Beethoven: The Nine Symphonies

( 10 )

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble
This celebrated set, recorded in 1961-62, is generally considered the best of Herbert von Karajan's four Beethoven symphony cycles. His cycles from the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s are also available. Karajan had trained the Berlin Philharmonic to produce an ultra-smooth sound -- the conductor's trademark -- yet their playing crackles with energy. The recorded sound has held up amazingly well, especially in this latest remastering. At budget price, this is a real bargain.
Gramophone
The real gem of the 1962 Karajan cycle was the Fourth Symphony...a miraculously poetic and fleet-footed reading that was sui generis. Karajan never played it like that ...
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More About This Product

Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble
This celebrated set, recorded in 1961-62, is generally considered the best of Herbert von Karajan's four Beethoven symphony cycles. His cycles from the 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s are also available. Karajan had trained the Berlin Philharmonic to produce an ultra-smooth sound -- the conductor's trademark -- yet their playing crackles with energy. The recorded sound has held up amazingly well, especially in this latest remastering. At budget price, this is a real bargain.
Gramophone
The real gem of the 1962 Karajan cycle was the Fourth Symphony...a miraculously poetic and fleet-footed reading that was sui generis. Karajan never played it like that again on record.
Washington Post - Tim Page
Karajan's recording with the Berlin Philharmonic on Deutsche Grammophon, which dates from the early 1960s, still sounds spectacular.... It is, if you like, a set of interpretations that sticks fairly close to the proverbial 50-yard line; there are no eccentricities and few surprises in Karajan's performances. But the recordings wear well -- and Beethoven himself offers enough surprises to keep us interested, time after time.
Penguin Guide to Compact Discs
Of Karajan's four recorded cycles, the 1961-2 set is the most compelling, combining high polish with a biting sense of urgency and spontaneity.... Incandescent performances, superbly played.

Karajan's recording with the Berlin Philharmonic on Deutsche Grammophon, which dates from the early 1960s, still sounds spectacular.... It is, if you like, a set of interpretations that sticks fairly close to the proverbial 50-yard line; there are no eccentricities and few surprises in Karajan's performances. But the recordings wear well -- and Beethoven himself offers enough surprises to keep us interested, time after time.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 2/13/1990
  • Label: Deutsche Grammophon
  • UPC: 028942903623
  • Catalog Number: 429036
  • Sales rank: 3,101

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (25:14)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
  2. 2 Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ("Eroica"), Op. 55 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (50:05)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
  3. 3 Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (31:18)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
  4. 4 Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (30:59)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
  5. 5 Symphony No. 5 in C minor ("Fate"), Op. 67 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (31:25)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
  6. 6 Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral"), Op. 68 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (35:50)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
  7. 7 Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (34:04)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
  8. 8 Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (26:22)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan
  9. 9 Symphony No. 9 in D minor ("Choral"), Op. 125 - Ludwig van Beethoven & Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (66:59)
    Composed byLudwig van Beethoven
    Conducted byHerbert von Karajan
    Performed byBerlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Walter Berry, Wiener Singverein, Gundula Janowitz, Herbert von Karajan, Waldemar Kmentt, Hilde Rossel-Majdan, Reinhold Schmid
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Herbert von Karajan Conductor
Berliner Philharmoniker Primary Artist
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Ensemble
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 10 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(4)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(2)

1 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 10 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    A Great Bargain on Great Music

    This is probably the overall best of the numerous excellent boxed sets of Beethoven's symphonies. Music critics seldom regard boxed sets as containing all of the best performances. Their "best" choices of a composer's work are seldom all done by one conductor or orchestra. However, if you are looking for a top drawer boxed set of nine of the greatest symphonies ever composed, this Von Karajan set from the 1960s is an easy choice, the performances are thrilling and profound, the sound is more than adequate. and the price is astonishingly affordable. Even if you have already compiled your own diverse set of the nine sypmhonies, this one is nice to have for comparison. Buy it! Enjoy it!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    40+ years and still not improved upon

    The one that is the Berliner Philharmonica and Herbert von Karajan in this 1962 set is unmatched in recorded music. One only wishes to have been there in person almost 50 years ago now as these still unequalled performances were crafted. The soloists in the chorale of the now tritely over famous ninth are the most powerful and wholly connected set of artists ever recorded for this piece. Von Karajan had the ability to bring artists to their apex as no other. The lesser symphonies are the stars as they were given the same loving attention as the 5th, 6th 7th and 9th.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    Definitive recording of all Beethoven's Symphonies.

    Though von Karajan recorded the entire Beethoven symphonies en toto, this first recording(1963) is by far the best of the lot. I originally owned this on vinyl. Though there is some loss of depth provided by the vinyl recordings, it is still a pleasure to listen to this. I highly recommend this grouping of full symphonies. Others have done the Beethoven series but von Karajan was a master and scholar of his music. It will not disappoint.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Wondefull father's day gift

    My husband love it!!!!

    0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Gangsta Rap

    My husband bought this set for me (at my request) for my birthday, at our local Barnes and Noble. It is not a pirated version - it is from Deustche Grammophon. It has taken me a couple of months to work through to the 9th, as I like to savor the music. When I got to the final CD - the 9th Symphony (my favorite) - it wasn't there! It was particularly pornographic gangsta rap! If you purchase this, make sure you check that last recording before disposing of your receipt!

    0 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 12, 2009

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    Posted October 23, 2010

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    Posted September 23, 2009

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 27, 2009

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 19, 2011

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Sort by: Showing all of 10 Customer Reviews