On Sat, 23 Nov 2002 08:27:33 -0800 skip Heller <velaires@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@sprynet.com NP - Schubert, Piano Sonata in E, D.157 - Arcady Volodos (Sony)