Title: Ludwig van Beethoven: 9 Symphonien
Release year: 1963
Genre: Classical
Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
Artist: Gundula Janowitz (Soprano), Hilde Rössel Majdan (Contralto), Waldemar Kmentt (Tenor), Walter Berry (Bass), Wiener Singverein, Chorus, Berliner Philharmoniker

Description:

Of the four Beethoven cycles which Karajan recorded over the four decades, the present cycle is undoubtedly at the very top of the list. This can not be alone in the sumptuous sound. Rather more, in masterly fashion Karajan places more focus on the youthful freshness of the early symphonies, gets right to the heart of the drama in the Third, and allows the multi-layered Fourth to sound stringent and decisive. Powerfully yet without exaggerated, fateful relentlessness, the Fifth plows on the side of its triumphant C major finale, while the filigree expansiveness of the Sixth is not worth a sugary tonal painting. The Berlin Philharmonic present the Seventh and Eighth at a comparatively breezy pace, while never losing sight of the hidden depths of the score. Finally, we have the glorious sound of the agitated Ninth, sung by the stars of the day, who the Maestro leads are surely and safely.

Recorded: 1962 at Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin, Germany.

Tracklist
  Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
  Symphony No.1 in C, Op.21
1. 1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio 9:34
2. 2. Andante cantabile con moto 5:53
3. 3. Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace) 3:58
4. 4. Finale (Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace) 5:46
  Symphony No.2 in D, Op.36
5. 1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio 10:19
6. 2. Larghetto 10:35
7. 3. Scherzo (Allegro) 3:54
8. 4. Allegro molto 6:26
  Symphony No.3 in E flat, Op.55 - "Eroica"
9. 1. Allegro con brio 14:44
10. 2. Marcia funebre (Adagio assai) 17:05
11. 3. Scherzo (Allegro vivace) 5:44
12. 4. Finale (Allegro molto) 12:24
  Symphony No.4 in B flat, Op.60
13. 1. Adagio - Allegro vivace 9:49
14. 2. Adagio 9:55
15. 3. Allegro vivace 5:42
16. 4. Allegro ma non troppo 5:23
  Symphony No.6 in F, Op.68 - "Pastoral"
17. 3. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute (Allegro) - 4. Gewitter. Sturm (Allegro) - 5. Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm (Allegretto) 8:46
18. 4. Gewitter, Sturm (Allegro) 3:25
19. 3. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute (Allegro) 3:02
20. 2. Szene am Bach: (Andante molto mosso) 11:32
21. 1. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande: Allegro ma non troppo 8:57
  Symphony No.5 in C minor, Op.67
22. 4. Allegro 9:00
23. 3. Allegro 4:47
24. 2. Andante con moto 9:57
25. 1. Allegro con brio 7:16
  Symphony No.8 in F, Op.93
26. 4. Allegro vivace 7:12
27. 3. Tempo di menuetto 5:54
28. 2. Allegretto scherzando 3:54
29. 1. Allegro vivace e con brio 9:17
  Symphony No.7 in A, Op.92
30. 4. Allegro con brio 6:36
31. 3. Presto - Assai meno presto 7:48
32. 2. Allegretto 7:57
33. 1. Poco sostenuto - Vivace 11:23
  Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op.125 - "Choral"
34. 1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso 15:27
35. 2. Molto vivace 11:03
36. 3. Adagio molto e cantabile 16:30
37. 4. Presto - 6:23
38. 4. Presto - "O Freunde nicht diese Töne" - 17:35
  Symphony No.9 in D minor, Op.125 - "Choral"
  Rehearsal
39. Reheasal of 1st movement 8:23
40. Rehearsal of 3rd Movement 9:29
41. Rehearsal of 4th movement 11:23

Issued: United States | Deutsche Grammophon
Duration: 6:02:27