Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; Grosse Fuge; Egmont Overtures [Box Set] [Box set]

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 permits more detail to be heard than in most original-instrument performances. At budget price and with a fantastic disc of overtures thrown in for good measure, this is greatness incarnate. --David Hurwitz

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; Grosse Fuge; Egmont Overtures [Box Set],Ludwig van Beethoven,Philharmonia Orchestra,New Philharmonia Orchestra,Otto Klemperer,Birgit Nilsson,Hans Hotter,Waldemar Kmentt,Aase Nordmo Lovberg,Christa Ludwig,Angel Records,Ballet,Box Sets (Audio Only),Chamber,Classical,Classical Artists,Classical Music,Orchestral,Orchestral & Symphonic,Quartet for Four String Instruments,Romantic Ballet,Romantic Incidental Music for Orchestra,Romantic Overture for Orchestra,Romantic Symphony,Symphonic

Average customer rating: Unforgettable and Utterly Compelling The Supreme Beethoven Symphonies Where's the mono? JDFlynn A Monumental Achievement

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; Grosse Fuge; Egmont Overtures [Box Set] Ludwig van Beethoven , Philharmonia Orchestra , New Philharmonia Orchestra , Otto Klemperer , Birgit Nilsson , Hans Hotter , Waldemar Kmentt , Aase Nordmo Lovberg , and Christa Ludwig Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ballets | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Romantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Incidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Overtures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music Bargain Box Sets | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music ASIN: B000002SC8 Release Date: 1994-02-15

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.1 In C Major, Op.21: I. Adagio molto -- Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No.1 In C Major, Op.21: II. Andante cantabile con moto
3. Symphony No.1 In C Major, Op.21: III. Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace) & Trio
4. Symphony No.1 In C Major, Op.21: IV. Adagio -- Allegro molto e vivace
5. Symphony No.7 In A Major, Op.92: I. Poco sostenuto -- Vivace
6. Symphony No.7 In A Major, Op.92: II. Allegretto
7. Symphony No.7 In A Major, Op.92: III. Presto -- Assai meno presto
8. Symphony No.7 In A Major, Op.92: IV. Allegro con brio

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.36: I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.36: II. Larghetto
3. Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.36: III. Scherzo (Allegro) & Trio
4. Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.36: IV. Allegro molto
5. Symphohy No.4 In B Flat Major, Op.60: I. Adagio - Allegro vivace
6. Symphohy No.4 In B Flat Major, Op.60: II. Adagio
7. Symphohy No.4 In B Flat Major, Op.60: III. Allegro vivace - Trio (Un poco meno allegro) - Tempo I
8. Symphohy No.4 In B Flat Major, Op.60: IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.3 In E Flaat Major, Op.55: I. Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No.3 In E Flat Major, Op.55: II. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai)
3. Symphony No.3 In E Flaat Major, Op.55: III. Scherzo (Allegro Vivace) Trio
4. Symphony No.3 In E Flaat Major, Op.55: IV. Finale (Allegro molto-Poco Andante-Presto)
5. Symphony No.3 In E Flaat Major, Op.55: Grosse Fuge, Op.133

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.5 In C minor, Op.67: I. Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No.5 In C minor, Op.67: II. Andante con moto -- Piu mosso -- Tempe I
3. Symphony No.5 In C minor, Op.67: III. Allegro
4. Symphony No.5 In C minor, Op.67: IV. Allegro -- Presto
5. Symphony No.8 In F Major, Op.93: I. Allegro vivace con brio
6. Symphony No.8 In F Major, Op.93: II. Allegretto scherzando
7. Symphony No.8 In F Major, Op.93: III. Tempe di Menuetto
8. Symphony No.8 In F Major, Op.93: IV. Allegro vivace

Tracks:

1. Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.66 'Pastoral': I. Allegro ma non troppo - 'Awakening of pleasant feelings on arriving in the country'
2. Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.66 'Pastoral': II. Andante molto mosso - 'Scene by the brook'
3. Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.66 'Pastoral': III. Allegro - 'Peasants merrymaking'
4. Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.66 'Pastoral': IV. Allegro - 'The Storm'
5. Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.66 'Pastoral': V. Allegretto - 'Shepherds Hymn after the storm'
6. Egmont, Op.84 - Incidental Music: Overture
7. Egmont, Op.84 - Incidental Music: Die Trommel ger
8. Egmont, Op.84 - Incidental Music: Freudvoll und leidvoll
9. Egmont, Op.84 - Incidental Music: Klarchens Tod bezeichnend
10. Prometheus, Op.43: Overture

Tracks:

1. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125 'Choral': Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
2. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125 'Choral': Molto vivace
3. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125 'Choral': Adagio molto canatabile - Andante moderato - Adagio
4. Symphony No. 9 In D Minor, Op. 125 'Choral': Presto - Allegro ma non troppo - Allegro assai - Allegro assai vivace - Alla Marcia - Andante maestoso - Allegro energico, sempre ben marcato - Allegro ma non tanto - Pocco Adagio - Prestissimo

Tracks:

1. Overtures: Leonore Nr.1, Op. 138 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
2. Overtures: Leonore Nr.2, Op. 72 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
3. Overtures: Leonore Nr.3, Op. 72a - Ludwig Van Beethoven
4. Overtures: Fidelio, Op. 72b - Ludwig Van Beethoven
5. Overtures: Die Weihe des Hauses, Op. 124 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
6. Overtures: K Stephan, Op. 117 - Ludwig Van Beethoven
7. Overtures: Coriolan, Op. 62 - Ludwig Van Beethoven

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 permits more detail to be heard than in most original-instrument performances. At budget price and with a fantastic disc of overtures thrown in for good measure, this is greatness incarnate. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Unforgettable and Utterly Compelling.......2001-03-02

This Klemperer set belongs in the most exalted company imaginable. In these symphonies and overtures, you find that the entire spectrum of human emotions that Beethoven conjured forth have been understood and communicated perfectly by a man who was a great humanitarian in his own right. For starters, Klemperer's interpretation of the "Eroica" stands alone, and listening to his take on the funeral march is one of the most mind-blowing listening experiences you'll ever have. The rest of his interpretation of this symphony is absolutely formidable too, because Klemperer always has the most incredible control over not only a movement within a symphony, but that movement's relationship to the whole, and his grip never falters. What surprised me most about this collection though is the humour and sheer joy Klemperer brought to the first, second and eighth symphonies; this is entirely appropriate of course, but it illustrated for me how effortlessly he could move from Beethoven's tragic dimension into the less ostensibly heroic works. This adaptability easily transfers over to produce a compact, coiled and vital fourth, and a "Pastoral" that reveals hidden depths of disquiet as well as its better-known lyricism. The transformation from the menacing storm into the Shepherd's Song is operatic in its dramatic intensity, and I don't know of any better rendition of this beautiful moment.

The primary objection to these interpretations is that the tempos are often too slow, especially those of the fifth and seventh, and above all the finales of those two symphonies. When I first heard them I thought so too; however, once you listen to these renditions in their entirety, you find the finales completely consistent with Klemperer's overall vision of the works as a whole, and suddenly you feel Klemperer has been very faithful to their structural integrity. If you want alternative visions of these symphonies, try Carlos Kleiber, who really races through them at controversially fast tempos, or Karajan (1963 versions), who clocks in somewhere in between.

The ninth is fine and you certainly won't be missing out on anything by sticking with Klemperer here, but I think the recording quality leads to a somewhat diminished finale, and Karajan's 1977 recording and Giulini's on EMI/Seraphim (now available at a super-budget price) are unbeatable. Klemperer is nevertheless one of those giants of twentieth century conducting, whose integrity suffuses every aspect of Beethoven's work to create a unique listening experience. Karajan's 1963 collection is wonderful, also gets me close to what Beethoven was doing, and is probably more consistent overall. Still, there's something awe-inspiring about what Klemperer achieves here that makes Karajan seem bland at times, so that Klemperer has to be my first choice. Check out Klemperer's Brahms as well for more magical listening experiences.

The Supreme Beethoven Symphonies.......2001-02-20

I am an extreme lover of classical music and I know quality of music very very well. When I began looking for a great set of Beethoven Symphonies I was expecting to find only the best. Then I came across 2 great recordings: by Klemperer and Karajan. I wasn't sure at all which would be better the strength and power of Karajan's Beethoven, or the real German qualities of Klemperer's Beethoven. I listened very closely to both, and finally came to a conclusion, KLEMPERER!!! The singers in the Klemperer recording are greater (Christa Ludwig, Hans Hotter,and Birgit Nilson) and plus they give you the complete overtures. THIS IS THE GREATEST BEETHOVEN EDITION OF SYMPHONIES THERE EVER WAS, IS, AND EVER WILL BE!!!!!!!!!!

Where's the mono?.......2000-04-11

Klemperer is one of the greatest interpreters of Beethoven and his recordings with the Philharmonia Orchestra remain some of the best interpretations on disc. So why only 4 stars, you ask? The 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th are all great, as is the 9th, except that the scherzo is a bit slow and the soloists are a bit of an ear-sore. It's the 4th, 5th and 7th in this set that are the problems. Instead of offering the mono versions of these works, which Klemperer performed with the Philharmonia Orchestra, EMI chose to include the later, worse mono versions. The stereo 3rd is nearly as good as the mono, but the 5th and 7th are too slow and too dull. This set is probably worth buying for 1,2,3,4,6,8 and 9, but I would wait until EMI choses to release the mono versions of the 3rd, 5th, and 7th, if they ever do.

JDFlynn.......2000-03-24

I don't know a lot about classical music, but I do know this -- when it comes to conducting Beethoven with all the sublety of the Grand Canyon, Otto Klemperer is OK! And I don't mean obsessive-kompulsive either, although it sure can sound that way sometimes. Perhaps it had to do with Klemperer's bipolar condition. His mono performances have more vitality in them than nearly all the digitally recorded versions of the past 20 years. You want more details? Just listen to all that knitting going on with the brass and woodwinds. I'll bet ol' Schoenberg used to remind OK about that when the latter sat in on some of Arnold's classes at UCLA/USC. To me, one of the the best things about classical music is when you can simultaneously be awestruck by the composer AND the conductor. Like in recordings with Debussy/Boulez and Mahler/Horenstein. Doesn't happen very often on balance. BTW, Testament's recent release of OK's live performance of Beethoven's 9th, done near the time of the recorded effort included in this set, will knock your socks off, too. I would suggest Klempo-maniacs purchase that one, too.

A Monumental Achievement.......2000-03-10

I was introduced to Klemperer's recordings several years ago and I must say that it took me a while to appreciate his genius. His recording of the Beethoven Symphonies (along with the Brahms, Schumann, and Mahler Symphonies) is a testimony to one of the greatest conductors who ever lived. Under his baton, Beethoven sounded true and unsentimental. What you hear is pure sound. Some of the highlights that are worth listening for would be: the mysterious opening of the 4th Symphony, the transition from the 3rd to the final movement of the 5th Symphony, the granite-like sonority of the opening of the 7th Symphony and, of course, the heavenly account of the 9th Symphony.

I acquired the complete CD recordings produced by EMI for less than $50 (includes the Fidelio Overtures, and some other music).

And if this is not enough to convince you, get the four Brahms Symphonies, Mahler's 2nd, 4th and 9th, and Bruckner's 6th and 7th. In addition, Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, and Brahms' German Requiem.

Music Review:

1. Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 7
2. Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 6 ("Pastorale") & 8
3. Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / G. Jones, Schwarz, Kollo, Moll; Bernstein
4. Bernd Alois Zimmerman: Présence/Perspektiven/Intercomunicazione/Monologe
5. Bruckner: Symphony No. 4/Strauss: Death and Transfiguration
6. Centenary Edition 1897-1907, Vol. 1
7. Centenary Edition 1928-1937, Vol. 4
8. Centenary Edition 1948-1957, Vol. 6
9. Centenary Edition 1958-1967
10. Centenary Edition 1968-1977, Vol. 8

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