Beethoven Symphonies HIP

[amw]

I like Norrington/LCP the best, but you'll probably want to sample that one before you buy it. Hogwood is also v solid, but I heard lots of AAM concerts as an undergraduate and they probably conditioned me a little.

[Pat B]

Gardiner's ORR is a period-instrument group, period. I believe Harnoncourt's COE set is the one that's hybrid in terms of instruments.

I have Gardiner's and Immerseel's cycles. Immerseel's 5th is great (for once, we all seem to agree on that!) but the cycle is inconsistent. Gardiner's only weak link is the 9th -- which is also one of Immerseel's.

My recommendation is: get the Gardiner cycle and supplement it with a separate 9th. For readily-available period-instrument 9ths, Herreweghe on Harmonia Mundi is a great choice (his later cycle on PentaTone is with a non-PI orchestra). Since you're in Europe, and if you're willing to buy used, also consider Immerseel's outstanding earlier 9th on Sony, the one with the pale green cover. It's tough to find in the States but available for cheap on amazon.de.

All judgements are IMO and YMMV of course.

I have not heard Hogwood, either of Brüggen's cycles, or Norrington.

ETA: Having been in your shoes before, I know that this deluge of contradictory opinions probably isn't what you were looking for. It's good that you figured out that opinions vary widely. I started listening and buying about 20 years ago and for the first few years, I was under the (severely wrong) impression that the Penguin Guide was authoritative.

[mark7]

OK, thanks for the recommendations. Going by what Brian said (and also based on the samples I've heard so far), seems like I might indeed like Hogwood's set the best, so I think I'll pull the trigger on that one (first). Obviously each set has its strong and weak spots. I guess it's just a matter of compromise and win-some-lose-some then, right?

[amw]

Hogwood does have the advantage of being one of the only PI cycles that nails the 9th, as well (nb I haven't heard Brüggen and only sampled Immy, though what I heard didn't make me rave about it the way the rest of you seem to) so I suppose it would be my beginners' recommendation. You don't want a dud 9th in your first cycle.

[Gurn Blanston]

OK, thanks for the recommendations. Going by what Brian said (and also based on the samples I've heard so far), seems like I might indeed like Hogwood's set the best, so I think I'll pull the trigger on that one (first). Obviously each set has its strong and weak spots. I guess it's just a matter of compromise and win-some-lose-some then, right?

Mark,

Sorry I didn't get back in time to answer your post, but you got some solid info without me.

I agree with the things that Brian, Pat and AMW say, they don't sound contradictory to me! Your plan of starting with Hogwood seems just right. If I was going to supplement that cycle without buying an entire other one, by using interesting singles, it would be Herreweghe's 9th and Savall's 3rd, my personal favorite. The only way to get a nicer 5th is by buying the Immerseel box, but I gotta tell you, Hogwood's 5th is no slouch!  Hope you enjoy these, let us know!

[amw]

they don't sound contradictory to me!

Well, they're a little contradictory (e.g. Brian likes Gardiner's 9th whereas Pat dislikes it, I like Hogwood's 9th whereas Brian dislikes it... presumably Pat likes some other 9th I dislike to complete the cycle)

[Sergeant Rock]

Well, they're a little contradictory (e.g. Brian likes Gardiner's 9th whereas Pat dislikes it, I like Hogwood's 9th whereas Brian dislikes it... presumably Pat likes some other 9th I dislike to complete the cycle)

And I like Norrington's Ninth--which contradicts nearly everyone.

Sarge

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, they're a little contradictory (e.g. Brian likes Gardiner's 9th whereas Pat dislikes it, I like Hogwood's 9th whereas Brian dislikes it... presumably Pat likes some other 9th I dislike to complete the cycle)

That's just a healthy difference of opinion. I like all of them, so that is the bridge that connects everything together.  0:)

And I like Norrington's Ninth--which contradicts nearly everyone.

Sarge

...almost everything together...

[amw]

And I like Norrington's Ninth--which contradicts nearly everyone.

I like the first 45 minutes of Norrington's Ninth >.>

[mark7]

Mark,

Sorry I didn't get back in time to answer your post, but you got some solid info without me.

I agree with the things that Brian, Pat and AMW say, they don't sound contradictory to me! Your plan of starting with Hogwood seems just right. If I was going to supplement that cycle without buying an entire other one, by using interesting singles, it would be Herreweghe's 9th and Savall's 3rd, my personal favorite. The only way to get a nicer 5th is by buying the Immerseel box, but I gotta tell you, Hogwood's 5th is no slouch!  Hope you enjoy these, let us know!

Thank you and thank everyone here, your suggestions have been very helpful. Sounds like a plan, and I'll definitely let you know how I feel about the Hogwood set once I've had a good listen to it.

[Brian]

Next month. It's back.

[Gurn Blanston]

Next month. It's back.

Good, hope it's available/affordable this time around. Last time it was neither...

Thanks B....

[Que]

Next month. It's back.

And the bonuses, the violin concerto and particularly the Prometheus incidental music, are considerable!   

Q

[Gurn Blanston]

And the bonuses, the violin concerto and particularly the Prometheus incidental music, are considerable!   

Q

Yes indeed. I've had the VC for several years, one of my favorites. The Prometheus music will be a treat!

[Que]

The Prometheus music will be a treat!

It is in the Anniversary box...... 

Q

[Gurn Blanston]

It is in the Anniversary box...... 

Q

Guess I better dig deeper then. I haven't made it to the turn of the century yet...

[Que]

Guess I better dig deeper then. I haven't made it to the turn of the century yet...

Definitely give it a try, I found it a hugely pleasant surprise!   Blows Harnoncourt's effort right out of the water.

Q

[Gurn Blanston]

Definitely give it a try, I found it a hugely pleasant surprise!   Blows Harnoncourt's effort right out of the water.

Q

Haven't heard that one either; I usually listen to MacKerras' on Hyperion. Quite fond of it. MI, of course, but it's Mackerras, so that balances out.   

[asin]B0007XTNZ8[/asin]

[Brahmsian]

Haven't heard that one either; I usually listen to MacKerras' on Hyperion. Quite fond of it. MI, of course, but it's Mackerras, so that balances out.   

[asin]B0007XTNZ8[/asin]

One of my favourite purchases from 2013!

[max]

I wonder if most composers of the 18th & 19th century wouldn't in fact have preferred more modern performances had it been available. I can, for example, easily imagine Beethoven preferring Klemperer's version of the Eroica to what would only amount to an "emulation" of what he would have heard. We can call it an HIP but even that can be somewhat removed from what it sounded like in the original. In short an HIP may not have all that much HIP about it. If not true why are there so many styles rampant in that genre?