Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies; The 5 Piano Concertos [Box Set] [Box set, Import]

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), George Szell (Conductor), Eugene Ormandy (Conductor), Cleveland Orchestra (Orchestra), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra), Leon Fleischer (Performer), Eugene Istomin (Performer), Isaac Stern (Performer), Leonard Rose (Performer), Cleveland Orchestra Choir (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Leon Fleischer, Eugene Istomin, Isaac Stern, Leonard Rose, Cleveland Orchestra Choir
• Orchestra: Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra
• Conductor: George Szell, Eugene Ormandy
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (June 12, 2007)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 8
• Format: Box set, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Sony Classical
• ASIN: B000683I8C
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #46,715 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable Bargain Beethoven!, November 26, 2005

By 

Peter Prainito (Lombard, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies; The 5 Piano Concertos [Box Set] (Audio CD)

These import recordings of Beethoven's Nine Symphonies and Five Piano Concertos, along with some Overtures and his Triple Concerto, are an unbelievable bargain. As I figure it, eight CDs at $30 equates to less than $4 a disc! What you get is George Szell conducting his awesome Cleveland Orchestra of the late fifties and early sixties in idiomatic performances that easily can be called "definitive". Every symphony, piano concerto, overture, as well as the Triple Concerto, are gems. Beautifully performed, with re-mastered sound that suggests that these studio performances were recorded yesterday, rather than over forty years ago. Pianist Leon Fleischer teams up with George Szell in the piano concertos, and what a team they make. I was constantly on the edge of my seat listening to these performances. Leon plays beautifully with passion and technique to burn, and the Cleveland Orchestra provides superb accompaniment to match. Never have I heard such a meeting of minds as what this soloist, conductor, and orchestra display. Simply awe-inspiring. With the venue changing to the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy, there is a fine performance of the Triple Concerto. The soloists are Istomin, Stern, and Rose. What a winning lineup!
These Sony pressings were made in Austria and contains only French Liner Notes about "Szell & Beethoven", repeated on each of the eight discs. Since I can't read French, it doesn't really matter. Besides, I bought this incredible set for Beethoven's glorious music. Grab these CDs while they're still available. Very highly recommended and much too good to pass up.

P.S. I am so glad that I bought this set when it was still affordable at $30, as I now notice that it's selling for more than $80.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Re-mastered in 1990/92, January 2, 2008

By 

J R Sound Police (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies; The 5 Piano Concertos [Box Set] (Audio CD)

Even though this set contains superb performances of all the symphonies and the piano concertos, I do NOT recommend that anyone purchase it, if they have the previously released Sony Essential Classics issues. This French released set (made in Austria in the year 2000) is virtually the same as both the 1990/92 series (pressed in USA) and the more recent Essential Classics issues (made in Austria). Each disc has the exact same SBK catalog number as the original early 1990's individual releases.

The recordings of the symphonies are relatively smooth and spacious, whereas the piano concerto recordings reveal some audible strain during orchestral tuttis. Yet even these early 1990's remixes are an audible improvement over the the very first 1980's CD releases.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Help, please!, June 3, 2006

By 

SwissDave (Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: The 9 Symphonies; The 5 Piano Concertos [Box Set] (Audio CD)

That these recordings are worth owning goes without saying. Each of the Leon Fleisher and George Szell collaborations in the five concertos ranks in my top three or so list of the respective composition, rendering the cycle an obvious first choice. Some might argue there is somewhat more choice for a complete cycle of the nine symphonies - personally, I would not want to live with (only) one complete cycle by any one conductor and orchestra - none seems fully satisfactory. Having said that, Szell and the Clevelanders' remains among the finest ever.

What I would be curious to know, however, is whether these remasterings are (once again) identical with the second Essential Classics/Classical Masters release (2002 Germany/Austria) or if the concertos have finally received the quality of remastering they deserve (as did the Fleisher/Szell Brahms concertos in the 1997 Masterworks Heritage release)? If not, it won't be worth ordering the same release of (per se wonderful) interpretations for the umpteenth time...

Greetings from Switzerland, David.