Beethoven's symphonies - which conductor?

Question

I'm still finding my feet in this classical music world, but at the moment I'm looking into purchasing Karajan's 1-9 symphonies of Beethoven, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Of course i have delved into different composers, and I do thoroughly enjoy Karajan's work (despite the critics who label him as without emotion), but I was just wondering when you have most enjoyed Beethoven, i.e. with which conductor? Why?

Answer 1

Sir Georg Solti and his Chicago Symphony Orchestra were the first from which I've heard a Beethoven Symphony; the Ninth, specifically, and it was full of energy. However, I own the most recent recordings of Beethoven's symphonies performed by Bernard Haitink and the London Symphony Orchestra. If you love the timpani, you're going to enjoy its resonance in his recordings!

Answer 2

It's not an easy answer. Like Malcolm I always find more fulfillment in collecting individual performances. For 1st choice recordings of the Beethoven symphonies I would search under Erich Kleiber,Otto Klemperer,Carlos Kleiber,Wilhelm Furtwangler,Bruno Walter. These are amongst my favourite interpreters up to now. I've only got two complete box sets. The 1st is Karajans 1962 set with the Berlin Philharmonic. One of the first recordings I ever purchased many years ago. Except for the hard driven 6th I can't fault it. I think it generally regarded as the finest of his several complete cycles simply for its power,energy and vigor. I think the 5th and 9th especially stand out. Though I understand he exceeded this Ninth with his late 70s recording. My 2nd set is Nikholas Harnoncourt with the English Chamber Orchestra. I was immediately captivated by it. A modern performance that really benefits from the period instrument work this conductor has engaged in. Details and textures are more transparent than Karajan's especially in the 1st & 8th Symphonies but works like the C minor 5th symphony still have the necessary weight and fire. I'm not a music expert just an avid enthusiast so sorry I can't be more specific.

Answer 3

This is such a subjective field. Although the Karajan sets (Karajan recorded the Beethoven complete symphonies more than once) have much to recommend them, I always found that he smoothed off the rough bits of the music (and Beethoven was a revolutionary and could be quite rough at times). Andre Cluytens' set from the early 1960s (in good stereo, also with the Berlin Phlharmonic) is a good cheap set if you can find it. Some swear by the Zinman set (in a new edition of the scores) on Arte Nova but I find it a bit fiddly and lighweight (and Beethoven was no lightweight!). It's always fascinating to hear Beethoven on period instruments (replicas of the sorts of instruments Beethoven would have expected to hear 200 years ago) and the sets by John Eliot Gardiner and Roger Norrington are great listening. One of the best sets I have heard recently has been (surprisingly to me, I have to admit) Christoph von Dohnányi's set with the Cleveland Orchestra - excellently played and with muscular, unfussy performances.

It all comes down to taste, though and perhaps you should try a few downloads to see what suits you before shelling out on a bunch of CDs.

Answer 4

Definitely Von Karajans second cycle of recordings with the Berlin Phiharmonhic for Deutsche Gramophone which originally realeased in the early1970s, far superior to the Digital recordings of the 3rd cycle.
The 9th is absolutely Mind Blowing! as it said on the Plastic Ono Band's Cold Turkey Play Loud!

Answer 5

I guess I'll be the odd ball here and say that John Eliot Gardiner's set of Beethoven's symphonies is BY FAR the best set I've ever heard.

(and if I'm in a very particular mood, I kind of like Simon Rattle's recent set with Berlin)

Yeah, yeah. Karajan's nice, too. But you just can't beat Gardiner.

Answer 6

If you are looking for one complete set of the symphonies Von Karajan is the man. However, Carlos Kleibers versions of 5 and 7 are the best ever recorded.

Answer 7

Karajan Definately. Also Andre Cluytens conducts the Ninth Very Well.

Answer 8

Definitely Herbert von Karajan / Deutsche Gramaphon

Answer 9

Yes, the 70's version with Von Karajan is one to get. I've heard - but don't know for certain - that he was a little too old when he made the last recordings. Otto Klemperer is good at anything you can find!! How many people remember that he was Col Klink's father (Werner Klemperer) on "Hogan's Heroes".

Answer 10

I've been enjoying very much Claudio Abbado's fairly recent recordings of these symphonies, with the Berlin Philharmonic. They are available both on CD and DVD--the latter can be rented from Netflix.