempo Di Menuetto
Sym No.8 in F, Op.93: 4. Allegro Vivace
'Fidelio', Ov, Op.72b: Allegro

Tracks:

Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': 1. Awakening Of Cheerful Feelings Upon Arrival In The Country...
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': 2. Scene By The Brook: Andante Molto Mosso
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': 3. Merry Gathering Of Country Folk: Allegro
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': 4. Thunderstorm: Allegro
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': 5. Shepard's Song: Happy And Thankful Feelings After The Storm...
'Leonore III' Ov, Op.72a: Adagio - Allegro
August Von Kotzebue's Festival Play, King Stephen Ov, Op.117: Andante Con Moto - Presto

Tracks:

Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 1. Allegro Ma Non Troppo, Un Poco Maestoso
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 2. Molto Vivace
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 3. Adagio Molto E Cantabile
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 4. Presto
Sym No.9 in d, Op.125: 5. Schiller's 'Ode To Joy', Final Chor - Gwyneth Jones/Hanna Schwarz/Rene Kollo/Kurt Moll

Amazon.com

Leonard Bernstein's Beethoven cycle for Deutsche Grammophon has remained one of the best around for nearly three decades. It was the first large project that Bernstein recorded live--or mostly live, there were patch-up sessions after each concert--and these performances really do capture the inspiration of the moment. Particularly outstanding are the versions of Symphonies 3, 6, 7, and 9, though reaction to Bernstein's Fifth is a matter of taste. On balance, though, this is an excellent set. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Individual, Profound.......2007-05-20

This is, without a doubt, one man's interpretation of Beethoven's nine symphonies. But when that one man is Leonard Bernstein, you're in good hands. The Vienna Philharmonic sounds rich and engaged (if wind-heavy), and are obviously willing to follow Bernstein wherever he takes them.

The addition of a disk's-worth of overtures only sweetens the deal. This might not be your reference set of the symphonies, but it is a striking alternate look at some classic scores.

My favorite cycle of the symphonies.......2006-01-10

I have the Karajan 1960's Beethoven cycle as well as the more recent Harnoncourt cycle. They are both excellent and enjoyable. I also have several recordings each of all the individual Beethoven symphonies. All have their strong points and some single symphony recordings are stronger than some of the individual symphonies from Bernstein's Vienna cycle. But, as a whole, this complete set of symphonies remains my favorite. If you're not into Bernstein, you will not favor these recordings. If you are a Lenny fan, like I am, you will love this set.

Far short of bernstein's best Beethoven, which was in NY.......2005-09-11

Bernstein in New York was the essence of "American" Beethoven: dynamic, extroverted, heedless of Germanic conventions, totally displaced from the long line leading from Nikisch to Furtwangler and Klemperer. In Vienna he lost his American perspective, but the one he gained wasn't better. The Viena Phil play wonderfully, as always, but this is their composer, not Bernstein's. In general the readings are much more fleet and small-scalled than in NY, and although nothing is wrong exactly, not a single performance, to my mind, is better than what he did before--the sound is certainly no great shakes, being dry and uninvolving. Bernstein shouldn't have tried to compete on hallowed gorund, not in Beethoven, at least. His Fidelio from Vienna is the one exception, but these readings aren't.

Bernstein outdoes Beethoven.......2002-10-17

I can not describe what I feel every time I listen to this set,Lenny has the capability of turning everything he conducts into a totally new experience,I have been studying these sinphonies since I was 14,now I'm 36!!!! H e is the only conducter who can surprise every time,this is not only music,this is pure emotion pouring out of his miraculous hands.I will be thankfull to Lenny all my life for having me live such a wonderfull experience.

Bernstein, Beethoven and the Vienna Philharmonic : Great Set.......2001-08-26

Leonard Bernstein and the Vienna Philharmonic enjoyed a great musical partnership which spanned nearly two and a half decades. Bernstein's excellent Beethoven symphony cycle was one of the finest recordings he did for Deutsche Grammophon. Admittedly the sound quality isn't as refined as a studio recording, but these are very good to exceptional performances of Beethoven's symphonies. The only major disappointment is his reading of the 5th symphony, which isn't nearly as inspiring as Bohm's - or especially Kleiber's - with the Vienna Philharmonic. His splendid reading of the 3rd Symphony is far more elegant than any I have heard from Karajan. Other great performances include those of the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 9th symphonies. The two finest performances are of the 7th and 8th symphonies, with Bernstein's riveting account of the 7th almost as fine as Kleiber's. Unfortunately, Deutsche Grammophon's inadequate placing of recording microphones resulted in less than optimal sound quality; for example one can not easily distinguish between the woodwind and string sections in the Vienna Philharmonic's performance of the 3rd symphony. Yet despite these flaws I have found Bernstein's Vienna Philharmonic Beethoven symphony cycle as enjoyable as Bohm's and far superior to any I have heard from Karajan.

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: 9 Symphonien

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Sym No. 5 in c, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio
Sym No. 5 in c, Op. 67: II. Andante con moto
Sym No. 5 in c, Op. 67: III. Allegro
Sym No. 5 in c, Op. 67: IV. Allegro-Presto
Sym No. 1 in C, Op. 21: I. Adagio molto-Allegro con brio
Sym No. 1 in C, Op. 21: II. Andante catabile con moto
Sym No. 1 in C, Op. 21: III. Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace)& Trio
Sym No. 1 in C, Op. 21: IV. Adagio- Allegro molto e vivace

Tracks:

Sym No. 2 in D, Op. 36: I. Adagio malto
Sym No. 2 in D, Op. 36: II. Larghetto
Sym No. 2 in D, Op. 36: III. Scherzo-Allegro & Trio
Sym No. 2 in D, Op. 36: IV. Allegro molto
Sym No. 4 in b flat, Op. 60: I. Adagio-Allegro vivace
Sym No. 4 in b flat, Op. 60: II. Adagio
Sym No. 4 in b flat, Op. 60: III. Menuetto (Allegro vivace) & Trio (Un poco meno allegro)
Sym No. 4 in b flat, Op. 60: IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Sym No. 3 in e flat, Op. 55 'Eroica': I. Allegro con brio
Sym No. 3 in e flat, Op. 55 'Eroica': II. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai)
Sym No. 3 in e flat, Op. 55 'Eroica': III. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) & Trio
Sym No. 3 in e flat, Op. 55 'Eroica': IV. Finale (Allegro molto-Poco andante-Presto)
Ov: Fidelio, Op. 72b
Ov: The Consecration of the House, Op. 124

Tracks:

Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': I. Awakening of happy feelings on arriving in the country
Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': II. Scene by the brook
Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': III. Merry gathering of the country folk
Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': IV. Storm and Tempest
Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': V. Shepherd's song. Happy and thankful feelings after the storm
Ov: Leonore No. 3, Op. 72a

Tracks:

Sym No. 7 in A, Op. 92: I. Poco sostenuto-Vivace
Sym No. 7 in A, Op. 92: II. Allegretto
Sym No. 7 in A, Op. 92: III. Presto-Assai meno presto
Sym No. 7 in A, Op. 92: Allegro con brio
Sym No. 8 in F, Op. 93: I. Allegro vivace e con brio
Sym No. 8 in F, Op. 93: II. Allegretto scherzando
Sym No. 8 in F, Op. 93: III. Tempo di Menuetto
Sym No. 8 in F, Op. 93: IV. Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Sym No. 9 in d, Op. 125: I. Allegro ma non troppa, un poco maestro - Cheryl Studer/Delores Ziegler/Peter Seiffert/James Morris/Westminster Chor/Joseph Flummerfelt
Sym No. 9 in d, Op. 125: II. Molto vivace-Presto
Sym No. 9 in d, Op. 125: III. Adagio molto e cantabile- Andante moderato
Sym No. 9 in d, Op. 125: IV. Presto-Recitativo-Allegro assai- Allegro assai vivace...

Average customer rating:

An essential Abendroth collection!

Die letzen Symphonien

Manufacturer: Berlin Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Decca Recordings 1949-1955

ASIN: B000FA4WFY
Release Date: 2007-01-02

Customer Reviews:

An essential Abendroth collection!.......2007-03-18

This bargain box from the Berlin Classics label is an excellent initiative: here we have a state of the art collection of Hermann Abendroth's (1883-1956) legacy, focused on "last symphonies" - i.e., late symphonies from the core masters of classical music conducted by an "old school" master, famous for his dignified authority and "subjective" though carefully balanced approach to music. It has been released to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Abendroth's death (1956).

In this box we find the following gems:

1. Mozart, Symphonies nos. 35 ("Haffner"), nos. 38 ("Prague") and 41 ("Jupiter"). The two first recorded in 1955, and the latter in 1956.
2. Beethoven, Symphony no. 9. Recorded in 1951.
3. Schubert, Symphonies nos. 8 ("Unfinished") and 9 ("The Great"). Recorded in 1950 and 1949.
4. Schumann, Symphony no. 4 (+ Cello concerto). Recorded in 1956 and 1955.
5. Brahms, Symphonies nos. 3 and 4. Recorded in 1952 and 1954.
6. Bruckner, Symphony 9. Recorded in 1951.
7. Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 6 ("Pathéthique"). Recorded in 1952.

With two exceptions all recordings are made with Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Leipzig. But Mozart symphonies nos. 35 and 41 are recorded with Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin.

These recordings have been previously released on CD, but they are now hard to find in most cases. And that's just because Abendroth's interpretations in this box are classics of classics, crème de la crème, and - well, you name it!

All recordings are in mono sound, but Berlin Classics has done a fine remastering job. They have never sounded better on disc than here.

Warmly and strongly recommended!

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