Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Disc 1:
Disc 2:
|
Product Description
49th Annual Grammy Awards
Grammy Award nominated -
Best Classical Album
'Here are top-notch players palpably excited to be re-exploring these touchstone scores with a towering conductor.'
Records of the Year.
'simply masterful Beethoven ... Even if you already have umpteen other recordings of these works, you really owe it to yourself to hear this new set. It's a deeply satisfying musical experience'
Best Classical Album
'Here are top-notch players palpably excited to be re-exploring these touchstone scores with a towering conductor.'
Records of the Year.
'simply masterful Beethoven ... Even if you already have umpteen other recordings of these works, you really owe it to yourself to hear this new set. It's a deeply satisfying musical experience'
BBC Music Magazine (UK), January 2007.
'a complete confidence exists between the LSO, in magnificent form, and it's conductor. This disc is the triumphant climax to the series'
Performance ***** Sound *****
Disc of the Month.
Performance ***** Sound *****
Disc of the Month.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
141 of 147 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Beethoven's complete symphony cycles increase steadily through the years, from the early 1940's Furtwangler mono recordings, to the much cherished 1960's Karajan analogue stereo vinyl pressings, and now the digital versions on CD.
What's best is a matter of choice depending on whether the importance lies in authenticity in terms of both period instruments and accuracy of playing to the accepted `correct' score (currently the Barenreiter/Jonathan Del Mar versions), or maybe just sheer excitement in listening experience is of priority.
This set of recordings by the London Symphony Orchestra on their own LSO Live label has combined digital recording methods with a `Live' venue (London's Barbican) to produce an absolutely stunning version of the complete Beethoven symphonies.
In my view this set finds its way to the top of the ever-increasing pile for several reasons. The recordings are of a stunningly clear quality - even better if played on a SACD player - the performances are dramatic and enthusiastic but never succumbing to over-interpretation by the conductor. Bernard Haitink does the job to perfection. All the recordings were made between 2005 and 2006, each symphony recorded over two consecutive days, and although the sleeve notes state the performances are `live' there is absolutely no sign of audience noise so presumably there was none.
The highlights of this set are many, but for me the dramatic 4th movement of the 5th symphony and the entire 9th symphony are Beethoven played to perfection.
The CDs are presented in card sleeves in a compact box containing a 64 page booklet (English, French & German) with symphony notes, soloist biographies and photos, and a complete list of names of all the LSO players and London Symphony Chorus singers.
An essential addition to any Beethoven collection.
What's best is a matter of choice depending on whether the importance lies in authenticity in terms of both period instruments and accuracy of playing to the accepted `correct' score (currently the Barenreiter/Jonathan Del Mar versions), or maybe just sheer excitement in listening experience is of priority.
This set of recordings by the London Symphony Orchestra on their own LSO Live label has combined digital recording methods with a `Live' venue (London's Barbican) to produce an absolutely stunning version of the complete Beethoven symphonies.
In my view this set finds its way to the top of the ever-increasing pile for several reasons. The recordings are of a stunningly clear quality - even better if played on a SACD player - the performances are dramatic and enthusiastic but never succumbing to over-interpretation by the conductor. Bernard Haitink does the job to perfection. All the recordings were made between 2005 and 2006, each symphony recorded over two consecutive days, and although the sleeve notes state the performances are `live' there is absolutely no sign of audience noise so presumably there was none.
The highlights of this set are many, but for me the dramatic 4th movement of the 5th symphony and the entire 9th symphony are Beethoven played to perfection.
The CDs are presented in card sleeves in a compact box containing a 64 page booklet (English, French & German) with symphony notes, soloist biographies and photos, and a complete list of names of all the LSO players and London Symphony Chorus singers.
An essential addition to any Beethoven collection.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I am very very impressed with this cd boxed set. I have not listened to many different versions of these symphonies, so I am not really qualified to say whether the interpretation is superior/inferior to other recordings. However I am an experienced music listener and can confirm that these are great recordings. The actual recording quality is really superb-as other reviewers said, you can hear every instrument and the sound is very powerful, crisp and transparent. Also the presentation of the set is superb-a generous booklet and good photos on the individual wallets make this a really classy set. I felt a bit guilty buying it for myself! Had I known it was going to be so nice I would have saved it for a birthday/christmas present. If you have relatives that are into classical music I'm sure this would make a great (and affordable) present for them. I'm planning to buy another copy for my dad's birthday. Highly recommended.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is one of the great modern Beethoven sets. Haitink has completely rethought his interpretations to produce one of the most joyous and energetic Beethoven performances on disc. Highlights are Nos. 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 in particular, with No. 9 only just failing to reproduce the apocalyptic energy of Haitink's live performance, mainly due to the sound quality.
I'm normally not a Haitink fan - too often I find his interpretations worthy but a bit stodgy and lacking in energy and excitement. This is exactly the opposite - one of the most consistently exciting Beethoven recordings on CD.
I'm normally not a Haitink fan - too often I find his interpretations worthy but a bit stodgy and lacking in energy and excitement. This is exactly the opposite - one of the most consistently exciting Beethoven recordings on CD.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Superb!
If you are looking for Beethoven in the crystal clear high definition studio audio quality that SACD offers, best that you take a listen to Bertrand de Billy's interpretation of... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Johan
Four good choices
The London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, Beethoven and hybrid SACD: a splendid combination. Although I had several symphonies on CD already, this box is now my default... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Plons
Interesting, but too dry and too fast
Haitink and LSO are delivering one of the best recordings of the Beethoven symphonies in recent years.
It has clarity, drive and some superb playing. Read more
It has clarity, drive and some superb playing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Per Arne Rudberg
Disappointing Beethoven
I read with interest SAF's comments (23rd February) and I have to totally agree about the sound quality. Read more
Published 1 month ago by rob greaves
It's Beethoven Jim, but...
It's difficult to give out stars here, I'm no cosmologist. There are reviews here and on the net testifying to the musical merits or otherwise of these versions of the Beethoven... Read more
Published 2 months ago by droflim
Odd Sound Quality
A previous reviewer commented on the odd sound quality of these recordings,he's absolutely right.I read somewhere that a characteristic of the Barbican is a "dry" sound,this is... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ida Henman
Very disappointed
I had high hopes for this set but was very disappointed upon listening. The cause of my disappointment was the rather odd sound quality of the recording - dry, shut in, gutless - I... Read more
Published 3 months ago by SAF
Stunning performance and great sound on SACD
I'm by no means a connoisseur when it comes to classical music but I do know good and great performances when I hear them, me being a musician myself. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dolly Dagger
excellent
I am not a musician or an expewrt, but the sound and the arrangment of all symphonies are wonderfull...in fact, even more expressive than the Karajan ones.
All are fantastic. Read more
All are fantastic. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Pedro Maria Tapia Andres
An excellent interpretation
This is an excellent and modern interpretation. The SACD recording is first rate too. Highly recommended and something of a bargain.
Published 6 months ago by Mooly
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
