Karajan's last Cycle

[Michael]

I just bought the Brilliant Classics Beethoven Edition set for US$70. Not a bad price I think.. Anyway, I've taken a quick listen to the 1st Symp and it sounds promising... Looking forward to hearing the rest...

You got a bargain there. It's an excellent edition and it includes Kurt Masur's complete set of the symphonies.

[Preston]

You got a bargain there. It's an excellent edition and it includes Kurt Masur's complete set of the symphonies.

I can 2nd that, .

[firoze]

You got a bargain there. It's an excellent edition and it includes Kurt Masur's complete set of the symphonies.

Yes I thought so, I bought it without knowing that the price was much higher elsewhere, but at less than a dollar a disc I knew I could not go wrong, especially considering that the set featured some prominent musicians/orchestras. In any case there is much of LvB's music I don't have so this was a good way to get it all.

[atserriotserri]

Welcome Firoze - glad you found us. I think that it really is a hard job choosing a complete set and never more so with such a wide choice now available. For me Karajan's 60s cycle has always been his over all best but then you can find individual performances from later versions that are better (but also worse). Personally I wouldn't go for Karajan's last cycle, my preference would be Haitink and the LSO.

I have not listened to Karajan's last cycle (it is included in the reduced price DG boxset released recently that my brother bought me). But I think that my preferred cycle would be his '63 one.

Concerning Haitink/LSO, last weekend I was surprised when I listened to the 5th and noticed the really fast tempi (I had been listening precisely to Karajan '63 5th before and it called my attention); it's almost as fast as Gardiner/ORR actually!! But I think it reduces expressiveness and some nuances. What do you think about it?

[PDG]

I have not listened to Karajan's last cycle (it is included in the reduced price DG boxset released recently that my brother bought me). But I think that my preferred cycle would be his '63 one.

It was a beauty until it developed a puncture...

[PDG]

Ok, I admit, I've had a few beers...

[Peter]

I have not listened to Karajan's last cycle (it is included in the reduced price DG boxset released recently that my brother bought me). But I think that my preferred cycle would be his '63 one.

Concerning Haitink/LSO, last weekend I was surprised when I listened to the 5th and noticed the really fast tempi (I had been listening precisely to Karajan '63 5th before and it called my attention); it's almost as fast as Gardiner/ORR actually!! But I think it reduces expressiveness and some nuances. What do you think about it?

The Haitink cycle is on my to get list at some stage! I have only really read positive reviews about it and I'm not bothered by a fast 5th, having endured many tedious performances of this work - the worst in my opinion being Klemperer.