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If You Could Only Have One Beethoven Symphony Cycle

39032 Views 224 Replies 113 Participants Last post by  Holden4th, 
SixFootScowl
What one would it be?

This would be a no-brainer for me if Fricsay had a full cycle. But since he does not, i am kind of inclined towards Gunter Wand (but if I keep listening to the Hanover Band cycle, that may change). However, that is out of my current collection which includes full cycles of Hanover Band, Wand, Szell, Ferencsik, and Liebowitz (I had Walter but got rid of it as too stodgy, but am told I should have kept if for his 6th). I am interested in what others would pick for their sole Beethoven symphony cycle and why.

NOTE: I started this thread because I think the results will be very interesting, but also because we don't have enough Beethoven symphony cycle threads on this site. :lol:
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SixFootScowl
That Bernstein cycle keeps haunting me. Suspect I won't be satisfied until I have it.

By the way, there is an Immerseel cycle out there for $13 and free shipping, in good used condition, that tempted me yesterday, but I thought better of it since I already have a HIP in the Hanover Band.
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SixFootScowl
Well I was leaning towards Gunter Wand, but now I am listening to George Szell and liking it a lot. I do think Szell's Ninths is one of the best, short only of the very best which is Fricsay's Ninth.
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SixFootScowl
Scififan said:
The Cycle done by The Hanover Band on original instruments directed by Roy Goodman and Monica Huggett. It was recorded on Nimbus Records in 1988.
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I have that cycle, but it doesn't do it for me. For some reason it sounds rather thin to me, a byproduct (I think) of the original instruments.

Not sure what cycle I indicated previously, but now I might go with Monteaux which is a hybrid cycle from two different orchestras.
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SixFootScowl
Well I am firmly convinced now that Zinman is the cycle for me.
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SixFootScowl
Enthusiast said:
A world where you can only have one set of Beethoven symphonies is a dystopia. In a utopia everyone would be entitled to at least 20 sets.
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There are nine symphonies so I guess one should have nine symphony cycles.
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SixFootScowl
I would like the Fricsay cycle, but it is three symphonies short.
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SixFootScowl
Bulldog said:
Fricsay uses the abridged version. :lol:
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Still more symphonies than Brahms or Mendelssohn.
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SixFootScowl
I am leaning towards Simon Rattle these days.
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SixFootScowl
I keep seeing a lot of support for Wand. That was my first cycle and I should go back to it sometime. My set unfortunately has a mid-note track break in the 6th going from the 4th to the 5th movement. Guess I could fix it by joining the two tracks into one. I have this set:
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SixFootScowl
Oldhoosierdude said:
Can't believe I never responded here. I have owned quite a number of these sets and have pared it down to: Szell, Barenboim 1999, Walter, Kletzki, Blomstedt, Leibowitz, Krips, Morris. With the last three from low cost mp3 box set downloads. Although I like this one for it's sound quality and despite the fact that Barenboim looks like a Jewish Mafia boss, it is edged out of the top spot.

View attachment 115832

And I would have to go with this one, even though George Szell appears to be smelling something distasteful.

View attachment 115833
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Now that you put it that way, both of these need to go into the strange album covers thread! :lol:
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SixFootScowl
MatthewWeflen said:
Here are the sets I own in descending order of preference:

Karajan 77
Gardiner
Karajan 63
Chailly
Karajan 85
Wyn Morris
Getting hit by a bus
Bernstein VPO
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:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
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SixFootScowl
Enthusiast said:
^ Of those I would want to include Vanska and Fischer (Adam, I assume?) on my shortlist. I also agree that Solti's set is good.
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The last cycle I purchased is Vanska, last July, but have not really listened to it enough. Going to put it back on my player in place of Rattle and spend some time with it.
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SixFootScowl
Helgi said:
I'm accumulating Beethoven symphony cycles at an alarming rate these days. Just ordered Skrowaczewski and Günter Wand, and now hankering after Brüggen.

Suffice to say I enjoy having a variety of interpretations to choose from.

If I had to choose one, right now I would probably keep Paavo Järvi/DKB. It's pacey and energetic without any sense of rushing, and the attention to detail and nuance is impressive given the tempo.

So I would keep that but replace the 9 with something like Fricsay/BPO when no one was looking :p
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Best Ninth, bar none, IMO. I have some 4 dozen or so Ninths and none top Fricsay's.
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SixFootScowl
2
This is it. The only Beethoven symphony cycle that I need. Though I don't have this set, I have all the recordings in three separate sets.


As a bonus you get a second Eroica and about 25 minutes of a rehearsal session for the Ninth.
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SixFootScowl
Geoff48 said:
Unfortunately one of the potentially great cycles was never finished due to the Conductor's premature death. I refer to the early fifties Decca with Erich Kleiber. He recorded the Eroica (Vienna), 5th, Pastoral, 7th (Concertgebouw) and Choral (Vienna). There is also an elusive 2nd from the thirties.
The 5th is arguably the most exciting ever recorded, far better than that of Carlos, the Eroica has the first movement repeat missing from his earlier Concertgebouw version, the Pastoral a vast improvement on the London version on 78s although that was the version from which I got to know the symphony. All the symphonies are noted for their great forward momentum.
If I had to select a complete cycle I suspect I would opt for Karajan 62, great traditional interpretations with the Berlin Philharmonic not putting a foot wrong, or Klemperer, great strength. I would not opt for a modern speed king such as Zinman. His interpretations are great for an initial hearing but unlike the classic Germans does not wear well.
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Sadly we don't have a complete cycle from Fricsay either. Missing 2, 4, and 6.
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SixFootScowl
Geoff48 said:
I agree that a complete set by Fricsay would be interesting although I must admit to finding his Beethoven a little disappointing particularly his 5th which is a little stodgy. In fact I find his best Beethoven performance to be the 3rd concerto with Annie Fischer. Of the Symphonies I like his Choral. However I think his magic Flute, Verdi Requiem and Tchaikovsky Symphonies are fat mor representative of a great conductor than his Beethoven.
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I could happily keep Monteux's Beethoven symphonies 1-8 and sub in Fricsay for the Ninth. I like the Monteux Ninth but the old recording is not so clean.
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SixFootScowl
SixFootScowl said:
This is it. The only Beethoven symphony cycle that I need. Though I don't have this set, I have all the recordings in three separate sets.


As a bonus you get a second Eroica and about 25 minutes of a rehearsal session for the Ninth.
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Another cycle I need:
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SixFootScowl
Well I guess I need to pull out my Wand cycle and give it another go.
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