Recordings That You Are Considering

[Haffner]

I have been following Wand's RCA set in this thread on another board. I have compared Wand to every other conductor I have in Beethoven - Szell, Karajan, Barenboim, Toscanini and guess who has come out on top by a fair margin for the first two symphonies?

Wand! The great recorded sound, and yes, balance between balls and restraint (or perhaps muscle and beauty) in wonderful! This guy knows his Beethoven and how to get his orchestra to play it! It will be interesting to see how the other 7 stack up, but boy, he's doing damn good thus far.

Hmmm..I know Wand Bruckner (from 7th to 9th all very well balanced.) But Beethoven...

[George]

Hmmm..I know Wand Bruckner (from 7th to 9th all very well balanced.) But Beethoven...

Oh, you were discussing Brucker. My bad.

My points still stand. Wand's Beethoven is neither wimpy nor overdriven. The tempos are well chosen, the orchestra plays very well and the recorded sound is excellent. I know, I didn't think Szell and HvK 63 could be outdone, but Wand absolutely beats them in the first two symphonies. I haven't heard the rest yet. Will report back. 

Here's a link to the Wand set I am referring to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Complete-Symphonies-Ludwig-van/dp/B000025TRV/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1206242668&sr=1-8

Or sample a later remastering of it here: http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-Nos-G%C3%BCnter-Wand/dp/B00005QHV5

[Haffner]

Oh, you were discussing Brucker. 

My points still stand. Wand's Beethoven is neither wimpy nor overdriven. The tempos are well chosen, the orchestra plays very well and the recorded sound is excellent.

Here's a link to the Wand set I am referring to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beethoven-Complete-Symphonies-Ludwig-van/dp/B000025TRV/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1206242668&sr=1-8

Or sample a later remastering of it here: http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Symphonies-Nos-G%C3%BCnter-Wand/dp/B00005QHV5

OO.

[George]

OO.

[Haffner]

(laughing) that meant "my mouth's watering".

[George]

(laughing) that meant "my mouth's watering".

Oh, I don't know binary code. 

[Keemun]

I'm sold, thank you so much! I didn't know there was a box set (opens another window for Amazon.com).

Andy, if you didn't already purchase the Segerstam box set, you might consider one of these for about half the price: 


Blomstedt/San Francisco Symphony


Maazel/VPO

The Blomstedt cycle is my favorite.  The Maazel cycle is popular (and costs even less), but I haven't finished listening to it yet, so I cannot offer a personal recommendation.  It was also recorded in the 1960s, in case you are looking for a more recent recording.  I'm not trying to dissuade you from purchasing the Segerstam box set (I have several of the recordings), just offering some additional considerations. 

[Haffner]

Andy, if you didn't already purchase the Segerstam box set, you might consider one of these for about half the price: 


Blomstedt/San Francisco Symphony


Maazel/VPO

The Blomstedt cycle is my favorite.  The Maazel cycle is popular (and costs even less), but I haven't finished listening to it yet, so I cannot offer a personal recommendation.  It was also recorded in the 1960s, in case you are looking for a more recent recording.  I'm not trying to dissuade you from purchasing the Segerstam box set (I have several of the recordings), just offering some additional considerations. 

I am a "fan" of Maazel (I love his Verdi), so now I'm torn (laughing).

[Renfield]

Walter did some fine Bruckner -- but mostly late in his career. Nothing compared to his Mahler (for obvious reasons, perhaps, given his biography/forming friendship with Mahler).

Objection! Walter's 4th is fantastic IMO, and especially the 7th and 9th are among my three favourite recordings of each.

His recently-released live 9th on M&A is probably my favourite Bruckner 9th, period.

[Haffner]

Objection! Walter's 4th is fantastic IMO, and especially the 7th and 9th are among my three favourite recordings of each.

I love the Walter Mahler. His Mahler 1st is a favorite, and I love the odd numbers as well.

[Renfield]

I love the Walter Mahler. His Mahler 1st is a favorite, and I love the odd numbers as well.

Indeed; I was just restoring his Bruckner to its (IMO) well-deserved place next to it.

[Daverz]

Well, I already have sets by Neumann and Thomson, and individual recordings by Ancerl (5,6), Turnovsky (4), and Munch (6).  But this new set looks interesting and got a very good review in ARG.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

My points still stand. Wand's Beethoven is neither wimpy nor overdriven. The tempos are well chosen, the orchestra plays very well and the recorded sound is excellent. I know, I didn't think Szell and HvK 63 could be outdone, but Wand absolutely beats them in the first two symphonies. I haven't heard the rest yet. Will report back. 

I'm a big fan of Wand's Beethoven, too, George, though I only have syms 1, 5, 6, & 7.

Wand might not be the "glitzy" choice in the Great Beethoven Symphony Sweepstakes but few can match him for his honesty, intuitive feel, warmth, and forward momentum. He definitely has a unique voice.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

...Barbirollli* [cough-cough]...

Yes, perhaps a dark horse set but Barbirolli's Sibelius cycle deserves a solid recommendation. It's slow in places but there's a conviction that brings it off admirably.

[jlaurson]

updated

Blomstedt another cycle I forgot that is good. Maazel was my introduction to Sibelius. At the time I thought it wasn't good... only in later years was I surprised how well it actually held up to the rest.

Here's a list of recommendable cycles, followed by slightly more 'questionable' or 'quirky' ones. Very roughly sorted (top to bottom) acc. to my personal favorites. [Some I have not heard - e.g. Segerstam I, Berglund I & III, Jaervi I.]
Note that "Berglund II", despite being next to 'last', is safely recommendable... I merely added it late.
Oramo's Sibelius (Erato/Warner) has not (yet?) been issued in a box. Davis III (LSO live), good but overrated, isn't out as a box, either... Davis II I won't include unless I have to. (I.e. to fill the fourth spot in the last row.)
I've found the Sixtus Ehrling/Stockholm cycle still exists (at least on German Amazon). Anyone have that?
Daverz pointed out the Rozhdestvensky cycle, available in Japan.

V. Ashkenazy I, Philharmonia Decca ~$40,- C. Davis I, Boston SO Philips v.1 ~$18,- A. Gibson, Royal ScO Chandos (oop) L. Segerstam I, Danish NSO Chandos/Brilliant ~$46,- N. Jaervi I, Gothenburg SO BIS ~$62,- A. Collins, LSO Decca (Japan) ~$44,-

L. Segerstam II, Helsinki PO Ondine ~$54,- C. Davis I, Boston SO Philips v.2 ~$18,- H.v. Karajan / Kamu, Berlin Phil DG ~$24,- L. Bernstein, NY Phil Sony ~$50,- P. Berglund I, Birmingh.SO Royal Classics (oop) J.P. Saraste, Finnish RSO Finlandia (oop) ~$60,-

O. Vanska, Lahti SO BIS ~$65,- L. Maazel, Vienna Phil. Decca ~$24,- K. Sanderling, Berlin Berlin Cl. ~$33,- Sir J. Barbirolli, Hallé Orchestra EMI ~$35,- (sale) P. Berglund II, Helsinki PO EMI ~$35,- (sale) C. Davis III, LSO v.1-v.2-v.3-v.4 LSO live (4 à ~$16,-)

H. Blomstedt, S.F.SO Decca ~$31,- P. Sakari, Iceland SO Naxos ~$36,- N. Järvi II, Gothenburg SO DG ~$56,- P. Rattle, Birmingh.SO EMI ~$34,- P. Berglund III, Chamber OoE Finlandia ~$40,- (Germany only) C. Davis II, LSO RCA ~$41,-

[Haffner]

Indeed; I was just restoring his Bruckner to its (IMO) well-deserved place next to it.

Can't wait to check it out. Walter is often a really inspiring conductor.

[Daverz]

Here's a list of recommendable cycles,

Some nice formatting there, jl.  I'd add the Rozhdestvensky cycle.

http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail/1424517

[Daverz]

Robert von Bahr says that this is the CD he'd want played on his deathbed.  Considering the man just had the Whipple procedure done, I don't think this is empty boasting.

I only have one Rouse CD, which I'll have to dig out of the garage.

[Harry]

Considering the man just had the Whipple procedure done, I don't think this is empty boasting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreaticoduodenectomy

[Dundonnell]

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,378.0.html