Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. I: Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio
2. II: Andante Cantabile Con Moto
3. III: Menuetto & Trio: Allegro Molto E Vivace
4. IV: Adagio - Allegro Molto E Vivace
5. I: Allegro Con Brio
6. II: Marcia Funebre: Adagio Assai
7. III: Scherzo & Trio: Allegro Vivace
8. IV: Finale: Allegro Molto - Poco Andante - Presto

Disc 2:

1. I: Adagio Molto - Allegro Con Brio
2. II: Larghetto
3. III: Scherzo & Trio: Allegro
4. IV: Allegro Molto
5. I: Allegro Con Brio
6. II: Andante Con Moto
7. III: Allegro
8. IV: Allegro - Presto

Disc 3:

1. I: Adagio - Allegro Vivace
2. II: Adagio
3. III: Menuetto: Allegro Vivace. Trio: Un Poco Meno Allegro
4. IV: Allegro Ma Non Troppo
5. I: Allegro Ma Non Troppo (Awakening Of Happy Feelings On Arriving In The Country)
6. II: Andante Molto Mosso (By The Brook)
7. III: Allegro - Sempre Piu Stretto - In Tempo D'Allegro - Tempo I - Presto (Merry Gathering Of The Country Folk)
8. IV: Allegro (Thunder And Storm)
9. V: Allegretto (Shepherds' Song. Beneficient Feelings With Thanks To The Godhead After The Storm)

Disc 4:

1. I: Poco Sostenuto - Vivace
2. II: Allegretto
3. III: Presto - Assai Meno Presto
4. IV: Allegro Con Brio
5. I: Allegro Vivace E Con Brio
6. II: Allegretto Scherzando
7. III: Tempo Di Menuetto
8. IV: Allegro Vivace

Disc 5:

1. I: Allegro Non Troppo, Un Poco Maetoso - Barbara Bonney
2. II: Molto Vivace - Presto - Barbara Bonney
3. III: Adagio Molto E Cantabile - Andante Moderato - Tempo I - Andante Moderato - Adagio - Lo Stesso Tempo - Barbara Bonney
4. IV: Presto - Allegro Assai - Barbara Bonney
5. Presto - Recitativo - Allegro Assai - Allegro Assai Vivace (Alla Marcia) - Andante Maestoso - Adagio Ma Non Troppo Ma Divoto - Allegro Energico E Sempre Ben Marcato - Allegro Ma Non Tanto - Presto - Maestoso - Prestissimo - Barbara Bonney

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #116720 in Music
• Released on: 2003-04-08
• Number of discs: 5
• Formats: Box set, Live
• Dimensions: .79 pounds

Customer Reviews

Mixed bag - some good readings, but weak overall
Rattle's new Beethoven Symphony cycle is a pretty solid disappointment given the high expectations that I, and many others, had for it. My first impressions were lukewarm, but I was hopeful that the cycle would grow on me. Unfortunately, the opposite occured, and after several weeks aquaintance, this cycle has dropped even lower in my estimation.

As has been noted by many, Rattle makes the VPO play in a period style with little vibrato, quick tempos, and generally spare (if rhythmically detailed) textures. This approach has been successfully applied before (Zinman, Mackerras, Harnoncourt), but Rattle doesn't pull it off as well as the aforementioned others in my opinion. To much of the time the orchestra simply sounds unpleasantly thin, edgy and off balance, as opposed to lean, lithe and transparent.

The thin, edgy sound of the orchestra is exacerbated by the sub-par engineering which is seriously lacking in midbass weight, in addition to having a rather narrow soundstage. Add to that too much emphasis on the high mid-range and the basic sonic picture is unattractive.

Having pointed out these initial basic flaws, I would say that Rattle scores highest marks in the 3rd and 9th symphonies which are very well done, especially the 9th, which is one of the best modern recordings I've heard despite some idiosyncracies in the finale. The rest of the performances are quite mixed.

The first two symphonies are given quick, period style performances as has become almost the norm these days. Rattle's versions are not bad, but not appreciably better than many others I've heard, and not as good as Abbado's.

As I mentioned, the 3rd is quite good - particularly in the first movement which is quite exciting, and in the harrowing second movement. The finale is a bit of a let down, but the reading overall is very strong.

The 4th and 5th are also two of the better readings in the cycle, however I would not consider them competitive with the best available. But they were enjoyable. I would have liked even more fire in the first movement of the 5th, though.

The 6th is terrible, IMO - one of the worst I have ever heard, and the major "turkey" of this cycle. Everything sounds calculated, mannered and unnatural, and in many places Rattle's reading really hangs fire. Tempos are on the broad side, which I don't mind (Celibidache's reading is one of my favorites), but in this case the whole reading is curiously lifeless. The 6th is my favorite of the LvB symphonies, but this was a major chore to sit through. A total bust.

The 7th and 8th are not so great either. I dislike Rattle's fussy way with the first movement theme of the 8th, and the finale is a little slower than I would have liked. The 7th just doesn't sound convincing to me, and I found the vibrato-less period-style incarnation of the VPO more annoying here than elsewhere.

The 9th really is superb, however, and I hope that it is released on its own, because it really is a worthy performance for any collector. The whole period-style thing seems to have been scrapped for this work, and the VPO really sounds more in their element. The first movement is close to ideal - perfectly paced, dramatic, and full of fire. The second is quite good, and the slow third movement is very beautiful. In the finale things go astray a bit, particularly in the coda, which is just bizzarre and totally unconvincing (what's with the piccolo?). But all things considered, this is worth a listen if you ever get a chance.

I would not recommend this cycle to someone looking for their first complete cycle. Blomstedt/Dresden on Brilliant Classics is much better overall, and can be had for under $... Otherwise get individual performances. This cycle is strictly for the curious, and those willing to take a chance - maybe you will like it better than I did.

Beethoven - A discovery new and old
A discovery new and old

This new set has been long and highly awaited. When news came through Gramophone that a new cycle was being recorded, I was filled with excitement. Furtwangler, Karajan (1963 and 1977), Klemperer and Toscanini to name the justly great cycles of Beethoven came back to mind. Being recorded live, it is bound to be a set filled with high charge energy. The above would have been recorded in the old school of performance whereas it was expected that Rattle would try out a combination of the VPO's rich and lustrous tone and tradition with new performance practice, not to mention the new text edition by Jonathan del Mar. And in this he does. In certain parts of the symphonies, you will hear the rich tones associated with the VPO but in certain areas, you will be surprised! Abbado's new DG set and DVD cycle uses the new del Mar edition as well.

With Sir Simon Rattle, one would expect an energetic and interpretations full of delight and surprises. Which is exactly what one would get listening to the first 2 symphonies. Full of verve and wit and swift tempos, they are a sheer delight. Being a live recording the audience was clearly there with them - no intrusions from the audience throughout.

The 1st movement of the Eroica comes through with energy and power. Klemperer and Giulini come to mind in this and although the speeds are distinctly different, the merits in these recordings are clear. What I missed in this Eroica was the intensity which the Gramophone reviewer Richard Osborne mentioned in his review of one of the actual concerts. If I had not known of that performance, I would be inclined to think that this was a good Eroica performance and as such, it should be.

The 4th symphony is swift in tempos and freshly projected but lacking in the rich sound and articulation in Karajan's 1963 set and Abbado's recent DG set.

The ideas and interpretation in the 5th Symphony in this new set sounds more connected than the earlier release (also under EMI). In that earlier release which was coupled with a Brahms Violin Concerto with Kyung Wha Chung, the mix of old and new was too much and too many. It was clear that one would not be getting a reading with the momentum to carry you through.

The Pastoral in this new set is a wonder. The Awakening of cheerful
feelings on arriving in the country and Scene by the Brook is as delightful as it can get. It was sheer delight and the build up to the Storm section was superbly done culminating with a real feeling of peace and serenity in the finale. The cellos are wonderfully nursed in the finale and being Giulini's assistant back in the Los Angeles Philhamonic, I would have expected no less. Listen to Giulini's wonder Pastoral issued in 1994 with the La Scala Philharmonic under Sony Classical. I would have loved to be in the audience at the Vienna performance.

The 7th symphony is only occasionally satisfying. The antiphonal lay out of the violins do pay dividends in the 1st movement but somehow I found it lacking in power (listen to Carlos Kleiber's VPO recording(DG Originals) or Karajan in 1963(DG), Toscanini's with the New York issued by Naxos and Sir Colin Davis (EMI)). The 2nd movement is not as moving and memorable as it should but this does not take away the force and momentum in the Allegro con brio finale.

The 8th symphony comes across with thrilling projection and excitement. Only in the Allegretto Scherzando did I find the reading subdued but no problems with the Allegro Vivace.

The 9th symphony is packed with drama and tension and the first 2 movements was wonderfully played. But certain parts of the symphony I missed some details which are clearly audible in the slow movements - listen to Abbado's wonderful BPO performance (recently issued by TDK DVD) at the 10th European Concert and issued as part of Abbado's DVD Beethoven cycle. The finale is memorable for a fine performance not only from the soloists but also from the City of Birmingham chorus under Simon Halsey.

It is clear that this is a set to keep worthy for the Pastoral, Eroica, Choral and the first 2 symphonies. I await eagerly when Rattle would get a chance to record with his new orchestra and when his ideas and style would be grafted into the playing of the BPO in the years to come. Rattle does indeed take you on a journey of discovery and along the way, surprises, delight, excitement and disappointment comes to mind and for the price, it is a journey worth undertaking every few years once! Bon voyage!

Fine Beethoven From Rattle, But Better VPO Sound
It's a pity that Simon Rattle's Beethoven symphony cycle is the last in a series of recent recordings using Jonathan Del Mar's newly revised Barenheiter edition of Beethoven's symphonic scores. Otherwise, it might have earned recognition as the best recent Beethoven symphony cycle recording. Still it is by far the best Beethoven symphony cycle recorded by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. But should it be regarded as first choice for those interested in a Beethoven symphony cycle, especially one using the new Jonathan Del Mar-edited edition?

Simon Rattle demonstrates in these recordings that he is a fine interpreter of Beethoven's scores, which he indicated previously in his Beethoven piano concerti cycle with pianist Alfred Brendel, recorded too with the Vienna Philharmonic. However, he doesn't quite match the lyricism or textural richness attained by Harnoncourt, Zinman or Abbado. Instead, for most of the symphonies, these are simply well played, clinical accounts of the Jonathan Del Mar scores. The most notable exceptions are those of the Third Symphony (Rattle's interpretation, especially of the first and second movements, is among the most exciting I've heard, easily comparable in quality to Abbado's most recent account, Giulini's with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, or any of Karajan's.) and the 9th Symphony. The 5th symphony is a fascinating interpretation too, and one of the few which adhere closely to the brisk interpretations favored by Zinman and Abbado. Unfortunately, the 6th symphony lacks the majestic lyricism I've heard in Bruno Walter's classic account with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra and the rich textures I've heard in Harnoncourt's and Abbado's (When I met Harnoncourt earlier this year I had remarked to him that I was not impressed with his COE recording of the 6th symphony, but it's actually much better than I had thought, since it is a rich, texturally glowing account which requires repeated listenings.) versions. And the worst account in this cycle has to be Rattle's interpretation of the 7th symphony; much to my surprise he isn't as inventive as Abbado in using swift changes in tempi or as successful as either Carlos Kleiber or Abbado in emphasizing the score's intricate architecture.

So should you buy Rattle's account of the Beethoven symphony cycle? My answer is yes if you treasure the rich sound produced by the Vienna Philharmonic in its concert hall, the Musikverein. The sound quality is among the best I've heard, equal to Abbado's. But if you prefer more exciting, dynamic accounts of Beethoven's symphonies, then I would recommend instead, Harnoncourt's and Abbado's, with Zinman's a first choice for those on a budget.