Ludwig van Beethoven: 9 Symphonien
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Free Music Notes for Ludwig van Beethoven: 9 Symphonien
Free Music Review: The best and most economical route to Beethoven's Symphonies
Hit: 5 Stars
Aside from Carlos Kleiber's famous recording of Symphonies 5 and 7 (Polygram Records - #447400), I found it very difficult to find great recordings of the other 7 symphonies. That is, until I heard Symphonies 7 and 8 from this collection. Then it began to make sense, the reason why so few exist is because the music execs know that this collection recorded by Von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic is nearly impossible to surpass in terms of musical professionalism and sheer understanding of each of the compositions. True, they were originally recorded (and since digitally remastered) about 40 years ago but that time stamp seems remarkably inaudible. It reminds me that my all time favorite jazz recording came from the 1950's (Miles Davis's "Kind of Blue"). Note also the price, which at this writing averages to about $7/disc; so one gets premiere quality at Naxos price levels!Free Music Review: best from karajan but not the best available
Hit: 4 Stars
this set is certainly the best beethoven cycle from karajan... but... only thing that is holding its ground from other cycles (or keeping it on my shelf) is the momentum karajan is capable of building... nothing else: the orchestra is in fine form, but no match against bohm's vpo or szell's cleveland or reiner's chicago or toscanini's nbc (apparent in the strings) (though reiner didn't record all but those available on rca are all good), tempo is not very controlled to my satisfaction: i find karajan often does not hold crutial beats long enough like the way that toscanini and szell and reiner all do (ex. beginning of ninth, eighth, second movement of seventh, and of course sixth, all of it). also because this is a 'big band' recording, it lacks the agility that hogwood or gardiner's cycle shows.that aside, at this price, this is an excellent complementary set... third, fifth, seventh, and ninth are all classics with their own distinction, it's a pity (or pities) that the sixth is too rushed for anyone's enjoyment (except the thunderstorm which is excellent), also the sound was not very good but still passable.
those looking for one set of traditional performance should get szell's sony essential classics (budget) cycle which includes overtures, which has exceptional orchestra playing and very satisfying middle-of-road beethovenian reading... on the other hand those wanting a performance on period (small) orchestra should get academy of ancient music cond. christopher hogwood (also budget) edition l'oiseau or gardiner (full price) on archiv, both of which features outstanding performances of every symphony, including the ninth.
Free Music Review: Great cycle
Hit: 5 Stars
If you think Waldemar Kmentt is great, why don't you turn to Solti's 1972 ninth? I think Stuart Burrows simply blows most other tenors away. His voice rises heroically above the chorus and orchestra. Can't understand the fuss over Karajan's 9th. It IS outstanding but I've heard better. Plus the chorus here sounds like it's singing behind some curtain. Go and listen to Solti or Klemperer and you will understand what I mean.Free Music Review: Some of the finest Beethoven you'll hear recorded!
Hit: 5 Stars
I have said before that I don't prefer "all in one" sets of music, because I like to hear different interpretations of the music I am listening to, but this one is one worth buying. Karajan does a marvelous job keeping the pace of the beethoven works on time, and the Berlin Philharmonic together. I have not yet listened to the CD Audio Recording, but have listened to the LP Recording I have that is from the same master. If an LP sounds this good then a CD will not dissapoint. The only thing missing from the CD is the detailed full score analysis of all of the symphonies present in the LP set. So I have recommended that you by scores for these symphonies. One thing that stands out is the accuracy of the tempos Karajan uses in these works. Many conductors take too much liberty, especially on the 5th symphony, Karajans is near perfect. This is a marvelous recording on record, and a collectors peice for all!Free Music Review: Listen to Waldemar Kmentt in the Ninth
Hit: 4 Stars
Beethoven's Symphonies are perhaps the greatest achievement in the history of music. I will not review Karajan's whole set, but it must be said that his recording of the ninth symphony is the one that brings the finest singers. And it is also the ONLY one that brings a tenor who has a voice that perfectly suits the music. It has often been said that Gundula Janowitz singing is beautiful. That is true, but Waldemar Kmentt's heroic tone is something truly unique. You shall NEVER hear another recording that will bring such a fine tenor. Beethoven's score was obviously written for a tenor of heroic tone, but most conductors (if not all of them)just fail to notice that and mistakenly place smooth voiced tenors to sing this part. It is incredible that such a mistake has been taking place for the past 200 years!! It is also incredible that Karajan has been the ONLY conductor who has noticed it.