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Beethoven Symphonies 1-9 (1963 recordings)
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CDN$ 26.99 |
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| Editorial Reviews: | | |  | | 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 | |
| Custom Reviews: | |
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| | this is a review of the much-maligned pastoral symphony is this set. most find fault with its fleet tempos but after listening to the much lauded bohm and walter, i find this is the only pastoral that doesn't put me to sleep, especially in the first movement. where with bohm you feel like it's a funeral march through the countryside, with karajan it actually feels like a joyous outing, full of sunshine, blue skies, and fresh air. it captures the sense of coming alive upon entering nature that the other recordings miss. my only gripe with this recording is that it has the karajan trademark string-laden sound. for the pastoral, i'd prefer a better balance with the winds. other than that, this is an excellent 6th. oh, the the rest of the cycle is pretty good, too!
| | Sorry about the confusion | |
| | yay for beethoven, he rules. he is truly worthy of the title and propriertoship of the classic music stuff
| | | | ...i'm reviewing this to teach that stupid avril fan a lesson! 1)Didn't write his own music
WTF? Of course he wrote his own music!
2)Had an easy life and he tried to make everyone think he had a difficult life.
No, he didn't. Back then, no one did that.
3)He made the world think he was deaf (He copied the overrated Ray Charles who made the world think he was blind)
C'mon! Beethoven came WAYYYYY before Charles, Charles copied beethoven.
4)He was a toy of the labels to make money
There were NO record lebels when he was alive.
5)His "compositions" (That he didn't write because he asked his maids and the kids in the street to write them for him) are just garbage. The papers where they are must be burned.
HE wrote the compositions, and they were awesome!
6)He has never been to the MTV awards
OMMFG! How can ya be THAT stupid????? THERE WAS NO MTV BACK THEN! That's my 2 cents.
| | Overall the best cycle of Beethoven | |
| | | In spite of the strange arguements against Herbert K's 6th, I find this to be one of the finest interpretations of the Pastoral about. Instead of the usual slow intro and gradual speeding up of the older fashioned models of this piece we have here a slick and unforced manner. Not for some, but really this is the genius of the interpretation. Richard Osborne for some reason really discounted Karajan in this movement. I think he was wrong...instead period instrument people tend to do this opening of the Pastoral at the same tempo with which Karajan pursued his arguement! As to the 5th it is really an epic reading...no strange ritardando or even any affectation. Szell is let down by a recording that sounds monochrome in comparison to this one. The artistry of Karajan is that he tends to be lean and lithe, and he avoids excessive shaping of phrases but always has excellent rythmic playing. Never stodgy anywhere. As to dynamics his Sforznados are always a joy and yet he allows the music to breathe. The 9th is really a very strong interpretation and leaves Szell and Toscannini in the dust...here we have gloriously warm tone from the strings and very polished brass. The solo team is first rate and and so is the chorus! This is one of the problems we encounter with a number of interpretations. As to the 4th it is the best in the entire CD catologue..no where is anyone near Herbert in understanding this piece except form Klemperer...beautifully paced with wonderful nuance. Flute and horn work throughout this entire recording is incredible. The 7th is among the very finest...the opening is truly exciting with a wonderful lilt to the 6/8. Karajan is really able to do things no one ealse could ever do...this is a fine interpretation. The 8th in F Major is wonderful in the golden tone which permeates the playing...Berlin is on top form here. The finale has a lightness lacking in Szell in Cleveland. the Eroica is intense and far more straightforward than Szell in Cleveland. No disdainful rallentando's when they are not called for...Karajn keeps close to the quarter note through the entire opening movement. The Finale is performed with the best horn work ever. The 1st and 2cd are truly beatiful and given Mozartian elegance without bombast. This is Beethoven!
| | Bargain-priced, stirrring performances | |
| | | If, like me, you already have the well-known symphonies, this is a great set to round out your collection. It is keenly priced, and mostly the performances won't disappoint. I was arrested by a strident flute in the 6th and 9th symphonies a couple of times, but I already have good recordings of those works. Warmly recommended.
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