Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!info-high-audio-request From: ogicse!agora.rain.com!david@uwm.UUCP (David Robinson) Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end Subject: POSITIVE FEEDBACK 1/91 (late!): 3/4 Message-ID: <9950@uwm.edu> Date: 5 Mar 91 14:00:52 GMT Sender: news@uwm.edu Lines: 125 Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu Originator: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu The following article is from POSITIVE FEEDBACK, the newsletter of the Oregon Triode Society, and is Copyright 1991, all rights reserved. This article may be reposted or reprinted, as long as it is not resold, and as long as proper attribution of the source is made in full. Please keep this header in all copies made of this article. David W. Robinson Editor, POSITIVE FEEDBACK david@agora.rain.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- VINYL REFLECTIONS Larry Sturtz Until the most recent list the composer most conspicuously absent from TAS recommended recordings was old Ludwig himself. Yes, Beethoven, without whom most subscription series would be bereft. Even the current list has only Solti's bloodless 9th and one crummy piano sonata on what I believe is a super analog disc. Neither I nor other collectors I've talked to have an explanation for this phenomenon. Perhaps Beethoven's viscerally engaging music with its economy of expression is just not compatible with the audiophile experience. Well, all the above is nothing more than a convenient hook to hang a quick review of Beethoven's 9 symphonies. Pretty sneaky huh? Actually another situation I have found myself in over the years as the self appointed expert on classical music in various offices is answering the question what's the best set of Beethoven symphonies to buy? Answer-none. The best set is made up of various conductors efforts. Of course most of those questioning me were not satisfied and pushed for a recommendation. If you must have a boxed set for convenience and simplicity the 1962 Karajan cycle on DGG would be my reluctant top choice. If you can find early pressings the sound is quite good and with the exception of the hurried 6th performances are fine. HVK's 1977 run-thru offers no performance improvements and sound is murky. Avoid the made for TV 80's issues. The Command set by William Steinberg and the Pittsburgh (early pressings only) is underrated. Only the 9th is disappointing and the 3rd, 5th and 7th are superb. Avoid the later pressings by ABC-Paramount. The Leibowitz Readers Digest set has gotten a bit of audiophile ink lately. My limited listening forays into the set have not impressed me. Based on what I've heard I would not recommend paying the present asking price. That's enough on completes. Perhaps in a future article we can go further, for now let's assemble a set of the 9 from single issues. Beginning at the end the 9th I can't live without is Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt on London/Decca. Relaxed tempos and the vocal quartet of Sutherland/Talvela/King/Horne make this the one I reach for first. Besides the 1962 Karajan (coupled with the 8th), listen also to the Furtwangler(Seraphim), Toscanini, Stokowski(Phase 4)and Solti(Decca/London). Yes I've heard the Norrington on original instruments, except for the surprises it was malnourished and boring, ten bucks shot. The slender 8th, occupying only a single side usually is a filler, but there is one recording I recommend seeking out; Pablo Casals conducting the Marlboro Festival orchestra on Columbia MS 6931 backed by Mendelssohn's 4th in gritty sound. The broad shouldered 7th can stand a variety of approaches. I prefer quick, lean performances. Karajan '62 and Steinberg stand out. Consider also both Colin Davis performances(EMI, Philips), Klemperer(EMI) and Bruno Walter(Columbia with the Columbia Symphony). Karl Bohm captures more of the magic of the Pastorale for me than any other conductor. His DGG performance with the VPO is a must. Relaxed yet vibrant, taut where necessary, gorgeous. Other 6ths worth hearing are Steinberg, any of the Jochum's, Walter and Klemperer. Avoid the humorless and hurried Toscanini and Karajan. There are dozens of perfectly acceptable and sometimes exciting performances of the 5th but, there is one that stands above all others and that is Carlos Kleiber and the VPO on DGG-DO NOT MISS THIS RECORDING, available in all formats in generally indifferent sound, which matters not at all. Others I like are Giulini(LAPO, DGG), Szell(Philips), Dorati(Mercury) and Steinberg. Then only 4th with its head above the crowd is Kiril Kondrashin on Seraphim. There was no Angel issue. If there was an ASD on EMI I never saw it. The Seraphim shows up in the used bins regularly, give it a try. My Eroica choice is a little offbeat, John Barbirolli on Angel/EMI. Tempos are slooooow, but the tension builds inexorably. Try it, you may like it. Karajan '62, Steinberg, Schmidt-Isserstedt, Klemperer and a bunch of others are fine. Take your pick. I don't have a first choice for 1 and 2 but remember liking Marriner(Philips), Hogwood(Oiseau) and Walter. At one time there were at least 12 completes and a minimum of 5 individual performances of each symphony on my shelves. The present state of disarray prevents an accurate count, just say enough. At the risk of being considered eccentric the following Beethoven symphony performances are essential to me ; (1) all the above first choices and most of the honorable mentions, (2) Karajan's 62 complete, (3) The Toscanini RCA complete, (4) Bernstein's live DGG complete, (5) Szell(Epic) and Walter(Columbia) completes, and finally (6) Reiner's 5,6,7 on Shaded Dog. Excessive? Not at all. Happy trails.