Search - L.V. Beethoven, Bruno Walter :: Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies

Simply the best.

Sergio Flores | Orange, CA United States | 08/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't think Beethoven composed anything I have not enjoyed. I even like his First Symphony, and he was not very fond of it. He is the author of my favorite overture (Egmont) and some of the most beautiful and moving piano pieces ever created are his. I had listened to several versions of his symphonies, from a squalid, anemic rendition by Norrington, to the very good ones by Karajan and Solti, with several lesser known directors between them. I am sorry to say that I have never listened to a Bernstein version, but I will make it a point to buy one. This Bruno Walter set of Beethoven's symphonies, however, is by far the best, the most powerful interpretation of the great master that I have ever found. Walter seems to have an instinctive knowledge of the power of notes that to others are just passages. Even though I like the nine versions here presented, my absolute favorite has to be the First movement of the Fifth Symphony, especially towards the end. I have heard versions that simply run through those notes (Norrington's is particularly bad) as if the director were in a hurry to go somewhere. Others, like Solti, seem dimly aware of the raw power that such a segment hides, but cruise through. Once you have listened to Walter's version of the 5th's First Movement and compared it to other Director's interpretations, you'll be able to see if you agree with me that Walter is the best interpreter of Beethoven. I also recommend his extraordinary work on Dvorak's symphonies, particularly the 9th."

Gentle Intensity: Bruno Walter's Beethoven

Alberto G. Esposito | Jacksonville, FL USA | 07/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These vintage recordings from the last fifties and early sixties capture all the warmth, insight, and gentle intensity of Bruno Walter's interpretative stance on Beethoven. Textures are clear, inner voices sing, and melodies flow with a gentle and passionate inevitability. The structure of the symphonies (despite the absence of any exposition repeats) unfolds with both clarity and narrative expansiveness. At times, Walter's art reveals a distinctive charm in the handling of rhythm: just note the opening of the second movement of the fourth, the genial ritardtando at the opening of the "Pastoral," or the almost coy viola patterns at the end of the second movement of the eight--absolutely inimitable Walterian timing.
Charm, however, is not the whole story. The epic grandeur of the "Eroica," the rhetorical gestures of the fifth, and the rhythmic vitality of the seventh all find unique expression in Walter's imagination: his third blends power with pathos, his fifth unites drive with ardent longing, and his seventh seamlessly and paradoxically weds febrile energy with Viennese swing. As for the ninth, the almost operatic passion of the first movement of the ninth, the granite-like strength of the scherzo, and the elysian warmth of the third movement are all unique in the Beethoven discography. Disappointingly, the crowning fourth movement lacks a foward moving structural impetous (how uncharacteristics of this set!); nevertheless, the soulful unfolding of the "Ode to Joy" theme in the strings is very moving. The choir tries to deal with the slow tempi--it seems that Walter is seeking some sort of metaphysical stasis to contrast with the drama of the opening movements--but ultimately, though there are many heart-warming touches, the finale fails to ignite. (This recording could be nicely supplemented by a "live" version of the ninth that Walter made with the London Symphony--what fireworks go off in that performance!!)
Despite this important blemish, this set of Beethoven symphonies is indispensable to the serious collector--endlessly fascinating in detail, warm in recorded sound, a living portrait of an artist who combined seraphic gentility, clarity of structure, and Dionysian passion to a unique and unrepeatable degree."

Overall, one of the finest Beethoven interpretations

Joanna Daneman | Middletown, DE USA | 04/30/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While there are many historic Beethoven symphony recordings of great merit (Furtwangler, Toscanini, Von Karajan) the Walter recordings (1958-1963) are perhaps the most satisfying overall. Walter takes a decidedly un-modern approach to tempo (SLOW-ER!!) so you hear many things in especially the second, third, seventh and eighth you normally do NOT hear in the more popular brisk tempi of Toscanini, Bernstein or Von Karajan. While Von Karajan's Ninth is probably THE gold standard for the greatest of Beethoven's symphonies, overall, the Walter set is important if you want to hear how Beethoven was interpreted before either the technical bravura of the 70's and 80's or the harkening back to "as Beethoven would have heard it if he weren't deaf" attempts of reconstructionists.The sound isn't so clean and bright--these were older recordings, but the interpretations never fail to please me. Lots to listen to in this set for lovers of the Titan Beethoven."