On Sat, 23 Nov 2002 08:27:33 -0800 skip Heller <velaires(a)earthlink.net> wrote:
> the van karajan cycle of the symphonies on dg
> is great.
No dispute here, just a distinction: Karajan did three complete cycles of the
Beethoven symphonies, one for EMI and two for Deutsche Grammophon. Consensus
suggests that the middle cycle, circa 1967, is the one to have, and that seems
right to me. It's also quite inexpensive these days.
Szell is another good, inexpensive choice for the symphonies, though his cycle
emphasizes precision and structural clarity at the expense of the richer
fantasy that can be had in certain of the symphonies, notably No. 6.
If you have a chance, I'd strongly recommend you at least try to hear Roger
Norrington's period-instruments set from the early '90s on EMI. Try the disc
that pairs the First and Sixth symphonies (the first lithe, taut and playful;
the sixth rich in impressionistic elements) and the disc with the Ninth
Symphony. When I first heard Norrington's Ninth, I spent an entire week
listening to *nothing* but that disc. It's hard to find a recording that
better captures the sense of creation emerging from the void in the first
bars, especially in the rougher hues and timbres that Beethoven would have
expected. For the first time, I was finally able to understand just why Brahms
was so terrified of writing a symphony, and why Wagner declared the Ninth "the
end of the symphony."
Other suggestions for great Beethoven:
The Quartetto Italiano made an unbelievable cycle of the late string quartets
for Philips in the late '60s that to my ears is still unbeaten. Today it can
be had on two midprice double sets or, in Europe, a single midprice 3CD set.
The sound is incredible, as well.
Choices are broader for the middle quartets (the Razumovskys and the "Harp").
Right now the Italiano middle quartets are only available in a comprehensive
box of the complete quartets, more than some people will want or need. But you
can look reliably to the Juilliard or Budapest cycles. At full price, a new
set by the Takacs Quartet is sweeping many awards this year and looks to be
the beginning of a very promising cycle.
The Violin Concerto is a vital piece, and there are many, many versions to
choose from. I've got two versions: Jascha Heifetz's polished reading (he made
two recordings, an early one with Toscanini available on Naxos paired with an
incredible version of the Mendelssohn concerto, and a later one with Munch on
RCA, paired with an especially concise and electric reading of the Brahms
concerto... both are impressive and cheap) and Hilary Hahn's youthful,
impetuous recent version on Sony.
Artur Schnabel's seminal cycle of the piano sonatas is currently being
reissued by Naxos at super-budget price. The remastering (from original 78rpm
shellac pressings) is better than anything EMI ever achieved, and the price
absolutely right. And yes, Schnabel fluffs a note here and there, but few
pianists have ever brought such insight to this body of work.
Finally, another "don't miss" is a budget-priced 2CD set of all of the "late"
piano sonatas, including the imposing "Hammerklavier," performed by eminent
Beethoven expert Charles Rosen on Columbia Odyssey.
That should be about enough to get anyone started... without doing too much
damage in a budgetary sense.
Steve Smith
ssmith36(a)sprynet.com
NP - Schubert, Piano Sonata in E, D.157 - Arcady Volodos (Sony)
