Customer Reviews

Beethoven: 9 Symphonies/Leonore Overture No. 3 (Volumes 1-5)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Beethoven's symphonies are the benchmark of the classical repertoire. Nothing has that often been tried, nothing has that often been failed. Not the man himself, Arturo Toscanini. This is definately the definite Beethoven. It is a masterpiece of interpretation of these masterworks, never achieved again and probably not to be achieved in the future. Highest recommendation for these CD's. Everybody who at least loves music a little bit shoul not be without this wonderful set. In case you don't believe me, ask the famous German critic Jürgen Gahre.

Many, many conductors have recorded the Beethoven Nine, but only two have come close in a complete "cycle," Toscanini and Karajan. This was/is Toscanini's only "approved" integral set of the Nine. Karajan made four, one with the Philharmonia and three with the Berlin Philharmonic. My overall favorite Karajan set is the third (second with Berlin), made in 1974-76, though his later Fifth is better-played.

Anyway, to return to Toscanini...this set is very, very good. It was made better than earlier when, for this issue, the technically shoddy 1953 "Eroica" was replaced by the superior 1949 recording. Yet there are two readings here that are, if not poor, rather weak, the Fifth and the Ninth. This Fifth strives for a rugged, "structural" reading, yet it is not quite powerful OR lyrical enough, whereas Karajan's 1983 Fifth is a masterpiece on both counts. Likewise, this Ninth--though well-played by its own standards--lacks much of the fire and forward momentum of his earlier versions; and, in the last movement, the solo singers actually sound awkward as they try to negotiate their a capella passage near the end.

But this doesn't mean that Toscanini is not the conductor to hear for great performances of all nine symphonies--far from it! He's just not at his best in all of THESE performances. My recommendation is to buy the newly-remastered versions of Symphonies 1-4 ("Immortal Toscanini," Vol. I), the New York Philharmonic versions of Symphonies 5 & 7 (on Magic Talent), the BBC Symphony versions of Symphonies 4 & 6, the single disc from this set with Symphonies 5 & 8, and the Grammofono reissue of his 1939 Beethoven Ninth. This will give you all nine symphonies on 6 CDs instead of 5, unfortunately, but you will be pleased with what you hear. And, if you want a more modern-sounding Ninth, there's always the late Karajan versions (both the 1976 and 1984 recordings are excellent).

While this may not be a definitive reading of Beethoven's
9 symphonies (there were always problems with the NBC Symphony),
it is, nevertheless, a benchmark collection, a touchstone by
which to compare all other readings. This collection gives
the listener an excellent idea of what Toscanini is all about;
even if his take on Beethoven is not everybody's cup of tea.
If you want more sumptutious sonorities, go to Karajan; if
you want more romanticism go to Bernstein. Solti probably

recorded a better set than any of these, but the virtues
of a Toscanini performance are evident throughout these
recordings. And what virtues they are! Toscanini's propulsive
rythymic momentum is a marvel to behold and always gives the
listener a sense of "purpose" and direction to the music. His
reading of the Seventh, despite some gaffes by the orchestra,
may be the best recording of that symphony extant! Listen to
the clarity of the orchestral textures: how each section of

the orchestra shines on its own, bringing out the inner voices
as no subsequent recording has done, and how these sections
blend so marvelously into a whole which retains clarity and
definition! If you need more beer and brown gravy with
your Beethoven, fine! You won't get it here... just the
extraordinary revelation of all the little goodies to be
found in Beethoven's symphonies, if you study the scores
carefully and play them with rigor and taste!

This review may not go through because while I have bought a fair number of classical recordings from Amazon ( a developing interest), I did not get what have of "this set" here--but I couldn't resist a remark. What I have is BMG's - copyright 1998- Vol. I (of three volumes) of Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC Sympony Orchestra playing Beethoven's 9 Symphonies-- it has 2 CD's on which are Symphonies 1-4 plus Egmont Overture. Vol. II, which I don't have has 5-8 and Vol. III has 9. Why I don't have the rest is, at the same time, why I have what I have. Somehow I got on the BMG Classical Records Club mailing list--and I joined. This (what I have) was (and is) one of the offerings--but only Volume I. (There is also a symbol on the back, next to the copyright) that looks like a P surrounded by a cirle--that date is 1990 [it too says BMG Entertainement]). I do absolutely think anyone who can afford to get all of these should. I have been procrastinating since I received them in playing disc 2--novice that I am, I didn't think that I liked Eroica that much--but I love it ( I haven't got much to offer in the way of expertise but...)--at least on this recording-- which should teach me something about recordings. Actually, I'd like to know how I can get Vols. II and III whan I can afford them--but clearly mine can't be combined with 2 of Amazon's because Amazon's are sold on an all or none basis and furthermore, the symphonies on Amazon's set ( the product info on this page says says copyright 1990) are all out of order on the CD's. The reason why this comment was so tempting is that a couple of days ago I was reading an Amazon.com cutomer review of a recording of Strauss' Salome and whoever wrote it said something like "the only possible competitive recording is BMG's with Rysanek ( maybe he also mentioned Bohm) which isn't available in this country yet". Since I had just received it in the mail (and that's one that BMG is no longer offering its record club members,) I was surprised. Anyway, that's a boon, and so is Amazon (including Ted Libbey's book, although these recordings of Toscanini's aren't in it). Anyway,in my very humble opinion, these are absolutely worth having.

During the entire first half of the twentieth century, Toscanini was widely regarded as the greatest conductor who ever lived. I'll never understand why. These are typical Toscanini performances: Amazingly precise and absolutely heartless. As usual, Toscanini reveals himself as a human metronome, not an artist. If you want the Beethoven Symphonies recorded around the same period, the Furtwangler is absolutely marvelous. However, if you only plan to buy one set, you can't beat Leonard Bernstein with the Vienna Philharmonic on DG. Truly great performances without the limited sound quality you'll find in both the Toscanini and the Furtwangler.

First Truth: Arturo Toscanini was a great conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra--back in the forties. It is easy to hear his very mature readings of Beethoven barely pushing through your speakers when you listen to this recording. However...

Second Truth: Unfortunately, though the remasterers did all they could, I would not recommend the poor sound quality of this CD to anyone. Unless you are a Toscanini fan (why?), there are way too many other good versions of Beethoven's symphonies, especially the ninth (Bernstein is good, Szell is better...), to buy these scratchy five discs. The setting of Schiller's Ode to Joy in the last movement of the ninth sounds more like "Shriller's Ode to Noise." Your CD player hearkens back to a dirty record player in a barrel; this sounds nothing like digital or "Living Stereo," and the sound inadequacies make this set impossible to recommend.

...