Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (Fra) [Import]

Andre Cluytens (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 26, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 5
• Format: Import
• Label: Angel Special Import
• ASIN: B000027IVX
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #304,493 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Adagio Molto -Allegro Con Brio

2. Ii Adanate Cantabile Con Moto

3. Iii Menuetto (Alegro Molto E Vivace)

4. Iv Adagio - Allegro Molto E Vivace

5. I Allegro Con Brio

6. Ii Larghetto

7. Iii Scherzo (Allegro Vivace)

8. Iv Finale (Allegro Molto)

9. I Adagio Molto -Allegro Con Brio

10. Ii Largetto

11. Iii Scherzo (Allegro)

12. Iv Allegro Molto

13. I Adagio - Allegro Molto

14. Ii Adagio

15. Iii Menuetto (Allegro Vivace)

16. Iv Allegro Ma Non Troppo

17. Egmont, Ouverture Op.84

18. I Allegro Con Brio

19. Ii Andante Con Moto

20. Iii Allegro

See all 39 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Beethoven Series, June 4, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (Fra) (Audio CD)

I love these recordings. The Andre Cluytens cycle of Beethoven symphonies with the late 1950s Berlin Philharmonic is a real treat! Especially these days, when Beethoven recordings have gotten so sanitized and fussed over. Cluytens is masterful. These are powerful, broad, deeply satisfying renditions. The legatos are rich and fully sustained. The staccatos are crisp and short. The Allegros are aggressive and often a tad faster than usual and the Adagios are intense and sometimes slower that usual. The overall effect is immensely vivid and rich beyond anything we are used to these days. You won't hear a more stirring 1st movement of the Erocia or a more glorious reading of the Pastoral symphony. Some of the recordings of Beethoven symphonies that Pierre Monteux made with the London Symphony back in the 1960s share certain qualities in common with these, but Cluytens surpasses even those vital, superb Monteux versions. You won't regret buying this series. It's a reminder of another era of music making.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Living, breathing Beethoven with a glorious orchestra!, July 22, 2006

By 

Gregory M. Zinkl (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (Fra) (Audio CD)

This is an awesome set. I like Beethoven played in many shapes and forms (I have the Harnoncourt set, which I also enjoy a lot). Compared to other sets that I have, though, this set wins, hands down, in color, joy, and the pleasure of having the BPO in splendid form. And recorded by EMI, thank the gods, and not another DG-Karajan cycle, which, in every cycle, seems to slight the bass and drain color. It's a pity EMI never recorded Karajan and BPO in Beethoven's symphonies.

Anyway, I bought this for friends and myself. First, for my friends, because, at the time it was out under the Seraphim label, and you could assemble the whole set for $18. I listened to the recordings with them, and I was hooked! I went out and bought the complete set.

Nothing is never less than good, and some performances are just amazing. The 6th, as everyone has noted, is one of the best. I really enjoy the 3rd and the 9th, also. It's so nice to have a 9th that radiates joy throughout the whole piece.

The engineering is something to behold. It's completely natural, catching a lot of the orchestra's glorious overtones. Nothing is artificially miked, and it has good impact. Nice 3-D sound, too. You feel like you are in the hall (although for hi-fi nuts, it won't be a Telarc-SACD experience). But what you hear is what Cluytens intended.

Compare this set to Zinman's much lauded Beethoven set on Arte Nova, you have to wonder what the fuss is all about. Comparatively speaking, Zinman is Black and White, while Cluytens is all Technicolor. Similar comparison for Solti and DG Karajan, too.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ditto!, June 7, 2005

By 

Wayne A. (Belfast, Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 (Fra) (Audio CD)

Read the other reviews--they are pretty much dead on. I'll disagree on two points with one review: #8 wasn't boring to me, it was good, and personally I didn't find the sound on my Ninth muddy at all; for the age of the recording it's pretty darned good--maybe a little congestion at the top. Anyway, I bought mine based on exactly these recommendations. A great set! Listening to Sixth right now and it's my instant favorite. I write not to add to the enthusiasm but only to encourage you to "get it while it's hot." As others have pointed out, this is not going to stay in print forever and with Cluytens being a virtual unknown over here (and maybe over there as well--but he's probably a household name in Belgium) once it's gone it'll probably be gone forever. That's a long time. At 20 bucks how can you lose? Comes in a nice big box; looks real impressive. Go!