Review of Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 7, 8, 9 / Behle, Naef, Winslade, Muller-Brachmann, Gielen, SWR Symphony Orchestra

If you attend classical concerts in the United States, something you will probably never hear is a professional chorus.Symphony orchestras simply cannot afford to pay a chorus.Most of the time, amateur choruses do okay but they still sound like amateurs.In some works, like Orff's Carmina Burana, amateur choruses really struggle.In Europe there are some professional choruses and that is what you get here and the sound is simply amazing.The power, the intonation and great articulation are all there.The first time I heard a professional chorus was in Vienna when I heard George Szell conduct Beethoven's 9th with the Vienna Philharmonic and their chorus.When the chorus made their first entrance, I almost fell out of my seat.I had never heard such an incredible sound in my life.

If you love classical music, I would absolutely buy this DVD.First of all it is a bargain, cheaper than even the cost of the 2 budget CDs you would need to get all three symphonies.Michael Gielen is an outstanding Beethoven conductor.His first movement of the 8th is simply astonishing.He gets more humor out of that movement than Jay Leno gets in a whole week.And the orchestral playing is magnificent.

I found the first movement of the 7th to be somewhat lacking in vitality but the last three movements are tremendous.As for the 9th, it is very good, not the best, but more than adequate. Gielen's tempos are very quick and the music moves very nicely.What is missing is a sense of occasion.It is somewhat businesslike and performances of the 9th should be highly passionate.

Despite my reservations, this DVD is still a great bargain.Just think about this.In the 1940's, these three symphonies on 78RPM probably cost at least 20 dollars.That was one week's salary and the sound was bad and there was no picture.How times have changed.



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Review of Beethoven - Symphonies 7 and 8 (DVD Audio) [ENHANCED]

The "reviews" by Dr. Allan J. Lawson were hilarious. I laughed so hard I almost did not make the bathroom in time. The Doctor must have been very busy in his practice the last few years and also possess a "wonderful" stereo not to know or hear the difference between CD and DVD-A.

I have both of the DVD-A's he "reviews" (Beethoven above and Mehta Mahler) and they are superb. The detail, clarity and depth are simply outstanding. The only caveat - if you do not have an excellent audio system, don't bother. You probably won't hear much difference.



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Review of Beethoven - Eroica / John Eliot Gardiner, Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique (2004)

We may all know this piece, but to see the effect of this music on everyone from royalty to below-stairs staff lends insight into the music we could obtain no other way.The acting is awesome - there is a bit done by Timothy Piggott-Smith (Passage to India), perhaps a 60 second continuous take, that is Oscar-worthy all by itself and bears watching over and over, as the old warrior is overcome by the music's funereal second movement, perhaps recalling fallen comrades.Watch for it - it is overwhelming.And compare Jack Davenport in the role of Prince Lobkovitz here with his 180 degree role in (the real BBC)Coupling.Fennella Woolgar is suberb as his wife. Key, much of the acting here is of necessity done with facial and bodily expressions only, since the entire symphony is performed.Watch what fine actors can do without a word spoken.The musical performance is satisfying, because the actual musicians, not actors, are the players, and are duly credited.It is interesting to compare this John Elliott Gardiner reading with his on CD with the same orchestra - I swear, this is better!The only flaw - some may find the Beethovenian romance angle a bit hokey, but apparently even it is based on fact.A superb add-on is the entire work performed without break; the spoken parts are replaced by a look at what appears to be the original score.Only the BBC could have or would have lavished such production values and acting talent on one complete Beethoven Symphony.We are just glad they did.



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Review of Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5 (1974)

The old way of playing Beethoven's piano concertos involved large orchestras, lots of rubato and a promiscuous use of the pedals that caused a kind of musical haze. The actual notes played were often not as important as the general effect produced. Artur Schnabel's Beethoven comes to mind, at this point. He was renowned for his clinkers and he wasn't averse to a gauzy effect if it promoted his musical argument. Schnabel is considered one of the greatest interpreters of Beethoven's piano music but his style could never be adopted today. Yet there is something produced in the listener by Schnabel's best recordings, a kind of musical ecstasy, that cannot be explained or duplicated. This kind of leading the audience on a mystical journey is no longer in favor, and that's a shame.

These recordings, filmed in March and April 1974 for the BBC, occurred at the tail end of the old performance era and the very start of the new. Vladimir Ashkenazy was a graduate of the same Soviet school of piano playing that produced Sviatoslav Richter, Emil Gilels, Lazar Berman and a host of others of that era. There are simularities that unite them, including a broad romanticism, a degree of Lisztian showmanship coupled with periods of introspection, powerful technique that occasionally borders on pounding and an intellectual streak that produces some deeply insightful playing. Ashkenazy was younger than the others, more modern in his playing. He is a transitional figure: less rubato, less use of the pedals, cooler and more detached (some would say dry), less romantic and a harbinger of the clean, crisp style of playing of today. On these recordings we hear all of that and more, for this is the youthful Ashkenazy and his Beethoven is more alive, more passionate than his later recordings. It is grand style Beethoven that is no longer played and for which many of us secretly long, at least occasionally.

All of the concertos are here, with the third, fourth and fifth 'The Emperor' sounding most brilliant and persuasive. The third's middle Largo movement is especially emotional. I found it deeply moving, something not usually associated with Ashkenazy. The first and second concertos are given jaunty performances that entertain rather than enlighten. Accompanying Ashkenazy are Bernard Haitink conducting the splendid London Philharmonic. They are arrayed in the old style: vast numbers spread across the stage like an invasion force. Their playing is exemplary. The sound in both the original PCM mono and the Dolby two-track enhanced mono is clean and full, though not as vivid as modern recordings. The piano is recorded in front of the orchestra and is well displayed. Also recorded on this two DVD set are the Leonore overtures 2 & 3, the Egmont overture and the Symphony no.8. The LPO plays beautifully under Haitink. The total time of the two DVDs is 277 minutes.

These are archival releases, digitally remastered, and allowances must be made for the age of these recordings. If you take that into account, you will soon find yourself drawn into this grand style Beethoven and luxuriate in it. You may even wallow, as I did. Strongly recommended for the memories it evokes.

Mike Birman

Product Description
Studio: Uni Dist Corp (music)Release Date: 10/04/2007

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Review of Beethoven - Symphonies 2 and 5 / Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic (2001)

This is a superb rendering of symphony No. 2 and the old warhorse no. 5. In my opinion the DTS soundtrack sounds better (which I almost think is true in general) than the Dolby; but both are excellent. The video is fine too with sensitive camerawork highlighting the various instruments when they are playing. May I just say the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic is superb! As good or better than I've ever heard them in their long history. These performances rank right up there with the famous Karajan/BPO series from the 60's interpretively. And, of course, sonically they are much superior. Get a good surround sound system to listen to these on. It'll be worth your while. And Abbado keeps a tight architectural rein and emotional intensity to the experience. One of the truly great conductors of our time!



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Review of Carlos Kleiber - Beethoven Symphonies 4 and 7 (2004)

I had the luck to see and record this concert being broadcast on PBS many years ago. For years I searched and hoped to find the DVD of this magnificent concert and my wish has finally been fulfilled. Oscar Levant unfairly described Bernstein'sconducting as:"He uses music as an accompaniment to his conducting".Similarly while Kleiber's subtly coreographed movements, facial and body gestures keeps the Concergebow players at the edges of their seats, he makes Beethoven's music sound so fresh as if it was written for him to dance to. I have watched many of the greatest conductors on film or live in concert over the last three decades but this one is totally unique for the level of enjoyment, excitement and learning one could draw from watching and hearing it over and over. I wish there were more music videos like this but there aren't many.



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Review of Barenboim on Beethoven: Masterclass [DVD Video] (2005)

Daniel Barenboim: Beethoven Masterclasses
Anyone who loves Beethoven,and is serious about piano music will love these dvd's!
Barenboim has spent over 50 years of his life with these Masterworks and definitely has something to say not only to the younger generation of pianists but to those of us who delight in discovering something new in pieces we have been listening to, studying and playing for many years.
Almost as good as being there with the Master!




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