the joy of Beethoven

June 30, 2009

Amazon reviewers comment on various recordings of Beethoven's 9th.....

I first encountered this recording in the Franklin Mint set of the 100 greatest recordings of all time, and I was ecstatic when I saw that it was available on CD.
This is a historic phenomenon. As you know, the orchestra is Bayreuth, which the orchestra of the famous opera house of R. Wagner. But this building was alomost collapsed in 1940's, because of Nazis!!...
Beethoven would not approve thsi recording, perhaps the performance.
Soloists are fine; look at the booklet and you will see the font size of the name of the soprano is a bit greater than the rest of the soloist.
The reason I put 4 instead of 5 is that there must be a better way of performace. I dont know if this has been achieved or not.
People drop things during the recording. Sometimes the brass is out of tune. I don't recommend this as a study CD.
For me this version is way too slow. I blame it on Wagner.

Beethoven recordings are like Lays potato chips. Who can possible settle for only one?
The timpani generally sound like dead pots.
The soloists are indeed powerful and joyous and amazingly skilled and just unbelievably competent... but the timpani do indeed sound like tin pots. Karma, I suppose.
Beethoven's quintessential masterpiece is performed with a rare and noble magnificents befitting The world's greatest composer.
Forget about this pop music and this rap, this music stimulates the mind and sole.
For all I know, old HvK may well have been a Nazi, but it certainly does not affect my opinion of his conducting, just like such things don't stop people from buying Mercedes-Benzes or Volkswagens.

If you want to feel like a newborn wonder child, free of all jadedness in taste, buy this version NOW. And this comes from a manager of a string quintet which stresses modern classical.
Perhaps the next lunar mission will be accompanied by this CD, to emphasize the magnitude of the accomplishment.
The French invasions of Napoleon was taking place and Beethoven thought that there was no better time to call for a brotherhood of man.
The scherzo was at one time used for the opening music to the NBC Evening news.
When I checked a copy of this CD out of my library and gave it some quality time in my Mirage speakers, I knew that Georg Solti was my new favorite conductor.
I won't bore you with my opinions on the various aspects of the performances.
Not everyone will like the earsplitting timpani thwacks that begin the Scherzo, but others will be thrilled.
Soprano Jessye Norman's wings always lift her to the rafters of even the most imposing concert hall.
The whole is quite slacking indeed, as if the musicians are reluctant to perform.
There should be many Beethovens in people's mind, and you may also like Solti's Beethoven.

Comments

Amazon reviewers comment on various recordings of Beethoven's 9th.....

I first encountered this recording in the Franklin Mint set of the 100 greatest recordings of all time, and I was ecstatic when I saw that it was available on CD.
This is a historic phenomenon. As you know, the orchestra is Bayreuth, which the orchestra of the famous opera house of R. Wagner. But this building was alomost collapsed in 1940's, because of Nazis!!...
Beethoven would not approve thsi recording, perhaps the performance.
Soloists are fine; look at the booklet and you will see the font size of the name of the soprano is a bit greater than the rest of the soloist.
The reason I put 4 instead of 5 is that there must be a better way of performace. I dont know if this has been achieved or not.
People drop things during the recording. Sometimes the brass is out of tune. I don't recommend this as a study CD.
For me this version is way too slow. I blame it on Wagner.

Beethoven recordings are like Lays potato chips. Who can possible settle for only one?
The timpani generally sound like dead pots.
The soloists are indeed powerful and joyous and amazingly skilled and just unbelievably competent... but the timpani do indeed sound like tin pots. Karma, I suppose.
Beethoven's quintessential masterpiece is performed with a rare and noble magnificents befitting The world's greatest composer.
Forget about this pop music and this rap, this music stimulates the mind and sole.
For all I know, old HvK may well have been a Nazi, but it certainly does not affect my opinion of his conducting, just like such things don't stop people from buying Mercedes-Benzes or Volkswagens.

If you want to feel like a newborn wonder child, free of all jadedness in taste, buy this version NOW. And this comes from a manager of a string quintet which stresses modern classical.
Perhaps the next lunar mission will be accompanied by this CD, to emphasize the magnitude of the accomplishment.
The French invasions of Napoleon was taking place and Beethoven thought that there was no better time to call for a brotherhood of man.
The scherzo was at one time used for the opening music to the NBC Evening news.
When I checked a copy of this CD out of my library and gave it some quality time in my Mirage speakers, I knew that Georg Solti was my new favorite conductor.
I won't bore you with my opinions on the various aspects of the performances.
Not everyone will like the earsplitting timpani thwacks that begin the Scherzo, but others will be thrilled.
Soprano Jessye Norman's wings always lift her to the rafters of even the most imposing concert hall.
The whole is quite slacking indeed, as if the musicians are reluctant to perform.
There should be many Beethovens in people's mind, and you may also like Solti's Beethoven.

Intermezzo