Hello, it's Guillermo from statework.
Here is the rub. Although a plethora of performances exist of the Beethoven Nine Symphonies, both officially released and unofficially recorded, which of them have you played most often in your life so far? Alternately, which is your favorite. These two things can be frequently exclusive. Yes, I am trying to start a free-for-all.
My own two bits: After hearing most of the available recordings out there at least once over these 20 years of truly obsessive classical music-collecting behavior, I imprinted on the Karajan / Berliner Phil 1962 cycle. that is in the running, always, regardless of later constructions regarding personal taste. So that is the one I've heard most.
But the ones that I've really gotten impressed and pleased by? The spotty Paavo Jarvi and his Deutsche Kammerphilharmie Bremen folks do a great job of reinvigorating the majority of symphonies. It has too many swaths where I'm spooked out of the reverie by the loss of 'feeling', or gusto. Dunno. fun regardless.
Andre Cluytens and the Berliners is my dark horse fave. What verve, for the time, and a more complete experience... but comes across as still a bit creaky here and there. It is as if some set pieces were bound by tradition, another thing I cannot properly express but feel is a slight impairment.
To be honest, i never got over the whole southeast asian minor issue, despite Mikhail Pletnev's acquittal. I feel bad about that, because his Russian Orchestra's cycle was really satisfying. Still, not tops.
So. Immerseel and Anima Eterna are great but i red flag some of the overzealous tempi when I hear them, especially in the 6th. Another one full of superlative heights offset by maddeningly vain lows (but that would be just perfect for Ludwig Van, now isn't it??)
Ivan Fischer leading both the Budapest Festival and, at other junctures, the Orchestra of the Age Of Enlightenment have a cobbled together set from performances in the last 5 years that would take the cake. but for a clinching 9th, which it lacks...
The Ormandy / Fab Phillies Cycle is my favorite in the scratchy LP pressing I have digitized, but it may be abetted by the pops and jumps, and that nostalgic lagniappe brings with it a disqualifying sentimentality...
The Leibowitz cycle is a solid choice. All round, top 89% . no lagging below a standard. Yet, no sailing clear of the margins either...
Maybe I need to listen to the semi recent Bruggen/ Orchestra of the 18th Cen, and the Herreweghe with his Flemish forces, as they both have sway over me these past weeks. They sent me back into the perennial Beethoven madness, anyway!
HHmmmmmmm
So this is why
The Question in this post.
What do you think about your favorite ( or only ) Beethoven Cycle?
