Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 2. Andante cantabile con moto
3. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 3. Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace) & Trio
4. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 4. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace
5. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: 1. Allegro con brio
6. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: 2. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai)
7. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: 3. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) & Trio
8. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: 4. Finale (Allegro molto - Poco andante - Presto)

Disc 2:

1. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: 1. Adagio - Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: 2. Larghetto
3. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: 3. Scherzo (Allegro)
4. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: 4. Allegro molto
5. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 1. Allegro vivace e con brio
6. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 2. Allegretto scherzando
7. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 3. Tempo di menuetto
8. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 4. Allegro vivace

Disc 3:

1. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: 1. Adagio - Allegro vivace
2. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: 2. Adagio
3. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: 3. Menuetto (Allegro vivace) & Trio (Un poco meno allegro)
4. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: 4. Allegro ma non troppo
5. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 1. Pleasant, cheerful feelings awakened on arrival in the countryside (Allegro ma non
6. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 2. Scene by the brook (Andante molto moto)
7. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 3. Merry gathering of the country folk (Allegro) -
8. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 4. Thunder Storm (Allegro) -
9. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 5. Shepherds' song: Beneficent feelings, combined with thanks to the deity, after the

Disc 4:

1. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: 1. Allegro con brio
2. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: 2. Andante con moto
3. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: 3. Allegro -
4. Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: 4. Allegro
5. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 1. Poco sostenuto - Vivace
6. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 2. Allegretto
7. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 3. Presto - Assai meno presto
8. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 4. Allegro con brio

Disc 5:

1. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: 1. Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso
2. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: 2. Molto vivace - Presto - Molto vivace - Presto
3. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: 3. Adagio molto cantabile - Andante moderato - Tempo 1 - Andante moderato - Tempo 1 -
4. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: 4. Presto - Allegro ma non troppo - Tempo 1 - Vivace - Tempo 1 - Adagio cantabile - Te
5. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Presto - Recitativo - Allegro assai
6. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Allegro assai vivace. Alla marcia
7. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Andante maestoso - Adagio ma non troppo, ma divoto
8. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Allegro energico e sempre ben marcato
9. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Allegro ma non tanto
10. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Poco allegro, stringendo il tempo, sempre pi� allegro
11. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Presto
12. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Maestoso - Prestissimo

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #157931 in Music
• Released on: 2002-11-06
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, Import
• Dimensions: .50 pounds

Customer Reviews

Perhaps THE best Beethoven cycle
Don't worry about the fact you've never heard of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic before. These are fresh, energetic, well-recorded versions of all the Beethoven symphonies. There is not a hint of routine on any symphony and you just cannot beat this set for money. The liner notes are also excellent reading, along with some fascinating commentary from Sir Charles regarding Beethoven's written tempi. While some of the speeds Mackerras takes are on the fast side, it somehow never seems rushed. Mackerras choses to use a modern instrument orchestra with the Del Mar version of the scores, which have made some corrections to the texts which had been removed through over a century of German conducting tradition. Mackerras makes every attempt to adhere to Beethoven's own markings and the results are excellent in my view. The symphonies recorded in Manchester (nos. 1,3,4,6) sound a little more distant than those recorded in Liverpool (nos. 2,5,7,8, and 9). I was able to fix this problem by merely turning up the volume and there was no lack of clarity. The bass recitative in the finale of the 9th is taken at such a clip it takes a bit of getting used to, although Mackerras explains it very well. Terfel sings it beautifully though, and it is exciting.

Authenic Beethoven
Charles Mackerras is a musical scholar as well as a conductor.He is reputed to arrive at an engagement to conduct with carefully anotated parts for each musician. These performances of the Beethoven Symphonies give a careful rendition of the composer's intentions. This being said they are also dynamic and satisfying.Occasionally some movements,the first movement of the 5th symphony and the third movement of the 9th symphony, sound 'too fast', in my opinion this is due to my being accustomed to hearing them played too slow. The Prague Chamber Orchestra usually plays with out a conductor, but when recording the complete Mozart Symphonies for Telarc they hired Mackerras to train them in the proper style.This is a very rare compliment indeed. These Beethoven performances are equally authoritative, and should serve as models for young musicians.