Recommend Beethoven Pastoral and Late String Quartet recordings?

[Arjisme]

I was thinking it would be great to have a quality recording of Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral) and wondered if anyone could recommend something? I am looking for this on CD. Like a lot of folks, my major exposure to this symphony was via Disney's Fantasia and I could guess there might be opinions good and bad over how well Disney presented it. However, bottom line, I always liked the Disney version. Now, I am open to other interpretations, but what I really liked about the Disney version was it just seemed so lyrical. And I liked the overall tempo. So, again, can anybody recommend something for me on this?

2nd: many years ago I was given a nice boxed set on vinyl of Beethoven's The Late String Quartets (op. 127, op.130-133 and op. 135). This label was Intercord and it was performed by the Melos-Quartet Stuttgart. I really enjoyed listening to that but I can't find that particular recording on CD. So, can anyone recommend something similar?

In case you are wondering, I want CD as I will rip these and listen on my portable setup.

Thanks.

 

[Agent Kang]

For the 6th:

and for the late quartets:

There are numerous (and massive) threads of Beethoven's works and recordings on this forum. Here is the search link:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/search...archid=6014794

Happy listening.

 

[bigshot]

My favorite Pastoral is Bohm. I don't need any others (except perhaps Stoki for sentimental reasons...)

See ya
Steve

 

[Arjisme]

Thanks for the replies. And, yes, Agent Kang, I should have used the search. The main thing though was I wanted to describe that Late Strings Quartet recording I have to see if anyone was familiar with it and could recommend something similar.

So, I did a search and found some good threads. For the Pastoral, I decided to buy the Columbia Symphony Recording on the Sony label. Directed by Bruno Walter. For the Quartets, I chose the Decca recording by the Takacs Quartet.

Again, thanks.

 

[Rlynn]

If you are still looking for the Melos, is this what you had on LP?

Archiv Records Reprint

 

[Sarchi]

Pastoral:
Reiner/Chicago on RCA (get the Chesky, not the dynagroove. I don't think this was part of the Living Stereo SACD reissues, not sure tho)
Bruno Walter on Columbia (this should be on SACD)

The above are my favourite performances, but there are many others that are worthwhile, and some with better sound quality.

Late String Quartets; Vegh Quartet on Telefunken was considered the standard for a very long time, I don't know if they were ever issued on CD. But the Lindsay String Quartet on ASV are PHENOMENAL. They recorded the late cycle twice, feeling that their performances had improved enough to re-do it. I saw them perform (they did #15) around 2001 or 2002, absolutely outstanding. Don't bother with any 'lightweight' quartets, this is really deep, heavy music.

 

[Tyson]

6th symphony I like Gardiner and Szell (as I do in most of the symphonies). For the late quartets, I like different interpretive styles - the Emersons (furious), the Vegh (deep), and the Quartetto Italiano (refined) and the Takacs (a combination of all these).

 

[Arjisme]

I saw the Quartetto Italiano at the local B&M, but wanted the Takacs, which they didn't have. I'll order that online and give it a go first.

I can say I am quite happy with the Walter version of the Pastoral. I really appreciate the recommendations!

 

[LarryK2]

. . . unfortunately not on CD. I have heard most, but not all the recommended recordings on this thread - I still prefer the Hungarians.

 

[Arjisme]

Lol! If it isn't on CD I'll take the Melos-Quartet Stutgart I mentioned in my OP.

 

[zoomjohn]

Bohm for me. Haven't heard Melos to recommend a similar set, but to me Italian, Alban Berg, and Vegh all have their individual and indispensable qualities.