Beethoven Symphony Cycles

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Willem van Otterloo? I used to rather like his Pastoral on a 10" Fontana in my youth.

Ah! May have been. It had a pale green sleeve.

[crb11]

The references to 1970 remind me: I was browsing through Gramophone archives of that year to see what they were recommending at the time of that anniversary, and it seemed the go-to reference set of the symphonies was by Schmidt-Isserstedt and the VPO, with the Ninth in particular being regarded highly. I've never seen any modern reference to them. Anyone heard them, and have they held up well at all?

[cloughie]

Ah! May have been. It had a pale green sleeve.

My money’s still on this one Alps - I also had a copy of it.

https://www.discogs.com/BeethovenRoyal-Philharmonic-Orchestra-Sir-Thomas-Beecham-Bart-CH-Symphony-No-8-In-F/release/14334052

...and crb11 the Schmidt-Isserstedt I still view as one of the best.

[visualnickmos]

The references to 1970 remind me: I was browsing through Gramophone archives of that year to see what they were recommending at the time of that anniversary, and it seemed the go-to reference set of the symphonies was by Schmidt-Isserstedt and the VPO, with the Ninth in particular being regarded highly. I've never seen any modern reference to them. Anyone heard them, and have they held up well at all?

It is certainly a superb set - and, yes - a fabulous 9th! I came across this set years ago, secondhand. It also has the complete piano concertos, violin concerto and the obligatory scattering of overtures. A real gem if you can search it out. As for the recorded 'sound'; I reckon it has held up well - Decca - what can you expect? The best.

[Bryn]

It is certainly a superb set - and, yes - a fabulous 9th! I came across this set years ago, secondhand. It also has the complete piano concertos, violin concerto and the obligatory scattering of overtures. A real gem if you can search it out. As for the recorded 'sound'; I reckon it has held up well - Decca - what can you expect? The best.

I find this unbelievable, but will investigate further:

https://www.qobuz.com/gb-en/album/the-best-of-beethoven-hans-schmidt-isserstedt-wiener-philharmoniker/3614596541280

£6.39?!

Duly paid via Paypal and now downloading the FLACs. Egmont Overture now playing. Sounds fine. All 58 'tracks' now safely downloaded.

Never judge a 'book' by its cover:



Just to add, the violinist is Szeryng, the pianist is Backhaus.

[Pulcinella]

It is certainly a superb set - and, yes - a fabulous 9th! I came across this set years ago, secondhand. It also has the complete piano concertos, violin concerto and the obligatory scattering of overtures. A real gem if you can search it out. As for the recorded 'sound'; I reckon it has held up well - Decca - what can you expect? The best.

I had them on (cassette) tape many years ago.
Ridiculous price wanted for the CDs, I see (£299.99).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphonies-Piano-Concertos-Lso-Schmidt-Isserstedt/dp/B00005ND3N/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3EVNP8RHGJHUN&dchild=1&keywords=beethoven+isserstedt&qid=1603460323&sprefix=beethoven+iss%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-3

[crb11]

That's some bargain - got some hours of pleasure ahead. I sampled the 9th symphony and 4th piano concerto on Spotify first. I was very impressed with the concerto, particularly the piano in the slow movement and the orchestral accompaniment in the finale, where you can hear details of the argument that don't always come out, and the whole thing made coherent sense. For the symphony, the last movement was superb: again the various sections and speeds fitted together and you didn't get the problem of it being episodic, and for once all four soloists were excellent. I wasn't so convinced by the two inner movements: particularly in the third it felt a bit too slow and rather directionless. To be fair, I think for this symphony at least that HIP or HIP-influenced style feels to me the right way to go, and I'm less sympathetic to more "traditional" approaches, but I'll give it further listens. Thanks for the recommendations.

[Bryn]

That's some bargain - got some hours of pleasure ahead. I sampled the 9th symphony and 4th piano concerto on Spotify first. I was very impressed with the concerto, particularly the piano in the slow movement and the orchestral accompaniment in the finale, where you can hear details of the argument that don't always come out, and the whole thing made coherent sense. For the symphony, the last movement was superb: again the various sections and speeds fitted together and you didn't get the problem of it being episodic, and for once all four soloists were excellent. I wasn't so convinced by the two inner movements: particularly in the third it felt a bit too slow and rather directionless. To be fair, I think for this symphony at least that HIP or HIP-influenced style feels to me the right way to go, and I'm less sympathetic to more "traditional" approaches, but I'll give it further listens. Thanks for the recommendations.

Here's the Decca box illustration to copy and save along with the QOBUZ download of the "Soul Light Records" version.

[cloughie]

That's some bargain - got some hours of pleasure ahead. I sampled the 9th symphony and 4th piano concerto on Spotify first. I was very impressed with the concerto, particularly the piano in the slow movement and the orchestral accompaniment in the finale, where you can hear details of the argument that don't always come out, and the whole thing made coherent sense. For the symphony, the last movement was superb: again the various sections and speeds fitted together and you didn't get the problem of it being episodic, and for once all four soloists were excellent. I wasn't so convinced by the two inner movements: particularly in the third it felt a bit too slow and rather directionless. To be fair, I think for this symphony at least that HIP or HIP-influenced style feels to me the right way to go, and I'm less sympathetic to more "traditional" approaches, but I'll give it further listens. Thanks for the recommendations.

On the other hand too often, for my taste, the third movt is too often too fast in so many hipp or pseudo-hipp versions.

[cloughie]

I had them on (cassette) tape many years ago.
Ridiculous price wanted for the CDs, I see (£299.99).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Symphonies-...s%2C147&sr=8-3

Fortunately I have the set adorning my heaving shelves.

[Bryn]

On the other hand too often, for my taste, the third movt is too often too fast in so many hipp or pseudo-hipp versions.

How dare they play it as the composer marked it.

[cloughie]

How dare they play it as the composer marked it.

I could have put money on that being your response - you rose to the bait right on cue!

[Bryn]

I could have put money on that being your response - you rose to the bait right on cue!

That does not make my comment any less relevant.

[cloughie]

That does not make my comment any less relevant.

Doesn’t change my mind about how l like to hear 9.3 !

[Dave2002]

Do you have to be a member, or on the Trial period to download that CD? Seems a very good deal to me, but I don't particularly want to be caught up in the subscription business again.

FWIW the Beethoven 9 is very good - I have it on LP and on CD - though I don't think it counts as HIPP.