Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies & Overtures (Box Set) [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
How is it possible that one of the greatest Beethoven cycles on disc, and certainly the finest in the Sony catalog, winds up at budget price? Here's a little insider information: When Sony moved its corporate headquarters to Germany, the Herbert von Karajan-obsessed leaders of the company figured that all of those "older" recordings were worthless, particularly the American ones. Having no clue that George Szell was one of the two or three greatest conductors of the 20th century, they then stuck them on their cheapie budget line, and voilá! Great Beethoven at a rock bottom price. Sony's back in New York now, under sensible management, and Szell's recordings are still the best deal in town. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Toscanini's last Beethoven cycle -- a unique, bargain glimpse of the performing rite.......2007-06-30

This set's insighful and irresistable, especially at the 'Amazon' price. 5 stars from me!

Imagine being able to hear works played by musicians with direct links to performers who've remembered what the composer wanted in performance of his/her works during his/her lifetime. Such opportunities arise through listening to recordings made by maestros like Arturo Toscanini (born 1867, began orchestra conducting 1886) whose musicianship -- not just in terms of scholarship and technical powers -- take us to a view of the contemporary Beethoven performing rite that seems to have dimmed with successive generations. Not that every Toscanini performance of a work is the same -- indeed there's noticeable evolution -- but his basic underlying approach remained sufficiently consistent for it to be captured in recordings, like this set, made quite late in his career (it ended in mid-1954, he died early 1957).

This Beethoven cycle is ADD mono and may not be any sonic improvement over either RCA's "74321", or "GD", series CDs of the same cycle; and it's unlikely to be sonically better than the superb LP transfers in the 100-disc set released (in the late 1970s) by RCA Japan (n.l.a.). But if you don't already own this latest RCA CD package, then, at the 'Amazon' price, it'll be an indispensible part of your Beethoven cycle experience.

The NBC Symphony is in great form (Toscanini reportedly said it didn't really become a top symphony orchestra until around its 1950 continental US tour and these discs are from that period) and the recorded sound, for the most part (say except for the Seventh's last movement) captures the dynamics and unique, chrystaline fabric of the Toscanini orchestral sound.

There's apparently some confusion over whether the set's 'Eroica' is the 1949 "studio" or 1953 "live" (broadcast) performance, but the insert-booklet's per-movement timings indicate it's the 1953 one (which is broader and differently inflected compared to the '49, and some earlier, Toscanini Eroicas; the 1949 one is included in RCA's "GD" CD series). Anyhow, this kind of issue is more for discographers than those out on a journey of important musical discovery.

Buy this set, especially at the price, the performances shouldn't fail to stimulate and inspire!

Some suggested references:-

'The Toscanini Legacy' by Spike Hughes (pub. 'Dover')
'Toscanini and the Art of Conducting' by Robert C. Marsh (pub. 'Collier Books') (in UK, titled 'Toscanini and the Art of Orchestral Performance' (pub. 'Allen & Unwin'))
'Arturo Toscanini - The NBC Years' by Mortimer H. Frank (pub. 'Amadeus Press').

i can't take it anymore.......2007-06-02

i'm tired of aficionado's bashing toscanini around while praising furtwangler as the ultimate interpreter of beethoven. just as an average "uneducated" listener is likely to praise karajan, an average "uneducated" aficionado is likely to praise furtwangler as the only viable option of beethoven performance.
which is just utterly not true!
don't get me wrong - i love furtwangler. he is one of the conductors i revere most, and i DO think that his beethoven is rarely surpassed. but there are a million ways to perform a piece! and most likely than not, this is not a matter of the cliched "subjective vs. objective" argument that most people put forward.
to argue that beethoven would not have conducted his music a la toscanini is absurd. very presumptious, of you ask me. actually, comparing beethoven's metronome markings with furtwangler's and tostanini's recordings, toscanini actually is closer to the norm. furtwangler actually disregards a lot of beethoven's instructions regarding tempi, phrasing, development, dynamics, etc.
many people, including me, would argue that furtwangler is not disregarding beethoven's intentions at all. beethoven's intention when, for instance, composing the first movement of the eroica, was not, as toscanini has said, "allegro con brio." it was the expression of beauty, the expression of the human soul. beethoven might've heard in his head the movement much faster than is usually performed. but music that occures in the mind and in the physical is significantly different (think of printing - the blue on your computer screen doesn't really turn out to be the blue you want when you print it out!). if furtwangler's performances best achieve this end (which i do believe they do), he has serviced beethoven immensly.
but who is to judge that furtwangler expressed what beethoven intended? perhaps beethoven intended a different kind of beauty? a different kind of soul? and this is why people who love music often have more than one record of the same music.
toscanini was a supreme maestro in his own right. he might not have the ability to direct a mind towards musical epiphany like furtwangler, or to steadily provoke the mind and heart to a state of climax like klemperer, but he does have a supreme sense of orchestral control. no one makes tuttis sound like tuttis as toscanini. he also has an insuperable talent of conveying musical excitement: not even erich kleiber, who in my opinion had one of the most powerful rhythmical senses amongst all the great conductors, can imbue a performance with as much explosive propulsion.
i must admit that i was also infected with the "toscanini-hate" for a while, particularly because sergiu celibidache, absolutely one of the greatest conductors, derided him as being a "note-factory." compared with celibidache or furtwangler, toscanini is a note factory. but this is merely because he prefers a more "absolute music" approach. to him, music is not an emotional, or spiritual language. it is just music. what the audience feels from the music is because of the innate quality of the notes themselves, not because the conductor tries to express them. one might say that people who prefer the first chords of the fifth symphony to be blatantly like "fate knocking on the door" would be disappointed by toscanini. but in a sense, such expectations are naive. to some performers and listeners, fate knocking on the door does not have to take on the gothic melodrama that most modern performances aim to achieve.
surely, there are sets out there that please me more - and this is not a collection of toscanini's best performances. there is a particularly noteworthy seventh on naxos coupled with an equally compelling fifth. this collection, however, serves as a worthy exponent of the virtues of toscanin's art.
for catharsis, look to furtwangler. for a sense of musical consummation, look to klemperer. elegance and liveliness, to erich kleiber. rough-edged and fiery, hawk-eyed execution, to schuricht. weingartner, walter, carlos kleiber, bohm, scherchen, and kempe also provide heartwrenching accounts. amongst the HIP performers, only gardiner had me convinced. actually, toscanini wouldn't be on top of my list of favorite beethoven conductors. but for others, he surely is, and it is more than a proper position.

Classic circa 1950 Beethoven Symphony Cycle.......2007-05-30

Toscanini was born in 1867, the same year as my great grandfather. According to RCA, his first gig as a conductor was in 1886! These recordings were made at Carnegie Hall between November 1949 and November 1952 except symphonies 4 & 5 which were taken from NBC broadcasts.

After seeing a great performance of Verdi's La Traviata, I bought Toscanini's rendition of the preludes from this opera. This was in 1978. Toscanini's music were on budget lps at the time. And being in college, I was on a budget. I have several of his budget lps plus this Beethoven Symphony cycle on the RCA plum dog label from the 1950s that I bought used. I have always enjoyed the performances and have always had misgivings about the at best AM radio like fidelity of the recordings.

I recently listened to Toscanini's Brahms Symphonies at Rhapsody and the remastering has almost brought the sonics into the space age. WOW! The Beethoven symphonies too are at Rhapsody. They sound pretty good, but far from the great Analog of the late 50s to when digital kicked in circa 1980. When the music intensifies, it seems to my ear to start to distort a little and get a little shrill. Kinda like a movie theater where you can enter and egress with abandon as long as no one yells "Fire!!"

If we look at the fidelity coming from the 1930s and 40s, all complaints would be dropped and instead our astonishment would be given at just how great they sound. For historical recordings, they do sound GREAT. I enjoyed listening again to them.

Toscanini has gone from being the best thing since sliced bread to being regarded as an out of favor commissar who is now commissaring in outer Siberia. By listening to these recordings I would hope that your perspective will improve and that you would realize that Toscanini was a pretty good conductor, who brought great classical music to the masses, who had wide influence that is still felt thru his understudies, and that he was not the boogie man!

Beethoven's symphonies.......2007-05-12

When the master conducts the master, you will get nothing but a superb rendition of excellent musice. A must for classics lovers

Great Historical Collection.......2007-05-07

Any collection of all nine Beethoven symphonies is likely to have some great recordings and some not-so-great ones, and this collection is no exception. On balance, however, if you appreciate the Toscanini style (generally fast paced), this group ranks very close to the 1963 Karajan with the Berlin SO and right there with Walter and the Columbia SO. Plus, this is the most economical way to get Toscanini's recordings of the third, seventh and ninth, so the others are a "bonus."

Average customer rating:

Those who ignore repeats should be taken outside and shot
One of the best cycles out there - if not the best!
Excellent set of Beethoven's 9 Symphonies
SACD set is better
one of the best beethoven cycles

Beethoven: 9 Symphonies
Ludwig van Beethoven , Herbert Von Karajan , Gundula Janowitz , Waldemar Kmentt , Hilde Rossel-Majdan , and Berlin Philharmonic
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Brahms: The Complete Symphonies / Karajan, Berlin PO
Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000001GBQ
Release Date: 2007-06-05

Tracks:

Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21: 1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21: 2. Andante cantabile con moto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21: 3. Menuetto. Allegro molto e vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No.1 in C major, Op. 21: 4. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op.55 Eroica: 1. Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op.55 Eroica: 2. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op.55 Eroica: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major, op.55 Eroica: 4. Finale. Allegro molto - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphonie No. 2 D-dur Op.36: I. Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 2 D-dur Op.36: Larghetto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 2 D-dur Op.36: Menuet & Trio: Allegro Molto E Vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 2 D-dur Op.36: Adagio - Allegro Molto E Vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 4 B-dur Op. 60: I. Adagio - Allegro Vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 4 B-dur Op. 60: Adagio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 4 B-dur Op. 60: Allegro Vivace: Un Poco Meno Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 4 B-dur Op. 60: Allegro Ma Non Troppo - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphonie No. 5: 1. Allegro Con Brio - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 5: 2. Andante Con Moto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 5: 3. Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 5: 4. Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 1. Erwachen Heiterer Empfindungen Bei Der Ankunft Auf Dem Lande (Allegro Ma Non Troppo) - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 2. Szene Am Bach (Andante Molto Mosso) - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 3. Lustiges Zusammensein Der Landleute (Allegro) - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 4. Gewitter - Sturm (Allegro) - L.V. Beethoven
Symphonie No. 6: 5. Hirtengesang, Frohe Und Dankbare Gef Hle Nach Dem Sturm (Allegretto) - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphony 7: 1 Poco Sostenuto - Vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 7: 2 Allegretto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 7: 3 Presto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 7: 4 Allegro Con Brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 8: 1 Allegro Vivace I Con Brio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 8: 2 Allegretto Scherzando - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 8: 3 Tempo Di Menuetto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony 8: 4 Allegro Vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9: Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9: Molto vivace - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9: Adagio molto e cantabile - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9: Presto - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9: Presto. - - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Amazon.com essential recording

By general consensus, Herbert von Karajan's first (1963) Beethoven cycle for Deutsche Grammophon is the best of the four (!) that he recorded. The Berlin Philharmonic was in top form, and they had not yet made an artistic fetish out of the bland smoothness that typified the conductor's later recordings of this music (and just about everything else). Karajan's squeaky clean, emotionally cool Beethoven will always be something of an acquired taste, but this set makes the best possible case for it. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Those who ignore repeats should be taken outside and shot.......2007-06-07

Karajan shows no respect for the balance of Beethoven's score. Overall, there is little here to laud or hate......a bonus second star for spectacular execution by the Berlin Phil, without actually playing any music. Glossy, zero rubato, zero sforzati, continuous mezzo forte.

In 20 years, music notation software with masterful samples will sound exactly like this: the most perfect and beautiful sounds a computer can generate. These performances are soulless.

Give me Bernstein/VPO or Solti/Chicago any day over this rubbish.

One of the best cycles out there - if not the best!.......2007-05-05

The 9 Symphonies play a great role in my life because of their sheer beauty and touching deepness. So I have obtained a lot of recordings of these pieces through the years, some of them on CD, some on casette, some on LP. And there are the concerts, of course. As a natural consequence, I have listened to a lot of different interpretations of these masterpieces. All interpretations (well not all but a great majority) have their moments but when I listen to Maestro Karajan's recordings of these, I always discover something that wasn't there the last time I heard. Karajan has always been critiqued for being too mechanical, too much in control but he always introduced something new to the music through his interpretation... The artistical point of the 1963 Karajan cycle has already been talked about a lot, I've got nothing more to say about it, I can only repeat that this cycle is perpahs the best cycle you will ever find. It is one of those works which become to be the yardstick for the later recordings to be compared with.

I was most pleasantly surprised to discover that the sound quality is phenomenal for a 1963 recording, it is better than more recent ADD records. The sound engineering is also very good, it is like having the full orchestra play for you in youor living room. The deep notes of the double basses go right through you while the violins tease your ears in a most pleasent way. So, the sound quality is just great.

I also would like to talk about the CD design, which is something very important for me. I know it is strange but I like to own CDs that have good design. Of course the included material is a lot more important but... Anyway, there are two CD cases with the first one including the first 6 symphonies on 3 CDs, and the other presenting the remaining three on 2 CDs, with the last CD contains the 9th. CDs have mirror surface with the classic DG logo and the contents are listed on the CD itself as well as the booklet. The booklet offers a good read on the 9 symphonies and the cycle presented with the set.

I hope you will enjoy the set as much as I do...

Excellent set of Beethoven's 9 Symphonies.......2007-04-12

I have only one complaint: the first part of both the 5th and 6th
symphonies feel a bit rushed in my view, the tempo seems just a
little fast. Other than that, this is an excellent set of
Beethoven's 9 symphonies, well worth it.

SACD set is better.......2007-03-30

Beethoven's 5th by Karajan was my first classical record purchase.
Thousands of analogue and digital discs later, I again purchased the same 5th and eight others on this CD set.

Karajan lived through the eternal dilemma of the all artists who came after the great predecessors.
At his last Saltsburg Festival, after conducted "Don Giovanni"He said to his wife,

"Furtwangler would have said it wasn't all that great."
She consoled the Maestro,
"It was! It was!"
Karajan had a life long struggle with legacy of Furtwangler and was not too sure if he won.

Well, his style and interpretations are definitely non-Furtwangler, or to more precisely put non-German.
It seems to me that Karajan tried to avoid playing Beethoven's music in conjunction with German culture and spirituality.

Whether his attempt was successful one or not, has been a topic of many music critics and connoisseurs.

Personally, I have a mixed feeling toward this cycle.
I like No.1, 2 and 7 very much. However, there are some flaws; for instance in the fourth movements of 5th and 9th,
cello, bass, tympani and all lower notes suddenly disappear. All you hear is the first violin all the way to coda with painfully
bright tone.(it is called Karajan glare and is more obvious if you own high resolution Audiophile stereo system)

Wonder if this deletion of bass is a part of Karajan's interpretations or a fault of old analog recorder, which is incapable of
recording loud passages?

In each symphonies, the first violin is always exaggerated over other instruments. I think that is the reason why some people
call these recordings "light" Beethoven.

If you must listen to Karajan's Beethoven Symphonies, I would recommend SACD reissue, which is more expensive and bass is
still thin but tonal quality is somewhat more acceptable.

And if you want to listen to the best Beethoven cycle, do yourself a favor:
Obtain the 9 symphonies by Furtwangler.

This set is not my first choice.

one of the best beethoven cycles.......2007-02-22

generally this set is one of the best beethoven cycles, audio is good considering that this recording was done in the 60's. though the string section of the orchestra was quite dominant, the wind instruments were sonically weak maybe due to placements of microphones during recording( compare with carlos kleiber beethoven symphonies). Last movement of symphony no. 9 seems to be lacking of the high frequecy content of the sound. it seems that there was a cutting of the full audio frequency. maybe they were trying to suppress the noise but the fidelity of the audio was sacreificed. overall this cycle is a must for a beethoven fan.

Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

Average customer rating:

Great Performance
Great Analog Beethoven Cycle
An essential collection
The best value in classical music on CD at the moment...
Wonderful Performances

Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet
Mozart:The Complete Piano Sonatas and Variations
Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas / Daniel Barenboim
Dvorák: The Symphonies
Furtwangler Conducts Beethoven - Beethoven: symphonies no 3,4,5, & 9, Leonore

ASIN: B00004YA0S
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Tracks:

I: Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio
II: Andante Cantabile Con Moto
III: Menuetto & Trio: Allegro Molto E Vivace
IV: Adagio - Allegro Molto E Vivace
I: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
II: Andante Molto Mosso
III: Allegro - In Tempo D'allegro - Tempo I
IV: Allegro
V: Allegretto

Tracks:

I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Marcia Funebre: Adagio Assai
III: Scherzo & Trio: Allegro Vivace
IV: Finale: Allegro Molto - Poco Andante - Presto
Gross Fuge

Tracks:

I: Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio
II: Larghetto
III: Scherzo & Trio: Allegro
IV: Allegro Molto
I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Andante Con Moto - Piu Mosso - Tempo I
III: Allegro -
IV: Allegro - Presto

Tracks:

I: Adagio - Allegro Vivace
II: Adagio
III: Menuetto: Allegro Vivace - Trio: Un Poco Meno Allegro
IV: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
I: Poco Sostenuto - Vivace
II: Allegretto
III: Presto - Assai Meno Presto
IV: Allegro Con Brio

Tracks:

I: Allegro Vivace Con Brio
II: Allegretto Scherzando
III: Tempo Di Menuetto
IV: Allegro Vivace
Overture
Overture
Overture
Overture

Tracks:

I: Allegro Non Troppo, Un Poco Maestoso - Christa Ludwig
II: Molto Vivace - Presto - Christa Ludwig
III: Adagio Molto E Cantabile - Andante Moderato - Christa Ludwig
IV: Presto - Recitativo - Allegro Assai - Alla Marcia - Christa Ludwig
Overture - Christa Ludwig

Tracks:

I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Largo
III: Rondo: Allegro Scherzando
I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Adagio
III: Rondo: Molto Allegro

Tracks:

I: Allegro Con Brio
II: Largo
III: Rondo: Allegro
I: Allegro Moderato
II: Andante Con Moto
III: Rondo: Vivace

Tracks:

Fantasia For Piano, Chorus And Orchestra
I: Allegro
II: Adagio Un Poco Mosso -
III: Rondo: Allegro

Amazon.com essential recording

Otto Klemperer's Beethoven is one of the towering achievements in the history of recordings. By today's standards, these performances are hopelessly old-fashioned: dark, heavy, and frequently very slow. But they are also the grandest, most unsentimental, most purposeful versions in the catalog. In addition, the relatively slow tempos (only in the fast movements--the slow ones are pretty swift) and forward wind balance permit more detail to be heard than in most original-instrument performances. At budget price and with the entire piano concerto cycle thrown in for good measure, this is greatness incarnate. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Great Performance.......2007-07-07

There are many different ways to perform Beethoven and each one is valid.
If you like it fast - go to Toscanini or Norrington. If you prefer slow, powerful and majestic, this is your set. Towards the end of his distinguished career, the great Otto Klemperer set down his final views of the performance of these symphonnies. The set is a coherent whole and will give great pleasure for ever. The challenging mix of the young Barenboim and the aged Klemperer worked surprisingly well and thus the concertos may also be recommended. There are odd additional items which add to the pleasure. Finally do not forget to purchase his memorable set of 'Fidelio' to complete your traversal of a great conductor giving great performances of a composer that he loved. Finally the price is ridiculously low and provides quality and quantity at a great price. Thus you should be able to buy the opera set from the savings made!

Great Analog Beethoven Cycle.......2007-05-07

This Klemperer cycle is just one of a dozen or so GREAT analog Beethoven symphony cycles that were recorded during Analog's golden age starting about 1958. These cycles are easily a match for digital and they should still be around for another 1,000 years, if the Lord tarries. These sets include: Karajan (twice, early 60s and late 70s) Bohm, Krips, Jochum, Bruno Walter, Leinsdorf, Rene Leibowitz, Szell, Ormandy, Bernstein, Steinberg, and Solti. This morning I listened to the Klemperer recordings of Beethoven's symphonies 5, 6, & 7. Very enjoyable, I got my Beethoven RDA fix.

Of all these Analog sets, I most enjoy the Leibowitz Spring 1961 cycle with the Royal Philharmonic. I have this cycle on an audiophile early 90s European import Edition Phoenix label special pressing "on extra virgin vinyl." These are by far the best analog symphonic lps I have ever heard from a recording standpoint. BY FAR! And they will rock your house.

You can almost justify Karajan's 4 recorded Beethoven cycles and one video based upon improvements in recording technology. Thru Rhapsody, I have listened to his mid 50s cycle and the orchestra sounds great, but the recording quality is sub par compared to Analog's golden age. So the rational for 4 cycles would be, (1) recent great improvements in recording technology (early 60s), (2) it has been 15 years and he has grown as an artist (late 70s), (3) we now have digital! Let's do one of the first Beethoven digital cycles (80s).

Klemperer is a no-brainer. I do not have to think twice about plopping one of his lps onto my turntable or hitting the play button at Rhapsody. When the music starts, the listening pleasure begins. Don't miss his Bruckner symphony recordings!

An essential collection.......2007-04-25

How best to describe Otto Klemperer's perspective on Beethoven's symphonies: grand, heroic, intense, insightful, stubborn, obstinate, detailed, dramatic, monumental, granitic, deeply emotional, never sentimental. This boxed set of the complete symphonies and concerti embodies all of these elements as stands as one of the great achievements of recorded music.

These performances were recorded with the Philharmonia Orchestra at its peak, in the sumptuous acoustics of Kingsway Hall in London and in fine and detailed sound, and mostly in the mid-1950's during one of the brief charmed periods of Klemperer's life. EMI's impresario Walter Legge had made him permanent conductor of the Philharmonia, and when Klemperer embarked on this project in his 70's, he was in relatively good mental and physical health (Klemperer could show symptoms of manic depression and survived many health crises - brain tumor, broken bones, paralysis - which would have stopped most people).

By this time Klemperer had slowed the tempi of the fast movements of the Beethoven symphonies (listen to his early 1950's recordings of the 5th and 6th on Vox to hear by how much). This tendency is more pronounced in these studio recordings than in the live performances which were recorded during that era. The slowness is mostly saved by Klemperer's use of "sprung" rhythms, which keep the slow tempi from feeling laggardly.

Klemperer's earliest recordings in this series - symphonies 3, 5 and 7 - predate stereo and were recorded in excellent monaural sound. He rerecorded all three of these symphonies in stereo, but those recordings were made after he burned himself by falling asleep while smoking in bed. All three performances feature slower tempi than the earlier ones (whether this was the conductor's preference or the result of physical incapacity is open to conjecture). In particular, the rerecorded 7th suffered from lax phrasing, inattentiveness and perverse tempi. That is NOT the version contained in this set: fortunately, EMI had simultaneously recorded the earlier version of the 7th in "experimental" stereo, and it is that earlier version which is released here (and in remarkably good stereo). The versions of the 3rd and 5th are the rerecorded stereo ones.

You will find no finer studio versions of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th or 8th. All are insightful, beautifully detailed and powerful. The 2nd clearly looks forward to the 3rd and not back toward Hayden, the 4th is boisterous and vital, the 6th bucolic and sumptuous (not a quality normally associated with Klemperer), the 7th gains in drama what it loses in swiftness and lightness, and in the 8th in particular we see the conductor's empathy to Beethoven's sense of humor. Klemperer had a deep affinity for the "Eroica", and the rerecorded version here, while slower than the 1955 recording, was dubbed by "High Fidelity"'s Harris Goldsmith (no Klemperer fan, he) as "the best Eroica going slow" and is a monumental masterpiece (the second movement is shattering). The 1st, while leisurely, is a lovingly crafted.

That leaves the 5th and 9th. There is no doubt in my mind that the earlier, mono 5th is superior to the remake in this set. We lose that sense of an inevitable onslaught, especially in the outer movements. And the 9th, while similar in conception to the live versions recorded around the same time (on Testament with the Philharmonia and on Music&Arts with the Concertgebouw), suffers from diffuse sound and occasional lack of focus. I emphasize that these recordings of both symphonies are still head and shoulders above most of the competition; we're talking about different levels of greatness here.

Are there superior Klemperer recordings of these symphonies? Yes; but all are live, and despite the relatively good reprocessed sound, they don't reveal the same level of detail that these studio recordings do. Klemperer was a very different conductor in front of an audience, and there is more vitality and drama in the live versions of the 3rd (Testament, with the Danish Symphony), 6th 7th and 8th (Music&Arts with the Concertgebouw) and the 9th (see above). Music&Arts' set of the complete symphonies, recorded live in Vienna in 1960, is long out of print and had cramped sound with poor detail - a supplement to this set, not a replacement.

As to the piano concerti: they are better than one might expect. Barenboim, although steeped in the Germanic performance tradition, is more naturally aligned with the Furtwangler and Edwin Fischer than with Klemperer. However, the two of them actually work together extremely well and this is a fine, insightful set.

Any complete cycle of Beethoven, symphonies or concerti, will have drawbacks. There will be unevenness in the performances, as there are here. But there are advantages to hearing one musician's perspective on the works, especially when (as here) the performer has depth of understanding, integrity of vision, and a structural understanding of the pieces.

The digital remastering is excellent and the sound barely shows its age. This may not be your only complete set of Beethoven's symphonies, but it should be one of them. And at a price this low, it's a bargain too.

The best value in classical music on CD at the moment..........2007-01-02

What is the best value in classical discs available today ? Who knows, but I defy anyone to beat the EMI compilation of Klemperer' recordings of the complete Beethoven Symphonies, Piano Concertos (with Barenboim), several overtures the Choral Fantasia etc etc. 9 discs for only $44 ( well that was the price I paid). You have got to be kidding... I only had two concerns with buying this. First on the age of the recordings, all more than 40 years old. No worry at all. This is a masterpiece of reconstruction. The sound quality indistinguishable from any modern recording. Secondly , the performances themselves. I had been warned that Klemperer notoriously chose rather slow tempi. Again I needn't have worried. I immediately went to the slow movements of the 2nd piano concerto and the fourth symphony, where many slow tempists have in the past come unstuck. The piano concerto was an absolute revelation. The combination of the youthful Barenboim and the Philharmonia's masterful playing time and gain had me on the edge of my seat. " Yes,go on, well...." Slow it may have been. Boring, never. The same applies in spades to the slow movement of the fourth. Right from the eerie opening, which is yes, very slow indeed, I knew this movement would be a revelation and I can honestly say I have never hear it better played. Follow this with a scherzo bounding in energy and thumping finale and you will never get a better performance of this, one of Beethoven's "lesser" symphonies. And I haven't even got round to the "biggies" yet! The box set looks unattractive and the portrait of Klemperer makes him appear a first class nerd. Pay absolutely no attention to this....

Wonderful Performances.......2006-04-07

I have admittedly not made it through the entire set as of yet, but feel sufficiently blown away by the First Symphony and the Eroica - particularly the second movement of the latter - to weigh in here. With respect to the tempo issue, I must - at least so far - argue in favor of Klemperer's decision to slow things down a bit. I think the effect is, as someone else has observed, a clearer and more visceral experience of Beethoven's composition. It brings out the feeling. The sound comes up a little short on the low end, but it isn't a major distraction. My only problem lies in EMI's inexplicable lack of any discussion of the performances. The notes are bland, dry descriptions of the pieces themselves, with some basic history thrown in. Given the fact that there are probably hundreds of different CDs of Beethoven's symphonies out there, all with similar explanatory notes, it is infuriating that nothing is said about these particular performances. This is in contrast with the EMI Bach set (with Yehudi Menuhin) in which there is a wonderful essay that discusses Menuhin's work in historical context.

Beethoven Collection: Symphonies Nos. 1-9, Complete Recording (Box Set)

Average customer rating:

Beethoven Collection
Amazing!
An excellent introduction to beethoven's symphonies.
Beethoven Collection
Top music!

Beethoven Collection: Symphonies Nos. 1-9, Complete Recording (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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25 Mozart Favorites
25 Tchaikovsky Favorites
25 Vivaldi Favorites
25 Bach Favorites
25 Beethoven Favorites

ASIN: B000001VVY
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 Op. 67 C Minor: Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 5 Op. 67 C Minor: Andante con motto
Symphony No. 5 Op. 67 C Minor: Scherzo - Allegro
Symphony No. 5 Op. 67 C Minor: Finale - Allegro
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60 B Flat Major: Adagio - Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60 B Flat Major: Adagio
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60 B Flat Major: Menuetto, Allegro vivace Trio: un poco meno allegro
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60 B Flat Major: Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 E Flat Major, 'Eroica': Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 E Flat Major, 'Eroica': Marcia funebre. Adagio assai
Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 E Flat Major, 'Eroica': Scherzo-Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 E Flat Major, 'Eroica': Finale-Allegro molto
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93 F Major: Allegro vivace e con brio
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93 F Major: Allegretto scherzando
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93 F Major: Tempo di menuetto
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93 F Major: Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 6 Op. 68 F Major: Allegro ma non troppo
Symphony No. 6 Op. 68 F Major: Andante molto mosso
Symphony No. 6 Op. 68 F Major: Allegro
Symphony No. 6 Op. 68 F Major: Allegro
Symphony No. 6 Op. 68 F Major: Allegretto
Symphony No. 2 Op. 36 D Major: Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 2 Op. 36 D Major: Larghetto
Symphony No. 2 Op. 36 D Major: Scherzo Allegro
Symphony No. 2 Op. 36 D Major: Allegro molto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 Op. 92 A Major: Poco sostenuto - vivace
Symphony No. 7 Op. 92 A Major: Allegretto
Symphony No. 7 Op. 92 A Major: Presto - Assai meno presto
Symphony No. 7 Op. 92 A Major: Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21 C Major: Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21 C Major: Andante cantabile con moto
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21 C Major: Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace)
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21 C Major: Finale Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 In D Minor: Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso - Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 In D Minor: Molto vivace - Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 In D Minor: Adagio molto e cantabile - Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 In D Minor: Presto - Allegro assai - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

Beethoven Collection.......2007-05-14

I just got this for my brother-in-law as a gift and he loves it!

Amazing!.......2007-01-24

Having Beethoven's Symphonies in one, very affordable, set is heaven! The recordings are clear and crisp. Each symphony is truly a masterpiece from the very soft tones of the woodwinds to the thundering sounds of horns. It is amazing to listen to certain passages of Beethoven and realize the genius and otherworldliness of his talent.

An excellent introduction to beethoven's symphonies........2007-01-11

The sound is excellent, and the musicianship and conducting is excellent.

Beethoven Collection.......2006-07-23

Beethoven is my favorite composer. No matter how upset or tired I am, his music calms me down, just like a big, gentle hug.
But the cheap CDs have poor quality. And the good ones are too expensive for me. When I found this collection, with such a good price on Amazon.com, I couldn't believe it. Shortly after I purchased it, I received it. The quality is great. I am enjoying it. Thank you

Hoda

Top music!.......2006-07-19

Everything else you can get over, but classical music like Beethoven is stuff you just can't get sick of. A whole collection of Beethoven's Symphonies for such a small price, Wow!. Classical music is so relaxing and peaceful that you can't go wrong with spending time chillin out to this pure classic. The symphonies are great but after this you've got to go get the sonata's etc and I guarantee you won't be dissapointed!

Think about it, they don't call it classical for nothing.

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music

Average customer rating:

CD set is misnamed
Do not Buy
Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music
Seek better versions
It Is What It Is

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music

Manufacturer: Compendia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits
25 Classical Favorites
25 Romantic Classics
The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe

ASIN: B000003QWH
Release Date: 1994-06-09

Tracks:

Canon In D
'Brandenburg' Concerto No. 3: Allegro
The Four Seasons - The Winter: Largo And Allegro
Fanfare ('Masterpiece Theatre' Theme)
Camerata Romana: Air For The 'G' String
'Eine kleine Nachtmusik': Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 21 ('Elvira Madigan' Theme): Andante
Introduction To Symphony No. 5
'William Tell' Overture: Finale
'Aida': Triumphal March
On The Beautiful, Blue Danube Waltz
'The Nutcracker': Waltz Of The Flowers
'1812' Overture: Finale

Tracks:

Sabre Dance
'Light Cavalry' Overture: Finale
Carmen: The Toreadors
' Midsummer Night's Dream': Wedding March
Radetzky March
Symphony No. 9, 'Choral': Finale
'Prince Igor': Polovstian Dance No. 17
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song
Sleepers, Wake
Water Music: Hornpipe
Symphony No. 9, 'From The New World': Largo
Emperor Waltz
'Emperor' Quartet: St. Anthony's Chorale
'The Tales Of Hoffman': Barcarolle
L'Arlesienne: Farandole
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Mirlitons
'The Nutcracker': Dance Of The Sugar-Plum Fairy
'Rhapsody In Blue': Highlight
'Orpheus In The Underworld': Can-Can

Tracks:

Introduction To 'Also sprach Zarathustra'
Symphony No. 4, 'Italian': Saltarello: Presto
Piano Concerto No. 20: Romance
'The Valkyrie': Ride Of The Valkyries
'The Four Seasons' - The Spring: Allegro
Toccata and Fugue
Trumpet Voluntary
'Royal Fireworks Music': la rejouissance: Allegro
'Moonlight' Sonata: Adagio Sostenuto
London Festival Orchestra: Overture To 'The Barber Of Seville'
Piano Concerto No. 2: Adagio Sostenuto

Tracks:

Carmina Burana: Introduction To 'Carmina Burana'
Peer Gynt: Dawn From 'Peer Gynt'
Lohengrin: Prelude To 'Lohengrin'
'Lieutenant Kije': Troika From 'Lieutenant Kije'
Adiago For Strings
'Carmen': Habanera From 'Carmen'
'Double' Concerto: Allegro From 'Double' Concerto
The Marriage Of Figaro: Overture To 'The Marriage Of Figaro'
(Rondo) Alla Turca
Xerxes: Largo From 'Xerxes'
Symphony No. 5: Allegro vivace From Symphony No. 5
'Swan Lake': Scene: Enchanted Lake From 'Swan Lake'
Clair De Lune
Bolero

Customer Reviews:

CD set is misnamed.......2007-06-08

They should have titled this "classical music for people who love classical music" because most of the selections are typical classical music. The title suggests it would be lively selections of "light classical" music that is more upbeat, i.e. Sabre Dance, etc. I really don't hate classical music at all and have many classical CDs in my collection but I really wanted to hear more exciting selections. I won't be purchasing any more of this set but if you like traditional classical music these are good one.

Do not Buy.......2007-02-21

I do know it says classical music for people who hate it, but serioulsly you would have better luck never listening to classical music again. The recordings are awfull and do not do justice to any of the composers. Buy something else.

Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music.......2007-01-30

We love this set of CD's. I just got a new copy because my kids keeping taking our first copy with them so that they can listen at work or in their bedrooms but then I can never find them.

Seek better versions.......2006-12-09

If you are fairly new to classical purchases then compilation CD's can be useful for deciding what to buy next. Sometimes you only need a small taste of a piece to inspire you to buy a release with the whole performance on. The problem with this compilation however is that most of the versions are poor in performance or recording quality (or both) when compared to the best versions and the fact that the conductors aren't even credited on the track listing made me suspect that this would be the case. One of my favorite classical pieces is Tchaikovsky's 1812 festival overture but if the first CD version I had heard had been the finale excerpt that is on this compilation I may not have gone on to buy the whole thing. Luckily I heard Adrian Leaper's version first and Adrian's version is rather good.
My classical CD buying experience is limited to only a couple of dozen discs but I have found that the Naxos and Deutshe Grammophon releases are fairly safe. Avoid any release which does not name the conductors on the track listing or sleeve notes.

It Is What It Is.......2006-10-27

It's fitting that this page is fraught with the same kind of silly snobbery that turns people off from classical music (and necessitates collections like this) in the first place.

Any criticism of this compilation, which focuses on the quality of the performances or the fact that many tracks are excerpts, misses the point. This is not a collection for people who consider such things, nor does it purport to be. The idea is to package as many ultra-famous classical melodies as possible in one affordable collection and market it to people who have never purchased a classical recording. As such, top-tier performances are likely too expensive to be sold so cheaply and are unnecessary anyway. Those of us who already know and love a piece or two can forgive the compilers the inclusion of sub-par recordings, when we are exposed to so many other beautiful pieces for the first time.

It probably comes as a shock for some to hear that most people are not familiar with these classics. We may hear snippets on TV or movies, but are left with no idea as to the composer or historical context. With that in mind, it is extremely intimidating to begin buying classical. I suppose those among us, who so thoroughly dismissed the very notion of a boxed set like this, would have us begin by buying full albums by reputable interpreters. Surprisingly enough though, the majority of people would consider that a tad cost-prohibitive.

To conclude, this is a STARTER collection. It will either affirm a listener's feelings about classical music or lead to an interest in purchasing better recordings. Ideally, I suppose the interpretations would be better, but, for reasons mentioned above, that just isn't in the cards for a collection of this nature. If you're familiar with 50 different recordings of "The Ring" series, or have season tickets to the New York Philharmonic, then this probably isn't for you. For us cretins with limited foreknowledge of classical music though, it serves as a succinct introduction with little to complain about.

Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits

Average customer rating:

Waste of money
Great Music Compilation
If you like classical music don't buy this CD.
A must for anyone wanting the staples of classical music
A great compilation

Best of the Millennium: Top 40 Classical Hits

Manufacturer: Utv Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music
25 Classical Favorites
The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe
The Most Relaxing Classical Album In the World Ever, Volume II

ASIN: B00004GOZA
Release Date: 2000-02-08

Tracks:

Adagio In G Minor
Jesu, Joy OF Man's Desiring
Moonlight Sonata - Adagio sostenuto
March Of The Toreadors (Carmen)
Celebrated Minuet
Polovtsian Dance No. 1 (Prince Igor)
Cradle Song
'Minute' Waltz
Suite Bergamasque: Clair de Lune
Largo
Pomp And Circumstance March No. 1
Rhapsody In Blue - Andante And Finale
Peer Gynt Suite: Morning
Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus
Liebestraum
Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Wedding March
'Masterpiece Theater' Theme: Rondau (First Symphonic Suite)
The Great Gate Of Kiev

Tracks:

Eine klein Nachtmusik - Allegro: Eine kleine Nachtmusik - Allegro
Orpheus In The Underworld: Cancan
Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
Canon In D
Lietenant Kije Suite - Troika
Turandot: Nessun dorma
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini - 18th Variation: Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini- 18th Variation
Bolero - Conclusion
The Tale Of Czar Sultan: Flight Of The Bumblebee
William Tell Overture - Finale
Carnival Of The Animals: The Swan
Gymnopedie No. 3
Ave Maria
Blue Danube Waltz
Thus Spake Zarathustra - Sunrise
Firebird Suite - Finale
1812 Overture - Finale: 1812 Overtune - Finale
Fantasia On 'Greensleeves'
Anvil Chorus (II Trovatore)
The Four Seasons - Largo From 'Winter'
Die Walkure: Ride Of The Valkyries

Amazon.com

For those who want the most remembered passages of classical music's best-loved works, here's a package for you. On this bargain priced double-CD, you'll find music from 40 different classical composers; for the most part, the recordings excerpted here are some of the very best. Of course, you only get one Bach sampling (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, played by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra) and one Mozart (A Little Night Music conducted by Herbert von Karajan), but this is still a nice collection--perhaps the starting point for a budding collection of classical music. This set's downfall? Unfortunately, though the liner notes discuss the evolution of classical music chronologically, the tracks are programmed in alphabetical order by composer's last name. This makes for some startling transitions! Emil Gilels's reflective performance of the Adagio from Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata is followed by the crashing cymbals and bombast of Carmen's "March of the Toreadors," a recipe for a heart attack if there ever was one. Still, there's something here for everyone and the liner notes even explain what movies this music can be found in. A nice touch. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

Waste of money.......2006-01-12

Watch out for the volume leveling mentioned in another review. Surely the compliers could have come up with a better sort order than by composer. The change in tempo/volume between pieces makes it impossible to enjoy. My two CD's ended up in the trash.

Ken

Great Music Compilation.......2005-08-15

This is a great CD full of many songs that you will recognize and enjoy. If you are someone who likes classical music but doesn't necessarily know which songs or which composers you like, then this CD is for you. You will likely recognize many of the songs as the classical songs you would have picked out to be your favorites.

If you like classical music don't buy this CD........2005-03-11

Most of the tracks were chopped down to 3-4 minutes so some of the best parts of the compositions are missing. I don't know what I was thinking trying to buy 40 classical songs on two CD's. If you really want to enjoy the music you would do better to purchase a CD with fewer, but better quality tracks.

A must for anyone wanting the staples of classical music.......2005-02-23

In my years of experience teaching Fine Arts to high school students, I know that the majority, if not all, of the music included on this album is commonly used in collge music appreciation courses. This is an excellent sample of truly all the "greatest hits" of classical music. My students enjoy listening to the music and have later told me when take their required music apreciation courses in college that they "already know it all" because of this CD! The recordings are clear, the selections are passionate, and the listener will gain a familiarity with all of the most commonly heard classical music used in tv commercials, movies, etc.
I recommend this album, along with the boxed set, "Age of the Classics" for anyone who is interested in becoming familiar with the most famous staples of classical music.

A great compilation.......2005-02-09

This cd somes up some of the greatest pieces of instrumental (and is some cases choral) music ever written. It is a great starter for a beginning classical music lover or a quick and easy all-in-one for those of us who study classical music for a living. I highly recommend this cd to anyone who wants to love or already does love classical music.

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 [Special Edition] [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Worth every Penny !
Over all very good, in places great
smoothed out edges
Solid live performances, great sound, but a little identity crisis?
This latest Beethoven Symphonies cycle is not that great

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 [Special Edition] [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Lso Live UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (Hybr)
Le Sacre du Printemps [Hybrid SACD]
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 [Hybrid SACD]
Mahler: Symphony No. 5 [Hybrid SACD]
Mahler: Symphony No. 6; Piano Quartet [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B000GUJYRE
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

Allegro Con Brio
Marcia Funebre: Adagio Assi
Scherzo And Trio: Allegro Vivace
Finale: Allegro Molto
Leonore Overture No.2

Tracks:

Adagio-Allegro Vivace
Adagio
Allegro Vivace
Allegro Ma Non Troppo
Allegro Vivace E Con Brio
Allegretto Scherzando
Tempo Di Menuetto
Allegro Vivace

Tracks:

Allegro Con Brio
Andante Con Moto
Allegro
Allegro
Adagio Molto-Allegro Con Brio
Anadante Cantabile Con Moto
Menuetto & Trio: Allegro Molto E Vivace
Adagio-Allegro Molto E Vivace

Tracks:

Erwachen Heiterer Gefuhle Bei Der Ankunft Auf Dem Lande (Allegro Ma Non Troppo)
Szene Am Bach (Andante Molto Mosso)
Lustiges Zusammensein Der Landleute (Allegro)
Gewitter, Sturm (Allegro)
Hirtengesang-Frohe, Dankbare Gefuhle Nach Sem Sturm (Allegretto)
Adagio Molto-Allegro Con Brio
Larghetto
Scherzo & Trio: Allegro
Allegro Molto - Tim Hugh

Tracks:

Poco Sostenuto-Vivace
Allegretto
Presto
Allegro Con Brio
Allegro - Tim Hugh
Largo - Tim Hugh
Rondo Alla Polacca - Tim Hugh

Tracks:

Allegro Ma Non Troppo, Un Poco Maestoso - London Symphony Chorus
Scherzo: Molto Vivace - London Symphony Chorus
Adagio Molto E Cantabile - London Symphony Chorus
Presto-Allegro Ma Non Troppo-Vivace-Adagio Cantabile - London Symphony Chorus

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Haitink's integral set of Beethoven Symphonies with the London Symphony has none of the stodginess that sometimes afflicted his earlier recordings with the Concertgebouw. His restudy of the works, and the presence of concert audiences translate into faster tempos, sharper accents, wider dynamic range and an overall sense of energy that imbue these nine masterpieces. Here, the Classic style is wed to Romantic expressivity but not to Romantic excess, Competition is abundant, ranging from Toscanini, Furtwängler, and the 1963 von Karajan to recent sets from the sometimes hyperkinetic Vanska, the more traditional Abbado, and the insightful Barenboim. But this new Haitink set, available in hybrid SACD/CD, is a solid contender.

The early First and Second symphonies benefit from Haitink's leaner, more vivacious approach. The Eroica also sounds fresher. Its slow movement is still a funeral march, but moves a hair faster this time, just enough to be the difference between a pace that drags and a pace that flows and retains interest. In the outer movements, there's a new spring to the rhythms and clarity in orchestral balances, and this Eroica has the cumulative intensity to make its full effect. Haitink's Fourth is in a grander mold than we usually hear. While never overblown, it has some of the wider scope and heroism of the odd-numbered symphonies. Like the Eroica, it is rhythmically vigorous and the prominent tympani and brass make an impact that sweeps the listener along. The Fifth can suffer from over-exposure but here it has a variety of tonal colors, tempos, and dynamics that make it seem newly minted while no less grand. The propulsive finale, with its pounding tympani and expertly played journey to transcendence, is especially memorable.

The Sixth, the Pastorale, has that same feeling, its flowing tempos and skillful interpretive choices make this one of the best Sixths since Böhm's, with plenty of excitement in the Storm and warmth in the final movement. The Seventh gets a buoyant reading, predominately lyrical without neglecting its powerful rhythms. The driven final movement is exhilarating without being hectic. The Eighth is often considered the slightest of the Nine but Haitink's brisk tempos make it dance and swagger; the lyrical sections played with engaging warmth. As for the Ninth, it is miles ahead of Haitink's earlier versions. The harmonic mist that opens the work is well delineated, the contrasts within movements carefully marked, the Scherzo bursting with energy, the incomparable Adagio sings at a more fluid tempo, the choral final movement as good as any in the catalogue, its structure crystal clear under Haitink's baton. The major filler in the set is the often scorned Triple Concerto, which gets a performance of warm lyricism that can only elevate its status.

The playing of the London Symphony is phenomenal, especially since these are live recordings. The violins' tone glows with radiance, their precise articulation helps make the rhythms energetic, the winds are uniformly excellent, the brass sleekly powerful, the potent percussion authoritative in climaxes. If a criticism can be made it would be that bass lines are sometimes weaker than desirable, perhaps a function of engineering that varies in clarity from disc to disc but is never less than good. In sum, a major addition to the Beethoven Symphony discography. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Worth every Penny !.......2007-06-25

I finally listened to every symphony after 2 weeks. I have to say, every performance sounded quite prestine. I especially enjoyed the 6th and the 9th.
I agree with one reviewer in that the first movement of the 5th seemed a tad fast. Honestly thats the only complaint I have of this collection. If you enjoy classical music and appreciate high fidelity music, this is a must have !

Over all very good, in places great.......2007-04-10

These recordings have outstanding sound quality, as other reviewers have said. None of them are less than worthwhile, and I think the rendition of the Eroica is sensational, the best I've heard. The 9th is also among the best. The 5th, though, is not in the same class. Another reviewer has commented on the tempo of the first movement, which I agree is too fast; unfortunately, so is much of the rest of the piece. (Bernstein's 1990 recording with the Vienna Philharmonic is much better.) Still, no one could fault the LSO's playing, or the sound. Worth the money for the Eroica and the 9th alone.

smoothed out edges.......2007-03-03

Unlike some other recordings of Beethoven's work, this compilation permeates the composer's will and presents a series of golden renditions. The assembly of London musicians is in top form (which is usual for them) and they seem motivated to convey all nuances throughout. For those who long to use these compositions for peace of mind, feel assured that that peace will indeed come.

Solid live performances, great sound, but a little identity crisis?.......2007-02-27

[This review refers to non-Hydrid SACD versions of these performances]

When I first listened through this cycle I was impressed and rated it 5-stars. I remain impressed, but something about these performances bothers me, a sort of unevenness that is overcome on first listen by the excitement. So I am re-reviewing with a 4-star rating.

I do not think, as some have suggested, that these are per se "historically informed performances" (what performance isn't historically informed, after all?). I would describe them as having (on balance) an updated traditional approach which benefits from generally well-balanced orchestral forces, brisk tempi, modest levels of conductor-induced drama and nuance, and remarkable sound quality that lets all the facets of the music shine through (the tympani occasionally jump out a bit too far for my tastes, as if they're perched on the conductor's podium). However, Haitink's cadences in these live recordings seems a little uneven to me, distracting ever so slightly from the natural momentum.

I found myself thinking that the the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and the 5th (at least in places) sound a bit like HIP performances, but the others (notably the 4th, which has a surprisingly big sound and broad, sweeping lines) sound like relatively brisk "big-band" treatments. Maybe that is simply Beethoven's music changing and not Haitink's interpretations, but I doubt it. I can't decide whether the legendary conductor is 1) pandering to HIP enthusiasts with a little extra speed here and there, 2) just can't decide how Beethoven in general ought to be played, or 3) is simply giving each symphony it's own identity (as he sees it). Those who love Haitink will presume the latter, and they might be right.

The Zinman cycle with Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich is currently my favorite -- I love the lean, wiry energy and brisk but controlled tempi Zinman delivers on modern instruments with a small orchestra -- and at this point I find myself judging everything against it. I am also very fond of the late Gunter Wand's forthright readings with the NDR. At present, despite my newfound reservations, this Haitink cycle would probably be my third choice, a step or two ahead of Harnoncourt/COE. I also think this cycle would work out well for anyone who finds merit in both HIP and traditional approaches and just can't decide. This is a big orchestra sound energetically delivered with small orchestra transparency.

If you don't need SACD, this collection can be purchased as a set from a leading download site for less than a single SACD disc. Getting sleepy?

This latest Beethoven Symphonies cycle is not that great .......2007-02-13

I already have 2 sets of Beethoven symphonies cycle, Karajan, released 12/6/2005, and Gardiner, released September 20, 1994, and many other individuals. Then I pruchased this set because of reviews in Amazon here and nomination of Grammy 2007. After listening to some of them(No,3,5,9), I would say they are not that fantastic. The No.5 sounds strange in paticular comparing others.