Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Ingeborg Wenglorová, Annelies Burmeisterová, Martin Ritzmann, Rolf Kühne, Prague Philharmonic Choir
Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Paul Kletzki, Josef Veselka
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Supraphon
Catalogue: SU40512
Release: 2011
Size: 1.57 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21
01. I. Adagio molto. Allegro con brio
02. II. Andante cantabile con moto
03 .III. Menuetto. Allegro molto e vivace
04. IV. Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace
Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36
05. I. Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
06. II. Larghetto
07. III. Scherzo. Allegro
08. IV. Allegro molto
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55
09. I. Allegro con brio
10 .II. Marcia funebre. Adagio assai
11. III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace
12. IV. Finale. Allegro molto – Poco andante – Presto
13. Egmont. Overture to the tragedy by Goethe, Op. 84
Symphony No. 4 in B-Flat Major, Op. 60
14. I. Adagio – Allegro vivace
15. Ii. Adagio
16. III. Menuetto. Allegro vivace – Un poco meno allegro
17. IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
18. I. Allegro con brio
19. II. Andante con moto
20. III. Allegro
21. IV. Allegro
Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68
22. I. Awakening of Cheerful Feelings upon Arrival in the Country. Allegro
23. II. Scene at the Brook. Andante molto mosso
24. III. Merry Gathering of Country Folk. Allegro
25. IV. Thunderstorm. Allegro
26. V. Shepherds´ Song. Happy and Thankful Feelings After the Storm.
27. Coriolan. Overture, Op. 62
Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92
28. I. Poco sostenuto. Vivace
29. II. Allegretto
30. III. Presto. Assai meno presto
31. IV. Finale. Allegro con brio
Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93
32. I. Allegro vivace e con brio
33. II. Allegretto scherzando
34. III. Tempo di menuetto
35. IV. Allegro vivace
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125
36. I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
37. II. Molto vivace
38. III. Adagio molto e cantabile – Andante moderato – Adagio – Lo stesso tempo
39. IV. Presto – Allegro assai – Alla Marcia – Andante maestoso – Allegro
Recorded between 1964 and 1968, Paul Kletzki’s respected cycle of Ludwig van Beethoven’s symphonies on Supraphon rightly should be classified as a historical item for specialists, rather than as a recommended option for anyone seeking a great (and great sounding) modern set. Kletzki was an admired and popular conductor, noted for working with both European and American orchestras, and his interpretations of Beethoven are intelligent and insightful, regarded by some reviewers as among the finest of their time; the performances are still valuable for their musicality and significance among mid-20th century offerings. However, these recordings predate the movement for historically informed performance practice, so fans of late Classical and early Romantic period style will find this set of little interest, and only traditionalists will be enthusiastic about it. These analog versions don’t compare well with the best contemporary digital recordings, and the sound of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra is a bit too homogenized and at times too muddy in this remastering to make the music fully enjoyable. Although the instruments can be made out clearly enough, some of their upper partials seem to have been eliminated in the reduction of tape hiss, and the ensemble’s overall sound seems a little dulled in tone as a result. Artistically, there is much to appreciate here, but this box set faces serious competition from later and better sounding alternatives.
Beethoven’s symphonies are among the cornerstones of the symphonic repertoire. They bear witness to the composer’s remarkable journey from airy Classicism to the peerless idiom he had developed on the threshold of the Romantic epoch.
Those who have taken up the challenge to record the complete cycle include the Polish-born conductor Paul Kletzki, who gained great renown after the war, primarily in America. He was the principal conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for a year and after his debut in Philadelphia went on to conduct the leading American and European orchestras.
This remarkable complete recording of Beethoven’s symphonies was made during Kletzki’s performances with the Czech Philharmonic in 1967, during the orchestra’s golden age under the chief conductor Karel Ančerl. This gem of the Supraphon archives thoroughly deserves the current re-edition in remastered form owing to its freshness and expressive depth.
Beethoven as explored by Kletzki – a legendary, time-honoured recording.