Ripe for Reissue: Wand's Best-Ever Beethoven Cycle

Beethoven: Complete Symphonies. NDR Symphony Orchestra, Günter Wand (cond.) RCA

[@michaell.4777]

Thank you very much, Dave, for your thoughts and your recommendations, and, yes, Wand's Beethoven cycle is my absolute favorite too. Günter Wand started his "world tour" late in life and was therefore hardly known outside of Germany, but he was very respected and loved in Germany, especially in Cologne, where he led the Gürzenich Orchestra as general music director from 1947 to 1974. I remember a guest concert by Günter Wand at the Cologne Philharmonic Concert Hall at the end of the 1990s. The program included Brahms Symphony No. 1 with the NDR Symphony Orchestra. The concert was of course sold out. When Günter Wand entered the concert hall that evening, a magical moment occurred. Not only the orchestra rose, but also the entire audience (around 2,200 people) and applauded frenetically. Although I was able to experience numerous wonderful concert evenings led by famous conductors before and after, this was the only concert so far where the audience recognized a conductor for his achievements with standing ovations both before and after the concert.

[@eddihaskell]

When I started listening to classical music around 1980, I certainly heard of Gunther Wand. I also thought that East German conductors like Otto Suitner and Kurt Sanderling were well known, but that was because Ann Arbor used to have a classical music store with listening booths -- they would let you listen to vinyl records as much as you wanted to and recommend quality recordings.

[@markhollingsworth3262]

A righteous rant. My library has individual discs. They are all excellent, but the ninth knocked my socks off. I can’t imagine how it could be played any better

[@spqr369]

The Magic Wand Beethoven symphony cycle hands down is the best. I have the 24 bit remastering and its phenomenal. I would like to see it reissued as a super audio set.

[@shpeale]

The Wand Beethoven has always been my go-to cycle. I'm glad to see I'm not crazy.

[@edwinbelete76]

I haven’t listened to the whole set but I should as the Pastoral is absolutely gorgeous and is my personal reference recording for that work. Wand has never disappointed me. One of the most consistent and reliable conductors of all time.

[@maximisaev6974]

Dave: It's available digitally at Presto. You're correct to stand by your "However Pick," because the Wand is absolutely outstanding. It especially deserves to be widely available for the younger generation that has yet to explore the Beethoven symphonies, especially for those seeking a complete set. Even so, deep in my heart I insist on standing by George Szell's set, even though I have both. :)

[@PhillipYewTree]

I have an RCA box with 9 discs. It is a great cycle. I understand that he returned to Beethoven’s notes and aimed for as close to an authentic interpretation as he could create.

[@rameau6577]

I couldn’t agree more. I‘m so glad that I bought the box years ago. It should always be available.

[@kevinw.1934]

David rants, and Sony/RCA listens. Back on Amazon. I don't need it as I have the Wand "Great Recordings" box, but it's nice to know that it's available. Good work!

[@eddihaskell]

Thanks Dave, I just grabbed a new copy, it was not hard to find- using expanded search including non-traditional sources. (Edit) After listening to this today, it is magnificent. The only cycle I have to compare it to is Blomstedt/Dresden and it is a very good complement to it to it, Wand is not afraid to "break loose" (for lack of a better term). The recording quality is excellent.

[@curseofmillhaven1057]

I have it in its grey, utilitarian RCA Classics box incarnation (also the Brahms). Truly wonderful.

[@Taosravenfan]

I bought this on iTunes on your recommendation piece by piece. I adore it. He is so incredibly consistent in his conducting. It is just lovely.

[@robhaynes4410]

I have a Günter Wand box called "The Great Recordings." It has his studio Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Mussorgsky recordings, & a few other things. It's a wonderful legacy, that of course was out of print before it hit the shelves. It needs to be reissued in better packaging (it's an LP-sized box with four compartments for cardboard sleeved CDs that all fall out when you stand it up). Or just put all of his RCA stuff, studio & live, in one giant box.

[@user-pj9ny2wp4w]

I fully agree. Still own 6 CD edition of RCA Victor Red Seal from late 80-s.

[@mancal5829]

I bought it in Tower Records and, though it didn't say, it seems it was made to order. Still, it is wonderful.

[@mhc2231]

Yes. This cycle is streaming on Apple Music. And I guess that's the way people are getting their music these days. I mean, vinyl LPs are now outselling CDs -- this year more than ever. So, I wonder if we'll see more of this type of thing. Record companies must figure that if they make it available for streaming on all the major services -- then it's "re-issued" and available to the public. BTW, Wand is my favorite cycle too by far (w/ Blomstedt/Dresen and Vanska/Minnesota coming in second).

[@jimmybyun]

It’s streaming on Apple Music. Love this set!

[@perogie1800]

It’s still available on the used markets here and there; but, in typically limited quantities. It is not a cycle people tend to want to be rid of.

[@richardevans3624]

Yes. It can be streamed. I last saw it on amazon for AUD$300+. I presume that is only for money laundering purposes!

[@mrwelch2004]

I can confirm this can be streamed on Amazon music.

[@Therealzartharn]

It’s on iTunes. Excellent cycle.

[@renatonavajas6941]

Another very good Beethoven cycle that has been vanished is Szell's.

[@jacquesracine9571]

Available on Qobuz. Love it.

[@christopheralvarez5454]

Thanks, Dave. I actually ordered this set from amazon several months ago when I first heard your "however" choice in the discussion of Beethoven cycles. It was available at the time. However, the copy I got contained label-pressed CD-Rs. I really despise this practice, because my sense is that CD-Rs don't have the longevity of real factory pressed CDs, and why should I pay a label for something I could make at home on my own computer. Just wondering if you've experienced this and if you have any personal thoughts about "official" CD-R sets. BTW, I've been following your youtube channel for a few months now and have been learning an awful lot and thoroughly enjoying your videos! Thanks!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I've had no problems with CD-Rs.

[@itsagasgasgas]

This cycle is actually available in at least two incarnations on Apple Music: the one Mr. Hurwitz shows and the previous « Günter Wand Edition » version too… And the Brahms, Bruckner and Schubert cycles are there too by the way.

[@matthewdavidson287]

Also on Spotify

[@gavingriffiths2633]

Anybody remember the big - physically BIG - just like the Bernstein orchestral, symphony, choral boxes- Wand box? It emerged for about 20 minutes.....then vanished! Pouf!

[@claytonfarmer437]

Somehow something is up with a lot of this RCA Red Seal stuff. I almost exclusively use Apple Music, where I see that random bits and pieces of their library are up, and then the rest aren’t. As others here have are saying, some of Gunter Wand’s stuff is up, the rest isn’t. Some of Levine’s Mahler is up, the rest isn’t. Just like you say, no rhyme or reason. The other big offender with this is EMI/Warner, where some of Klemperer’s stuff is up, but not others (his Beethoven 5 isn’t up). Also Karajan’s EMI library is half-missing. Very difficult to deal with!!

[@johnoconnor683]

I bought Wand's fabulous Beethoven cycle on your recommendation. Thanks. Okay not weak links - agreed. But do you think the Eroica, while still great, is not quite as good as the other symphonies in the set?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No, I don't.

[@donalddrewel7862]

I am new to your channel and classical music. I recently purchased this set on Amazon. I must have been one of the last to get it. Unfortunately it was packaged in a flippy jewel case which is kind of awkward. I immediately played the Ninth. I was blown away. I have a couple of other cycles one by Karajan and the other by Zinman. This is now my favorite.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@bendingcaesar65]

I'm pretty sure his Brucker box is now CD-R, which they don't tell you. That's why it's so cheap. The way you can tell is: the original release box was a real cardboard box. The CD-R reissue is in a jewel case.

[@scottmorrison2087]

The is exactly how my Wand Beethoven cycle came about four years ago - an "unadvertised" CD-R set in a jewel case. They sound fine, but it still is irritating.

[@joonaa2751]

Why is there no consumer protection law about selling CD-Rs without being honest about it?

[@stephanversmissen3953]

I own these, unfortunately in a crappy jewel case CD box.

[@lucbenac9756]

I also have the jewel case with same graphics. CD-R with painted surface. Out of curiosity, does it affect anything? Sound, durability....not that it really matters much at this stage, but good to know.

[@stephanversmissen3953]

@@lucbenac9756 You're right! And it doesn't affect anything, yet. But it just looks cheap.

[@perogie1800]

Have the jewel case version as well - hard to open without almost snapping it and the discs get loose or are nearly impossible to release. One of the more frustrating jewel cases to work with.

[@JamesDavidWalley]

That's how I got mine...and the case was cracked and falling apart. I managed to scavenge enough parts off other CD cases (mainly CD-ROM software discs) to "restore" it, but it still doesn't fit all that well. OTOH, I'm pretty sure the CDs were real, not CD-Rs. In any event, I ripped them to my music server, which I use for my primary listening. I suppose you could go the other way and download the set from Presto or Qobuz and burn them to CD-R yourself.

[@stephanversmissen3953]

@@JamesDavidWalley Hi James, at first glance they don't look like CD-Rs, but you can tell by the graphics on the CD, the small letters are quite blurry. You will also see a slight color difference on the other side on the outside. That's where the CD is burned.