Beethoven: 9 Symphonien; Ouvertüren

Editorial Reviews
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

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.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Journey to Silk Road Concert 2005 [Import]

Koussevitzky Conducts Brahms

Painting It Red [Limited Edition]

Funhouse

A Venom Well Designed [Original recording remastered]

Rare Groove EW&F [Import]

No, No, Nanette - The New 1925 Musical (1971 Broadway Revival Cast) [Cast Recording]

Piano Dreams: Für Elise

More Left Frontal Cortex Please

Mozart: String Quartets KV387 and KV421

Morning Light

Panorama: Argentine Des Andes a La Pampa [Import]

Melancolia

Nevillization

Fat Albert Rotunda