Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies / Maag, Padua and Veneto Orch [Box set]

On this CD:

1. Symphonies
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Padova e del Veneto Orchestra with Ruthild Engert-Ely, Friedemann Kunder, Zeger Vandersteene, Amanda Halgrimson
Conducted by Peter Maag

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
These are the first recordings of Beethoven's symphonies by a distinguished Swiss conductor, working with an obscure and relatively small Italian orchestra. It's surprising on several counts. The smallness of the orchestra is sometimes a minor handicap, not in its impact, but in the way the winds often overbalance the strings. More commonly these days, we lose details in the wind parts, so the change in perspective can be refreshing. Also, the interpretations are all distinguished, among the better conceptions of the music currently available. And the playing of the orchestra is quite splendid, very well executed and coordinated throughout. These may not be perfect recordings, but then, neither is any of the others. And every performance has a point of view, an interpretive stance that makes sense. The discs are also available individually (and you will find more detailed reviews of the individual discs), but the price for the complete set is considerably lower. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 'Choral': I Allegro ma non troppo un poco maestoso
Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 'Choral': II Molto vivace
Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 'Choral': III Adagio molto cantabile - Andate moderato
Symphony No. 9 Op. 125 'Choral': IV Presto - Allegro assai

Tracks:

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

Tracks:

Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 'Eroica': I Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 'Eroica': II Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 'Eroica': III Scherzo: Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 3 Op. 55 'Eroica': IV Finale: Allegro molto - Poco andante - Presto
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21: I Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21: II Andante cantabile con moto
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21: III Minuetto - Allegro molto e vivace
Symphony No. 1 Op. 21: V Finale: Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 7 Op. 92: I Poco sostenuto - Vivace
Symphony No. 7 Op. 92: II Allegretto
Symphony No. 7 Op. 92: III Presto
Symphony No. 7 Op. 92: IV Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93: I Allegro vivace con brio
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93: II Allegretto scherzando
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93: III Minuetto
Symphony No. 8 Op. 93: IV Allegro vivace

Tracks:

Symphony No. 2 Op. 36: I Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 2 Op. 36: II Larghetto
Symphony No. 2 Op. 36: III Scherzo
Symphony No. 2 Op. 36: IV Allegro molto
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60: I Adagio - Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60: II Adagio
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60: III Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 4 Op. 60: IV Allegro ma non troppo

Amazon.com

These are the first recordings of Beethoven's symphonies by a distinguished Swiss conductor, working with an obscure and relatively small Italian orchestra. It's surprising on several counts. The smallness of the orchestra is sometimes a minor handicap, not in its impact, but in the way the winds often overbalance the strings. More commonly these days, we lose details in the wind parts, so the change in perspective can be refreshing. Also, the interpretations are all distinguished, among the better conceptions of the music currently available. And the playing of the orchestra is quite splendid, very well executed and coordinated throughout. These may not be perfect recordings, but then, neither is any of the others. And every performance has a point of view, an interpretive stance that makes sense. The discs are also available individually (and you will find more detailed reviews of the individual discs), but the price for the complete set is considerably lower. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

peter maag deserved a better orchestra.......2003-12-13

leslie gerber was charitable in describing this little italian orchestra; the worst he'd say was that the wind drowned out the strings. in a less charitable opinion, it's a sloppy band that played scratchily. in other words, the padua and veneto is not a gem of an orchestra hiding in italy waiting to be discovered.

peter maag was a great conductor. and some of his recordings have attained legendary status. examples include his mozart with the london symphony, and his mendelssohn with the same orchestra. in these beethovens, maag is still interesting, of course, but despite some fine renditions of several of the symphonies (especially the 9th), the recordings are marred by uninspired playing and a grating, rough sound. it's simply too bad, for maag deserved a better orchestra than the padua and veneto.

the 3 stars are for peter maag; the little band he had got no star at all.

so there we have it. on the one hand, there's the previous reviewer who praised these disks to high heavens, and now my less glowing remarks.

Peter Maag's Magnificent Legacy.......2003-04-04

For those who wonder what Peter Maag was up to in the many years since his classic recordings for Decca in the 1950's and (early) 1960's, here is perhaps the "last will and testament" of this uniquely great Swiss conductor, who, to the incalculable loss of all music-lovers, passed away in November, 2001. Maag's accounts of the nine symphonies of Beethoven constitute one of the very finest sets, a genuine "sleeper" which is destined (especially in view of Maag's departure from us) to become a classic. Perhaps only Nikolaus Harnoncourt's exemplary readings with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe can truly match the present set in fire, verve and imagination.

Maag, a one-time piano student of Alfred Cortot, and disciple of Wilhelm Furtwaengler, was one of the most impressively sensitive conductors of his era, noted for his beautiful and searching interpretations of, especially, Mozart and Mendelssohn, whose spirits, he clearly felt, were closely related to one another. His complete recording (with the London Symphony) of Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream" has been rightly revered for forty years, and his more recent achievements with the Orchestra of Venice and Padua are no less impressive. In addition, the recordings are remarkably well engineered (fine ambience, excellent attention given to matters of balance).

The orchestra should also be singled out for praise - wonderfully warm string tone, and some of the finest wind-playing to come out of Europe in recent times. It is damning with faint praise to characterise this set as the work of a major conductor directing a minor league orchestra. There is nothing second rate about these musicians and Maag's presence lends an authority and assurance that places the results well beyond the goals and achievements of many so-called "star" conductors. Simply put, Maag was one of the great musicians of the century and these recordings are a worthy testament to his extraordinary gifts. Those interested in discovering details in the Beethoven symphonies that they didn't imagine existed should invest in this set forthwith. Contributing strongly to the overall effect is Maag's decision to reduce the size of the string section. Far from representing any handicap, this results in a satisfyingly "classical" Beethoven, with winds and brass suitably prominent, and with plenty of fire and drama where and when it's called for.

Has any other conductor better realised Beethoven's cautionary designation "non troppo", attached to the opening Allegro of the Pastoral? Or summoned more energy in the great seventh symphony? Or shaped the opening of the slow movement of the same work so tellingly?
The delights which await the listener are far too numerous to enumerate in any detail here. Suffice it to say that those wise enough to invest in this set (knowing Maag's reputation) will be rewarded by performances of almost transcendental beauty, conducted by an undisputed master, in state-of-the-art recorded sound. At one time, Peter Maag removed himself from the professional conducting circuit to devote his life to Buddhist study, in part to reclaim his "humility" as an interpreter. What is presented here (as well as in Maag's equally fine set of Mozart's later symphonies, also recorded with the Italian orchestra, of which he was chief conductor) is music-making of the greatest power, insight and humility by one of the most fascinating and satisfying conductors of the twentieth century. Strongest recommendation. Five stars.

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