Search - Beethoven, Doese, Schiml :: Beethoven: Symphonies

Surprisingly Good, and a Bargain!

Music Is Everything | Colorado Springs, CO USA | 04/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Brilliant Classics label is one of the first to realize that the actual value of recorded media (in a market is flooded with excellent recordings) is rather low. Their response is to purchase good recordings from major labels and repackage them at bargain price. This cycle of Beethoven symphonies is one of their best finds. The Dresden orchestra plays with their trademark sweet and polished sound, while Blomstedt draws amazingly accurate and enduring performances from them. It all depends upon your approach to Beethoven: If you want high energy and aggressive playing, Solti's analogue cycle (not the digital!) with the Chicago Symphony would be more to your liking. If you want your Beethoven more refined and astonishingly accurate, this set endures well. I have heard many Beethoven cycles, but I keep Solti's and Blomstedt's close, and listen to them for very different (and wonderful) reasons. At bargain price, this cycle cannot be overlooked."

A good all-around collection, but hardly the best

Joey Joe Joe Jr. Shabadoo | Boston, MA USA | 01/16/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This Beethoven cycle, featuring Herbert Blomstedt conducting the Staatskapelle Dresden, is a very solid cycle 1 - 9. However, I think anyone calling this cycle the best probably hasn't fully investigated the overwhelming catalog of Beethoven cycles. Blomstedt's readings are very much in the traditional mold, with the main focus being on clarity, balance, mostly correct tempo choices and rhythmic steadiness. Blomstedt, however, doesn't display much of his own personality. And while as a result this would make a nice choice for a reference, I can't think of one performance in this set that I'd call a truly top-tier performance. Probably the one symphony that comes the closest in this set would be the 6th, which gets a sublime rendering. That being said, Blomstedt is consistently good across the entire cycle, offering rock-solid if unspectacular versions of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 8th. The only true misfires in the set for me were the 5th and 9th. The 5th is hurt by a rather underpowered, slow opening, and it's something Blomstedt never really fully overcomes. The 9th is hurt by very moderate tempi in the 1st movement and a less than stellar cast of soloists in the finale. Criticism aside, this is one of the most consistent sets around.



Another positive aspect of these performances, in fact maybe the biggest draw, is the chance to hear the storied Dresdeners weave their magic. In that regard, they do not disappoint, featuring fine ensemble playing, a deep rich string tone, strong winds, and a characteristic burnished brass sound. They can obviously play this music in their sleep, and without much help. And it's a good thing too, because Blomstedt certainly doesn't bother to get in the way. I wish Blomstedt offered a bit more direction.



Sound is very good, a nicely defined late 1970s/early 1980s analog. All parts are easily heard, and voices are perfectly balanced. I never struggle to hear anything. As far as liner notes go, well, I didn't get any with my copy.



Overall, while hardly an earth-shattering cycle, this is a worthy option for those looking for a first-time set, but this is really just another box set taking up the shelf space of the afficionado - you won't find much new in this set. Blomstedt in many ways reminds me of Gunter Wand with his lack of a personal interpretive approach. While this makes for a good reference recording, I can think of multiple recordings for each symphony that I'd prefer over anything in this box set, and several cycles which I'd recommend before this one. I'd look at the 1963 Karajan/BPO cycle on DGG, the Jochum/Concertgebouw set on Philips, the Szell/CO cycle on Sony, the Schmidt-Isserstedt/VPO cycle on Decca, and the Cluytens/BPO cycle on EMI. In regards to individual performances of each symphony, I'd recommend investigating:



1 & 2: Kubelik (DG); Bohm/VPO (DG); Szell/CO (Sony)

3: Schmidt-Isserstedt/VPO (Decca); Bohm/VPO (DG); Szell/CO (Sony); Karajan/BPO (DG); Ansermet/OSR (Decca); Bernstein/NYPO (Sony); Cluytens/BPO (EMI); Klemperer/PO (EMI)

4: Karajan/BPO (DG); Konwitschny/Gewandhaus (Brilliant); Kempe/Munich PO (Royal Classics); Cluytens/BPO (EMI)

5: Kleiber/VPO (DG); Monteux/LSO (Decca); Ansermet/OSR (Decca); Giulini/LAPO (DG); Cluytens/BPO (EMI)

6: Bohm/VPO (DG); Kempe/Munich PO (Royal Classics); Schmidt-Isserstedt/VPO (Decca); Walter/CBSO (Sony); Cluytens/BPO (EMI)

7: Konwitschny/Gewandhaus (Brilliant); Kleiber/VPO (DG); Bernstein/NYPO (Sony); Jochum/RCO (Philips); Bohm/VPO (DG); Monteux/LSO (Decca)

8: Karajan/BPO (DG); Bohm/VPO (DG); Szell/CO (Sony); Cluytens/BPO (EMI)

9: Karajan/BPO (DG); Schmidt-Isserstedt/VPO (Decca); Ansermet/OSR (Decca); Fricsay/BPO (DG); Szell/CO (Sony); Giulini/LSO (EMI); Jochum/LSO (EMI); Klemperer/PO (EMI)



In sum: with this low pricetag, the newcomer to Beethoven shouldn't hesitate. If you've already acquired multiple symphony sets, you'd best preview the tracks first, as depending on what you already own, this set may be redundant and/or superfluous."

A personal comparison of various recordings of Beethoven's s

Rasmus Oerndrup | Copenhagen, Denmark | 03/12/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In this review I will try to compare various complete recordings of Beethoven's nine symphonies plus Carlos Kleiber's CD with Symphonies number 5 and 7 (on DG). Concerning Carlos Kleiber it is easily done: I will advice anybody who appreciates Beethoven (or who think they might appreciate Beethoven) to buy his CD. I doubt you can find better versions of those two works. When I mention Karajan in this review I refer only to his first complete set of Beethoven's symphonies for DG from 1963 with the Berliner Philharmoniker. The other complete sets I will write about are: Osmo Vanska and the Minnesota Orchestra (Bis), Jos van Immerseel and Anima Eterna (Zig Zag), David Zinman and Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich (Arte Nova), Herbert Blomstedt and Staatskapelle Dresden (Brilliant). All orchestras mentioned here perform on modern instruments except Immerseel's Anima Eterna.



I will go through the symphonies one by one and give short comments on the various recordings. I will start in reverse order since I guess most people will be interested in the late symphonies primarily.



Karajan plays a terrific and grand 9th ("Choral") - his wild gestures and colourful style fit the work well - he is a true romantic in the first romantic symphony in musical history. It is the only 9th I have heard in which all the movements really shine, for instance in Vanska's recording only the two last movements really work for me, but then again those two are amazing - you can hear every polyphonic detail in the choral finale. Immerseel gives us a good "slim" 9th (only 33 musicians in the orchestra which though is 9 more than in the other symphonies). Zinman's recording lacks verve and excitement in the two first movements, but his adagio is pretty and the finale is gripping. A special feature in Zinman's 9th is that he plays it with Beethoven's original general pause in bar 747. Blomstedt plays a vibrant 9th with a beautiful truly romantic adagio (16+ minutes long like Karajan's) and a glorious finale. Thomas Dausgaard with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra Örebro (on Simax as part of a complete recording of Beethoven's orchestral music which I am NOT reviewing here) is - as a whole - the best recent (2009) 9th I have heard, but text and translation of Schiller's ode are not included in the booklet. Some might say that the scherzo in Dausgaard's hands is too aggressive, but I find it fresh and spirited.



Zinman gives you a good 7th but not a great one. The winning set in the 7th is no doubt Immerseel's who's ravishing exhilarating account is full of verve and vigour. Richard Wagner described this symphony as "the apotheosis of dance" and he had/has a point: This is a symphony that demands a "mobile" orchestra - a dancing orchestra. And here Immerseel and Anima Eterna have the advantage of a smaller orchestra that can really dance. Vanska's version of the 7th really disappointed me. It is simply boring - he plays it too slowly. But if you buy Carlos Kleiber's 7th in addition to Vanska's complete cycle you will be doing just fine. What I have said about the 7th also could be said about the 8th - again Immerseel's interpretation is the more lively. But I don't think you will be disappointed in this symphony with either Karajan, Zinman, Vanska or Blomstedt. Karajan's 7th and 8th are highlights of his set.



Karajan's approach is much too heavy for the "Pastoral" (the 6th Symphony). Same thing can be said about Blomstedt's. Vanska's is the best version of this light-hearted symphony (a rare example of program music in Beethoven's oeuvre). Vanska's "Scene by the brook" (the title of the 2nd movement) has a beautiful, tranquil and romantic atmosphere that I find very appealing. I didn't like the "Pastoral" before I heard Vanska conduct it. "The merry gathering of the country folk" is as merry as it should be and "Thunder Storm" really sounds like thunder. Zinman isn't bad in this one either, the 1st movement in particular conveys the "Pleasant, cheerful feelings which awaken in people on arrival in the country" to the listener.



In the first movement of the famous 5th Immerseel plays very fast (maybe too fast) and takes no prisoners. It is a very extreme approach, but it does appeal to me somehow especially because the rest of the symphony seems to follow as a logic conclusion. Vanska plays it slower and gives you time to both try to feel and figure out what Beethoven intended with this work. Karajan might be overdoing it a little bit in the 5th, but it is certainly not boring. Zinman plays the fast movements almost as fast as Immerseel and presents a decent 5th, although I miss some grandeur when it should reach its climax in the 4th movement.



I am not very enthusiastic about Beethoven's 4th Symphony, but maybe I just haven't listened to it enough to get to know it better. The recording I will choose to get to know it better will probably be Vanska's.

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In the 3rd Symphony ("Eroica") Vanska slowly builds up tension creating a truly heroic feeling - definitely my favourite.



The 1st and 2nd Symphonies are not core repertoire Beethoven and I suppose most performers don't really care too much about them. At least when I listen to them they only really make sense and appeal to me in the hands of Osmo Vanska.



I almost forgot about Herbert Blomstedt. Maybe because his cycle is forgettable in the sense that it just repeats an approach similar to Karajan's.



When it comes to sound Anima Eterna's set is definitely the winner. Not only because it has the best recording technique, but also because the small orchestra enables you to hear every single instrument in the orchestra. With larger orchestras the sound becomes somewhat blurred and you can't tell which instruments are playing what. As I said the Karajan set discussed here was recorded in 1963. Blomstedt's is from the late `70s (the 9th from 1980), Zinman's is from the `90s, Immerseel's and Vanska's were both recorded in the beginning of the new millennium and are of course superior in terms of sound quality.



So my recommendation: Jos van Immerseel with Anima Eterna is the best overall set, but if you don't like the idea of period instruments and a small ensemble choose Osmo Vanska with the Minnesota Orchestra. In addition to that buy Carlos Kleiber's 5th and 7th and Karajan's or Dausgaard's 9th."