Thielemann's Very Variable Beethoven
These are willful interpretations that - IMHO - say a lot about Christian Thielemann and, occasionally, something important about Ludwig van Beethoven as well.
The performances of the earlier symphonies themselves are episodic, to put it kindly. It's one thing to fail to successfully link the sections of a given symphonic movement together into a whole, thereby unwittingly allowing us hear the seams in a work. It's quite another thing to create seams where none previously existed. This is a real debit in Thielemann's overall approach to the earlier works, IMO, especially as his performances of the later symphonies reflect a more traditional and moderate (read: successful) approach to Beethoven.
In the plus column, Thielemann observes nearly every repeat in every symphony (except the 7th and the 9th - more about this below), and the Vienna Philharmonic sounds wonderful throughout.
On to the works themselves:
Thielemann has no love and carries...
An imposing set of large-scale Beethoven but a rejection of current period-aware practices
I have supplied reviews of the three sets this complete box draws together. This review, therefore is by way of a summary of my previous responses so there will be inevitable repetition.
This is, on the face of it, a very generous and tempting coupling of Beethoven's symphonies all on three discs. The recording company, C Major, is in my opinion one of the very best working today. As a result we get unfailingly excellent surround sound and high quality visuals with sympathetic and knowledgeable camera work. So what of the actual performances?
Thielemann is very much his own man in this important respect. What we have here is 'big band' Beethoven with a large modern orchestra. There is no effort made to reproduce in any way the sound world that Beethoven inhabited. The textures presented here are fuller and more luscious in contrast to the sparer and rawer sounds that 'authentic' instruments deliver. Thielemann favours a well upholstered sound world and for this...
Awesome sound quality and informative commentary
DTS MA sound quality is awesome. Huge difference from typical DVD recording. Very satisfied. The commentary, that is, the conversation of Mr. Kaiser and the conductor was interesting, educational and dynamic. You can enjoy the conversation and the music at the same time. Excellent programming. Highly recommend to classical music lover. New horizon open with bluray media.
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