Beethoven: Symphony No. 7; Die Weihe des Hauses

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Dresden Staatskapelle

2. Die Weihe des Hauses (Consecration of the House), overture for orchestra, Op. 124
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Dresden Staatskapelle

Customer Reviews:

Mostly good.......2007-05-26

A bit of a mixed bag. The symphonies are superb. This is one of the great symphony cycles. The piano sonatas are good, very good (analog) sound. The quartets are well recorded indeed, but there are better cycles out there. The rest is OK, and the sound is genrally good.

Look at the List of Performers First.......2006-11-17

If you want most of Beethoven sitting on one bookshelf, this is a great bargain (especially if you shop for it on amazon.de). But few if any of the performances represent the pinnacles of interpretation that most listeners demand when Beethoven is the composer. The symphonies for instance: can Blomstedt be compared to Furtwangler or (if you lean toward historically informed instrumentation) Gardiner? Most amazingly, the artists who perform the quartets -- the heart of Beethoven's music -- are not even named in the listing.
On the other hand: Vivaldi: The Masterworks is a collection including the very best interpreters, such as Fabio Biondi! Bach Edition (complete Bach) is a fabulous selection of recordings made over 20 years, and almost the same praise can be given the Complete Mozart.

this "masterworks" series is available much more cheaply from Amazon France.......2006-05-28

there are several sets in this series and it's much cheaper to buy these from Amazon France.

included are bach, beethoven, vivaldi, brahms, dvorak, schubert, handel, hayden, and mendelssohn.

they're even cheaper than the list price once u go through the checkout (VAT is removed for overseas (out-of-france) purchases).

**also, the 'complete works of mozart' set is much cheaper there (or at Amazon Germany), too. the 'complete works of bach' is due out later this year.

You heard guy below: Beethoven needs the royality checks! .......2006-04-07

There is quality beyond the Austrian green cardboard (which is lovely to look at, to say the least). In fact, the performance of the symphonies (Dresden Staatskapelle and Herbert Blomstedt) is alone worth the price. The Staatskapelle is a solid group, and Blomstedt, although less wellknown, holds his own. It should be mentioned that Blomstedt recorded many of the most celebrated 20th composition CDs on the market, and definitely knows his stuff. Peter Wohlert recorded mostly for compiliation lables, but to be selected by the Berlin Phil shows that he is a formdiable conductor in rank as well.

Should you buy this collection then? Given the fact that each CD cost $1.75, there is definitely the bargin factor. However, Beethoven's music desveres the top interpreters and musicians of our time - and this applies for all of his music, not just the symphonic. If you are into bargins, then proceed to buy this collection. However, if you save up a bit more, you can buy Karajan's 1963 Beethovens symphonies along with Kempff's 1956 sonata cycles for just a bit more than 70 bucks. Shop around for the string quartets, and the complete overtures should range anywhere from 15 to 30 bucks depending on the conductor/ensemble.

Overall, this is certainly an exceptional bargin. However, quality matter more than money. Besides, chicks dig people with sophisticated tastes.

Buy my box Set!.......2006-03-21

Awesome deal, 40 CD box set of me, Beethoven! There are 3 principle reasons you should buy this box set:

This box is QUALITY my friend, made of the finest, Austrian cardboard with a lovely green finish, it is made to last! You can just set it on your dresser and whenever you need a Beethoven fix you can just pull a CD out. But don't you hate getting your CDs out of order so you can't find what the hell you're looking for?! Not with this set! They are well organized into symphonies, concerti, sonatas and such, so you can find EXACTLY what your looking for, and they have big numbers on them so you can put them right back where they belong.

And the music! Need we go into this, composed through the inspiration of God himself and penned by the greatest composer who ever walked the streets of Vienna, me, Beethoven! Top notch, all done by top performers and recorded at high, clear, digital quality, stick one in your stereo and rock out man! All of my great and mighty works are here, absolutely sublime!

Lastly, you'll be supporting me, I need those royalty checks to keep rolling in!

Buy it if you love me or just buy it if you want people to think that you're sophisticated (the chicks also dig it, I should know: Antonie Brentano, giggity!), you can't go wrong!

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; Overtures; Violin Concerto (Limited Edition)

Average customer rating:

Bernstein's First, Quite Possibly, Best, Beethoven Symphony Cycle
Bernstein's early Beethoven makes an enticing bargain

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9; Overtures; Violin Concerto (Limited Edition)

Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Mahler: Symphonies Nos 1 2 4 5 & 9
Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies
Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos. 1-6; Orchestral Works (Limited Edition)
Sibelius: The Complete Symphonies
Tchaikovsky: The Complete Symphonies

ASIN: B00006OA68
Release Date: 2002-10-28

Tracks:

Symphony No.1 In C Major, Op.21
Symphony No.2 In D Major, Op.36
Symphony No.4 In B-Flat Major, Op.60
Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.68
Symphony No.9 In D Minor, Op.125
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major, Op.61

Customer Reviews:

Bernstein's First, Quite Possibly, Best, Beethoven Symphony Cycle.......2007-05-23

For those wondering why Leonard Bernstein was such an important, exciting conductor, there's no better introduction than these fine early stereo recordings he made with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Critics have celebrated these as exciting, revelatory accounts, almost as memorable as those from George Szell and The Cleveland Orchestra and Herbert von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker, which were recorded almost at the same time as Bernstein's. The only reason why I'd give higher recommendations to Szell's and Karajan's cycles lies primarily with the acoustical qualities of the recording studios (In Karajan's case the converted Berlin church where he made most of his 1960s and 1970s recordings with the Berliner Philharmoniker was sonically the best at that time.) and the overall quality of the musicianship of their respective ensembles, which I would have to rate slightly higher than the New York Philharmonic's. The two finest recordings from Bernstein's New York Philharmonic cycle are those with of the 3rd and 5th symphonies which remain two of the most dramatic recordings of these pieces that I've heard. Overall, I think this set deserves favorable comparisons with his mid 1970s Deutsche Grammophon cycle recorded with the Wiener Philharmoniker during live performances at Vienna's Musikverein; the only exceptional differences are the slightly warmer acoustics of the orchestra and concert hall in the 1970s cycle, and Bernstein's usage of slightly quicker tempi and smaller orchestral forces. If you're looking for an alternative traditional Beethoven symphony cycle, then you won't miss by acquiring this early Bernstein cycle.

Bernstein's early Beethoven makes an enticing bargain.......2007-02-20

I wonder if Leonard Bernstein was the first American conductor to record a complete Beethoven cycle? He must have been, and two of these performances--the Eroica and the Fifth Sym. -- were made famous as vehicles for LB's television talks in the Fities and Sixties. Millions of post-war kids learned from them and I'm one. In retrospect Bernstein's Beethoven wasn't as propulsive and exciting as memory made them. But these performances are full-boded, direct, and satisfying. Perhaps the authority of Karajan and the Berlin Phil. isn't present, but even so, Sony is offering the cycle as a tremendous bargain, all the more so if you buy it used at Amazon Marketplace. Several overtures are thrown in, along with Isaac Stern's excellent account of the Violin Concerto (conductor and soloist are in sympathy, as always, but this is one of their poorest sounding recordings, unfortunately).

LB used a big orchestra for his Beethoven, and the Columbia Records engineers caught them in a big, reverberant space. If you want to hear this music on a modest scale or with historical touches, lok elsewhere. After he decamped to Europe, Bernstein made a second Beethoven cycle with the Vienna Phil. that's leaner, faster, but somewhat lacking in the excitment of discovery that one heard the first time around.

Average customer rating:

Beethoven, Muti, And Philadelphia
Nice.
I'm happy with choosing this set
Disappointing Beethoven from a conductor I usually like
Incomparable! Bring on 10 stars!

Beethoven: Complete Symphonies

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas / Daniel Barenboim
Brahms: Complete Symphonies
Complete Symphonies (Box)
Symphonie Fantastique
Beethoven: Complete symphonies

ASIN: B00000C2KJ
Release Date: 1998-11-03

Tracks:

Symphony No.5 In C Minor, Op.67: I. Allegro con brio
Symphony No.5 In C Minor, Op.67: II. Andante con moto
Symphony No.5 In C Minor, Op.67: III. Allegro
Symphony No.5 In C Minor, Op.67: IV. Allegro - Presto
Symphony No. 1 In C Major, Op.21: I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 1 In C Major, Op.21: II. Andante cantabile con moto
Symphony No. 1 In C Major, Op.21: III. Menuetto & Trio: Allegro molto e vivace
Symphony No. 1 In C Major, Op.21: IV. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 In D Minor, Op 36: 1. Adagio molto-Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 2 In D Minor, Op 36: II. Larghetto
Symphony No. 2 In D Minor, Op 36: III. Scherzo & Trio: Allegro
Symphony No. 2 In D Minor, Op 36: IV. Allegro molto
Symphony No.4 In B Flat Major, Op 60: I. Adagio - Allegro vivace
Symphony No.4 In B Flat Major, Op 60: II. Adagio
Symphony No.4 In B Flat Major, Op 60: III. Menuetto: Allegro vivace - Trio: Un poco meno allegro
Symphony No.4 In B Flat Major, Op 60: IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Symphony No.3 In E Flat Major, Op.55 'Eroica': I. Allegro con brio
Symphony No.3 In E Flat Major, Op.55 'Eroica': II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
Symphony No.3 In E Flat Major, Op.55 'Eroica': III. Scherzo & Trio: Allegro vivace
Symphony No.3 In E Flat Major, Op.55 'Eroica': IV. Finale: Allegro molto - Poco andante - Presto
Overture: Fidelio, Op.72b
Overture: Die Weihe des Hauses, Op.124

Tracks:

Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.68 'Pastoral': I. Allegro ma non troppo - Beethoven
Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.68 'Pastoral': II. Andant molto mosso - Scene By The Brook - Beethoven
Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.68 'Pastoral': III. Allegro - Merry Gathering Of The Country Folk - Beethoven
Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.68 'Pastoral': IV. Allegro - Storm And Tempest - Beethoven
Symphony No.6 In F Major, Op.68 'Pastoral': V. Allegretto - Shepherds' Song. Happy And Thakful Feelings After The Storm - Beethoven
Overture: Leonore NO.3, Op.72a - Beethoven

Tracks:

Symphony No.7, A Major, Op.92: I. Poco sostenuto - Vivace
Symphony No.7, A Major, Op.92: II. Allegretto
Symphony No.7, A Major, Op.92: III. Presto - Assai meno presto
Symphony No.7, A Major, Op.92: IV. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 8 In F Major, Op.93: I. Allegro vivace e con brio
Symphony No. 8 In F Major, Op.93: II. Allegretto scherzando
Symphony No. 8 In F Major, Op.93: III. Tempo di menuetto
Symphony No. 8 In F Major, Op.93: IV. Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 - I Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 - __ Molto vivace - Presto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 - III Adagio molto e Adagio molto e cantabile -- Andante moderato - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 - Presto - L.V. Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

Beethoven, Muti, And Philadelphia.......2005-12-03

The nine symphonies of Beethoven are not only a high watermark in the classical music genre, but indeed a high watermark for all of music and humanity in general. They are remarkable also for the sheer fact that Beethoven was often in poor health when he composed them, and struggling with deafness as well. From the first two symphonies, both in the Haydn/Mozart sphere, to the ground-breaking "Eroica" and moving up to the immense universes of the Ninth, Beethoven helped set the stage not only for the music of the 19th century, but also even the 20th as well.

Not surprisingly, there have been dozens upon dozens of box sets devoted to Beethoven's symphonies over the decades. But this one by the Philadelphia Orchestra under Riccardo Muti stands tall with other Beethoven sets for the way this great orchestra navigates its way through these works under the direction of a great conductor who had the unenviable task of carving out a niche for himself in Philadelphia, where the reputations of Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy still loom large.

The box set consists of:

CD-1: SYMPHONIES NOS. 5 & 1

CD-2: SYMPHONIES NOS. 2 & 4

CD-3: SYMPHONY NO. 3 (EROICA); OVERTURE TO "FIDELIO"; CONSECREATION OF THE HOUSE OVERTURE

CD-4: SYMPHONY NO. 6 (PASTORAL); LEONORA OVERTURE NO. 3

CD-5: SYMPHONIES NOS. 7 & 8

CD-6: SYMPHONY NO. 9 (CHORAL); CHERYL STUDER (soprano); DELORES ZIEGLER (mezzo-soprano); PETER SEIFFERT (tenor); JAMES MORRIS (bass); WESTMINSTER CHOIR (Joseph Flummerfelt, chorus director)

Recorded between 1985 and 1988, this box set may not enjoy the same amount of praise richly and deservedly placed on those by Solti, Karajan, Bernstein, or Szell, but the performances contained in them are very true to the composer's intentions without sacrificing spirit or orchestral texture. The 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 8th symphonies are very Classical in their performances, while nos. 3, 5, 6, & 7 are sterling examples of balancing classical structure with Romanticism. The addition of three overtures, two of them from the composer's one and only opera "Fidelio", is also welcome. And then there's the Ninth Symphony, with its immense power and the triumphal "Ode To Joy" finale, superbly pulled off by Muti and the orchestra with a distinguished quartet of vocal soloists and the Westminster Choir.

Every self-respecting music aficionado should have a Beethoven symphonic box set in their collection, and this one is a fine addition to the many great such box sets out there.

Nice........2005-11-03

It's true what most reviewers are saying about the more subtle interpretation, but I kind of like it that way. I have this box (which does have a 6 CD jewelbox-by the way) and the Solti version. While Sir Georg is my usual default, I find this one making it's way to the player more often.

I'm happy with choosing this set.......2005-02-04

I wanted to get a great recording of the Beethoven Symphonies and scoured the Internet looking for quality recordings. It came down to this set and Karajan's set, and this won due to price.

I'm aware of Karajan's set, and I'm not going to say anything bad about it. It's loud and boisterous, but just ask yourself this--would Beethoven have liked it? Of course.

Muti's interpretation is more subtle and less bombastic. If it were a flavor, it would be vanilla. But what's wrong with vanilla? Sure, the Philadelphia Orchestra is not as prestigious as Berlin or Vienna. And yes, they are playing on modern instruments, not period instruments.

But here's what you get, and here's why I think this is the best value set out there. You get all nine symphonies, plus three overtures: Fidelio, Leonore No. 3, and the Consecration of the House. The Ninth features opera star James Morris as one of the soloists and the Westminster College Choir. It's a digital recording (1986). Oh yes, and it's thirty dollars cheaper.

I actually prefer the more "classical" approach to the symphonies that Muti provides (don't worry, the Ninth is still purely Romantic). I'm sure one can find better recordings piecemeal (or perhaps collectively), but the fact remains that these recordings are very good and cannot be dismissed.

FYI-- The CDs are not in a jewel case but a cardboard box with stiff paper sleeves for each of the 6 CDs. Liner notes are good but not great.

Disappointing Beethoven from a conductor I usually like.......2003-09-02

I'm afraid I agree with the fellow who found the sound of these recordings dim--details in the strings and woodwinds remain unclear even after hours of fiddling with an equalizer. I agree that Karajan's and Toscanini's Beethoven are the pits, and I'd rather listen to Muti's Beethoven given the choice. There is no denying the beauty of the playing. Still, Muti is too much of a romantic for Beethoven--those subtle changes of tempo that are so effective and necessary in Tchaikovsky (Muti's is among the best) in Beethoven become fussy, distracting and effeminate, weakening forward momentum. I wish I liked this set--the price is certainly right--but...

Incomparable! Bring on 10 stars!.......2002-12-18

I have had this set for a month or two now and have wanted to write a review, but I have been overwhelmed by the idea of critiquing every symphony because each recording is so outstanding in its own right that I wanted to say something about each one. I realize that a few words about some of the recordings say volumes about the whole set.

First of all, one of the reviews suggested that this set was more classical in interpretation than the 'bombastic romantic' interpretations by Solti, von Karajan or Furtwangler and even Bruno Walter. Toscanini was a speed [fan] although tender moments do pop out. Another brought out his experience with all of the sets of his Beethoven recordings and tried to compare them.

I say that this set is incomparable because there is no set out there to compare it with, because the set has its bombastic moments and tender, classical moments, if you will. For instance, the larghetto movement of the second symphony, which is a struggle between major and minor melodies in only the way Beethoven could weave them. After the recapitulation of the two themes and toward the end of the movement there is an ascending melody lower strings answered in a descending theme by the violins that is so wonderfully and romantically played, the strings soar so beautifully (Muti has a way with Maestoso, such as a passage in the first movement of Tchaikovsky's sixth in a descending scale by the orchestra ) the majesty is astounding. That is not 'classical'! His recordings of the 2nd and 4th are like no others. Maestro Muti also brings out melodies that I have never heard in any other Beethoven redordings. The fifth is a marvel of invention, I know every single note of this symphony by heart and the Maestro brings out things I haven't heard before. The adagio and the finale of the seventh are so wonderful. The second and third movements are a marvel in the 9th also.l also think that the eigth is a marvel. I have heard at least 100 performances of it and non other compare. The third is also a wonder. And to have the overtures. What a wonderful bonus. I almost forgot to mention the 'Pastoral'. I had been waiting for years and years to listen a recording that matched Bruno Walter's old recording of it. The reason is the majesty of the last movement. All the recordings that I owned or listened to did not come close (maybe Ormandy did), but this one did and I am so greatful. I usually graded a Beethoven set by the sensitivity of the sixth. (I used to have several sets of Beethoven but all was lost in a fire several years ago).

I cannot end without saying something about the Philadelphia Orchestra's playing. I have said before that Maestro Muti brought a refinement to the orchestra that, I think, adds to their virtuosity. They play so powerfully as well as beautifully. The strings in the second and eigth symphonies as well as the sixth and seventh. The brass powerful yet sensitive. I guess that I could go on and on. I am an unashamed PHO lover and devotee and have been most of my life. I wish the Maestro hadn't left because Sawallisch has brought back the power without the refinement, like he is playing a piano, not a great orchestra. It is just too bad that Maestroes Muti and Ormandy didn't have the new hall to play and record in. I understand that there are also new recordings with the PHO on Deutche Gramaphon. I can hardly wait to hear them. BPO, CSO, CCO Amsterdam, VPO, yes they are great orchestras but PHO you are in your own class and always have been.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 / Dorati
Average customer rating:

Very Good, But Lacks Style

Beethoven's 7th In Dorati's Hands: A Winner

A Classic

One minor quibble...

OTRA EXTRAORDINARIA VERSION

Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 / Dorati

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 "Pastoral"

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3

Enesco: Roumanian Rhapsody No. 1; Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsodies Nos. 1-6 [Hybrid SACD]

Enesco: Roumanian Rhapsody no 2

ASIN: B00000IIX3
Release Date: 1999-04-13

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: Poco sostenuto. Vivace - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: Allegretto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: Presto. Assai meno presto - L.V. Beethoven
Symphony No. 7 In A Major, Op. 92: Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72a - Beethoven
Egmont Overture, Op. 84 - Beethoven
The Consecration Of The House, Overture For Orchestra, Op. 124 - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

Very Good, But Lacks Style.......2006-12-31

After playing sections of this CD against the Steinberg Pittsburg CD of the same piece it is pretty clear that, 1. Steinberg is probably a better Beethoven conductor than Dorati, and, 2. The Pittsburg CD taken from magnetic tape is a different but equally valid and effective way to record an orchestra. Which latter is saying a lot, given the quality of the Mercury engineers' work. Finally I think Steinberg elicts a more stylish sound from his musicians, with the sections blending better - those who prefer their Beethoven a little rough will probably prefer the Doarti. So if you wish an excellent energetic version of this symphony you will be very happy with this performance by Dorati, but you might also consider the more stylish Steinberg perfomance with Pittsburg.

Beethoven's 7th In Dorati's Hands: A Winner.......2005-10-05

Antal Dorati was largely underrated because he was overshadowed by such eminent, brand-name composers as Karajan, Bernstein, Mehta and Solti. But Dorati's legacy lives on through copious record albums that have been digitally remastered, taken from their original LP's which date as far back as the 50's. Dorati was no stranger to Classical, Romantic and 20th century repertoire as his records attest. He once recorded all of Franz Joseph Haydn's symphonies. On print and commerciallt available are Beethoven's 5th and 6th symphonies. And then there's one.

Beethoven's 7th sounds fresh, powerful, vibrant and beautiful. It is Beethoven's most danceable symphony, almost an extended ballet. The rich, lilting melodies caress our ears and the allegro and adagio of the fist movements are treated with sensitivity and grandeur by the London Symphony Orchestra, which Dorati guest conducted. The finale allegro con brio is extremely lively and miraculously performed in a balanced pace. Karajan's rendition of this finale sounds too fast. Only Solti is possibly the best. Dorati captures the spirit of the work well. As a bonus, this CD features a Leonore Overture, one of the many overtures written during the making of Beethoven's only opera Fidelio. A sign of his perfectionism, the Leonore Overtures attest to his revisionist attitude before finalizing a work. The Egmont Overture is grand and romantic and sounds terrific on here. The Consecration of the House is also great on here. This music was written for the opening of a theater in Vienna that still stands today. Antal Dorati fans will want to get this recording along with the many other Dorati albums.

A Classic.......2001-11-11

This is the most exciting Seventh I know of (and, yes, I am familiar with the refined Kleiber reading which is also wonderful). Here, there is so much of the drama and punch that I feel is necessary with Beethoven. The engineering and remastering teams must also receive full marks. Since this is an older recording there is some tape hiss present, but the orchestral sound is so vivid that the recording could have been made yesterday.

One minor quibble..........2000-05-24

This is an excellent Seventh and the Mercury sound is captured marvellously. The most impressive thing is the sound of the strings, very vivid and alive. It sounds like you are in the concert hall. Also, I must point out the overtures in particular are outstanding on this disc, and the Leonore no. 3 stands out even more. This has to be one of the finest accounts on disc, and the huge chord that comes just a few bars before the end is earth shattering and will shake the room (if you play it at the volume required!). Nevertheless, I have one problem that keeps this from being a five star recommendation: where are the brass? Perhaps due to the three mic system employed by Mercury, the brass are not heard very well at all and it is important in my opinion to hear the brass clearly in these works. Other than that, fine accounts of these works.

OTRA EXTRAORDINARIA VERSION.......2000-04-04

Extraordinaria versión de Antal Dorati, aunque usted tenga muchos otras grandes versiones de ésta amada Sinfonía, le recomiendo que se anime a adquirir la de Dorati, seguramente quedará plenamente satisfecho. Es una interpretación que tiene ese elemento "X", que hace de una gran version en algo épico.

Tracks:

Sym No. 5 in c, Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio
Sym No. 5 in c, Op. 67: II. Andante con moto
Sym No. 5 in c, Op. 67: III. Allegro
Sym No. 5 in c, Op. 67: IV. Allegro-Presto
Sym No. 1 in C, Op. 21: I. Adagio molto-Allegro con brio
Sym No. 1 in C, Op. 21: II. Andante catabile con moto
Sym No. 1 in C, Op. 21: III. Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace)& Trio
Sym No. 1 in C, Op. 21: IV. Adagio- Allegro molto e vivace

Tracks:

Sym No. 2 in D, Op. 36: I. Adagio malto
Sym No. 2 in D, Op. 36: II. Larghetto
Sym No. 2 in D, Op. 36: III. Scherzo-Allegro & Trio
Sym No. 2 in D, Op. 36: IV. Allegro molto
Sym No. 4 in b flat, Op. 60: I. Adagio-Allegro vivace
Sym No. 4 in b flat, Op. 60: II. Adagio
Sym No. 4 in b flat, Op. 60: III. Menuetto (Allegro vivace) & Trio (Un poco meno allegro)
Sym No. 4 in b flat, Op. 60: IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Sym No. 3 in e flat, Op. 55 'Eroica': I. Allegro con brio
Sym No. 3 in e flat, Op. 55 'Eroica': II. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai)
Sym No. 3 in e flat, Op. 55 'Eroica': III. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) & Trio
Sym No. 3 in e flat, Op. 55 'Eroica': IV. Finale (Allegro molto-Poco andante-Presto)
Ov: Fidelio, Op. 72b
Ov: The Consecration of the House, Op. 124

Tracks:

Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': I. Awakening of happy feelings on arriving in the country
Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': II. Scene by the brook
Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': III. Merry gathering of the country folk
Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': IV. Storm and Tempest
Sym No. 6 in F, Op. 68-'Pastoral': V. Shepherd's song. Happy and thankful feelings after the storm
Ov: Leonore No. 3, Op. 72a

Tracks:

Sym No. 7 in A, Op. 92: I. Poco sostenuto-Vivace
Sym No. 7 in A, Op. 92: II. Allegretto
Sym No. 7 in A, Op. 92: III. Presto-Assai meno presto
Sym No. 7 in A, Op. 92: Allegro con brio
Sym No. 8 in F, Op. 93: I. Allegro vivace e con brio
Sym No. 8 in F, Op. 93: II. Allegretto scherzando
Sym No. 8 in F, Op. 93: III. Tempo di Menuetto
Sym No. 8 in F, Op. 93: IV. Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Sym No. 9 in d, Op. 125: I. Allegro ma non troppa, un poco maestro - Cheryl Studer/Delores Ziegler/Peter Seiffert/James Morris/Westminster Chor/Joseph Flummerfelt
Sym No. 9 in d, Op. 125: II. Molto vivace-Presto
Sym No. 9 in d, Op. 125: III. Adagio molto e cantabile- Andante moderato
Sym No. 9 in d, Op. 125: IV. Presto-Recitativo-Allegro assai- Allegro assai vivace...

Beethoven: The Complete Masterworks [Box Set]

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Beethoven: The Complete Masterworks [Box Set]

Manufacturer: Mastertone Brilliant
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set)

ASIN: B000027R7U
Release Date: 1999-05-11

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Album Description

Import exclusive box-set includes Complete Symphonies, Piano Concertos, Violin Concerto, Piano Sonatas, Violin Sonatas, Cello Sonatas, String Quartets, Piano Trios, Masses, & Overtures performed by various artists including London Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Symphoniker, pianists Shoko Sugitani, John Lill, & more. Standard jewel cases housed in a flip-top box approx. 16 x 6 x 5''. Brilliant Classics.

Complete Early Berlin Philharmonic Recordings, 1957-1962

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Was the young Maazel also the best one?
A Young Lorin Maazel

Complete Early Berlin Philharmonic Recordings, 1957-1962

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Philips Recordings 1954-1958, Vol. 2
Clifford Curzon: Decca Recordings, 1937-1971, Vol. 3

ASIN: B00067GKG0
Release Date: 2005-02-08

Customer Reviews:

Was the young Maazel also the best one?.......2006-11-22

I started listening to this box set of recordings from 1957-62, the years when Maazel skyrockted in Europe as an American wunderkind, with low expectations. For me, Maazel joins Mehta and Ozawa as great young promises that were never fulfilled. Thoroughly disliked by orchestral musicians (a condition that seems to have changed now with the NY Phil.), eccentric in his phrasing, often too brash but alternating with dull slackness, he has noticeably declined over the decades. Hardly a single NY Phil. concert earns high praise from the city's major critics.

With all this in mind, I was amazed at the beauty of certain recordings here. First of all, DG's transfers of the old LPs are crystal clear, and secondly, the Berlin Phil. was coming into its own under Karajan at this time and plays with great impact and excitement. But there's good news in the conducting as well. Listen to this lively Beethoven Pastorale, full of good humor and sparkling detail, then compare it to Maazel's half-dead Beethoven Ninth on BMG. Or this ebulient Tchaikovsky Fourth, which is dynamic, balanced, and, once again, full of life. These two performances rank among the best I've heard in the modern era.

Mr. Richman covers the whole box in some detail below, and I generally agree that Maazel's flaw is rushing the music and sounding too brusque. His Beethoven Fifth suffers from those faults in the first and last movements. The Brahms Third, after a terrific start and two good inner movements, turns rushed and business-like in the finale. The accompanying Tragic Over. is back in form, however. And so is the highly individual Beethoven Consecration of the House Over., which emerges as a newly dramatic piece in Maazel's hands.

We move on to almost a complete Schubert symphony cycle (minus the First and Ninth), rare repertoire from a major conductor in the late Fifties and early Sixties. Treading into prime Beecham territory, Maazel turns out to be terrific, full of energy and force but also delicate when called for, only lacking Beecham's unique affability in this music. The Berliners play much better than Beecham's post-war Royal Phil., however, Where Mr. Richman hears rushing, I hear spontaneity and verve (admittedly, some movements, like the finale of the Fourth Sym., go at a breathless Presto). If Maazel had kept evolving, he would have replaced Guido Canteli, whose propulsive neo-Tosanini style was close to this.

Next we get three Mozart symphonies, the Jupiter plus two miniatures, Sym. 1 and 28. Maazel's Mozart is considerably more forceful than his Schubert, and for me it crosses the line (as Toscanini did) into being charmless and sharply attacked. There's no doubting the skill and ensemble of the orhcestra, however, which is crisp and starched, but not to the degree that Szell, for example, demanded.

The Mendelssohn Italian Sym. is miked very closely, with lots of attention to the woodwinds. It sounds a treat, as British critics say, and Maazel isn't driven. There are dozens of excellent readings of this symphony, and his ranks among them. I am of two minds about the Reformation, however, which has been available paired with the Franck D minor on a DG Originals disc. In the past I've found its briskness and lack of religiosity refreshing, but I can see why others find it emotionally pinched. As alternatives, Munch is more buoyant on RCA, and Karajan offers more grandeur on DG.

We get three versions of Romeo and Juliet, from Berlioz (43 min. of orchestral excerpts), Prokofiev (Suite #2 and one number from Suite #1), and Tchaikovsky. The Berlioz is supply phrased and played with intensity--it's worthy to stand beside Giulini on EMI and Bernstein on Sony, but of course one wants the whole work. Maazel wnet on to record the whole Prokofiev ballet with the Cleveland Orch. on Decca, but these few excerpts sound fresher to me, less studied. I've already enthused over the Tchaikovsky Fourth, and Romeo and Juliet is similarly tangy and alert, no dawdling or swooning. However, the world has many fine recordings of R & J compared to Tchaikovsky Fourths.

The remainder of the set consists of light classics: a vigorous, detailed Rimsky Capriccio Espagnole that works well enough, a Pines of Rome that does the same (this piece, however, requires blockbuster sonics to even remotely catch my attention), a Mussorgksy Night on Bald Mountain that's zippy and lacking in atmosphere. Finally we leave Berlin for Paris and Britten's Young Person's Guide, which seems thrown in for no particular reason except to acquaint us with Maazel's speaking voice as narrator. He's as clipped and efficient as his conducting style--and just as cool--lacking anything close to Bernstein's cozy warmth.

All told, you would have no doubt that a major conductor is at work here. Would that we could say the same for the older Maazel. I'd recommend this box set to anyone who wants to hear him at his best. It contains more good recordings than celebrated Original Masters sets devoted to Fricsay and Markevitch.

A Young Lorin Maazel.......2005-06-09

The most recent batch of DG's "Original Masters" box sets boasts several titles that will leave classical collectors rejoicing. While "Lorin Maazel: Complete Early Berlin Philharmonic Recordings 1957-1962" is not as essential as the Askenase or Schneiderhan releases (see my review of the latter), it is a welcome edition nonetheless. Maazel was only in his late 20s when he made these recordings, which include performances of Mozart (Syms 1, 28 & 41), Beethoven (Syms 5 & 6, etc), Schubert (Syms 2-8), Brahms (Sym 3 & the Tragic Overture), Mendelssohn (Syms 4 & 5), and more. Overall Maazel's readings are fiery and quickly paced, causing many critics to dismiss these recordings at the time of their initial releases as the brash, overly enthusiastic statements of a boy conductor. This is just criticism for much of the Schubert, the Beethoven 5th, Tchaikovsky 4th, and Night on Bald Mountain. However, I personally enjoy the majority of these performances. Additionally, the excerpts from Berlioz's Romeo & Juliet are quite lovely (and better than the other R&J's contained here -- Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev), the Pastoral is refreshingly brisk, and the Capriccio Espagnol is a personal favorite (I previously had it via DG's "Eternal Russia" collection). Also this earlier account of Respighi's Pines of Rome is quite good (though his later Decca Legends version outshines it) but I could do without the very pronounced bird calls towards the end of the Janiculum section. Something else this set could live without is the Britten Young Person's Guide, which Maazel narrates and performs with the ONRTF Paris (hello, not Berlin). A better title to include would have been his account of Harold in Italy, recently included on the DG box set "The Berlioz Experience" (I believe it fits the "Early Berlin" criteria better than the said Brittten does). As is, this is a delightful collection, showcasing the blossoming talents of a conductor who continues to dazzle audiences from the podium nearly fifty years later.

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Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 7

Manufacturer: Music & Arts Program
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Beethoven: Complete Symphonies; Overtures; Missa Solemnis

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Excellent...period!
A delightful change
Hardwearing Velet
Hanover Band Beethoven
Beethoven of varied quality

Beethoven: Complete Symphonies; Overtures; Missa Solemnis

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tracks:

Symphony No. 1 In C Major Op. 21: I. Adagio molto -- Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 1 In C Major Op. 21: II. Andante cantabile con moto
Symphony No. 1 In C Major Op. 21: III. Menuetto: Allegro molto e vivace
Symphony No. 1 In C Major Op. 21: IV. Adagio -- Allegro molto e vivace
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 36: I. Adagio molto -- Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 36: II. Larghetto
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 36: III. Scherzo: Allegro
Symphony No. 2 In D Major Op. 36: IV. Allegro molto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major Op. 55 'Eroica': I. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major Op. 55 'Eroica': II. Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major Op. 55 'Eroica': III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 3 In E Flat Major Op. 55 'Eroica': IV. Finale: Allegro molto
Symphony No. 4 In B Flat Major Op. 60: I. Adagio -- Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 4 In B Flat Major Op. 60: II. Adagio
Symphony No. 4 In B Flat Major Op. 60: III. Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 4 In B Flat Major Op. 60: IV. Allegro ma non troppo

Tracks:

Symphony No. 5 In C Minor Op. 67: I. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor Op. 67: II. Andante con moto
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor Op. 67: III. Allegro
Symphony No. 5 In C Minor Op. 67: IV. Allegro
Symphony No. 6 In F Major Op. 68 'Pastoral': Allegro ma non troppo
Symphony No. 6 In F Major Op. 68 'Pastoral': II. Andante molto mosso
Symphony No. 6 In F Major Op. 68 'Pastoral': III. Allegro
Symphony No. 6 In F Major Op. 68 'Pastoral': IV. Allegro
Symphony No. 6 In F Major Op. 68 'Pastoral': V. Allegretto

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 In A Major Op. 92: I. Poco sostenuto -- Vivace
Symphony No. 7 In A Major Op. 92: II. Allegretto
Symphony No. 7 In A Major Op. 92: III. Presto
Symphony No. 7 In A Major Op. 92: IV. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 8 In F Major Op. 93: I. Allegro vivace e con brio
Symphony No. 8 In F Major Op. 93: II. Allegretto scherzando
Symphony No. 8 In F Major Op. 93: III. Tempo di menuetto
Symphony No. 8 In F Major Op. 93: IV. Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 In D Minor Op. 125 'Choral': Allegro ma nan troppo un maetoso
Symphony No. 9 In D Minor Op. 125 'Choral': II. Molto vivace
Symphony No. 9 In D Minor Op. 125 'Choral': III. Adagio molto e cantabile
Symphony No. 9 In D Minor Op. 125 'Choral': IV. Presto -- Allegro assai

Tracks:

Coriolan, Op. 62
The Ruins Of Athens, Op. 113
King Stephen, Op. 117
Leonore No.2, Op. 72a
Fidelio, Op. 72c
Egmont, Op.84
The Creatures Of Prometheus, Op. 43
The Consecration Of The House, Op. 124

Tracks:

Missa Solemnis: Kyrie
Missa Solemnis: Gloria
Missa Solemnis: Credo
Missa Solemnis: Sanctus
Missa Solemnis: Agnus Dei

Customer Reviews:

Excellent...period!.......2005-05-11

This Beethoven set features the Hanover Band playing on period instruments with less musicians than the average orchestra. These were recorded in a spacious, atmospheric acoustic approximating were Beethoven would have premiered them. The result is thoroughly enjoyable and still sound and feel great after repeated listening.

I also find them far preferable to Hogwood, Norington and Gardiner. Though the Bruggen set on the Phillips label are also pretty good as well. But these seem to have a magical quality about them that is hard to beat.

It's interesting to read about what are the "best" performances, as far as I can tell there are no weak spots to be found. One person wrote - the first was the only letdown - and yet, I found the first to be something quite special. I personally thought the 8th was the only slight drawback to the set, and yet someone else wrote it was their favorite. So who really knows?

This also makes a good second set if you already have a modern interpretation.

A delightful change.......2003-10-07

This is a thoroghly delightful set performed on period instruments and tempo. Well worth the price - I have repeatedly listened to the performances and they wear well. There is also a bonus - the recordings are encoded in Ambiasonic sound and will decode nicely on a home theater surround system. One caveat - the recordings were done in an accoustically live environment and if your system tends to the bright side, the recording will seem a tad on the bright side. If you have a complete set of the Beethoven symphonies with a contemporary interpretation, this set is a worthwile acquisition as a reference.

Hardwearing Velet.......2003-01-29

This Nimbus Beethoven set features the Hanover Band - playing on period instruments with fewer players than the average `symphony orchestra' - recorded in a spacious, atmospheric acoustic. The result is seductive, velvety and thoroughly enjoyable!

The performances are directed by Roy Goodman and Monica Huggett. It's not easy to tell them apart and I dare say the seasoned players of the Hanover Band would do almost as well without anyone `directing' them in these honest, workman-like performances. Nothing `revelatory' or earth-shattering. No fuses blow, no lightening strikes. But on the other hand we're not wearied by pointless idiosyncrasies that after hearing once only annoy. Quite the opposite in fact - the Hanover Band performances wear well after repeated listening, although the complacent, vacuous presentation of the slow movements of the 3rd and 9th symphonies can't be said to improve with re-hearing. But don't be put off - there's much here that's enjoyable. And it must be worth something for once not to have to endure a conductor who insists on impressing you with his `insights'!

Hanover Band Beethoven.......2001-07-22

A lot of critical attention has been drawn to the resonant acoustic in which these performances were recorded. The original Gramophone reviewer for example commended the 'natural' balance and perspective, while the Amazon's reviewer David Hurwitz (an anti-authentic critic if there ever was one!) referred to both sound and performance as 'utterly grotesque'! I personally favour the former evaluation; while the reverberance may not be to everybody's taste, it does mean that the brass can let rip without overwhelming the rest of the orchestra, and gives the string tone a warmth and bloom not found on other period cycles. While the woodwind may at times appear 'disembodied' this is a very minor cavil and again this is a subjective issue. As for the performances themselves, I personally find them far preferable to such rivals as Hogwood and Gardiner; the directorship of Goodman allows more freedom of expression than the former, while avoiding the at times wilful excesses of Gardiner. Overall these are played with zing and character, two qualities Beethoven would have surely admired.

Beethoven of varied quality.......2001-05-13

Do period instruments always make for a more authentic performance? Some would accept that as an axiom, but listening to this set shows that this is not always the case. Remember that Beethoven did not always write his visionary music with the instruments of his time in mind; for him, the limitations of those instruments were something to be overcome, not worked around. Accordingly, the Hanover Band sometimes struggles with this powerful and revolutionary music, producing recordings of varied quality.

For a group whose strengths lie in the music of the early Classical period, it is surprising that perhaps their weakest performance comes in the most Haydnesque of all the symphonies, the First. Monica Huggett takes the music at too measured a pace, and the result is a performance that plods along, in contrast to (for example) Karajan's peppy version of the First. The other more "conservative" symphonies (Second, Fourth, and Eighth), however, are excellent. The Sixth is the best of the set, with Roy Goodman and the Hanover Band managing to capture all the nuances of what is Beethoven's most textural symphony with the possible exception of the Ninth.

It is in the more powerful symphonies (Third, Fifth, and Ninth) where the Hanover Band struggles. It is easy to see the vision and striving of Beethoven in these performances, but they lack the excitement and verve of the greatest recordings, and in the end, they can sound hopelessly old-fashioned (in the Ninth wasting an outstanding effort by the soloists).

The biggest argument in favor of this set is, like all of Nimbus's sets, the bargain price, made even more tempting by the inclusion of a sampling of Overtures, and a fine Missa Solemnis (though it, too, is not without its shortcomings).