Beethoven Symphony Cycles

[Bryn]

I agree, those Norrington recordings sound very harsh now, especially after one has listened to other HIP versions by conductors that are musicians and not ideologies with stopwatches

Norrington is a musician of the highest standard. His first instruments were voice and violin. Perhaps you would also dismiss Beethoven as a musician for his use of the metronome to try and get his music played at the tempi he intended. Norrington's later recordings of the Beethoven Symphonies with 'his' Stuttgarter, developed his presentation of Beethoven's scores, including a correction of what he openly admitted was a misreading of part of the final movement of the 9th.

[Barbirollians]

Been enjoying reacquaintance with the LCP/Norrington so far - 1,2,4 and 8 as fine as remembered . The Eroica bright and exciting but the Funeral March rather superficial.

I retain my affection for this cycle - Fifth purposeful and exciting Sixth interesting and fascinating textures but rather lacking in charm and the finale a bit flat.

[Barbirollians]

Wasn’t overly thrilled by the Ninth but I enjoyed the Piano Concertos with Melvyn Tan on the fortepiano a great deal.

Now on to the 1939 Toscanini set on Music and Arts - such a shame about Studio H but what playing and conducting - utterly gripping in 1-6 so far- no chance of your ears wandering .

[Bryn]

Wasn’t overly thrilled by the Ninth but I enjoyed the Piano Concertos with Melvyn Tan on the fortepiano a great deal.

Now on to the 1939 Toscanini set on Music and Arts - such a shame about Studio H but what playing and conducting - utterly gripping in 1-6 so far- no chance of your ears wandering .

If you have not heard Norrington's later 'live' recording of 'The Ninth' with 'his' Stutttgarters, I very much recommend you do. In the interim, he reappraised his approach to the final movement in particular and, indeed, expressed self-criticism regarding his earlier reading. Damn it, even the egregious Hurwitz rated it highly, though continuing his bizarre rejection of the whole earlier LCP survey.

[cloughie]

I was underwhelmed by the German SO/ Ticciati performance on R3 on Monday evening.

[Dave2002]

I really dislike that cycle. There are so many preferable HIP cycles-Savall, Hogwood, Bruggen, JEG, just to name a few

Now you have me thinking I should listen to more of it - again.

I remember being surprised at the 7th - and thinking "why not?". Maybe there aren't so many other points of interest, but I do recall the seventh as being good at least.

Is it the set as a whole you don't appreciate or all of the performances in it? There is a difference between evaluating a few elements in a complete set, and individual components.

[Bryn]

I agree, those Norrington recordings sound very harsh now, especially after one has listened to other HIP versions by conductors that are musicians and not ideologies with stopwatches

What a very silly comment.

[Braunschlag]

What a very silly comment.

Not at all. I similarly found Norrington to be the unmusical equivalent of an early Casio digital watch.

[Bryn]

Not at all. I similarly found Norrington to be the unmusical equivalent of an early Casio digital watch.

Oh dear. How sad. Never mind.

[Lordgeous]

Late to this thread. Didn't know about the Clutyens set but at £8.99 its a no-brainer. Duly ordered!

[Bryn]

Late to this thread. Didn't know about the Clutyens set but at £8.99 its a no-brainer. Duly ordered!

It was included in the French EMI 50 CD Beethoven Collector's Edition:



Preferable to the Karajan Beethoven Symphonies recorded shortly after, with the same orchestra, to my ears.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Apr07/Beethoven_edition_3877392.htm

[cloughie]

Late to this thread. Didn't know about the Clutyens set but at £8.99 its a no-brainer. Duly ordered!

You won’t be disappointed unless you are seeking HIPP superspeeds - they are well thought through performances - the Sixth is high on my top 100 performances.

[Lordgeous]

Thanks Cloughie. There are few times that I think about sitting down and listening to a Beethoven Symphony these days, but this discussion has awakened my interest. Of course I have them all in seperate discs by different performers collected over the years. I even conducted one once - the Eighth - in Bonn, would you believe! With a British youth orchestra. Sorry Ludwig!

As an aside, would anybody know if there's any difference, audio-wise, between the Testament or EMI re-issues of the Gilels/Ludwig B'hoven 4th pno conc?

[Joseph K]

It was included in the French EMI 50 CD Beethoven Collector's Edition:



Preferable to the Karajan Beethoven Symphonies recorded shortly after, with the same orchestra, to my ears.

http://www.musicweb-international.co...on_3877392.htm

Thanks Bryn - I thought the name Cluytens rung a bell. I have that set, and I was working my way through it some time ago, though I encountered a few defective disks...

[Bryn]

Thanks Bryn - I thought the name Cluytens rung a bell. I have that set, and I was working my way through it some time ago, though I encountered a few defective disks...

I have to admit that I have not listened to every disc in the box. It is a bit of a mixed bag but it was the Cluytens, Gilels/Ludwig, Guilini, etc. which were the deciding factor. Of the others I have listened to, none have seemed truly dire.