Beethoven - Symphonies. Piano Concertos

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0724357389525 Format: Box set Label: EMI Classics Manufacturer: EMI Classics Number Of Discs: 9 Publisher: EMI Classics Release Date: 2000-10-09 Running Time: 661 Studio: EMI Classics
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: A unique landmark series of interpretations at ridiculously low price Comment: Fashions come and go. From the latter years of the 20 Century the attempt to "recover" what Beethoven might have expected to hear through the use of copies of instruments in use at the time of composition and attention to (Czerny's?) metronome markings in the symphonic scores has has given us a current performing tradition of "lean and fast" Beethoven. This tradition is wonderfully well served on Sir Roger Norrington's complete set of the symphonies with the SWD Rundfunksorchest available on Hanssler (NOT the London Classical Players' set so temptingly cheap on Virgin!)and this would be my desert island set (it is easily available from Amazon though costs just over twice as much as the Klemperer discs. [Click on see all my reviews for my thoughts on this set.] Klemperer's approach is quite different and came from the desire to scrub away some of the overlaid emotionalism that he found in the interpretations of many of his contemporaries - Furtwangler's exciting and often visionary "recreations" of the scores are the very best examples of a type of interpretation that Klemperer was reacting against and it goes without saying that many conductors who aped Furtwangler had only a small amount of that great man's talent and genius... So Klemperer was interested in allowing the musical structures to "speak for themselves" and would have said that his performances were based on his personal response to the interrelated tempi and key structures in the symphonies. Though they sound entirely different from each other, this was also Toscanini's agenda! So it is the "personal response", the thing that makes it, as Dr Otto once said, "...a real KLEMPERER performance..." that is really interesting in this set. There are few exposition repeats in these performances, as was the custom in the 1950's. But in the case of the Eroica, for example, the music is presented with such clarity and weight of feeling that this scarcely matters. Perhaps this Third Symphony is one of the most truly "heroic" on record (see other reviews for the merits of the earlier mono recordings of symphonies 3, 5 and 7 whilst at the same time noting that the earlier 7th is the one included in this set - thank heavens!). Symphonies 1 and 2 are finely performed and recorded and Symphony 4 is one of the best on record. Symphnony 5 marries drama and nobility in a performance rather slower that current tastes and the Pastoral has the "infamously" moderate speed that actually brings an amusing new light to the movement as it stresses the landler rhythms of the bucolic fun and manages to suggest that the dancers had been at the new vintage for an hour or two before hitting the dance floor! The 7th is the experimental stereo version of the record that was issued in mono. The rhythmical integrity of this performance gives a "spring" to the slower that usual tempi. Symphony 8 is another fine example of Klemperer's art and the Choral is another "real Klemperer performance" - for example, even though the presto second movement is very much slower than one expects the rhythms lift and bounce in an entirely individual way. The soloists are a little uneven but the Chorus is in every way magnificent. It is hard to put into words the "authentic Klemperer" sound. Analogies and metaphors will have to do. It is as if the notes have been printed in bold, for example. Or there is a "space round the notes" that does not in any way impede the music. If Norrington's Beethoven is "polished silver" then Klemperer's is "old gold". But what can be said is that Klemperer's concept of the music is the result of having lived with it and thought about it for a very long time indeed - well over fifty years when these recordings were made. This lead to a consideration of the very fine concerto set that is so generously added to this box. The young Barenboim shows his supreme giftedness in the tension between his view of the music and that held by Klemperer. The stirring concerti, like numbers 1 and 3, are noble and heroic and the Emperor is very well turned out indeed. I have some slight reservations about Concerto 2 being a little heavy-handed. The wonderful 4th Concerto is here, I feel, given one of the most moving on record. Add to all of this the inclusion of several overtures, the Grosser Fuge and Fantasia for Piano, Choir and Orchestra and you have a truly unique and not to be missed bargain. It should probably not be the only set of Beethoven symphonies and piano concerti that you possess - but that is true of ANY integral set of performances of this music, which is as the piaist Artur Schabel said, "...music that is so good that it can never be performed perfectly". Customer Rating: Summary: Vintage Beethoven Comment: The nine CDs in this set contain Ludwig van Beethoven's, and maybe classical music's, finest works. The nine symphonies are recordings from 1955, 1959 and 1963 performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of the late, near legendary, Otto Klemperer. Don't be put off by the fact these recordings are more than 50 years old. Digitally remastered, and presented in a box set with extensive booklet, the quality is as outstanding as the performances are precise. Sometimes described as slow or unkindly labeled as plodding, I can only see these for what they are...performances which are measured, precise and immaculately polished. Similarly, the piano concertos (all of Beethoven's five concertos are included) are amongst the best you will find. The pianist on these 1968 recordings is a young Daniel Barenboim, and the orchestra is the same as that of the symphonies, although now performing under the newly adopted title (from 1964) the `New Philharmonia Orchestra'. Again, the original recordings have been remastered to produce sparkling results. If that wasn't enough, the `Coriolan', `Prometheus' and 3 `Leonore Overtures' are included, along with the `Gross Fugue' and `Fantasia for piano, chorus and orchestra'. My criticisms are the lack of information on each CD sleeve - you need to consult the 52 page (20 in English) booklet to see the full track listing - which is typical of the EMI Classics series, and to omit the `Egmont Overture' is inexcusable. But perhaps I'm just asking too much... Essential listening. Customer Rating: Summary: Definitive Beethoven Comment: For me, Otto Klemperer has been the definitive, heavy-weight Beethoven conductor in the past 50 years or more. These recordings, albeit getting on a bit now, (mainly 1950's & 60's), are near legendary. A listener familiar with the modern, pursistic approach to Beethoven, (which often means fast tempi and hard edged period orchestral sound) will probably baulk at this approach to the composer. You will either love or loath the often slow, plodding tempi and meticulous attention to detail and orchestral balance. But there is something magnificent and grand about Klemperers approach to, especially the heavier-weight symphonies (namely nos. 3, 5, 7 and 9). The lesser symphonies don't fare so well with the same style of conducting. But, never-the-less. At such a discount price, have it in your collection!! The Piano Concerti are equally fascinating. Almost a dual between the young dashing pianist (Daniel Barenboim) and the old Maestro. Barenboim often tempted to rush off at much faster tempi until Klemperer reminds him that he is in control here and this is the pace it should be played!! Plus you get a handful of his best loved overtures and the seldom performed, but marvellous Fantasia in C for Piano, Orchestra and Voices.. An absolute must for the music lover. As you will probably never hear Beethoven quite like this again... Customer Rating: Summary: The Perfect Introduction Comment: For anybody wanting a complete collection of Beethoven's symphonies this is probably the best place to start. I find that all of the symphonies on these CDs are excellent portrayed. Of course, once you get to know and love each symphony you will probably want to buy individual recordings of each one. This box set is amazing value, not just for sheer content, don't forget you get the concertos as well, but the quality is top notch. Upon seeing the price I was a little dubious that there would be the odd poor version, especially the 5th symphony, as that tends to be on so many compilations and most often a very poor performance is used. However, the performance contained here is of high class, for me it is just the right tempo to show it off in all its triumph. My personal favourite, the 9th symphony, also didn't disappoint. I'm biased, as I love it so much, but this is the highlight of the collection. The conductor and the orchestra do a fantastic job of capturing all the right emotions involved and all the vocal performers are spot on throughout the final movement. It is as every bit as good as my other favourite recordings, which is very good for one included on a low budget box set. The only niggle I have is with the 5th piano concerto, the "emperor". To me this is not how it should be played, the melody and even the mood is somewhat different to how I prefer it. To summarise, if you dont know much about these pieces and want a nice cheap set to hear them, you cannot do any better than this. If you know these pieces but cannot afford individual recordings of each one then, again, this collection will not disappoint. Great quality, great quantity and great price. Customer Rating: Summary: The REAL Klemperer Beethoven Cycle Comment: EMI have just released a further single disc in their Great Recordings of the Century series of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony (to add to the earlier releases of the justly famous mono versions of the Fifth and Seventh Symphonies and the Eroica) This makes me wonder if they are at last going to make available for us , albeit on separate dics , what many record collectors and admirers of Otto Klemperer's genius in Beethoven have long realized - that the real Klemperer Cycle of the Nine Beethoven Symphonies consists of the performances in this set of the 1st , 2nd , 4th , 6th , 7th , 8th , and 9th Symphonies together with the earlier recordings of the 3rd and 5th . But surely you're not including that lumbering , leaden footed account of the 7th !! Ah , but that brings me to the reason I wanted to write a few words about this wonderful set. Everyone else who has reviewed it has correctly referred to the problems of those later re-makes of 3 , 5 , and 7 without noticing that the performance of the 7th in this set is actually an experimental Stereo Recording of the 1955 seventh , not its lumbering re-make , and superb it sounds too ! EMI ran similar experimental Stereo sessions on their Karajan Rosenkavalier recording . Stereo is of course important in Klemperer's Beethoven given his correct antiphonal division of 1st and 2nd violins , and where better to hear them than in the Finale of Beethoven's 7th (Composers knew about Stereo before we did !!) This set is an amazing bargain and its virtues and shortcomings are well known . Buy it as soon as you can ; add the mono discs of the Eroica and the 5th , spoil yourself with the Testament realease of the live 9th and you will have , as Walter Legge the producer of these records said at the time , a Beethoven Cycle which will be prized as long as Records are collected . Oh and I forgot to mention that for your £25 you get the Piano Concertos , Choral Fantasia and several of the most famous Overtures thrown in for good measure as well - incredible !! More Reviews