Beethoven: The Complete Symphonies and Piano Concertos

Every time Otto Klemperer's EMI Beethoven recordings are re-released, the couplings change, the prices go down, and the consumer gets confused. In the late 1980s EMI released the conductor's stereo Beethoven symphonies on six full-priced CDs, with another disc devoted to the same composer's overtures. These were re-released at midprice, with different cover art. In 1994 EMI bundled the seven discs in a budget-priced package. Four years later the cycle was remastered and recoupled on six individual midprice discs for EMI's series The Klemperer Legacy, but with some differences. The conductor's 1961 Beethoven Seventh was now replaced with his 1955 version, recorded in experimental stereo. The Egmont Incidental Music, Fidelio, Consecration of the House, and King Stephen overetures were dropped. The present budget box gives you these six discs (the 1998 remasterings) along with three CDs encompassing Klemperer's Beethoven Piano Concertos and Choral Fantasy with soloist Daniel Barenboim. By and large, the transfers offer noticeable if not drastic sonic advances over previous incarnations. There's more focus to the lower strings and woodwinds, plus improved definition in note attacks and timpani strokes. Fashions in Beethoven playing have gone through several phases since these recordings first appeared. Indeed, the conductor's dark, foreboding countenance, expressive severity, and implacable pacing will seem utterly anachronistic to fans of Beethoven on period instruments. The music may take shape slowly under Klemperer's guidance, but damned if it doesn't move. Every phrase, each orchestral balance, and all transitional junctures patiently unfold, and pull you in with the force of a hidden, powerful magnet. This approach proves spellbinding for the symphonies and overtures, yet makes for a more ponderous effect in the concertos. What was grand has now turned fussy, and the young Barenboim's self-consciously pointed pianism generally yields to the greater harmonic sophistication, technical finesse, and spiritual penetration of Arrau's similar, yet maturer conceptions. Moreover, Klemperer exerted less control over his orchestra in the late 1960s than his relatively healthier self a decade earlier when the symphonies were made. For the symphonies alone, though, this box set still constitutes a great bargain, and remains a milestone in the history of Beethoven recordings. --Jed Distler, ClassicsToday.com Read less Works on This Recording 1. Symphony no 1 in C major, Op. 21 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1800; Vienna, Austria 2. Symphony no 2 in D major, Op. 36 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1801-1802; Vienna, Austria 3. Symphony no 3 in E flat major, Op. 55 "Eroica" by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1803; Vienna, Austria 4. Symphony no 4 in B flat major, Op. 60 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1806; Vienna, Austria 5. Symphony no 5 in C minor, Op. 67 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1807-1808; Vienna, Austria 6. Symphony no 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastoral" by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1808; Vienna, Austria 7. Symphony no 7 in A major, Op. 92 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1811-1812; Vienna, Austria 8. Symphony no 8 in F major, Op. 93 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1812; Vienna, Austria 9. Symphony no 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral" by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: Aase Nordmo-Lövberg (Soprano), Hans Hotter (Baritone), Waldemar Kmentt (Tenor), ■ Christa Ludwig (Mezzo Soprano) ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra, Philharmonia Chorus ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1822-1824; Vienna, Austria ■ Language: German 10. Grosse Fuge for String Quartet in B flat major Op. 133 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1825-1826; Vienna, Austria 11. Leonore Overture no 1 in C major, Op. 138 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1807; Vienna, Austria 12. Leonore Overture no 2 in C major, Op. 72 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1805; Vienna, Austria 13. Leonore Overture no 3 in C major, Op. 72a by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1805-1806; Vienna, Austria 14. Coriolan Overture in C minor, Op. 62 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1807; Vienna, Austria 15. Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43: Overture by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1800-1801; Vienna, Austria 16. Concerto for Piano no 1 in C major, Op. 15 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: Daniel Barenboim (Piano) ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1795; Vienna, Austria 17. Concerto for Piano no 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: Daniel Barenboim (Piano) ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1793/1798; Vienna, Austria 18. Concerto for Piano no 3 in C minor, Op. 37 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: Daniel Barenboim (Piano) ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1800; Vienna, Austria 19. Concerto for Piano no 4 in G major, Op. 58 by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: Daniel Barenboim (Piano) ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1806; Vienna, Austria 20. Concerto for Piano no 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 "Emperor" by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: Daniel Barenboim (Piano) ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: New Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1809; Vienna, Austria 21. Fantasia in C minor, Op. 80 "Choral Fantasy" by Ludwig van Beethoven ■ Performer: Daniel Barenboim (Piano) ■ Conductor: Otto Klemperer ■ Orchestra / Ensemble: John Alldis Choir, New Philharmonia Orchestra ■ Period: Classical ■ Written: 1808; Vienna, Austria Companies etc Recorded At – Kingsway Hall Recorded At – Abbey Road Studios Mastered At – Abbey Road Studios Credits Baritone Vocals – Hans Hotter (tracks: 6-1 to 6-4) Chorus – John Alldis Choir (tracks: 9-1), Philharmonia Chorus (tracks: 6-1 to 6-4) Chorus Master – John Alldis (tracks: 9-1), Wilhelm Pitz (tracks: 6-1 to 6-4) Composed By, Cadenza – Ludwig van Beethoven Conductor – Otto Klemperer Design [Front Cover Design] – Georgina Ward Engineer [Balance] – Christopher Parker (tracks: 2-5, 4-5 to 4-8, 6-5), Douglas Larter (tracks: 1-1 to 1-9, 2-1 to 2-4, 3-1 to 3-8, 4-1 to 4-4, 5-1 to 5-8, 6-1 to 6-4), Robert Gooch (tracks: 7-1 to 9-4) Illustration – Neil Gower Mezzo-soprano Vocals – Christa Ludwig (tracks: 6-1 to 6-4) Orchestra – New Philharmonia Orchestra (tracks: 7-1 to 9-4), Philharmonia Orchestra (tracks: 1-1 to 6-5) Photography By [Daniel Barenboim] – Mark Harison Photography By [Otto Klemperer] – Lotte Meitner-Graf Piano – Daniel Barenboim (tracks: 7-1 to 9-4) Producer – Suvi Raj Grubb (tracks: 7-1 to 9-4), Walter Jellinek (tracks: 4-5 to 4-8), Walter Legge (tracks: 1-1 to 6-5) Remastered By [Digitally Remastered] – Allan Ramsay, Andrew Walter, Simon Gibson Soprano Vocals – Aase Nordmo Lövberg (tracks: 6-1 to 6-4) Tenor Vocals – Waldemar Kmentt (tracks: 6-1 to 6-4) Notes Symphony No. 7 Recorded Oct/Nov 1955 Kingsway Hall, London. Grosse Fuge Recorded Mar 1956 Abbey Road Studios, London. Symphonies 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 & 9, Coriolan & Prometheus Overtures Recorded Oct/Nov 1957 Kingsway Hall, London. Symphonies 3 & 5 Recorded Oct/Nov 1959 Abbey Road Studios, London. Leonore Overtures 1-3 Recorded Nov 1963 Kingsway Hall, London. Piano Concertos & Fantasia Recorded Oct/Nov 1967 + Jun 1968 Abbey Road Studios, London Digitally Remastered at Abbey Road Studios. F:PM 639, UK:CZS, USA: CDZI 73895 ——— 7-4 to 7-6, 9-1: Also released on La Voix De Son Maître 2 C 069-01979 (LP) 7-1 to 9-4: Also released on His Master's Voice / EMI Electrola / Hör Zu 1C 197-01 890/93 (4LP Box set)