Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Die Gesch�pfe des Prometheus (The Creatures of Prometheus), ballet, Op. 43
2. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
3. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Andante cantabile con moto
4. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Menuetto: Allegro molto e vivace
5. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Finale: Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace
6. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
7. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Larghetto
8. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Scherzo: Allegro
9. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Allegro molto

Disc 2:

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. Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
6. Egmont, incidental music, Op. 84: Overture
7. Ruins of Athens, incidental music, Op. 113: Ouvert�re in G minor
8. Ruins of Athens, incidental music, Op. 113: Marcia alla turca in B flat Major

Disc 3:

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

Disc 4:

1. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Allegro ma non troppo - Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande
2. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Andante molto moto - Szene am Bach
3. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Allegro - Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute
4. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Allegro - Gewitter, Sturm
5. Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: Allegretto - Hirtengesang. Frohe and dankbare gef�hle nach dem Sturm
6. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegro vivace e con brio
7. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegretto Scherzando
8. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Tempo di Minuetto
9. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegro vivace

Disc 5:

1. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Poco sostenuto - Vivace
2. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegretto
3. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Presto
4. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegro con brio
5. Die Weihe des Hauses (Consecration of the House), overture for orchestra, Op. 124

Disc 6:

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
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 - Allegro assai
5. Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: Presto - Rezitativo
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: Allegro ma non tanto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #179496 in Music
• Released on: 2008-04-08
• Number of discs: 6
• Formats: Box set, Import
• Dimensions: .51 pounds

Customer Reviews

A magnificent achievement
Here is a Beethoven symphony cycle (again) on period instruments (again). So why should it stick out in the midst of dozens of other cycles ? Yet it does stick out.
These symphonies by Jos Van Immerseel and his small-scale orchestra Anima Eterna are all fresh, full of tintillating life. In fact, the orchestra is perfectly modelled on the size of the symphony orchestra in Beethoven's time, everything has been done in an effort to recreate the sound that Beethoven sought to create and that he would have heard (or wish to hear)himself. The details about the research and the production are explained in a well-written multilingual booklet included in the box.
The sounds. These symphonies are a wealth of sounds, I have never before heard the percussion so clearly and the same goes for practically every individual instrument and yet the music flows and sings with all instruments together, dynamically and harmoniously : this is pure heaven.
I'm very fond of Beethoven's symphonies and I have some two dozen complete cycles in my collection but this one goes straight to the top as one of the very, very best.

Absolutely Astounding rendition of the Symphonies
When Hector Berlioz discovered Beethoven Symphonies through the Société des Concerts du Conservatoire in Paris (in 1828), he wrote: "At another point on the horizon, I saw the immense Beethoven rising. The jolt this gave me was almost comparable to the one I had received from Shakespeare. He opened up a new world in music for me, just as the playwright had revealed to me a new universe in poetry."

This would be a very accurate description of what I felt when I listened to this rendition of these Symphonies. And I know them, and enjoy them, and I have the Karajan, Bernstein and Gardiner recordings. I thought there could be no more surprises, no new recording to improve what has been made until now. But I was wrong.

Jos van Immerseel and Anima Eterna get these compositons right. We can really feel them as fresh, vibrant, alive music - highlighting that "inevitability" that Bernstein used to praise about Beethoven.

If I had to choose only one recording of the Symphonies to take with me, I would choose this one (and this one is the one I have in my iPod, to take with me all the time!)

Beethoven, Period
This latest set of Period Instrument Beethoven symphonies, the first in some time, is terrific. A relatively smallish orchestra by today's standards, the group nevertheless packs real punch, helped by incisive tympani and (natural) brass. Acoustics and engineering are excellent, with a forward and present sound image possessing good depth (listen to the double basses in Sym 7's Allegretto). No need to worry about an over-reverberant hall which spoils some recordings.

Rather than point to HIP practice/re-assessment, for which there is an extended essay provided in the notes, this represents simply a first class cycle. Tempos are somewhat close to the norm pacé a refreshingly quick opening to Sym 6. And has the first movement of Sym. 8 ever sounded better, more right? The development section is original head-bagger music, and here I find it impossible not to let loose and jam like a heavy-metal rocker at a rowdy concert (I thought my house walls were going to crumble). Likewise the opening movement of Sym 5 is a whirlwind: what a concise, moody and intense movement this is, superbly realized here! Strings leave nothing to be desired and there are absolutely no intonation issues (listen to their plangent calls in the funeral march of Sym 3 - wow). At all times the players of Anima Eterna are engaged and engaging, their energy jumping out of the speakers.

The orchestra is enlarged for Sym 9 but the clarity is still present. Soloists and choir are up to the standard set by the orchestra, and the two forces are nicely balanced. When the soloists sing in ensemble, they are as blended a group as I've heard in this piece, and that's not so easy to bring off. The choir is agile and responsive (what those poor sopranos have to do for Beethoven!). The collection is rounded out with a nice complement of overtures and other small pieces, all played with the same dedication and commitment.

For points of reference, my two favorite Beethoven cycles are Harnoncourt (Teldec) and Abbado (Euroarts DVD). I am ashamed to admit that I've never heard Norrington, Gardiner or Hogwood. And I need to explore the new recordings of Vänskä/Minnesota which have gotten such rave reviews, and are recorded in multi-channel. Of course I have other single or multiple discs as well (Wand, MTT, Halász), but this Immerseel set is worthy of your top shelf. While not every performance will likely be your favorite "desert island" version and they probably won't supplant your favorites (they don't mine), Immerseel nevertheless provides a coherent vision of Beethoven's style and unique, revolutionary symphonic language that makes these nine, highly individual works which span about a quarter century, all of a piece. I for one wouldn't want to be without them. Urgently recommended.