Bruno Walter was always a most persuasive advocate of the gentler Beethoven--at least, ... more
that's what everyone thought until his stereo Beethoven cycle was remastered onto CD, revealing a much stronger musical profile than had been suspected. But that just made the cycle's best performances sound better still--and here they are, together on one midpriced CD! It's amazing that a man in his 80s, as Walter was when these performances were recorded, could take what was essentially a pickup orchestra and turn in performances of such power and authority. Walter and the Columbia Symphony had a genuine chemistry between them--they play these two symphonies as if they had been making music together for years. --David Hurwitz
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Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles
of the symphony also comes off quite well, although there is a certain something that doesn't quite convince in the transition of the Scherzo's C minor to the Finale's C major. The work is played with all repeats included, that is the Scherzo is repeated and the Finale's exposition is also reprised, making it (whether accurate or not to what Beethoven finally wanted) a grand symphony rather than a compact one. Still the effect is rather the opposite.
Symphony No.6 in F major, Op.68 "Pastoral"
The Pastoral, like just about all the symphonies, runs at a fairly brisk pace. This is particularly effective in the village band third movement and in the thunderstorm fourth movement, the former presenting a true rustic feel of unprofessional players and the latter really brings out the violence of a country storm. The rest of the symphony is also well ...
Advantages: Outstanding music on period instruments Disadvantages: Swaping C.D'S in music player.
extensively.
The original set was a six boxed set from EMI as follows:-
CD 1 66?06" Symphony No 1 Symphony No 6 "The Pastoral"
CD 2 58?40" Symphony No 2 Symphony No 8
CD 3 48?43" Overture: Creatures of Prometheus Symphony No 3 "Erocia"
CD 4 64?36" Symphony No 4Symphony No 5
CD 5 52?50" Overture; "Coriolan ", Overture: "Egmont", Symphony No 7
CD 6 62?23" Symphony No 9 "The Choral"
This new set from Virgin Classics Catalogue No 5619432 is as follows:-
CD 1 Symphony No 1 Symphony No 3 "Eeroica"
Creatures of Prometheus
CD 2 Symphony No 2 Symphony No 8
Coriolan Overture Egmont Overture
CD 3 Symphony No 4Symphony No 7
CD 4Symphony No 5 Symphony No 6 "Pastoral"
CD 5 Symphony No 9 ?The Choral"
Amazon price £13.99
This will not be to ...
Advantages: The best and most famous symphonies ever Disadvantages: None
Beethoven's nine symphonies are a complete musical universe of their own. Some of them have naturally impinged on public consciousness more than others. The opening bars of the 5th vied for years with the finale to Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" as probably the most famous classical piece ever until the recent vogue for Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", while the 6th ("Pastoral") is so full of light and shade, so many little twists of unforgettable melody, that it has rightly never gone out of fashion; and part of the 9th ("Choral") has lived on in various reincarnations. Just listen to the Seekers' "Emerald City" (1967) and Rainbow's "Difficult To Cure" (1981), to take but two examples.
As a personal opinion, I find the 6th the most enjoyable to listen to right through; I was partly brought up on it as a child, and for me it has never lost ...
Product Information for "Beethoven: Symphonies 4-6" »
Product details
Title
Beethoven: Symphonies 4-6
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Orchestra / Ensemble(s)
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Date of Release
05/2000
Label / Distributor
Archiv / RSK Entertainment Ltd
Pieces in Set
2
Running Time
2 hours 59 minutes
Genre(s)
Orchestral
SPAR Code
ADD
EAN
99925345327
Work 1
Work Title
Symphony No. 4 in B flat, Op. 60
Excerpt(s)
1. Adagio_Allegro vivace 2. Adagio 3. Allegro vivace 4. Allegro ma non troppo
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1806
Date Recorded
1965
Conductor
Paul Kletzki
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Work 2
Work Title
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
Excerpt(s)
1. Allegro con brio 2. Andante con moto 4. Allegro
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1807
Date Recorded
1967
Conductor
Paul Kletzki
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Work 3
Work Title
Symphony No. 6, 'Pastoral' in F, Op. 68
Excerpt(s)
1. Allegro ma non troppo (Awakening of cheerful feelings...in the country) 2. Andante molto mosso (By the brook) 3. Allegro (Merry gathering of country folk) 4. Allegro (Thunderstorm) 5. Allegretto (Shepherds' Song. Happy & thankful feelings after the Storm)
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1808
Date Recorded
1965
Conductor
Paul Kletzki
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Work 4
Work Title
Coriolan, Op. 62
Excerpt(s)
1. Coriolan, Op. 62
Composer
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Genre
Orchestral
Date Written
1807
Date Recorded
1964
Conductor
Paul Kletzki
Orchestra / Ensemble
Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
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Listed on Ciao since
30/03/2005
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