Telarc’s re-release
of their 1980s Beethoven cycle is very
welcome, although there are some drawbacks
which may deter the collector from investing
in the set. Last time it was released
it was on six separate discs, as here,
or as a five disc set sold at a discounted
price. This time, we are informed that
the six disc set is the only release.
Here is the first drawback – much of
the competition is now normally available
on five, usually making for a reduction
in the price.
With CD playing times
such as they are today, there is absolutely
no excuse for not compressing these
onto five discs, even allowing for the
overture. If the performances were superior
to all the competition, there might
be a tenuous excuse, but not here, I
am afraid.
Having despatched the
cost issue, there is also a slight concern
about the performances. These cannot
be faulted as they are technically almost
perfect, with the orchestral tone being
superbly caught by the engineers. Speeds
are almost universally on the fast side
giving a very lively atmosphere. What
I miss however is the sense of struggle.
With Dohnanyi, the orchestra is so competent
and tonally perfect that the works seem
almost effortless, as though there is
no sturm und drang; merely a pleasant
passage though the most revolutionary
set of symphonies in the repertoire.
I am more than prepared
to accept that others may not react
in the same way as I have, in which
case they will have a perfectly played
set of Beethoven Symphonies in superb
sound quality.
No. 1 and No. 2, coupled
on CD-80187, are lively and beautifully
played, complete with first movement
repeats, which is important for some.
Indeed, most of the first movement repeats
are included in this set; finicky collectors
can rest assured. Tonal blending of
the various sections of the orchestra
is absolutely beyond criticism. I can
imagine some listeners being bowled
over by the standards of the playing,
and the ability of the engineers to
serve up such a wonderful feast. As
these first two symphonies do not represent
the depth of feeling of some of the
others, my concerns outlined earlier
are unimportant.
The Eroica, CD-80090,
with a disc entirely to itself taking
only 48 minutes is not at all good value
for money. There is plenty of space
available for the First Symphony which
is how other sets normally couple these
works. It is quite rapidly played with
the listener appreciating once again
the standard of the playing, but there
is absolutely no sense of struggle.
Dohnanyi has so trained his band that
there are no hurdles in this symphony
too difficult, even in a very minor
way.
The third disc in the
set, CD-80198, couples Symphonies
4 and 8. The features of interpretation
mentioned earlier are clearly evident
once more. The quiet start to No. 4
is exquisitely played, but with very
little sense of mystery. Another very
fine disc.
Disc four CD-80145-2,
couples the 5th and 7th
Symphonies. These are what you would
expect after what has gone before, except
that there is none of the accurate and
bitingly direct phrasing one gets with
Carlos Kleiber and the Vienna Philharmonic.
As one might expect however the recording
is every bit as good. As part of a cycle,
this is quite acceptable unless you
want the absolute best. You only need
to revert to Kleiber if you are buying
these discs separately. That version
is worth every penny of the extra cost.
We then move on CD-80145,
to a fairly fast, but extremely
accurate performance of the Pastoral.
This includes the first movement repeat
and is coupled with the third Leonora
Overture. This offers an exciting rendition
of the peasant’s dance. The storm is
convincingly violent. The last movement
is fairly rapid, but not without a very
touching tenderness right at the end
of the work. The only problem is that
this tenderness appears artificial and
not coming from the music itself. The
overture is very well played, but at
56 minutes the disc is again poor value.
The last disc in the
cycle, CD-80120 contains the
Choral without any coupling. The Leonora
No. 3 would have fitted in easily here.
This is an excellent performance and
for this disc, the various sections
of the choral movement are individually
banded; useful if you wish to play "bits".
The soloists are all first rate with
the soprano and the bass being singled
out for particular commendation. The
choir acquit themselves magnificently
and this performance brings the series
to a very satisfying climax.
In summary, we have
in this overpriced set, perhaps the
best played of all complete Beethoven
cycles. It offers superior sound quality,
played by a superbly efficient and sumptuous
sounding orchestra in a believable acoustic.
Is it recommendable? Certainly it is
if you don’t mind paying over the odds
and provided you are prepared to settle
for a very cold and dispassionate take
on the Beethoven symphonies.
John Phillips
Carol Vaness (soprano), Janice Taylor, (alto)
Siegfried Jerusalem, (tenor), Robert Lloyd (bass)