Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Adagio molto. Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Andante cantabile con moto
3. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Menuetto: Allegro molto e vivace
4. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Finale: Adagio. Allegro molto e vivace
5. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Allegro ma non troppo. Happy feelings aroused on arrival in the country
6. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Andante molto moto. Scene by the brook
7. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Allegro. Peasant's merry-making
8. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Allegro. Thunderstorm
9. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Allegretto. Shepherds' song: Joyous thanksgiving after the storm

Disc 2:

1. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Adagio molto. Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Larghetto
3. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Scherzo: Allegro
4. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Allegro molto
5. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Poco sostenuto. Vivace
6. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegretto
7. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Presto
8. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegro con brio

Disc 3:

1. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
3. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: Scherzo: Allegro vivace
4. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: Finale: Allegro molto
5. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegro vivace e con brio
6. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegretto scherzando
7. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Tempo di Menuetto
8. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegro vivace

Disc 4:

1. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: Adagio. Allegro vivace
2. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: Adagio
3. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: Menuetto: Allegro vivace
4. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: Allegro ma non troppo
5. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: Allegro con brio
6. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: Andante con moto
7. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: Allegro
8. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: Allegro

Disc 5:

1. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
2. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Molto vivace. Presto
3. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Adagio molto e cantabile
4. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Presto
5. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Presto. "O Freunde, nicht diese T�ne!". Allegro assai

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #156373 in Music
• Released on: 2001-11-05
• Number of discs: 5
• Formats: Box set, Import, Original recording remastered
• Dimensions: 1.21 pounds

Customer Reviews

Stunning Performance, Recording
There are many Beethoven Symphony cycles out there, but this is my favorite so far. The sound quality is head and shoulders above all others I've heard -- the symphonic textures are rich and easily discernable, as if you were sitting in the best seats of the house, in the best symphony hall. Wand's conducting is also very good, and I particularly find his 6th and 9th appealing, for once tipping my preference towards rich modern orchestras instead of period pieces by Gardiner and others. (It also doesn't hurt just how affordable this set is!)

one of the best modern Beethoven cycles
During a season of Beethoven I decided to finally hear ALL the symphonies, and so I started to search for a complete cycle. This Beethoven symphonic cycle is the current recommendation of Gramophone, out of all those available -- strong praise indeed! Is Gramophone misguided, deluded or otherwise discombobulated, thus explaining their idiosyncratic choice? I think not. Nobody pays me to listen to Beethoven cycles all day long, so I can't say whether Wand's with the NDRSO of Hamburg (remastered from the original 1980s recordings) is the absolute best, but I can testify that it is great -- no weak links, and several contenders for the best available performance.

The amazing Gunter Wand, who emerged as one of the world's great conductors late in life before his death in 2002, leads the NDRSO in strong, convincing versions of the 1st and 2nd, generally regarded as solid but less than revolutionary works. The 6th is absolutely transcendental, making a believer of me. I had never considered it to be one of Beethoven's best, a bit on the "light" side, but Wand brings it alive and I have seen the light! I am currently listening to two 4ths, this one and one of Furtwangler's wartime performances (on Music & Arts), both of which are very impressive, but it's too early for comment.

The remaining symphonies are all superb, but face the strongest possible competition from the legions of great conductors and orchestras that have tackled these great works over the years. I am partial to Szell's 3rd and 8th with Cleveland, and I can now hear more clearly how distinctive his taut, streamlined interpretation is compared to Wand's, which is fuller-bodied. Furtwangler's immortal live performances of the 3rd are incomparable in their intensity, which can only be fully appreciated by comparison to a powerful, yet mortal account such as Wand's. Of course Kleiber, leading the VPO, reigns with the 5th and 7th. The magnitude of his accomplishment looms ever larger upon the realization that these Wand performances are top-notch, and yet Kleiber goes still further into the Beethovenian essence. That leaves the 9th, and while Wand and the NDRSO present a magnificent performance, it is impossible to say that it is better than the best of Furtwangler (ie, Bayreuth 1951 for the best combination of performance and sound -- see my review).

A word on the packaging -- the "box" is just a thin cardboard liner enclosing 5 standard jewel boxes. All have the same navy blue-with-silver-lettering design, quite appropriately noble looking. The combinations are 1&6, 2&7, 3&8, 4&5 and 9.

This Wand cycle has added immensely to my appreciation of Beethoven, and I strongly recommend it.

SACD boxed set released!
In March, an SACD set of all the symphonies of Beethoven conducted by Gunter Wand was released in Japan by BMG & Esoteric(a japanese audio maker, a branch of TEAC). It's sound quality is marvelous!This SACDs are being sold only in Japan. Go to Amazon.co.jp or HMV Japan now!