Beethoven Symphony Cycles

[Alison]

Judging from the excerpts played on Record Review last Saturday, these are traditional, measured performances that will please some members of the forum much more than they did me. I am happy to stick with Norrington and Mackerras in complete cycles.

Thanks will take a listen.

[BBMmk2]

Anyone heard Ádam Fischer’s cycle with the Danish Chamber Orchestra?

[Oakapple]

I too like the Cluytens set. I bought the 4th on LP when I was 15 and, as someone has said, it is split with the last movement on side 2. But as the whole thing lasts about 35 minutes I think that was unavoidable. I wanted to buy the boxed set at the time but I couldn't afford it so many years later I bought "Beethoven The Collector's Edition" - 50 CDs from EMI - simply because it included the set.

However, did anyone else ever consult the Penguin Guide to Bargain Records in the 1970s? Here are some extracts:

No 1 - "good musicianship rather than inspiration"
No 4 - "lacking something in delicacy of detail... the result is rather ordinary"
No 5 - "hardly memorable enough... slow movement not especially poetic... finale not really exhilarating"
No 8 - "not stylish enough.. first movement tends to labour... horns in the third movement are ungainly"

There are one or two good comments but overall the reviewer seems unimpressed. The review of the 9th is much better - "a deeply satisfying spiritual experience" - although there are criticisms too, especially flaws in the ensemble.

[visualnickmos]

I certainly wouldn't place myself at the behest a reviewer.

[Bryn]

I certainly wouldn't place myself at the behest a reviewer.

Especially as I recall reading one who praised the Cluytens as being superior to that recorded with the same orchestra a few years later (the famous '60s set). I regard both sets a very fine, in their different ways.

[verismissimo]

I too like the Cluytens set … I bought "Beethoven The Collector's Edition" - 50 CDs from EMI - simply because it included the set …

I have that 50 CD set for the same reason, Oakapple. It's nearly all French artists and recordings - EMI France put it out.

Time to get on to the rest of it...

[Oakapple]

I certainly wouldn't place myself at the behest a reviewer.

Sure. But when you're 14 years old, and you get £1 a week pocket money, and an LP costs 99p (budget label), and you don't know much, and you haven't heard of many of the performers, then you're willing to be guided by a Penguin.

[Stanfordian]

Anyone heard Ádam Fischer’s cycle with the Danish Chamber Orchestra?

I am really enjoying the Ádam Fischer’s Beethoven cycle but with a chamber orchestra, although probably augmented to an extent, it might not be weighty enough for some.

Really worth hearing is Philippe Jordan's superb newly completed cycle with the Wiener Symphoniker recorded live at Große Musikvereinssaal (Goldener Saal), Vienna.

[mathias broucek]

What? No Krivine? Difficult to find on CD now, perhaps, but QOBUZ have the set for lossless download at bargain price.

Seconded as a strong recommendation!

[visualnickmos]

Sure. But when you're 14 years old, and you get £1 a week pocket money, and an LP costs 99p (budget label), and you don't know much, and you haven't heard of many of the performers, then you're willing to be guided by a Penguin.

Your story regarding LvB symphonies is amost identical to mine. At the same age I saved a bit of pocket money, and bought the CfP 5&8, and 6 (Cluytens) Played them to oblivion! When a paper-round came my way, my collection of CfPs was duly augmented. I still admire Cluytens's cycle, even if it does show its age a little.

[BBMmk2]

I am really enjoying the Ádam Fischer’s Beethoven cycle but with a chamber orchestra, although probably augmented to an extent, it might not be weighty enough for some.

Really worth hearing is Philippe Jordan's superb newly completed cycle with the Wiener Symphoniker recorded live at Große Musikvereinssaal (Goldener Saal), Vienna.

On a slightly different tangent about this, a few years ago Bernard Haitink conducted a paired down performances of two Prom concerts with the CoE, to much acclaim, of works by Brahms. Hearing the works performed like this, you could hear the parts in a much more clearer form.

[Bryn]

On a slightly different tangent about this, a few years ago Bernard Haitink conducted a paired down performances of two Prom concerts with the CoE, to much acclaim, of works by Brahms. Hearing the works performed like this, you could hear the parts in a much more clearer form.

You might like to check out the SCO/Mackerras recordings of the Brahms Symphonies.

[akiralx]

Judging from the excerpts played on Record Review last Saturday, these [VPO/Nelsons] are traditional, measured performances that will please some members of the forum much more than they did me. I am happy to stick with Norrington and Mackerras in complete cycles.

Traditional is a fair assessment but listening to the Eroica on YouTube I have found it quite propulsive and fiery. I won't buy it but have enjoyed what I've heard...

[verismissimo]

I have that 50 CD set for the same reason, Oakapple. It's nearly all French artists and recordings - EMI France put it out.

Time to get on to the rest of it...

Just as the first-rate BPO/Cluytens set was overshadowed by BPO/Karajan in the 1960s, I now discover that the contemporary Hungarian SQ's account of the quartets in this set (overshadowed at that time by the Amadeus) is absolutely top-flight.

Both were marketed at mid-price and damned with faint praise.

Should we be having a parallel thread on LvB's quartets?

[BBMmk2]

You might like to check out the SCO/Mackerras recordings of the Brahms Symphonies.

I might just do.