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This is a Beethoven Symphonies Cycle of the 21st century! Christian Thielemann and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra perform Beethoven Symphonies Nos. 1 9 incl. and each DVD includes a one-hour-long documentary for each symphony. Includes an hour-long documentary for each symphony where Maestro Thielemann and Joachim Kaiser (the most famous German music critic) discuss and analyze in an entertaining conversational exchange Thielemann's interpretation, complemented by excerpts from rehearsals as well as by comparisons of Beethoven cycles with Karajan, Bernstein etc. no aspect of Beethoven's symphonic uvre will remain unaffected! The Documentaries include legendary footage of performances from Karajan, Bernstein, Böhm, Järvi etc
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
To know my own reference recordings and my preferences re. Beethoven readings, please read my review of the first three Beethoven symphonies in Thielemann's cycle. As every reviewer should put his cards on the table beforehand, I did so there, but I don't want to repeat myself here. Thielemann's interpretation of the Beethoven symphonies is, in the finest sense of the word, traditional and informed by tradition. Despite the large complement of the--invariably superb--Vienna Philharmonic he strives for a maximum of transparency for the individual orchestral voices: the string groups, woodwinds, brass and timpani and, of course, the human voices in the Ninth. Thielemann does not employ the overwhelming and homogenizing string carpets of past star conductors: he knows only too well that each note and every detail are important. Regardless, one senses that he is fully conscious of the greater whole in every bar: of Beethoven's symphonic cosmos. His tempi are predominantly deliberate--notable exceptions: the two final movements of the Seventh and the finale of the Eighth--and everything is sustained by enormous strength, which, however, never lacks sensitivity. The three symphonies assembled here represent the best one could ever wish from large-orchestra performances. The Ninth is, of course, one of the cycle's high points. Film and audio are exemplary. The sound track does not appear to be compressed: bravo Unitel! The work(shop) talks with Joachim Kaiser are stimulating and reveal a good deal of Thielemann's approach to Beethoven and his liberties with some tempi. You will note that his podium persona has relaxed since the recordings of the first three symphonies: he still sports the unblinking animal tamer gaze and his wooden, though highly effective, body language, but his smile shines forth more often now. It is very fitting, given the long way he has come with the Wiener Philharmoniker--who play with utter devotion--in realizing this project. Even those who like their Beethoven lean and "authentic" should give this magnificent cycle a listen.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Picture and sound qualities are both mind boggling. The performances generally are very good, though I feel that the first movement of the 8th symphony should have been a bit more jovial;instead it sounds slightly confused. The acid test is the last movement of the 9th, and here all the soloists, chorus and conductor pass the test with honours. Christian Thielemann is an underestimated conductor who is almost unknown outside Germany and Austria. He is a very tall man (almost Klemperer height) who moves very quickly, so takes some getting used to. The analyses and discussions (1 hour for each symphony) are a most interesting bonus, particularly as they include video clips of other conductors performing the same works.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This review is based only on the performances as I have not yet seen the supplementary material. When I first started to watch/hear this bluray I was disappointed as the tempos seemed slow, very different from the energetic ones that recent `authentic' instrument versions have provided us. And Theilemann's presence on the podium lacked charisma and his manner is stodgy and eccentric compared to the aristocratic ease of Karajan or the electric energy and `sex appeal' of Carlos Kleiber.
I was reminded of Otto Klemperer's ponderous tempos and also his comment to a frustrated record producer named Walter Legge that he (Legge) would soon get used to the tempos. Within minutes of this disc, I `got used' to Thielemann's tempos, and though the sound he produces is not like Klemperer's (who had a different orchestra and a unique way with clarinets) it is very satisfying. I have the laserdisc of Kleiber's 4th and 7th symphonies and I find Thielemann's 7th to be as satisfying in its own way. He is slower in the first two movements but speeds up in the last 2. A tempo speedup in the middle of the final movement of the Choral Symphony also surprises but all in all, these performances in crystal clear image and sound, are so good, I have ordered the other 2 blu-rays with the remaining symphonies as well.
The 9th symphony is rendered as magnificently as I have ever heard, with every movement given its due - unlike many others which excel in this or that movement but don't provide a consistent whole. With this bluray, I was unable to 'fast forward' to the next movement - compelled to let the music flow, and this was true of all the symphonies. I have plenty of Beethoven sets - Harnoncourt, Gardiner, Abbado, Zinman, Karajan '62 and '77, Vanska on SACD, Klemperer, Schmidt-Isserstedt, Masur, Bernstein on LP, Haitink on Concertgebouw and LSO Live sacd, etc., and this bluray is as good as any of them.
I don't think I could listen to any period-instrument set after this, except the Harnoncourt which has unique delights.
I was reminded of Otto Klemperer's ponderous tempos and also his comment to a frustrated record producer named Walter Legge that he (Legge) would soon get used to the tempos. Within minutes of this disc, I `got used' to Thielemann's tempos, and though the sound he produces is not like Klemperer's (who had a different orchestra and a unique way with clarinets) it is very satisfying. I have the laserdisc of Kleiber's 4th and 7th symphonies and I find Thielemann's 7th to be as satisfying in its own way. He is slower in the first two movements but speeds up in the last 2. A tempo speedup in the middle of the final movement of the Choral Symphony also surprises but all in all, these performances in crystal clear image and sound, are so good, I have ordered the other 2 blu-rays with the remaining symphonies as well.
The 9th symphony is rendered as magnificently as I have ever heard, with every movement given its due - unlike many others which excel in this or that movement but don't provide a consistent whole. With this bluray, I was unable to 'fast forward' to the next movement - compelled to let the music flow, and this was true of all the symphonies. I have plenty of Beethoven sets - Harnoncourt, Gardiner, Abbado, Zinman, Karajan '62 and '77, Vanska on SACD, Klemperer, Schmidt-Isserstedt, Masur, Bernstein on LP, Haitink on Concertgebouw and LSO Live sacd, etc., and this bluray is as good as any of them.
I don't think I could listen to any period-instrument set after this, except the Harnoncourt which has unique delights.
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