The new Chailly Beethoven symphony cycle....

[madaboutmahler]

My feelings exactly. He is more mature than some here who are probably 4 or 5 times his age.

But back to Chailly: while I probably won't buy this right away (much as I like Chailly), I'm interested in the comments.

--Bruce

Why thank you I wonder who you are talking about....

Yes, I think Chailly  is great as well. One of my friends used to play in the violins of the Gewandhaus and said that Chailly was her absolute favourite conductor to work with. If you're in England, I believe Chailly's live performance of the Beethoven symphonies at the Barbican Centre are being broadcasted on BBC Radio 3. Will be listening in to see what the interpretations are generally like.

[Clever Hans]

Chailly is very charismatic, must be the sexy voice. The samples are very impressive, as is his non-dogmatic approach and the particular cultivated sound of the orchestra.

When I was 14 I was blasting my ears off with rock music at absolute maximum volume at all times.
Honestly, I think I was cooler back then.

I think Harnoncourt is the best modern cycle, a thousand times more uniquely flexible, interesting and original than Gardiner or Vanska or Barenboim. It just has more dimension in every sense. I see the appeal of Immerseel, but find it a little too enlightenment oriented for Beethoven. It misses that dark spark that inspired a host of 19th century nut jobs.

[madaboutmahler]

Chailly is very charismatic, must be the sexy voice. The samples are very impressive, as is his non-dogmatic approach and the particular cultivated sound of the orchestra.

When I was 14 I was blasting my ears off with rock music at absolute maximum volume at all times.
Honestly, I think I was cooler back then.

I think Harnoncourt is the best modern cycle, a thousand times more uniquely flexible, interesting and original than Gardiner or Vanska or Barenboim. It just has more dimension in every sense. I see the appeal of Immerseel, but find it a little too enlightenment oriented for Beethoven. It misses that dark spark that inspired a host of 19th century nut jobs.

Thank you for your comments on those recordings, the Harnoncourt certainly also looks tempting, especially because it comes with the concerti/Choral Fantasy as well i think!

Was listening tonight to the live broadcast from the Barbican of Chailly and the Gewandhaus live playing Beethoven 7. Was an absolutely amazing performance, made me even more tempted into buying the Chailly sometime soon.... anyone who wants to hear this, it can be accessed through the BBC 'Iplayer' website.

[jlaurson]

Why thank you!

How is the rest of the Chailly cycle sounding, Jens? (sorry if I have your name incorrect...)

As well as the Chailly, Barenboim, Gardiner, Immerseel, others I am particularly interested in are the Vanska and Harnoncourt. I think the former was mentioned in this topic as excellent.
If I continue thinking like this I'll end up with another 20 Beethoven symphony cycles in my amazon wishlist!

Last night was 5, 6, and Corolian time... and the experience was eerie and scintillating and unnerving -- very loud on headphones that sound like speakers (very airy and one tends to hear things too loudly on them). But I'm afraid that may have been caused by extra-Beethoven issues and not necessarily Chailly's particular interpretation. (Which, even through this emotional distortion, seemed riveting.) Tonight I dare not try again but will continue with Egmont, No.7, Ruins of Athens, and No.8 instead. Certainly disc 3 did not contain a snoozer like No.4... although last night even that might have electrified me. :-)

[George]

 madaboutmahler - you have mail

And I strongly second the Barenboim set! 

[jlaurson]

Last night was 5, 6, and Corolian time... and the experience was eerie and scintillating and unnerving -- very loud on headphones that sound like speakers (very airy and one tends to hear things too loudly on them). But I'm afraid that may have been caused by extra-Beethoven issues and not necessarily Chailly's particular interpretation. (Which, even through this emotional distortion, seemed riveting.) Tonight I dare not try again but will continue with Egmont, No.7, Ruins of Athens, and No.8 instead. Certainly disc 3 did not contain a snoozer like No.4... although last night even that might have electrified me. :-)

Seventh was very nice.... as most of this set so far: bold, big, adventurous, and explosive... but all in luscious sheen. A contender, surely, if not exactly an instant "oh-my-gawd" set.

[Xenophanes]

Did I really say that? Meant 40. Jeesus.

I thought there was something funny about that! Beethoven was only born 241 years ago and died 184 years ago. You must have been thinking of someone else you knew for a long time.

Who did you know ca. 1371?

[madaboutmahler]

Seventh was very nice.... as most of this set so far: bold, big, adventurous, and explosive... but all in luscious sheen. A contender, surely, if not exactly an instant "oh-my-gawd" set.

Thank you for all your feedback on this set, Jens. Do let us know about the rest of it, excited about hearing what no.9 is like under Chailly!

[Drasko]

Who did you know ca. 1371?

Guillaume de Machaut, perhaps?

[DavidA]

Just listening to the Chaiily Eroica. Fast and furious in the first movement. I have come to believe with the Beethoven symphonies - like with all greatness music - that there is more than one way of doing it. But Chailly certain blows some cobwebs away - with hurricane force!

[jlaurson]

[DavidA]

Have listened to more of the Chailly box of Beethoven symphonies today. Tempi are certainly fast. But that is vitiated by the amazing playing of the orchestra and the stunning recording. This is a set which takes on certain aspects of period practice with a crack modern orchestra. Certainly no period band could play like this. The virtuosity of the orchestra is incredible. This is probably the most revolutionary set of the Beethoven symphonies with a modern orchestra since HvK in 1963.

[Brian]

Have listened to more of the Chailly box of Beethoven symphonies today. Tempi are certainly fast. But that is vitiated by the amazing playing of the orchestra and the stunning recording. This is a set which takes on certain aspects of period practice with a crack modern orchestra. Certainly no period band could play like this. The virtuosity of the orchestra is incredible. This is probably the most revolutionary set of the Beethoven symphonies with a modern orchestra since HvK in 1963.

Is it really, though? Thomas Dausgaard and the Swedish Chamber Orchestra inaugurated the trend of extremely fast tempos on modern instruments a few years ago, very quickly followed by Paavo Jarvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. But Chailly might be the first to use this approach with a full-size modern orchestra. Maybe. There was Vanska in Minnesota, but his performances turn me off: they're clinical and antiseptic, like a bunch of surgeons.

My copy of Chailly was shipped a few days ago, so I'll find out soon.

[alkan]

Another vote for Harnoncourt.        An excellent, refreshing cycle with no weak points.    I especially liked nos 3, 4, 7, 8, 9.   

[DavidA]

Listened to the Chailly 9th last night. Felt the last movement did not quite come off as the choir and soloists are somewhat distant and also the fast tempo he adopted for the tenor solo. But these are first impressions and I'll have to hear it again.