Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan – Beethoven: The Symphonies (1963) [Reissue 2003] SACD ISO + FLAC 24bit/96kHz

Karajan: Beethoven Symphonies (1963) is a set of studio recordings made in 1961 and 1962 by the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert von Karajan. It is the second of four cycles of Beethoven’s nine symphonies that von Karajan conducted, and the first of three for the German record label Deutsche Grammophon. The complete set was first released in 1963 in Europe, and as a result the cycle of symphonies is now generally known as the 1963 cycle.

The cycle is usually now presented across 5 CDs. It is available in 24 bit/96 kHz high definition sound on 6 hybrid SACDs that also containing a rehearsal session for the ninth symphony.

Herbert von Karajan recorded Ludwig van Beethoven’s complete symphonies four times, first in the 1950s with the Philharmonia Orchestra on EMI, then on three more occasions with the Berlin Philharmonic for Deutsche Grammophon. Karajan’s 1963 cycle with Berlin is highly regarded by fans for its consistent interpretations and energetic and emotional playing. Collectors usually rate this set higher than the 1977 and 1985 recordings, also with Berlin on DG, which have been criticized for being somewhat more mechanical in performance and clinical in sound quality. That said, Karajan’s Beethoven is decidedly a product of the mid-20th century, following conventions that tended toward homogenization of orchestral colors, broad pacing, and an exaggerated sense of the heroic, particularly in the Third, Fifth, Seventh, and Ninth. Before the advent of the movement for period performance practices and the wide use of original 18th and 19th century instruments, Karajan’s recordings were widely accepted as the gold standard for Beethoven, though the historically informed interpretations by John Eliot Gardiner, Roy Goodman, and Christopher Hogwood have, by way of comparison, made most of the mainstream versions of Beethoven seem heavy and stodgy. Listeners who grew up with Karajan’s recordings will appreciate this set, though they are likely to own it already.

Tracklist:

DISC ONE:
01. Symphony no. 1 in C major, op. 21: 1. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
02. Symphony no. 1 in C major, op. 21: 2. Andante cantabile con moto
03. Symphony no. 1 in C major, op. 21: 3. Menuetto. Allegro molto e vivace
04. Symphony no. 1 in C major, op. 21: 4. Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace
05. Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 36: 1. Adagio – Allegro con brio
06. Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 36: 2. Larghetto
07. Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 36: 3. Scherzo. Allegro
08. Symphony no. 2 in D major, op. 36: 4. Allegro molto

DISC TWO:
01. Symphony no. 3 in E flat major, op. 55 “Eroica”: 1. Allegro con brio
02. Symphony no. 3 in E flat major, op. 55 “Eroica”: 2. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai
03. Symphony no. 3 in E flat major, op. 55 “Eroica”: 3. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
04. Symphony no. 3 in E flat major, op. 55 “Eroica”: 4. Finale. Allegro molto
05. Symphony no. 4 in B flat major, op. 60: 1. Adagio – Allegro vivace
06. Symphony no. 4 in B flat major, op. 60: 2. Adagio
07. Symphony no. 4 in B flat major, op. 60: 3. Allegro vivace
08. Symphony no. 4 in B flat major, op. 60: 4. Allegro ma non troppo

DISC THREE:
01. Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67: 1. Allegro con brio
02. Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67: 2. Andante con moto
03. Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67: 3. Allegro
04. Symphony no. 5 in C minor, op. 67: 4. Allegro
05. Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: 1. Awakening of Cheerful Feelings upon Arrival in the Country. Allegro ma non troppo
06. Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: 2. Scene by the Brook. Andante molto mosso
07. Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: 3. Merry Gathering of Country Folk. Allegro
08. Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: 4. Thunderstorm. Allegro
09. Symphony no. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral”: 5. Shepherd’s Song: Happy and Thankful Feelings after the Storm. Allegretto

DISC FOUR:
01. Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92: 1. Poco sostenuto – Vivace
02. Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92: 2. Allegretto
03. Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92: 3. Presto
04. Symphony no. 7 in A major, op. 92: 4. Allegro con brio
05. Symphony no. 8 in F major, op. 93: 1. Allegro vivace e con brio
06. Symphony no. 8 in F major, op. 93: 2. Allegretto scherzando
07. Symphony no. 8 in F major, op. 93: 3. Tempo di Menuetto
08. Symphony no. 8 in F major, op. 93: 4. Allegro vivace

DISC FIVE:
01. Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125: 1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
02. Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125: 2. Molto vivace
03. Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125: 3. Adagio molto e cantabile
04. Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125: 4. Presto
05. Symphony no. 9 in D minor, op. 125: (4. cont.) Presto – “O friends, no more these sounds!”. Final chorus from Schiller’s “Ode to Joy”

DISC SIX:
01. Symphonie No. 9 – Probe/Rehearsal: 1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
02. Symphonie No. 9 – Probe/Rehearsal: 3. Adagio molto e cantabile
03. Symphonie No. 9 – Probe/Rehearsal: 4. Presto

Personnel
Gundula Janowitz – soprano (discs 1-5)
Hilde Rössel-Majdan – contralto (discs 1-5)
Waldemar Kmentt – tenor (discs 1-5)
Walter Berry – baritone (discs 1-5)
Wiener Singverein – Chorus master: Reinhold Schmidt
Berliner Philharmoniker – Conductor: Herbert von Karajan

Recorded in December 1961 – November 1962 at Jesus-Christus-Kirche in Berlin.
Remastered at Emil Berliner Studios (2003)

6xSACD ISO