Beethoven: The Symphonies
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Composer: BeethovenConductor: Osmo Vanska
Orchestra: Minnesota Orchestra
Performer: Helena Juntunen
Performer: Neal Davies
Performer: Katarina Karneus
Performer: Daneil Norman
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
Format: Box set, Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import
CD Release Date: 2009-10-27
Music Label: Bis
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 1. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio
- Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 2. Andante cantabile con moto
- Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 3. Menuetto. Allegro molto e vivace
- Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: 4. Finale. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace
- Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 1. Angenehme, heitere Empfindungen, welche bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande im Menschen
- Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 2. Szene am Bach. Andante molto moto
- Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 3. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute. Allegro -
- Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 4. Donner. Sturm. Allegro -
- Symphony No. 6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 5. Hirtengesang: Wohltätige, mit Dank an die Gottheit verbundene Gefühle nach dem Stu
- Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: 1. Adagio - Allegro con brio
- Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: 2. Larghetto
- Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: 3. Allegro
- Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: 4. Allegro molto
- Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 1. Poco sostenuto - Vivace
- Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 2. Allegretto
- Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 3. Presto
- Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: 4. Allegro con brio
- Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: 1. Allegro con brio
- Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: 2. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai
- Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
- Symphony No. 3 in E flat major ('Eroica'), Op. 55: 4. Finale. Allegro molto - Poco andante - Presto
- Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 1. Allegro vivace e con brio
- Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 2. Allegretto scherzando
- Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 3. Tempo di Menuetto
- Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: 4. Allegro vivace
- Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: 1. Adagio - Allegro vivace
- Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: 2. Adagio
- Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: 3. Allegro molto e vivace - Un poco meno allegro
- Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: 4. Allegro ma non troppo
- Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: 1. Allegro con brio
- Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: 2. Andante con moto
- Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: 3. Allegro
- Symphony No. 5 in C minor ('Fate'), Op. 67: 4. Allegro
- Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: 1. Allegro ma non troppo e un poco maestoso
- Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: 2. Molto vivace - Presto
- Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: 3. Adagio molto e cantabile - Andante cantabile
- Symphony No. 9 in D minor ('Choral'), Op. 125: 4. Presto - Allegro assai - Presto (recitativo: 'O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!') - Alle
Music reviews of Beethoven: The Symphonies
Music Review: The Best of Our Time? Definitely Outstanding
Rating: 5 Stars
The New York Times said these Beethoven symphonies by Osmo Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra "may be the definitive of our time."
Some publications gave these recordings the highest possible score for both sound perfection and performance. The sound quality is exceptional. The playing is perfection. I think the Minnesota Orchestra under Osmo Vänskä has an especially wonderful "voice" in the strings. Definitely buy this complete collection of Beethoven symphonies at this ridiculously-low price if you are new to the Beethoven symphonies, which stay true to Beethoven's score. Vänskä is not afraid to produce wonderful works that include both gripping power and a quiet stage when Beethoven so desires it. There is energy, depth and brilliance, but the "train does not fly off the tracks." Listen to the 5th on a good stereo. It begins with sublime articulation in the sections without being often over the top, and by the middle of the final movement the piece has an eagerness in the sectional voices and climatic energy. Although these dynamic recordings would be described as historically informed performances (HIP) as Beethoven directed, Vänskä's Minnesota Orchestra has a distinct sound. This symphonic sound is a different style than what you will hear from the big, romantic styles of Kleiber, Karajan, Fricsay, Klemperer, Furtwangler and Barenboim. The playing is perfection. Finn Osmo Vänskä is one of the all-time greatest conductors.
Here are some positive reviews of these recording:
**BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES 5 AND 4
"Here is the modern Beethoven recording par excellence..."
--Andrew Clark, London Financial Times, February 15, 2005
"My Beethoven CD of the year...a deft balance of tradition and 'period' inflexion..."
--Andrew Clark, London Financial Times, December 10, 2005
"The glorious explosion into the finale, the sense of triumph of light over dark, is as thrilling as anyone makes it."
--Stephen Pettitt, London Times, February 6, 2005
". . . the whole orchestra shines in majestic joy without appearing at all self-important. This is something that Mr. Vänskä excels at over and over here: creating a sense of impending event, then delivering even more than he promised... ."
--Anne Midgette, The New York Times, March 6,
"Yet another Beethoven cycle in the making? Yes, and it may be the definitive one of our time. Here is the first disc documenting the exciting work Mr. Vänskä is doing in Minnesota: the hook is less the latest surround technology than the exciting, involved playing."
--Anne Midgette, The New York Times, December 16, 2005, selecting it as one of the year's most notable CD's
"These are truly distinguished performances. On first evidence, this bold new contender in the Beethoven sweepstakes suggests that Vänskä and the Minnesota Orchestra can be ranked as highly as old favorites by Toscanini, Szell and Furtwängler, and certainly would be a good start for the beginning Beethoven collector."
--Michael Anthony, Star Tribune (Minneapolis), January 16, 2005
"Vänskä's Beethoven cycle begins triumphantly. It is quite an accomplishment to have music this familiar sound in a way that excites even a hardened record enthusiast."
--Jukka Isopuro, Helsingin Sanomat (Helsinki), January 2005
"Anyone wanting Beethoven symphonies in state-of-the-art sound should not hesitate."
--Misha Donat, BBC Music Magazine, March 2005, rating disk five out of five stars for performance and sound
"Fiery, elegant, bristling with character--this is impressive Beethoven....The Minnesota Orchestra are extraordinarily proficient: fleet-footed and articulate..."
--Richard Osborne, Gramophone Magazine, March 2005
"Vänskä's Beethoven is clean and transparent . . . these readings play up dynamic shadings and are rhythmically alert."
--Andrew Quint, Fanfare Magazine, March/April 2005
"These performances are as compelling as any, beautifully realized in every respect. Music lovers purchasing this remarkable disc will find ample cause for delight, and there's plenty that even the most jaded Beethoven collectors have never heard before, or heard so well."
--David Hurwitz, Classics [...]
"When I reviewed the Minnesota Orchestra's splendid retrospective set last year, I was impressed by how good the orchestra sounded in the more recent recordings. I'm pleased to report that it is still in fine estate and would put several of the "Big Five" to shame in head-to-head comparison."
--Lawrence Hansen, American Record Guide, May/June 2005
**BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY 9
Nominated for a Grammy Award
10/10 rating for artistic and sound quality
"...what Vanska achieves here is a Ninth built on a human scale, but one never lacking in depth of feeling....This probably is the finest Scherzo on disc."
--David Hurwitz, [...]
"From the very first bars of this new recording...we know we are in for an exceptional experience....this is a Beethoven Ninth for our times."
--Misha Donat, BBC Music Magazine, January 2007
"Vänskä, a notorious taskmaster, appears to have sent his players to rhythmic boot camp, getting them to knock out dotted figures with quasi-military snap. At the same time, he has total command of the emotional architecture of the work. This is some of the most vivid Beethoven playing on the market."
--Alex Ross, The New Yorker, November 20, 2006
"The orchestral playing is wonderfully detailed too."
--Andrew Clements, The Guardian, November 2006
"...this is the most powerful and exciting Ninth I have ever heard."
--John Sunier, Audiophile Audition, October 2006
"The Minnesota Chorale sings wonderfully, with spirit and superbly well-focused tone."
--Mike Anthony, Star Tribune (Minneapolis), October 2006
**BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES 3 AND 8
"And, boy, does the Minnesota Orchestra impress as a world-class symphonic institution.... This Beethoven cycle is shaping up to be as good as any from an American orchestra since Bernstein."
--Andrew Quint, Fanfare Magazine, January/February 2007
"The second in Vanska's cycle of the symphonies is a revelation because it makes you listen to these masterpieces with fresh ears. The best since Carlos Kleiber 's Beethoven a generation ago with the Vienna Philharmonic....My record of the year."
--Andrew Clark, Financial Times, December 2006
"It's becoming clear, two discs into the Osmo Vänskä/Minnesota Orchestra cycle, that anyone going up against the Finn and his Minnesotans will suffer a distinct disadvantage....Vänskä's [Eroica] on BIS is stunning."
--James Reel, Fanfare, November/December 2006
**BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES 2 AND 7
"Brilliantly engineered, utterly natural sonics in all formats provide the finishing touch on a Beethoven cycle that stands with Barenboim's as a modern reference edition, and that features a Seventh that just may top them all."
--David Hurwitz, [...]
There are many great Beethoven recordings to choose from. I also like Harnoncourt's Beethoven Symphonies with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, also historically informed performanced (HIP) -- and I simply really like the COE (and other great chamber orchestras). The Minnesota Orchestra with Osmo Vänskä is definitely one the best to consider, and the sound quality is great. David Perkins of the Boston Globe called the Minnesota Orchestra's Beethoven cycle "a great accomplishment, perhaps the most splendid American set since George Szell's with the Cleveland Orchestra in the 1960s."
**THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA
In 2010, Alex Ross of the New Yorker wrote, "For the duration of the evening of March 1st, the Minnesota Orchestra sounded, to my ears, like the greatest orchestra in the world." To be sure, there are several orchestras that are contenders for "greatest," if there is such a thing, but the Minnesota Orchestra is clearly in the same league as the big five and the top orchestras in Europe. The Minnesota is annually invited to Carnegie Hall, and in 2010 was the only American orchestra to be invited to the BBC Proms in London. Tour performances around the world have received mostly rave reviews. Osmo Vänskä is one of the all-time greats.
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