Klemperer Beethoven

This really was quite a fine recording of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, one of the best in years and easily the best of the early music recordings. The Choeur de la Chapelle Royale et du Collegium Vocale sing with strength and stamina, but also with grace and beauty of tone. The Champs Elysees Orchestra plays with power and precision, but also with unity of ensemble and beauty of tone, a very rare quality in an early music orchestra. And Herreweghe himself is actually an apt interpreter of the work. Not only does he have a knack for bringing out better than the best in his performers, but he actually seems to believe in the spiritual and sublime essence of the work, a very, very rare quality in any conductor these days.

It was often told from the past that the Recording with the Concept Hebows Vascular Orchestra is the ability to listen to the highest level of performances without taking into account for sound quality. However, in fact, there is a problem with the physical specs that are unique to old live recording and broadcast recording, and it is not often offered by other enthusiasts and when it comes to cleanperer, it has been widely heard as a representative masterpiece of plays that commanded the Philharmonia Strings Orchestra. While the fun of the magnified information that can be heard in studio recordings is unmatched, the Clampeller's music was originally more lively and powerful, with long time conducted in theaters and concert halls.

Beethoven · Complete Symphonies · Staatskapelle Dresden · Colin Davis
APE+CUE 1.7 GB | MP3 HQ (Tracks) 703 MB | Booklet | EASY CD-DA 12 | No Log | RAR 3% Rec | 1995

"There has not been a Beethoven cycle like this since Klemperer's heyday, or Bruno Walter's", "The sound is glorious, full and forward and beautifully clear," Gramophone.

It was as a supreme interpreter of the German Classical masterpieces, from Haydn to Richard Strauss, that concert audiences chiefly admired Otto Klemperer in the years between about 1951 and his retirement in 1972, the period to which most of his records belong. In Beethoven, particularly, he offered a granite-like orchestral sonority, and an objectivity in his balance of form and content, that contrasted refreshingly with the styles of such idolized conductors as Furtwangler, Bruno Walter, and even Toscanini. Under Klemperer the greatest Beethoven sounded more truthful and honest, and even more grand and inspiring.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Otto Klemperer s death, EMI Classics pays tribute to the incomparable conductor with the release of an extensive edition of 11 luxurious yet affordably-priced boxsets. The second edition of three is available this January. Klemperer Edition: Concertos is a 6-CD set presents a comprehensive survey of Klemperer s renowned conducting of concertos. Although Klemperer had primarily been contracted to provide orchestral music for the EMI Classics catalog there were soloists who benefitted from his presence in recording concertos.

From the Notes: This great affection, and respect, for the Viennese players would last all his life. 'I think', he once wrote with characteristic honesty to the orchestra itself, 'that the Vienna Philharmonic is better than any American orchestra. I prefer them to the Berlin Philharmonic. It is true that some members of the orchestra can be unpleasant. They are not easy to deal with. But it's wonderful how they play, especially the strings' (quoted in Klang und Komponist, 150 Years of the Vienna Philharmonic, Tutzing 1992).

At the end of the final rehearsal for the 1968 series of concerts, the Schubert/Strauss/Wagner programme, Klemperer (noted bassist and music historian Alfred Planyavsky in his diary) said: 'Gentlemen, before I leave Vienna, I would like to thank you for your understanding and collaboration. Making music with you was one of the finest experiences I have had.'

written by Mike Ashman 2004

Beethoven - Symphonies Nos. 3 & 9, Overtures (1992) {Karl Böhm, VPO} {2CD Deutsche Grammophon 437 368-2 rec 1972}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 687 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 345 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 29 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1972, 1992 Polydor / Deutsche Grammophon | 437 368-2
Classical / Symphonies

This is one of the greatest recordings of the famous Ninth Symphony. It has long been overshadowed by Karajan's three recordings for the same label, as well as Bernstein's version with the same orchestra. But put them all on your CD player and compare, and this is the one you'll be coming back to. Böhm was the least glamorous of conductors, but he approaches the Ninth with messianic zeal and a fanatical gleam in his eye. The opening movement is a cataclysm, the sublime slow movement never loses its contemplative flow, and everyone involved simply sings and plays the pants off of the finale. If the final minute or two doesn't pull you right out of your seat, nothing will. Grab it while you can at this "twofer" price. It's a steal. –David Hurwitz

This extraordinary set of live Klemperer performances should be in the collection of everyone who cares about Klemperer and his marvelous style of music making. Massive and often slow but always vital and alive, they will not appeal to everyone.

Otto Klemperer was born on 14th May 1885 in Breslau, Silesia (now Wroclaw, Poland) and died on 6th July 1973 in Zurich and hence next year we mark 40 years since his passing. Although disfigured by a stroke suffered whilst a brain tumour was being removed he became a world-renowned conductor whose recordings became and remain touchstones for the EMI catalogue.