BaL 14.10.23 - Beethoven: Symphony no. 8 in F Op.93

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

10.30 am
Richard Wigmore chooses his favourite recording of Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 in F, Op. 93.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 8 has often suffered in comparison with its immediate symphonic neighbours (when asked why people favoured the Seventh symphony over the Eighth, Beethoven replied “Because the Eighth is so much better”). In one sense the Eighth is just like all Beethoven's symphonies, each one of which is revolutionary and breaks new musical ground compared to its predecessor. This time, Beethoven's preoccupations were concision, formal subversion, ebullient energy and musical humour. Beethoven's instrumental writing is remarkable, too, and well over a century after its 1814
premiere, the Eighth impressed no less a judge than Igor Stravinsky, who knew a thing or two about orchestration.

Available versions:-

Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado (DVD)
Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado *
Wiener Philharmoniker, Claudio Abbado *
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Hermann Abendroth
Britten Sinfonia, Thomas Adès
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Karel Ančerl
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Ernest Ansermet
Kammerorchesterbasel, Giovanni Antonini
Hallé Orchestra, Sir John Barbirolli
Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim *
Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Rudolf Barshai *
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein
Wiener Philharmoniker, Leonard Bernstein
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Herbert Blomstedt
Staatskapelle Dresden, Herbert Blomstedt
Beethoven Orchester Bonn, Stefan Blunier (SACD)
Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm *
Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Böhm
American Symphony Orchestra, Leon Botstein *
Manchester Camerata, Douglas Boyd
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Dirk Brosse *
Orchestra of the 18th Century, Frans Brüggen (SACD)
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bertrand de Billy (SACD)
Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos (DVD/Blu-ray)
London Symphony Orchestra, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos *
London Symphony Orchestra, Yondani Butt
Marlboro Festival Orchestra, Pablo Casals *
Münchner Philharmoniker, Sergiu Celibidache
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Riccardo Chailly
Berliner Philharmoniker, André Cluytens
Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Colin Davis
Staatskapelle Dresden, Sir Colin Davis *
Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnányi *
Rome Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Dokken *
Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Antal Dorati
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia, Bela Drahos
Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Gustavo Dudamel *
Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, Augustin Dumay
Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Edlinger *
Philadelphia Orchestra, Christoph Eschenbach *
Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio, Vladimir Fedoseyev (DVD
Hungarian State Orchestra, Janos Ferencsik *
Danish Chamber Orchestra, Ádám Fischer
Concertgebouw Orchestra, Iván Fischer (DVD/Blu-ray))
Akademie Für Alte Musik Berlin, Bernhard Forck
Berliner Philharmoniker, Ferenc Fricsay
Berliner Philharmoniker, Wilhelm Furtwängler *
Berliner Philharmoniker, Wilhelm Furtwängler
Stockholms Filharmoniska Orkester, Wilhelm Furtwängler
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Wilhelm Furtwängler
Orchestre Révolutionnaire Et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner
SWR Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks, Michael Gielen *
Vienna State Opera Orchestra, Michael Gielen *
New York Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert*
London Symphony Orchestra,Carlo Maria Giulini *
La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra, Carlo Maria Giulini
Hanover Band, Roy Goodman
London Chamber Orchestra, Christopher Warren Green
Les Dissonances, David Grimal*
KlangVerwaltung Orchestra, Enoch zu Guttenberg
Concertgebouworkest, Bernard Haitink
London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink (SACD)
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Raymond Harvey *
Orchester Wiener Akademie, Martin Haselböck
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Philippe Herreweghe
Royal Flemish Philharmonic, Philippe Herreweghe (SACD)
Northern Sinfonia of England, Richard Hickox *
Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood
National Radio Orchestra, Jascha Horenstein
Anima Eterna, Jos van Immerseel
WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Marek Janowski*
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mariss Jansons
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mariss Jansons (DVD/Blu-ray)
Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Paavo Järvi
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Eugen Jochum *
Concertgebouw Orchestra, Eugen Jochum *
London Symphony Chorus, Eugen Jochum
Orchestre de l’Opera National de Paris, Philippe Jordan(DVD/Blu-ray)
Wiener Symphoniker, Philippe Jordan
Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, Dirk Kaftan **********
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan
Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan(DVD)
Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
Swiss Festival Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Keilberth *
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg, Joseph Keilberth
Dresdner Philharmonie, Herbert Kegel
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Rudolf Kempe *
Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Rudolf Kempe *
Berliner Philharmoniker, Paul van Kempen
Berliner Philharmoniker, István Kertész
Kölner Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester, Otto Klemperer *
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer *
Staatskapelle Berlin, Otto Klemperer
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Paul Kletzki
Ensemble Reflektor, Thomas Klug *
Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Hans Knappertsbusch
Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra, Hans Knappertsbusch
Münchner Philharmoniker, Hans Knappertsbusch
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Franz Konwitschny
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Kazimierz Kord *
Solistes Européens Luxembourg, Christoph König
Prague Symphony Orchestra, Jiri Kout *
London Symphony Orchestra & Josef Krips *
La Chambre Philharmonique, Emmanuel Krivine *
Cleveland Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik (SACD)
Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano & Trento, Gustav Kuhn
Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, Giuseppe Lanzetta *
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rene Leibowitz *
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf *
Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Alain Lombard *
Metamorphose String Orchestra, Pavel Lyubomudrov *
Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, Peter Maag
Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Mackerras
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner *
Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux, Igor Markevitch
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Masur *
New York Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta
Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Zubin Mehta
Orchestra Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Zubin Mehta (DVD/Blu-ray)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Willem Mengelberg *
Bläserensemble, Sabine Meyer *
New York Philharmonic, Dimitri Mitropoulos
French National Orchestra, Pierre Monteux
San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Monteux
London Symphony Orchestra, Wyn Morris
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Hans Müller-Kray *
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch(DVD)
Paris Conservatoire Orchestra, Charles Munch
Philadelphia Orchestra, Riccardo Muti
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano
Radio Symphony Orchestra Ljubljana, Anton Nanut *
Ensemble Orchestral de Paris, John Nelson *
Wiener Philharmoniker, Andris Nelsons *
Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin *
London Classical Players, Sir Roger Norrington
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sir Roger Norrington *
Saito Kinen Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa *
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Hans Pfitzner
Russian National Orchestra, Mikhail Pletnev *
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, David Porcelijn *
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, André Previn *
Belgian Radio and Television Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Rahbari *
Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Wojciech Rajski (SACD)
Polish Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Wojciech Rajski (DVD/Blu-ray)
Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle (SACD)
Wiener Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle
London Symphony Orchestra, Edouard van Remoortel *
Sinfonieorchester des Südwestfunks Baden-Baden, Hans Rosbaud
Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, Ola Rudner (SACD)

(continued in post 2)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

(continuation from post 1)

New York Philharmonic, Victor de Sabata *
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen *
Dresdner Philharmoniker, Michael Sanderling *
WDR Sinfonieorchester, Jukka-Pekka Saraste
Le Concert des Nations, Jordi Savall (SACD)
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Wolfgang Sawallisch
Wiener Philharmoniker, Franz Schalk
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Hermann Scherchen
Wiener Philharmoniker, Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt *
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz
Copenhagen Philharmonic, Lan Shui
Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti
Berlin Virtual Symphonics, Brent Vince Spinner *
Taschenphilharmonie, Peter Stangel
Boston Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg (DVD)
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg
Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell *
New York Phiharmonic, George Szell *
Verbier Festival Orchestra, Gábor Takács-Nagy
London Philharmonic Orchestra, Klaus Tennstedt
Wiener Philharmoniker, Christian Thielemann
Wiener Philharmoniker, Christian Thielemann (DVD/Blu-ray)
London Symphony Orchestra, Michael Tilson Thomas
NBC Symphony Orchestra, Arturo Toscanini
Orchestre et Choeur de la Francophonie, Jean-Phillipe Tremblay *
Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Robert Trevino (SACD)
Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä(SACD)
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Tamás Vásáry *
Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, Jan Willem de Vriend (SACD)
Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Bruno Walter
New York PhilharmonicOrchestra, Bruno Walter
NDR Sinfonieorchester, Günter Wand *
Tafelmusik Orchestra, Bruno Weil
Wiener Philharmoniker, Felix Weingartner
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Walter Weller *
BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sir Henry Wood
Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, David Zinman *

(* = download only)

[Petrushka]

A bit ridiculous sifting through this lot when the Beethoven 8 is pretty well indestructible and unlike the others isn't that open to much in the way of wide interpretation differences.

I've got many recordings mostly, but not always, as part of a complete cycle. Impossible to choose one that stands out more than the others.

[Bryn]

Bruggen's earlier (Decca) recording is still available in this boxed set:

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A bit ridiculous sifting through this lot when the Beethoven 8 is pretty well indestructible and unlike the others isn't that open to much in the way of wide interpretation differences.

I agree, but it was interesting, as always, compiling the list to see what's there. I was a bit surprised by this one though -



I haven't listed it as I couldn't find details of the performers.

[mikealdren]

If you show the rear, someone may be able to translate?

[Petrushka]

If you show the rear, someone may be able to translate?

It says 'State Symphony Orchestra' on the front. No mention of a conductor.

[smittims]

I wonder if a BaL on B8 illustrates the problem of BaL these days. Does anyone buy a recording of this symphony for this symphony alone?

Maybe it's just because it's my least favourite, as I lament the lack of a slow movement. Yes, I know it's like wanting a love-duet in Billy Budd, but I don't often listen to it. I suppose Beecham is my choice. Are there any all-out famous classic recordings of this work?

[Alison]

Another win for Abbado?

[Ein Heldenleben]

Thanks Alpie for all the hard work.
For once the blurb is apposite and not over hyped. Also accurate as far as I can tell and with info I didn’t know about.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I wonder if a BaL on B8 illustrates the problem of BaL these days. Does anyone buy a recording of this symphony for this symphony alone?

My first recording of this was Beecham’s on a 10 inch Philips LP, so I definitely bought it for this work alone. But nowadays things may be a little different.

Unlike smittims, I do like symphony more than most. My only quibble is that the second movement’s sudden key change at the end makes it sound as though it finishes in mid/air.

[cloughie]

Another win for Abbado?

Yes but which one - I like the earlier VPO one on Decca now on Eloquence. I also like the Jochum (DG) and Krips.

[kindofblue]

If you show the rear, someone may be able to translate?

I could help with this.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If you show the rear, someone may be able to translate?

My concern was that on the cover, the 8th symphony is named "Pastoral".

[pastoralguy]

I’m listening to the 1978 Bernstein/ Vienna Philharmonic disc in its original DG release and it sounds terrific to me. Looking up the contemporary review in Gramophone the main gripe seems to be the somewhat muffled DG recording and the revelation that the recording of the Ninth Symphony is outstanding which leaves very little space for the other symphonies to get a look in.

The Eighth comes over very well to my ears in this cycle.