Krips: Beethoven – The Nine Symphonies (5 CD box set, APE)

Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Josef Krips
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 5 CD box set, Collector’s Edition
Format: APE (tracks)
Label: Madacy Records
Size: 1.33 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
01. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Adagio molto – Allegor con brio
02. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Andante cantabile con moto
03. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Menuetto: Allegro molto e vivace
04. Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21: Finale: Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace
05. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major (‘Eroica’), Op. 55: Allegro con brio
06. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major (‘Eroica’), Op. 55: Marcia funebre: Adagio assai
07. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major (‘Eroica’), Op. 55: Scherzo: Allegro vivace
08. Symphony No. 3 in E flat major (‘Eroica’), Op. 55: Finale: Allegro molto

Disc: 2
01. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
02. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Larghetto
03. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Scherzo: Allegro
04. Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: Allegro molto
05. Symphony No. 6 in F major (‘Pastoral’), Op. 68: Allegro ma non troppo
06. Symphony No. 6 in F major (‘Pastoral’), Op. 68: Andante molto mosso
07. Symphony No. 6 in F major (‘Pastoral’), Op. 68: Allegro
08. Symphony No. 6 in F major (‘Pastoral’), Op. 68: Allegro
09. Symphony No. 6 in F major (‘Pastoral’), Op. 68: Allegretto

Disc: 3
01. Symphony No. 5 in C minor (‘Fate’), Op. 67: Allegro con brio
02. Symphony No. 5 in C minor (‘Fate’), Op. 67: Andante con moto
03. Symphony No. 5 in C minor (‘Fate’), Op. 67: Allegro
04. Symphony No. 5 in C minor (‘Fate’), Op. 67: Allegro
05. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Poco sostenuto – Vivace
06. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegretto
07. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Presto
08. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92: Allegro con brio

Disc: 4
01. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: Adagio – Allegro vivace
02. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: Adagio
03. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: Allegro vivace
04. Symphony No. 4 in B flat major, Op. 60: Allegro ma non troppo
05. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegro vivace e con brio
06. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegretto scherzando
07. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Tempo di menuetto
08. Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93: Allegro vivace

Disc: 5
01. Symphony No. 9 in D minor (‘Choral’), Op. 125: Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
02. Symphony No. 9 in D minor (‘Choral’), Op. 125: Molto vivace
03. Symphony No. 9 in D minor (‘Choral’), Op. 125: Adagio molto e cantabile
04. Symphony No. 9 in D minor (‘Choral’), Op. 125: Presto – Allegro assai – Choral Finale

One of the great ones

This is a recording of all nine Beethoven Symphonies that could easily be overlooked, given its extremely low price, the gaudy metal box it comes in and its age. Don’t be fooled by these skin-deep elements, this is one of the all-time great records of these works. I first came onto them years ago when they first came out as Everest LPs. This, I think, was in the late fifties or early sixties. Since then, I have heard most other recordings, many of which are, of course, quite good. This recording by Josef Krips (one of the 20th century’s greatest conductors), with the London Smphony, has apparently undergone a few incarnations. Ever since I prematurely got rid of many of my LPs (including this set), I have suffered pangs of remorse, thinking I would never see or hear these again. Lo and behold, as I was browsing on line, out they jumped and I ordered them immediately and played them just as quickly when they arrived. Sure enough, they did not disappoint, after all these years. Although I also have the set by Walter Weller and the City of Birmingham Symphony, as well as The Staatskapelle Dresden conducted by Herbert Blomstedt, both of which I admire, Joseph Krips still tops them both, though admittedly by a rather slight margin in some symphonies. I have the understanding that in the fifties and sixties, the London Symphony was not at its best, however, one would never know it from hearing these recordings. Anyone who is fond of these symphonies (and who isn’t?) needs to acquire this set,gaudy metal box and all, before it disappears again. You owe it to yourself, especially at this price.