Beethoven: Les 9 Symphonies

( 1 )

Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - James Leonard
Andre Cluytens'' 1957-1960 cycle of Beethoven symphonies was the first Beethoven cycle directed by a French conductor, but since the orchestra is the super-virtuoso, echt-Deutsch Berliner Philharmoniker, it''s hard to say exactly what is French about these performances. The colors are carefully weighed and balanced, but they are still more German primary colors than French blended colors. The tempos are quick but not especially so, and though they are often impetuous, they are never reckless. Cluytens does not overly emphasize line over form, and although his conception of the scores is more nuanced than a German''s might be, it is in no way too subtle. The usual ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide - James Leonard
Andre Cluytens'' 1957-1960 cycle of Beethoven symphonies was the first Beethoven cycle directed by a French conductor, but since the orchestra is the super-virtuoso, echt-Deutsch Berliner Philharmoniker, it''s hard to say exactly what is French about these performances. The colors are carefully weighed and balanced, but they are still more German primary colors than French blended colors. The tempos are quick but not especially so, and though they are often impetuous, they are never reckless. Cluytens does not overly emphasize line over form, and although his conception of the scores is more nuanced than a German''s might be, it is in no way too subtle. The usual distinctions between more reserved even-numbered symphonies and more aggressive odd-numbered symphonies hold less here than they might, but less so than in many readings by English and American conductors. Cluytens is a generously talented, highly skilled conductor, and each work is superbly performed by the Berlin. But, while one can easily listen through with pleasure, and even return to each performance and hear new things every time, there are other, better Beethoven cycles out there, and Cluytens can''t stand up to the competition as a top rank in the pantheon. EMI''s early stereo sound is not perhaps as warm and rich as its later stereo sound, but it''s still very impressive for its time.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 6/12/2007
  • Label: Emi Classics France
  • UPC: 094636753027
  • Catalog Number: 367530
  • Sales rank: 27,552

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1–4 Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (25:26)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
    1. 1 Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
    2. 2 Andante cantabile con moto
    3. 3 Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace)
    4. 4 Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace
  2. 5–8 Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ("Eroica"), Op. 55 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (47:58)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
    1. 5 Allegro con brio
    2. 6 Larghetto
    3. 7 Scherzo (Allegro vivace) & Trio
    4. 8 Finale (Allegro molto - Poco andante - Presto)
  3. 9 Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (The Creatures of Prometheus), ballet, Op. 43: Ouverture, Op. 43 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (5:33)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
Disc 2
  1. 1–4 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (34:59)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
    1. 1 Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
    2. 2 Larghetto
    3. 3 Scherzo (Allegro) & Trio
    4. 4 Allegro molto
  2. 5–8 Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (33:39)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
    1. 5 Adagio - Allegro molto
    2. 6 Adagio
    3. 7 Menuetto (Allegro vivace)
    4. 8 Allegro ma non troppo
  3. 9 Egmont, incidental music, Op. 84: Ouverture, Op. 84 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (9:11)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
Disc 3
  1. 1–4 Symphony No. 5 in C minor ("Fate"), Op. 67 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (33:06)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
    1. 1 Allegrto con brio
    2. 2 Andante con moto
    3. 3 Allegro
    4. 4 Allegro - Presto
  2. 5–8 Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (38:34)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
    1. 5 Poco sostenuto - Vivace
    2. 6 Allegretto
    3. 7 Presto - Assai meno presto - Presto
    4. 8 Allegro con brio
  3. 9 Leonore Overture No. 3 in C major, Op. 72b - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (7:05)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
Disc 4
  1. 1–5 Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral"), Op. 68 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (43:51)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
    1. 1 Allegro non troppo - Eveil d'impressions agréables en arrivant à la campagne
    2. 2 Andante molto mosso - Scène au bord du ruisseau
    3. 3 Allegro - Réunion joyeuse de paysans
    4. 4 Allegro - Orage - Tempête
    5. 5 Allegretto - Chant des bergers. Sentiments joyeux et reconnaissants après l'orage
  2. 6–9 Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (27:31)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, André Cluytens
    1. 6 Allegro vivace e con brio
    2. 7 Allegro scherzando
    3. 8 Tempo di menuetto
    4. 9 Allegro vivace
Disc 5
  1. 1–4 Symphony No. 9 in D minor ("Choral"), Op. 125 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (72:44)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byAndré Cluytens
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Gré Brouwenstijn, St. Hedwig's Cathedral Chor, André Cluytens, Karl Forster, Nicolai Gedda, Frederick Guthrie, Kerstin Meyer
    1. 1 Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
    2. 2 Molto vivace
    3. 3 Adagio molto e cantabile
    4. 4 Presto - Allegro
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
André Cluytens Primary Artist
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Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 26, 2012

    I disagree with the editorial review. Essentially, I do not lik

    I disagree with the editorial review. Essentially, I do not like to rate a playing as more/less German/French. When I listen to this recording, something comes through to reach my heart and sole,

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review