Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The fact that excerpts began appearing at lower prices soon after initial release is, perhaps, indicative of the lack of success met by Claudio Abbado's Beethoven cycle. Usually there's no relationship at all between quality of performance and price in the classical music world, but when the "knock down" happens really fast, you know something's up. Abbado's Beethoven wasn't all that bad, actually, just inconsistent. Here's a case in point: the Seventh is really excellent, while the Fifth is a bit of a disappointment. So, if you want to sample Abbado's strengths and weaknesses in this music, here's your chance. --David Hurwitz

Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7, Music, Ludwig van Beethoven, Claudio Abbado, Wiener Philharmoniker, Classical, Classical Music, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic
Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7 / Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Unsatisfactory audio quality
  • Kleiber does Beethoven...and does it right!
  • a legendary recording
  • Simply revelatory
  • An ultimate Beethoven interpretion of Sym 5 and Sym 7
 Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7 / Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraVienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Deutsche Grammophon: MusicDeutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
  2. Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1/Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2
  3. The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection : The 350 Essential Works
  4. Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41
  5. Great Recordings Of The Century - Beethoven: Symphony no 9 / Furtwangler, Schwarzkopf

ASIN: B000001GPX
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 1 - Allegro con brio
  2. Symphonie No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 2 - Andante con moto
  3. Symphonie No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 3 - Allegro
  4. Symphonie No. 5 In C Minor, Op. 67: 4 - Allegro
  5. SYMPHONIE NO. 7 IN A MAJOR, OP. 92: 1 - Poco sostenuto - vivace
  6. SYMPHONIE NO. 7 IN A MAJOR, OP. 92: 2 - Allegretto
  7. SYMPHONIE NO. 7 IN A MAJOR, OP. 92: 3 - Presto
  8. SYMPHONIE NO. 7 IN A MAJOR, OP. 92: 4 - Allegro con brio

Amazon.com essential recording

Long regarded as the quintessential interpretation of the most popular and best-loved symphony ever written, this performance of the Fifth has everything: passion, precision, drama, lyric beauty, and a coiled fury in the first movement that sets your pulse racing from the very first note. Carlos Kleiber has made very few recordings in his distinguished career, but almost all are special. If you own no other copy of this symphony, this is the one to get. It comes with an exceptional performance of the Seventh--not quite as gripping as the Fifth, but definitely one of the great ones. There is classical music, and there are classic recordings of classical music. This one's a classic. -- David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Unsatisfactory audio quality.......2007-07-13

The performance is marred by the inferior audio quality. It seems that the engineers of this CD have not adequately limited the dynamic range, with the result that the loud passages are too loud and the soft passages are too soft. I found myself constantly adjusting the volume control. I have purchased other CDs from Deutsche Grammophon (e.g., the Brahms Symphony collection) and those CDs are fine.

5 out of 5 stars Kleiber does Beethoven...and does it right!.......2007-07-12

A terrific 5th!

This is the best rendition of Beethoven's 5th Symphony I've ever heard. It has a continuous pace and energy that I've seldom heard when listening to this piece before.

Beethoven's 5th has often described as "fate knocking at the door". Well Kleiber's interpretation still has fate knocking at the door, but urgently... very urgently, and with the utmost positive effect. (I somehow envision the musicians lathered in sweat and collapsing from fatigue at the end of this piece).

This disc also has Beethoven's 7th Symphony; it too is very well done and, on any other CD, would be the focal point of attention.

A great CD; one to be considered in anyone's collection of classical music.
5 Stars.

R. Nicholson

5 out of 5 stars a legendary recording.......2007-03-06

"For all Kleiber's notable work, there will be a lingering regret that such a natural and brilliant talent did not achieve even more." - The Guardian

Even Beethoven legends like Karajan could not emulate Kleiber's success with these 2 symphonies. The 5th Symphony, as commercially overplayed as it is, becomes something completely different under his baton; the final movement is especially dramatic, rivaling the energy of an actual live recording. The 7th Symphony is not so superior - other conductors have come closer to this benchmark - but the 2nd movement (again overplayed) is truly something special. The recording, made over 30 years ago, sounds just as good as anything made today.

With 100+ recordings, my review seems somewhat superfluous, as well :)

5 out of 5 stars Simply revelatory.......2007-02-12

To be able to generate such passion and electricity especially in the studio seems exactly what Beethovan wanted the music at the time. To me this version puts all other versions out of court.

5 out of 5 stars An ultimate Beethoven interpretion of Sym 5 and Sym 7.......2007-02-06

Carlos Kleiber who was relatively unknown until fairly recently, has created a masterpiece. In effect he has been rediscovered. His father was no mean figure in classical music during WWII in South America and the son seems to have inherited a great deal of inspirational genius from Dad. The Viena Philharmonic is playing in its best form. This recording will outlive most others for musical excellence, precision, feeling and soul. Technically and musically, this is by far the most thrilling recording of our time. The technical sound is flawless, the inspiration is impeccable.The recording of both symphonies sustains the level of awe and excitement not usually found on most recordings of Beethoven. Oh, dear, would that Carlos had recorded the Missa Solemnis and other iconic monuments by Beethoven.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 2 & 5 [Germany]
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 2 & 5 [Germany]
    Beethoven , Abbado , and Vpo
    Manufacturer: Polygram Records
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
    ASIN: B00000E405
    Release Date: 1987-12-30

    Tracks:

    1. Adagio - Allegro Con Brio
    2. Larghetto
    3. Scherzo. Allegro
    4. Allegro Molto
    5. Allegro Con Brio
    6. Andante Con Moto
    7. Allegro
    8. Allegro
    Beethoven: Symphony Nos. 5 & 6 Pastoral
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Beethoven: Symphony Nos. 5 & 6 Pastoral

      Manufacturer: BMG/Deutsche Grammophon
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD
      ASIN: B000TQ9NYY
      Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7

        Manufacturer: Polygram Records
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

        All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
        RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
        GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
        Vienna Philharmonic OrchestraVienna Philharmonic Orchestra | ( V ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
        CDs $7 - $10CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
        All Bargain TitlesAll Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music
        ASIN: B000001GFN
        Release Date: 1992-03-10

        Tracks:

        1. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 1. Poco Sostenuto-Vivace
        2. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 2. Allegretto
        3. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 3. Presto
        4. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: 4. Allegro Con Brio
        5. Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 1. Allegro Con Brio
        6. Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 2. Andante Con Moto
        7. Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: 3. Allegro
        8. Sym No.5 in c, Op.67: Allegro

        Amazon.com

        The fact that excerpts began appearing at lower prices soon after initial release is, perhaps, indicative of the lack of success met by Claudio Abbado's Beethoven cycle. Usually there's no relationship at all between quality of performance and price in the classical music world, but when the "knock down" happens really fast, you know something's up. Abbado's Beethoven wasn't all that bad, actually, just inconsistent. Here's a case in point: the Seventh is really excellent, while the Fifth is a bit of a disappointment. So, if you want to sample Abbado's strengths and weaknesses in this music, here's your chance. --David Hurwitz

        Track Listings:

        1. Bela Bartok, 44 Duos for Two Violins
        2. Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique Op14
        3. Bird in a Gilded Cage
        4. Brahms: Piano Concertos, Haydn & Handel Variations [Import]
        5. Breath In A Ram's Horn/Pines Songs/E.E. Cummings Songbook
        6. Bruch: Symphony No 1; Violin Concerto No 3 / London SO
        7. Caldara: The Card Game
        8. Canto Gregoriano [Import]
        9. Carols For a Blue Christmas
        10. Cello Sonata

        Track Listings

        track listings

        Track Listings

        Mission of the Crossroad Palms

        Sings Handel & Bach Sacred Arias

        The Chess Box [Box set]

        Little Birds Have Fast Hearts No.1 [Import]

        Good N Cheap [Import]

        The Best of Motorcity Records, Vol. 18

        Take It from the Top

        Russiche Oster-Vesper Op. 37

        Surfmania

        Serious Fun!

        Swingin'

        Por Fuera Y Por Dentro

        Operacion Cumbia [Import]

        Nipper's Greatest Hits: The 40's, Vol. 2

        Gold