Barenboim's Beethoven Symphonies Reconsidered

[@WMAlbers1]

Since I didn't know these recordings decided to listen them all during Christmas. The first two symphonies already made a refreshing impression.

[@melodymaker135]

“You know it’s special when you can’t even get into the box” 😂😂😂😂

[@robhaynes4410]

I genuinely love this set. One of my favorite Beethoven cycles, along with Wand & Blomstedt (Dresden). Possibly my favorite thing Barenboim did as a conductor. Thanks for giving it a shout-out!

[@melodymaker135]

David, 1) I’m sorry to hear about your MS, and 2) immensely respectful that I’ve never heard you mention it before. As usual, bravo you!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I've mentioned it before--I even made a couple of videos from the hospital to raise awareness. But thank you very much for your kindness.

[@rolandonavarro3170]

I agree, dear David. Barenboim is not only a great Beethoven interpreter as a conductor, but as a pianist.

[@warrenpyke813]

I have this set and will listen to it again over the holidays. My wife and I saw Barenboim and this orchestra do a Brahms cycle at the Sydney Opera House in 2018, a marvellous series of concerts before we all got locked away for 2 years. He came out to foyer after a concert and signed programs, then told off an Opera House manager for something obscure, which was also great entertainment.

[@tajniak4335]

Barenboim is a great artist, his problem being I'm afraid his ego. It seems that all throughout his career he thought he could do everything and could do no wrong. And that's probably also why he doesn't know when to stop.

[@tommynielsen7163]

So, the truly great Beethoven cycles? Klemperer, Wand, Blomstedt (Dresden), Kletzki, Barenboim, Schuricht, Jochum, Monteux?

[@rolandonavarro3170]

Szell

[@WesSmith-m6i]

Dear Dave, what a great way to highlight contrasting approaches to Beethoven (and perhaps music generally) by the conducting of Barenboim and Abbado. Wesley

[@davidfloyd5988]

One small detail that has stuck in my mind regarding this set - the oboe solo near the beginning of the 'Eroica' funeral march is SUPERB!

[@christopherjohnson2422]

This set just came in the mail last week, purchased at a very low price as a Warner budget box. My copy puts the discs in cardboard sleeves inside a simple cardboard box. I’ve only played Nos. 3 and 6 so far. My first reaction is that the Eroica is very interesting and beautifully played, and that the Pastoral is magnificent.

[@dennischiapello7243]

I bought this set on your earlier recommendation. Not too long ago I played the Fifth, not expecting anything new. Instead, I felt like I was hearing it for the first time, which is always a thrilling experience. What struck me first is that the orchestral sound seemed especially colorful and vibrant. And the excitement and rediscovery continued through to the end. I'm glad that "reconsidered" didn't mean you had become disillusioned with it. Speaking of Beethoven, I wonder if you might ever consider videos about his Late Quartets, individually. Lately I've been listening to Op. 127, the one I have somewhat neglected, and it seems almost more astonishing than the ones that followed (if that is even possible.) It got me thinking that Beethoven's Ninth symphony led to the further expansion of the form, both formally and expressively, but that his String Quartets haven't been surpassed in the same way, despite major and very great additions to the repertoire since then.

[@itsagasgasgas]

Warner has rereleased this set at a much cheaper price in 2017 and it’s still available.

[@packer812]

Not sure why the SB doesn't get more recognition, because it is a wonderful orchestra. I guess being based in the same city as the mythological Berlin Phil has it's drawbacks. This Beethoven set has been a fav of mine for many years now, as has the same forces' Schumann cycle. Wonderfully recorded too.

[@UlfilasNZ]

Really great - also the concertos with the same orchestra are very good! (Thanks to Jed Distler for that review)

[@stephenswanson334]

I played the 7th under Barenboim about two years after the Berlin cycle was recorded, and that experience amply demonstrated why he is such a brilliant performing artist: I fundamentally disagreed with most of his interpretive decisions, and I *loved* every moment of it all.

[@mikewinter2235]

I saw on the Berlin Phil streaming channel he and Argerich in October in Beethoven’s 1st piano concerto followed by a somnnolent Brahms 4th symphony. All the tempi were sedate; he is almost immobilized, walking or conducting - sad to see and hear. So thanks for reminding us of his healthier days, which would have to include his live performances on video of the 32 piano sonatas, of which I’m a compulsive collector (thanks for validating this joyful vice). December is the month of music, and of Beethoven. Have a great holiday season Dave and good luck with the MS! Thanks also for the context of this symphonies set. From a review by Alex Ross of the Abbado, I purchased, and have never enjoyed on several tries.

[@DFDalton1962]

The cover art looked familiar, so I dug through my old collection of DVD-A disks, and sure enough I have them. Well, I have 1-8 - but not 9 for some reason. I bought them 20 years ago and quickly forgot about them. I don't recall them being especially interesting at the time. Maybe I was too far advanced in my "audiophile" disease to give them the attention they deserved. My DVD-A player at the time was pretty bad. It had that hard, glassy sound vinyl lovers characterize as an inherent flaw of digital. Thanks, I'll have to give them another listen over the holidays.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

I couldn't afford this at the original list price and then in the late 2000s a used copy came into Camelot Music for about $40 and I vacillated because that was still too much for me. Luckily Warner put out the super cheap reissue and that's when I got it. I was not disappointed. Pound for pound as good a cycle as you'll find. Awhile later I bought the Abbado very cheaply and found it a snoozefest and sold it on Ebay at a profit, lol.

[@ctrlzyx2]

Both this cycle and the blomstedt cycle you recently recommended split the violins, which i prefer with beethoven. Two great cycles. I own the barenboim in dvda which is demonstration quality for this medium. I also like barenboim's mozart piano concertos

[@KellySedinger]

Well, "different strokes" and all that...I really enjoyed the cycle Barenboim did with the E-W Divan Orchestra. It's not perfect by any means, but these days I find much compelling in the music-making that youth orchestras are doing. I'll definitely have to look into the set being discussed here, though! There's room in my life for lots of Beethoven.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I didn't say it was bad, but the Berlin cycle is much better.

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

Fully agree about the political meaning of the western/eastern divan project!

[@daawesomedude6119]

Love Barenboim’s Beethoven 6. It’s basically my go-to after Szell.

[@erb07032]

Totally agree!

[@dmntuba]

I've never been a "Barenboim fan", but always respected his talent & artistry. I do own many of his recordings (the ones I enjoy) and if you want a great party cd just put on his early Elgar (marches, enigma, and I believe crown of India) just crank it up & blow the roof of the shack 😂 My point is that I am truly saddened about his health issues, and quality of recent recordings. To see one of the giants of classical music come to their end like this sucks.

[@gavingriffiths2633]

And you've spoken before about Barenboim's first rate Wagner - he conducted ALL the main operas magnificently, even if some of the singers weren't always absolutely tip-top. A remarkable achievement to be ranked with his Beethoven cycle.

[@dennischiapello7243]

His Wagner conducting is outstanding, and I didn't hesitate to buy his Wagner opera box. As far as the singers... well, Birgit Nilsson should've been cryogenically frozen for later Tristans and Ring Cycles. A missed opportunity.

[@murraylow4523]

@@dennischiapello7243 curious. I think I’ve listened to all of them, but only kept the Lohengrin. They are of course very good, but in the bigger picture of recordings I’m not so sure. I should say that I’m not ultimately the biggest Nilsson fan. I quite like Ann Evan’s (?) in Barenboim’ s Ring, but Graham Clarke is annoying on repetition in Siegfried, the Hagen can’t really compare with earlier assumptions, Jerusalem doesn’t sound as good as I thought he would etc. Elizabeth in Tannhäuser doesn’t sound great, the Senta neither, the Meistersinger is not as good as a variety of others (the act 2 finale, so difficult to bring off, doesn’t really work). So with all due regard to this musician’s many talents, I wasn’t really convinced in relation to what else is readily available. But perhaps that’s just me, thinking that his name led to a bit of overrating.

[@benjamingreenfield9569]

It’s one of the truly great modern cycles, definitely better than the one from the proms with the “Give Piece a Chance” orchestra.

[@gold2chrome]

I have this one and I really love it. The packaging is quite weird but functional.

[@BrianHornickel]

You probably should have used the word "revisited", as opposed to "reconsidered" in the title. It seems to imply that you might be changing your opinion of this set. I have it and love it, so I certainly would have been disappointed if you had.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Let's not mince words.

[@williamevans9426]

Mr Hurwitz, I do hope your MS isn't proving too troublesome. I deliberately choose not to say, 'I'm so sorry', etc., etc. - from my own experience of illness, to be considered the object of sympathy is one of the most annoying things of all!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Oh, I don't mind, but thanks for your consideration. It's annoying (the MS that is), sometimes very much so, but I can deal with it.