Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Karl Böhm (Conductor), Vienna Philharmonic (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic
• Conductor: Karl Böhm
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (November 22, 1994)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B000001GL9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,695 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Karl Böhm's Vienna Philharmonic Beethoven cycle is Deutsche Grammophon's best kept secret. Not only is it the finest complete set of Beethoven symphonies in their catalog, it's also far and away the best recorded, and to make matters even more irresistible, it's also the least expensive (it's available on three "twofer" sets). These performances are typical: weighty, intense, powerful, and magnificently played. Listen especially to the (comparatively) neglected Fourth Symphony: if Böhm doesn't convince you that this is major Beethoven, then no one can. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bohm is one of the great Beethoven conductors, August 15, 2005

By 

Alan Majeska "Alan Majeska" (Bad Axe, MI, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 (Audio CD)

I have been collecting Karl Bohm's stereo recordings in earnest since 1993, and find his Beethoven among the best there is. This 2 disc set of Beethoven's Symphonies 1,2,4,and 5 should not disappoint anyone, unless they're really into the period instrument mentality of Hogwood, Gardiner, Norrington, Goodman, Weil, et al. The Vienna Philharmonic plays beautifully, and as you would expect, produce a burnished string and wind sound, wonderfully blended, but with clarity of lines where called for. Bohm is no speed demon, but he doesn't drag either: IV of Symphony 2 is slower than many I've heard, but it never drags.

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say that I believe Karl Bohm's Beethoven Symphony recordings from 1969-72 are better than Herbert von Karajan's 3 cycles with the Berlin Philharmonic, although there is no doubt Karajan is more marketed and celebrated by the public even 16 years after his death. Bohm is better interpretively, and has better sound in almost all movements of this symphony cycle. But he doesn't rely on dramatics to make his points: Bohm is solid as granite or the Rock of Gibralter, and you either like his approach or you don't. I do. About Karajan, his weakest cycle is the 1982-85 one, on DG. I would say the 1961-2 cycle is better, and the 1975-77 cycle best of Karajan's work, (both of these are DG also), but put them behind Bohm's cycle.

In addition to Bohm, I would recommend Bruno Walter/Columbia Symphony(Sony Classical,for Symphonies 1 through 8, but not 9); Szell/Cleveland for 1,2,3,4,9 (Sony Classical), Bernstein/Vienna (DG).

In this particular release, I enjoyed all 4 symphonies, and found Symphony 5 to be among the best I've heard, along with Furtwangler (the Vienna Philharmonic recording, released in January 2005 by EMI), and Ormandy (Sony Classical, 2 CD set, with 6,7,and 8.)

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soon to be a lost treasure., January 15, 2000

By A Customer

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This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 (Audio CD)

While some criticism of Bohm's Beethoven Symphonies relate to his tempi being too slow, I nevertheless discovered that one of my biggest considerations in choosing a Beethoven conductor, (I do own others like Reiner, Hogwood, Toscanini), turned out to be over the timpani, not the tempo. I don't know about your ears, but I can't stand listening to Beethoven Symphonies by the supposed great conductors with out-of-tune musicians and timpani that sound like dead pots! Funny thing about this underrated conductor, Karl Bohm, his musicans are always in-tune and the timpani always resonate as an integral and balanced part of the orchestra and the score. Also important to me in choosing a conductor, Bohm consistently manages to bring a presence and sense of drama to these works that the so-called great conductors often fail to achieve. I'm not an expert, but maybe, that's the best part of his operatic skill coming through. P.S. Deutsche Gramophon no longer lists these Bohm recordings of the Beethoven cycle, as available.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall, just fablulous., April 24, 2001

By 

Laurence Leabow (Simi, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 (Audio CD)

So now I,ve heard them all. Nine symphonies on three DG doubles and I'm very happy. Below I wrote about the fifth and it's unfortunate. Now the good points. The playing is great. I have some recordings by George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra that feature playing so "tight" that it's scary. Sometimes it works(third symphony: thumbs-up), sometimes it doesn't(No. 5). I have Solti's 80's version of Beethoven's seventh and eighth whichs features very accurate playing put a real sense that the musicians are afraid to make a mistake, and it sounds just empty. Other disks I have are just sloppy. But this Bohm cycle sounds like relaxed perfection. It's wonderful: even when the playing is very fast, they are just purring along. I love it! The sound of the recording is another plus. Clear, warm, lively and almost no analog hiss. The Solti above sounds like a concrete gymnasium, Szell like a recording studio, the Muti cycle too crowded, '62 Karajan too old, Walter noisy and like a warehouse, Kleiber dramatic but too dark. But the Bohm sounds like a first-rate concert hall. The music? I could go on and on about the excellence of the interpretations. I get the impression that Bohm has a mind for "the whole piece" that is superior to just about everybody. If I hear a No. 8 that surpasses his, or a more beautiful second movement of the sixth, or a seventh that NAILS the climax better, or a more gleeful 4, or a more complete ninth, my head will explode.