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Originally Posted by Facade19 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
What box set of Beethoven's symphonies would you friendly chaps recommend to me, someone that has not yet entered the world of Beethoven (though I heard symphony No. 3, 5, 6 and 9). But what set would you say would fit the role of introducing me to Beethoven's symphonies? As some of you know I am big fan of Mahler and Shostakovich's symphonies/music, so maybe there is a certain conductor that gets the melodrama and emotions out of the scores and orchestras? Thank you very much for your insightful suggestions.
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As you are a big fan of Mahler and Shostakovich, I imagine that you would enjoy "big band" Beethoven more than period instruments. I would also suggest a modern chamber orchestra if you wouldn't mind the lighter sounding ensemble. For easily available big-band Beethoven (not in order of preference):
Szell & Cleveland O - These are older recordings and you may find it cheaper to buy the individual symphony releases that have been remastered than the box set with the piano concertos - Columbia (Sony)
Note: That box set contains the piano concertos with Leon Fleisher, which are probably some of the greatest recordings of that repertoire.
Blomstedt & Staatskapelle Dresden - Brilliant Classics -- a must because it uses the SKD which has a particular sound because they have retained older instruments used by generations of their musicians. The world is now filled with generic orchestras which don't have a particular sound signature, so hearing the SKD in this music is extremely illuminating. There is not a clanker in this set and the singing in the 9th is particularly fine.
Zinman & Tonhalleorchester Zurich - Artenova
MacKerras & Royal Liverpool PO - Classics for Pleasure
Barenboim & Berliner Staatskapelle - Warner Classics - More romantic interpretations; broader tempos; heavily influenced by Furtwängler. These might appeal to you very much. Also excellent sq.
Karajan & Berliner Philharmoniker - DG - One of the most highly regarded cycles (1963). This has been released and re-released in various covers, in remastered stereo, sacd, and any way that Deutsche Grammophon could dream up to make it seem "newer." I think there's one at Amazon for about $12 or $13, and that's about what you should pay for these.
Gunter Wand & NDR-Sinfonieorchester - RCA - another great cycle that is very underrated. Prices on this are extremely good. I prefer this to Karajan any day of the week. Btw, it is a top recommendation by Gramophone magazine.
Incomplete, but well worth buying:
Vänskä & Minnesota SO (not complete) - BIS, By bar the best sound quality (SACD/hybrid with hd redbook layer). They are only lacking one more recording for the 1st and 7th symphonies. The 9th is a standout and should be in everyone's collection, as should their most recent recording of the 6th (Pastoral) which is often the symphony where so many conductors fail.
For the smaller ensemble symphonies, the only modern ones are the new
MacKerras & the Scottish Chamber Orchestra or the
Jarvi & Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie which isn't a complete cycle yet. Also incomplete is the
Dausgaard & Swedish Chamber Orchestra Orebro cycle on Simax which may not be completed as both Dausgaard and the SCOO seem to have jumped labels. Those are extremely expensive unless you buy them on itunes (not itunes plus, so the sound is compressed). If you do download these, skip the 7th symphony which is not as fine as the others.
The other complete chamber orchestra cycle is the older set by
Harnoncourt & the Chamber Orchestra of Europe which qualifies as a hybrid ensemble because they used hand-stopped horns (or perhaps modern horns that they then used hand stopping with) for greater "authenticity." Again, this is an older cycle so the sound quality won't be as good as the Jarvi or Dausgaard recordings. As far as I know, the sq for the new MacKerras has not received top marks either, so if you decide to opt for a complete chamber orchestra cycle, then sq should not be a factor.
