Beethoven – The Complete Works

Three competing boxes issued in honor of Beethoven’s 250th Birthday:Deutsche Grammophon is the most desirable of the three, but it costs more than the Warner and Naxos boxes combined.All three boxes contain basically the same major works.The DG box has more CDs because it features multiple performances (five recordings of the Ninth Symphony alone).Also: DG includes a large number of obscure and recently discovered works. Warner includes a much smaller number.Mostly curiosities, but I find them fascinating.And Naxos has even more of these than DG (see “Newly Recorded Rarities” below).The DG and Warner boxes feature world-famous performers.The musicians on Naxos are less famous, but talented and plucky (and work cheap).The design of the Warner box is the most attractive of the three: paintings by Beethoven contemporaries are reproduced on the jackets.But the documentation included with the DG box is miles ahead of both Warner and Naxos.Warner and Naxos each include one booklet.The DG box includes a hardcover book + NINE separate booklets devoted to individual genres.DG is the only company to include texts and translations for the vocal works - printed in the booklets.BIG PLUS FOR DG.On Warner, the largest categories are dominated by:--- Symphonies: Nikolaus Harnoncourt--- Piano Sonatas: Stephen Kovacevich--- Piano Trios: Barenboim/Zukerman/DuPre--- String Quartets: Artemis QuartetThe first three are excellent choices, but there is a problem with the string quartet.For this music, Warner had a choice of the Hungarian Quartet, the Alban Berg Quartet, the Endellion Quartet or the Artemis Quartet.Warner chose the wrong quartet for a Beethoven Complete Edition.Unlike the first three, the Artemis never quite got around to recording Beethoven’s complete string quartets.Sixteen string quartets + one individual movement (the Grosse Fuge) were published during Beethoven’s lifetime.The Artemis recording of the String Quartet in B-flat Major Op.130 is missing the final movement.Beethoven originally intended his Grosse Fuge to be the final movement of Op.130.After the premiere, Beethoven had second thoughts, excised the Grosse Fuge from the quartet, and published it separately as Op.133.He then composed an entirely new finale (sixth movement, Allegro) for the Op.130 Quartet.On CD, the standard solution has been to include both finales, and let the listener choose.Seems logical.The Artemis Quartet doesn’t think so.They apparently decided that Beethoven’s final thoughts were unacceptable and should be suppressed (not even permitted in an appendix).Why Warner Music went along with this is a mystery.This is one of the dumbest moves I have ever heard of in the classical music business.Beethoven Complete Edition?Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?P.S. If you buy the Warner box, you will need a complete recording of Op.130. I recommend Naxos:  String Quartets 8 / Grosse Fuge NEWLY RECORDED RARITIES:In 1969, for the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, Deutsche Grammophon issued the first Beethoven Edition on LP (reissued on CD 25 years ago).Beethoven scholarship has uncovered a lot of previously “lost” works in the past fifty years.All three companies claim first recording rights to a number of rarities (Naxos has the most, Warner the least).Exclusive to DG: 23 raritiesExclusive to Naxos: 111 raritiesExclusive to Warner: 5 raritiesCommon to DG and Naxos: 32 raritiesCommon to DG and Warner: 1 rarityCommon to Naxos and Warner: 17 raritiesCommon to all three boxes: 29 raritiesFor a list of “rarities” (and an explanation of “WoO”, Hess and Biamonti) see Comment One (“sort by “Oldest”).RECOMMENDATIONS (in order of preference)1) DG:  BTHVN 2020 - Beethoven The New Complete Edition  - best documentation and listener support.2) Naxos:  Beethoven Complete Edition [Naxos: 8500250 ] (90 CDs) - especially desirable for rarities and curiosities - special appeal for scholars.3) Warner:  Beethoven - The Complete Works (80CD)  - a basic set with a serious flawMISSING MUSIC:During Beethoven’s lifetime, five arrangements of his music were published that today are usually overlooked by musicians [Opus 17 was the work of Beethoven, the remaining four are the work of his students, though Beethoven made some corrections].--- Op.17 Cello Sonata (arrangement of the Horn Sonata with the same opus number) - ON DG & NAXOS--- Op.41 Serenade for Flute and Piano in D major (arrangement of the Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola Op.25) - ON WARNER & NAXOS--- Op.42 Notturno for Viola and Piano in D major (arrangement of the Serenade for Violin, Viola and Cello Op.8) - ON WARNER--- Op.63 Piano Trio in E-Flat Major (arrangement of the String Quintet Op.4) - NONE OF THE BOXES--- Op.64 Cello Sonata (arrangement of the String Trio Op.3) - ON NAXOSAlso missing from all three boxes is the second, 1806 version of ‘Leonore’ Op.72bSeriously different from the 1805 version, Op.72a.Blomstedt’s excellent Dresden recording of Op.72a was licensed by both Warner and Naxos.DG has an unsatisfactory edition of ‘Leonore’, conflated from 1805, 1806, and even the final version of Fidelio.[for more about the missing works, see my review of the DG box.]MAJOR WORKS:SYMPHONIES:---- DG: two complete sets: Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic (1962, BLU-RAY Audio) + Gardiner, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique (period instruments)---- Warner: Harnoncourt, Chamber Orchestra of Europe---- Naxos: Drahos, Nicolas Esterhazy Sinfonietta---- DG bonus: 25 symphonies conducted by Abbado, Bernstein, Bohm, Chailly, Fricsay, Giulini, Karajan, Carlos Kleiber, Monteux, Nelsons, Schmidt-Isserstedt, Furtwangler (mono), Erich Kleiber (mono), Scherchen (mono) + Carlos Kleiber DVD Video + single movements (mono) conducted by Nikisch, Strauss, Klemperer, Karajan & van KempenOVERTURES:---- DG: Abbado, Chailly, Fricsay, Klee, Szell, Gardiner (period instruments), Busch (mono), Furtwangler (mono), Klemperer (mono)---- Warner: Barenboim, Dausgaard, Klemperer, Muti---- Naxos: Drahos, Gunzenhauser, Segerstam, SkrowaczewskiCREATURES OF PROMETHEUS:---- DG: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra---- Warner: Harnoncourt---- Naxos: Segerstam + Beethoven’s transcription for solo pianoEGMONT INCIDENTAL MUSIC:---- DG: Abbado---- Warner: Masur---- Naxos: SegerstamWELLINGTON’S VICTORY:---- DG: Karajan + Beethoven’s transcription for solo piano---- Warner: Dausgaard---- Naxos: Lenárd + Beethoven’s transcription for solo pianoCONCERTI (5) for PIANO:---- DG: 15 recordings by 10 pianists: Argerich, Arrau, Brendel, Buchbinder, A. Fischer, Gulda, Kempff, Pollini, Zimerman, Levin (period instruments)---- Warner: Schiff/ Haitink---- Naxos: Vladar/ WordsworthCONCERTO for VIOLIN:---- DG: four recordings: Mutter/Karajan + Repin/Muti + Schneiderhan/Jochum + Zehetmair/Bruggen (period instruments)---- Warner: Perlman/Giulini---- Naxos: Nishizaki/JeanCONCERTO for VIOLIN arranged for PIANO:---- DG: Barenboim, piano & cond.---- Warner: Duchable/ Menuhin---- Naxos: Jandó/ DrahosCONCERTO for PIANO, VIOLIN, CELLO:---- DG: Chung Trio/ M.W.Chung cond.---- Warner: Barenboim piano & cond, Perlman, Ma---- Naxos: Jandó, Dong-Suk Kang, Kliegel/ DrahosFANTASY FOR PIANO, CHORUS & ORCHESTRA:---- DG: Pollini/Abbado + Levin/Gardiner (period instruments)---- Warner: Aimard/Harnoncourt---- Naxos: McCawley/WettonROMANCES (2) for VIOLIN & ORCHESTRA:---- DG: Mutter/Masur + Zehetmair/Bruggen in Romance No.2 only (period instruments)---- Warner: Perlman/Barenboim---- Naxos: Nishizaki/JeanMASS Op.86:---- DG: Gardiner (period instruments)---- Warner: Giulini---- Naxos: SegerstamMISSA SOLEMNIS:---- DG: Karajan (1966) + Gardiner (period instruments)---- Warner: Klemperer---- Naxos: SchermerhornCHRIST ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES:---- DG: Klee---- Warner: Wangenheim---- Naxos: SegerstamFIDELIO (1814 final version)---- DG: Abbado + Bernstein (DVD Video)---- Warner: Klemperer---- Naxos: HalászLEONORE (1805 & 1806 versions of Fidelio)---- DG: Gardiner (period instruments) - conductor’s hybrid of 1805, 1806 and even 1814 versions---- Warner: Blomstedt - 1805 version---- Naxos: Blomstedt - 1805 versionPIANO SONATAS:---- DG: Wilhelm Kempff (BLU-RAY Audio)---- Warner: Stephen Kovacevich---- Naxos: Jeno Jando---- DG bonus: 57 sonatas performed by Arrau, Ashkenazy, Backhaus, Brendel, Freire, Gilels, Grimaud, Gulda, Kissin, Kocsis, Kovacevich, Lupu, Michelangeli, Perahia, Pogorelich, Pollini, Richter, Serkin, Uchida, Rubin (fortepiano), Haskil (mono), Kempff (mono), Schnabel (mono)CELLO SONATAS:---- DG: Maisky/ Argerich---- Warner: Starker/Buchbinder---- Naxos: Kliegel/Jando---- DG bonus: Fournier/Kempff (3), Rostropovich/Richter (5)VIOLIN SONATAS---- DG: Kremer/Argerich (1-4) + Perlman/Ashkenazy (5,6) + Mutter/Orkis (7,9) + Dumay/Pires (8-10) + Menuhin/Kempff (variations etc.)---- Warner: Capucon/Braley---- Naxos: Nishizaki/JandoPIANO TRIOS:---- DG: Beaux Arts Trio + Previn/Mullova/Schiff + Kempff/Szeryng/Fournier---- Warner: Barenboim/Zukerman/DuPre---- Naxos: Xyrion Trio---- DG bonus: Staier/Sepec/Queyras (period instruments) + Levin/Hanson/Watkin (period instruments) + Gilels/Kogan/Rostropovich (mono)STRING TRIOS:---- DG: Mutter/Giuranna/Rostropovich---- Warner: Perlman/Zukerman/Harrell---- Naxos: Falvay/Fejervari/EderSTRING QUARTETS:---- DG: Amadeus Quartet (BLU-RAY Audio)---- Warner: Artemis Quartet - they play the Grosse fuge (later published as Op.133) as the final movement of Op.130 - but not the replacement finale.---- Naxos: Kodaly Quartet---- DG bonus: Emerson Quartet (early & middle quartets) + Takacs and Hagen Quartets (late quartets) + assorted quartets by Lindsay Quartet, Quartetto Italiano, Shuppanzigh Quartet (period instruments), Busch Quartet (mono), Hollywood Quartet (mono)

One of several sets of complete Beethoven in 2019 this is the one I chose as a balance between price and perceived quality so I cannot comment on the others but this one is excellent. Well packaged with a good quality box and nice booklet. The Harnoncourt symphonies are certainly a highlight of the set but my quick trawl through others of the 80 show that the quality of the playing and recordings is never less than good. I would recommend this without reservation.

It is possible to carp over recordings omitted but Warner has such a large back catalogue to choose from they cannot please everyone. I was delighted to get the Harnoncourt symphonies as I do not have that set. The obvious choice might have been Klemperer. Similarly I did not have the Artemis version of the quartets and I sympathise with those who complain about the missing finale to op130. Surely Warner could have included another ensemble's recording of that quartet as a supplement. But all the main works are top drawer recordings. The newly recorded items are also pleasing although the names of the performers are unfamiliar. I was particularly happy to get another recording of the folksong settings to complement the DG and Brilliant sets. Note the Naxos complete Beethoven includes the Brilliant folksong recordings. So long as, like me, you are getting lots of unfamiliar recordings this set is great value.But in my humble opinion it is not quite the last word on Beethoven 2020. There is one recording above all others I should like to take to the other place if I am lucky enough to go there. Sadly it appears never to have been issued on CD so you are going to have to search for a long out of print LP. But there are still some to be had. It is a Phillips recording of Ludwig's Irish settings by Frank Patterson wonderfully accompanied by Hugh Bean, David Parkhouse and Eileen Croxford.When I got to know the symphonies half a century ago I encountered the 7th last and was sorely puzzled. Where had this come from? But Beethoven was making his folksong setting at about this time. Surely the 'apotheosis of the dance' derives from Irish song! The pulse of a Beethoven.......

What can you say!!!! Absolutely brilliant value for money at approximately 80 pence per CD. Warner have really gone to town on these! Authentic sounds, beautifully boxed, excellent value, a lifetime of listening! Brilliant delivery service. My brother is one very happy bunny with his Christmas gift, which was delivered in excellent time! Thank you so much.

Having just received this box, I make no comment as to the actual recordings but will take a star off merely for the packaging. The slip on cover is very difficult to take on and off, particularly if one is regularly accessing the CDs. Surely, a folding lid would have been far better. I would imagine that most users therefore will opt to keep the box permanently open and store the slip cover elsewhere.

Excellent set of 80 CDs. Many hours of wonderful music from various Performers and orchestras. Joyful addition my collection.

Very gd value. What ive listened to so far is excellent

Excellent recording, beautifully conducted and well played.