Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Masur – Beethoven: Complete Symphonies (2015) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Kurt Masur – Beethoven: Complete Symphonies (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 05:53:45 minutes | 11,55 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Victor Entertainment

These symphonies were originally recorded for Philips in 1972 (Nos. 4, 5 & 7), 1973 (Nos. 3 & 6) and 1974 (Nos. 1, 2, 8 & 9). In general the readings are solid, middle-of-the-road affairs, with good sound for their day, but not up-close and as vivid as the state-of-recordings today. Probably the greatest strength of the set is its consistency of approach: Masur does not impose his personality on the music, preferring instead to present rather straightforward performances and let the music speak for itself. And, as we all know, this music can speak for itself quite boldly – listening after listening.

Among the strongest performances here are #4, where tempos seem perfect and the orchestra plays with such vitality and spirit. #6, too, is quite fine, even if tempos are bit more relaxed than I generally prefer. The Ninth is interesting, the one performance here in which Masur pulls tempos about somewhat (try the finale), but to generally good effect. His soloists aren’t the biggest names, but they do just fine and so does the chorus.

The Eroica is good, again a bit relaxed in approach, but Masur eschews the first movement repeat, a fatal flaw for some listeners. To me, this once-common abridgement does not ruin a performance, but the structure of the whole first movement shifts out of balance, the weight tilting toward the development and reprise, leaving the single exposition unable to uphold its end. The Fifth is solidly conceived and well played, but could have more tension and drive. –Robert Cummings, Classical Net

Tracklist:

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Disc#1
Symphony No. 1 in C major Op. 21
1. Adagio molto-allegro con brio 9:05
2. Andante cantabile con moto 8:45
3. Menuetto 3:40
4. Finale: adagio-allegro molto e vivace 5:55
Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 36
5. Adagio molto-allegro con brio 13:10
6. Larghetto 13:08
7. Scherzo 3:50
8. Allegro molto 6:46
Symphony No. 3 in E flat major Op. 55 ‘Eroica’
9. Allegro con brio 15:27
10. Marcia funebre 16:08
11. Scherzo 5:56
12. Finale 12:12

Disc#2
Symphony No. 4 in B flat major Op. 60
1. Adagio-allegro vivace 11:52
2. Adagio 10:15
3. Allegro vivace 6:02
4. Allegro ma non troppo 6:59
Symphony No. 5 in C minor Op. 67
5. Allegro con brio 8:11
6. Andante con moto 10:11
7. Allegro 5:31
8. Allegro 9:06
Symphony No. 6 in F major Op. 68 ‘Pastoral’
9. Allegro ma non troppo 12:55
10. Andante molto moso 12:43
11. Allegro 5:45
12. Allegro 3:38
13. Allegretto 9:02

Disc#3
Symphony No. 7 in A major Op. 92
1. Poco sostenuto-vivace 12:03
2. Allegretto 8:34
3. Presto-assai meno presto 8:43
4. Allegro con brio 6:41
Symphony No. 8 in F major Op. 93
5. Allegro vivace e con brio 10:08
6. Allegretto scherzando 4:25
7. Tempo di Menuetto 4:36
8. Allegro vivace 7:38
Symphony No. 9 in D minor Op. 125 ‘Choral’
9. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso 16:01
10. Scherzo, molto vivace 14:05
11. Adagio molto e cantabile 14:37
12. Presto – Allegro assai 23:30

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