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Symphonies 1 & 2

8.22

Symphonies 1 & 2

4.6

Highest ranking 101

13 comments

$8.22

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David GarrettReviewed in the United States on March 24, 2005

The Beethoven symphony cycle is tremendous. Lost in the greater known works (i.e., Symphonies 3, 5, 6, 9) are the other gems such as 1 and 2. Karajan and the BPO do an admirable job of calling attention to these "lesser" works. Symphony No. 1, when first performed in 1800, received apt contemporary praise as a "magnificent artistic creation" despite some concern that the performance was too dominated by the wind instruments. Certainly not the case in this current rendition, as Karajan and Berlin delivers on another contemporary observation that "the masterpiece which does equal honour to Beethoven's powers of invention and to his musical expertise." The performance is Beethoven's but will remind some of Mozart and Hayden, whom Beethoven studied and complimented through much of his early work. Symphony No. 2 is played with equal aplumb, full of vitality and energy. Part of Deutsche Grammophone's 20-CD "Karajan Gold" series, the sound in this CD is excellent as are the liner notes. Hard to imagine a better recording of Beethoven's first two symphonic efforts.

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anton bliceroReviewed in the United States on May 5, 2021

used to own a lot of DG recordings in vinyl. this along with decca and emi (london) were the labels to own. karajan was DG’s main guy. fine and honest conducting not as emotional as some mehta ozawa previn great recording of the early genius

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Huntley DentReviewed in the United States on July 14, 2006

Karajan was old-fashioned enough to see little difference between early and late Beethoven style. He wasn't inlined to treat Sym. #1 and 2 as holdovers from the age of Haydn; they speak in Beethoven's mature voice. To some extent this approach is dated. The First in particular seems a bit lumbering under Karajan, and the Berlin Phil. feel constrained, holding back their power while still remaining at full force. (Abbado would drastically scale back the number of musicians in his cycle from Berlin.) The result is a proficient but rather joyless reading. The Second is another story. There's enough real Beethoven here for Karajan to allow his musicians to expand. This Second is large-scale and often muscular, even in the soft-hearted Larghetto. Again, not the true historical story but true to German tradition. In other symphonies Karajan modernizes tradition by being faster and leaner; here he doesn't. Thanks to Karajan's talents, his traditional reading is convincingly alive. In fact, unless you demand period style, this is one of the best Seconds to be had, and the improved sonics of the Karajan Gold edition surpass the sound DG produed for Karajan's two ealier versions form the Sixties and Seventies.

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wasReviewed in the United States on July 12, 2013

Finished off my von Karajan Berlin Phil. Orchestra Beethoven's 9 Symphonies collection...For Beethoven fans its a no brainer...I had Szell and the Cleveland orchestra years ago as a poor student, and then Bernstein and the NY Philharmonic later in life...but no one quite gets Beethoven like the Germans...

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Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United States on November 18, 2016

When it comes to Beethoven, you just can't beat Karajan with Berlin Phil.

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CSCHANReviewed in the United States on November 2, 2013

Classic early Beethoven symphonies! Great conductor, great orchestra etc and recording. I bought it complete my Beethoven symphonies and others collection

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PatrickReviewed in the United States on August 10, 2015

No problem ordering, Thank you,

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AnonymousReviewed in the United States on April 20, 2016

Have not listened to. I assume the quality of the sound should not be a big issue since it is copy of earlier edition of CD. However the printer of the cover just make you believe that the CD is not re-issued by the Deutche Grammerphon.

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Eric M.Reviewed in France on July 15, 2021

Les deux premières symphonies de Beethoven dans une interprétation de grande classe ou la référence à Mozart (N°1) et à Haydn (n°2) sont bien mises en évidence. Au commencement de la première symphonie, une introduction lente à la manière de Mozart et du dernier Haydn, puis un Allegro con brio. L’Andante cantabile semble inspiré par la 40e de Mozart. Le point remarquable de la première symphonie est évidemment ce prétendu menuet, premier scherzo de Beethoven qui rompt ainsi avec la tradition de ses ainés. Si la forme reste classique, le ton pour l’époque est résolument « moderne », beethovénien. La deuxième symphonie débute par une longue introduction lente, plus qu’à l’habitude, pour enchainer avec un très classique allegro con brio de forme sonate. Vient ensuite le Larghetto, « une des plus grandes réussites de Beethoven » (Michel Lecompte), pièce maîtresse de cette œuvre par trop méconnue, puis le Scherzo qui porte enfin son nom, et un Finale allegro virevoltant. Souvent couplées avec une symphonie plus célèbre ou même boudées hors des intégrales, ces deux symphonies se retrouvent réunies ici dans un disque et une interprétation qui rend justice à leur racines classiques et en même temps dévoilent tout ce qu’elles ont d’original. Une bonne introduction au langage beethovénien naissant et une grande réussite de la dernière intégrale des symphonies de Beethoven par Herbert von Karajan et les Berliner Philharmoniker. Technique : enregistrements de 1984 remixés en 1994 selon le procédé « Original-Image-Bit-Processing » de DGG. Il en résulte une image sonore plus claires, plus large avec un gain sensible dans la dynamique.

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Antonio NavarroReviewed in Spain on January 16, 2023

Excelente interpretación y excelente grabación. Karajan nunca falla.

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LauserReviewed in Germany on April 2, 2021

Klang sehr differenziert, über die Interpretation kann man streiten

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Paul S.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2017

Impressive, and a great recording.

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ジェイムズ君Reviewed in Japan on July 27, 2016

とにかく、細部に至るまでちゃんとしてますし、メロディーがよく歌っていて聴いてて心地好い演奏です。特に、2番はスキップしたくなるような喜遊性に満ちていて、こういう演奏はカラヤンの他に振れるのはムーティくらいかなあと思います。 ヴァントの晩年の1番2番と聴き比べると、カラヤンのが表現が柔らかく温かみがあります、ただ曲の構造をスッキリ見通せるヴァントの演奏も素晴らしいんですけど。