Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Symphony Nos. 6, 7 & 8/2 Overtures

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am so utterly charmed by these recordings that it amazes me.

Right away I greatly preferred Bohm's 6th to the few others that I had heard. I wasn't surprised since it appears to be universally admired. With the seventh I was immediately struck by its classical poise vs. say Kleiber's energy and drive, and thought that I needed to quickly acquire several other versions to figure out what "most" conductors thought the approach should be. I thought Solti's digital 7th was good and definitely in the Kleiber camp. Ashkenazy was next: not a carbon-copy but still also in the energy and drive catagory. Then I discovered that if you listen to the Bohm first during the listening session it doesn't seem "too polite" anymore, it sounds utterly convincing, and the others sound impossibly driven in the III and IV, and nowhere near as impressive as a total performance. And that's without even considering aspects of recording quality or tonal balance. Maybe some will think I'm missing it, but I almost can't listen to the others anymore becauce it really sounds like Bohm nailed it. Number 8. I thought I really loved this work after hearing the '62 Karajan and the Edlinger recording from Naxos. Muti and Szell followed. Good and good. Then I heard the Bohm and it was the same thing all over again. "It's so different," I thought, "slow and almost pokey, though the recording sounds great and the balance is very warm and sweet." Then a few nights later I slip on the headphones and it hits me: this is the greatest interpretation of the most absolutely wonderful music I've ever heard. Pure pleasure, perfect, fun fun fun. Now I really can't listen to other versions anymore(and the digital Solti becomes a cruel joke). So I bought the Bohm 3&9 set and can't wait to get the 1,2,4,5 set. I think Beethoven was an entertainer, not just out to impress. Get these disks, they've got beauty and balance and power in the right places.

These expansive, crisp performances of Beethoven symphonies 6, 7 and 8 are among the best available; this two CD set is clearly a key part of one of the finest recorded Beethoven symphony cycles. Karl Bohm does a superlative job conducting the Vienna Philharmonic, getting warm, vibrant performances, most notably from the string and woodwind sections. Bohm's version of the 6th Symphony soars triumphantly, ably recorded by Deutsche Grammophone's sound engineers. His version of the 7th Symphony is almost as thrilling to hear as Carlos Kleiber's version, recorded a few years later with the same orchestra, which many regard as the definitive version. The 8th Symphony is another fine performance too. It is truly amazing how clear and crisp these analogue recordings sound on CD, even though they haven't been remastered via the latest 20/24 bit sound technology.

Beethoven's sixth is often underappreciated and overlooked. This version will quickly get you to reconsider your opinion if you have dismissed the sixth as "lightweight." The entire symphony is played with exquisite sensitivity. The first two movements, in particular, reveal Beethoven's genius. Bohm gets the orchestra to revel in Beethoven's lush textures. Everying is balanced and played with great delicacy. Bohm's reading of the seventh is quite different than the famous Klieber version. Again, other reviewers have criticized Bohm for being a bit too slow (the only place this is a concern is in his rendering of the fifth). However, Bohm gets a different, though equally satisfying effect from the slower tempo, particularly in the second movement. Bohm gets much more emotional depth out of this movemement than Klieber does. The spirited eighth is every bit as great as Szell's outstanding version with the Cleveland Symphony. In short, this is a "can't miss" cycle. You can't go wrong, and you won't be dissatisfied with Bohm's versions of all nine Beethoven symphonies.

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.

It's very exciting to see Bohm's Beethoven cycle, Mozart recordings and Tristan und Isolde get the praise that it deserves. For those of you who are not familiar with Bohm, take the leap and see why everyone is so excited. You may notice that many of his lower profile recordings (such as this) often have higher ratings then the classics. Bohm is not a surface conductor; many will testify that his recordings did not appeal to them the first few times they listened to them, but suddenly grew on them. If the other reviewers seem to struggle for words, it isn't surprising. Nothing is as amazing as hearing such 'plain' recordings and realizing they are better and more miraculous then the competition. For those of you that have this recording, but don't like it, keep it on the shelf and take it down every now and then and see how it works for you. I will tell you, having the whole cycle, that these three (along with the eroica) are the best of the cycle. The fifth is rather slow at times, and (sadly) it is probably not Bohm's fault, or Beethoven, but the fact that we have grown so used to hearing it that it has to be 'Kleiberized' to make it alive again. I definitely prefer his seventh over others, and as has been attested to, it is one that has to grow with you. The only other recording to recommend is Krips cycle, which unfortunately has all but disappeared from print and public eye. It's certainly not better, but it is interesting to hear a conductor who has a Beethoven sound even more transparent then Bohm's. As for the more recent digital recording of the ninth, you will notice that it has taking a heavy critical slam for its consistently slow tempos. Although I defend the recording, I have to admit this to be the case, and except for the first movement, I would have liked to have seen it taken faster. This recording definitely cannot be recommended too much, and I agree with another reviewer that it is very surprising that DG has not made a greater effort to push this cycle. I have noticed that it has stayed consistenly in print (recently reissued again) and it may be that they know there's more money to be made in selling the recordings individually. Who can say? Whatever the case, buy it!!

Some have said that Beethoven's odd-numbered symphonies are great and his even ones are only mediocre. Well, here Bohm shows us how great the 6th and 8th symphonies are. Like many have commented, this is one of the best recordings of the 6th out on the market. The "Pastoral" symphony is rich and lush, and Vienna takes you away into the landscape that Beethoven envisioned as he wrote this wonderful work. Great attention to detail that is highly satisfying. In the 8th, Bohm doesn't let up and conducts with such precision as to create a wonderful driving energy that can be felt underlying the piece. Excellent choice of tempi and full rich sound. The 7th is not my favorite of the recordings out there but it is still well done.

I am a listener, not a musician, and I'm relatively new to Boehm's Beethoven series. (I'm referring to the complete symphonies available on three DG "Doubles.") To these ears, this is a wonderful series of these all-too-familiar works. These nearly thirty year-old recordings are elegant and expansive Beethoven, and sound astonishingly fresh, thanks to DG's engineers. What stands out for me --- and I've listened to a lot of Beethoven symphony recordings --- is the terrific clarity of the orchestral playing. The Vienna Philharmonic are no slouches when it comes to this music, certainly; but this is exceptionally lovely playing to my mind. The standout is the widely-praised No. 6, which is pure delight.

Grousers have noted that Boehm's tempi are at times awfully slow in these symphonies; maybe so, here and there. But the rewards outweigh, I think, this criticism. I am delighted to have found these recordings, and at a delightful price too; I think I'll be listening to the 'Pastorale' all summer long.

These are characteristically conservative performances by Bohm, but they are performed so well it is hard to resist them. The sixth and seventh are particularly good, the detail can be heard, and the sense of power and drama that make Beethoven special are certainly present in abundance. A wonderful set, and a bargain for the price.

I always love Bohm's meticulous extraction of beautiful music through slow tempi. Other conductors just skip through the nice pieces far too quickly.

I have compared these Beethoven symphonies by Karl Bohm to performances by Claudio Abbado (6&8), Herbert von Karajan (6-8), Leonard Bernstein (6-8), Pierre Monteux (7), and Wilhelm Furtwangler (7). Although not without fault, I would rate the Karl Bohm performances overall as the best set. For those who are not familiar with Bohm's style, he is a meticulous, polished, "every note and rest counts" conductor. A particularly outstanding characteristic is his command of the wood winds. It is amazing to hear a solo flute or oboe part rise above the rest of the entire orchestra, parts which often sound muddled at best in some of the comparative recordings by other conductors. Bohm always maintains impeccable balance and harmony between instrumental sections, and transistions are always smooth. His only noticable shortcoming is that he sometimes fails to bring out the dramatic, triumphal Beethoven spirit in the music to its fullest effect. Despite this, his recordings of these Beethoven symphonies are still some of the best that I have heard. Regarding the individual symphonies, I would rate his performance of the 6th as outstanding from start to finish as well as the 8th. Regarding the 8th, if you are a Beethoven fan in general but never got into the 8th symphony, you need to hear Bohm's performance and see if it changes your mind. Regarding the 7th, the second movement is the highlight, with Bohm bringing out the haunting beauty of its melody to perfection. The third movement is also extremely good, with a lighter touch than the comparative recordings I have heard. The first movement, unfortunately, is the only real disappointment. I think Bernstein or Monteux did a better job at bring out its dramatic elements. The same could also be said for the fourth movement to a lesser extent. All-in-all, though, these recordings are still among the best.