The Wiener Symphoniker wrote music history with the first performances of works by Bruckner, Ravel and Schoenberg. And under the baton of such illustrious music directors as Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, Carlo Maria Giulini or Georges Prêtre they acquired worldwide fame for their unique Viennese sound. Considering its rich, more than a century long history, it comes as a surprise that the orchestra has never before recorded a full cycle of the nine symphonies by Ludwig van Beethoven which are widely considered to constitute the apex of the symphonic repertoire. This shortcoming is about to be remedied: Starting in autumn 2017, the Wiener Symphoniker will release the full cycle on 5 albumss. With a new album of the series to be released every 6 months, the full cycle will be completed just in time for the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven in 2020. The symphonies were recorded live during a critically acclaimed concert cycle in Spring/Summer 2017 in the Great Hall of the Musikverein Wien. At these concerts, the international press specifically praised Jordan’s approach to combining a traditional Viennese sound with a more contemporary, slimmed down interpretation of the material, original tempi and insights from the historically informed performance practice. Through a close reading of the score and by focusing on the content of the works, Jordan aimed to create – in his words – a “more natural, direct, humanised“ image of the famous composer.

Recorded in: Layer Marney Church, Essex June 1984 Producer(s) Brian Couzens Sound Engineer(s) Ralph Couzens Bill Todd (Assistant)

Chandos is proud to present the complete series of Beethoven String Quartets performed by the legendary Borodin String Quartet. The quartets which contain some the greatest, most enigmatic music ever written, are in the capable hands of one of the world's finest ensembles. The Borodin String Quartet was formed in 1945 in Moscow. Cellist Valentin Berlinsky was with the quartet since its earliest days and violinist Andrei Abramenkov joined in 1974. Igor Naidin learnt the art of quartet playing from several of the Borodins including the Quartet's violinist, Dmitri Shebalin, whom he eventually replaced. Leader Ruben Aharonian won prizes at several international competitions, including the Enescu, Montréal and Tchaikovsky. These artists provide a unique insight to these works. The individual volumes were highly acclaimed by the critics and this praised series is now released as a complete box set, at a competitive price and in attractive packaging. Some reviews of the individual volumes: 'Valentin Berlinsky, cellist and founding member of the quartet in 1945, has been waiting to make this set his whole career, and calls it 'the great dream of my life: to play all Beethoven's quartets from first to last'. A worthwhile dream. Each of the volumes in the set thus far have been invested with palpable love... the playing here is uniformly committed - and a joy.' American Record Guide Vol.3 'This redoubtable Russian group plays with all the powerful, focused tone you'd expect and brings out the entire wealth of Beethoven's colour in these fiery performances.' Classic FM Magazine on Vol.2 'We are given the feeling of a voyage of discovery, and of the players own enjoyment of the music.' Gramophone Vol.4

After a "sublime" (BBC Music) complete set of Schubert’s violin sonatas with Piers Lane, Tasmin Little joins Martin Roscoe in this recording of the complete violin sonatas by Beethoven.

In all, Beethoven wrote ten sonatas for piano and violin, and seems not to have entertained ideas for other works in this genre. All but one may be regarded as early works: only Op. 96, in G major, which was composed almost a decade after the last of the other nine, does not fall into this category. As a group, then, the violin sonatas do not offer a conspectus of Beethoven’s stylistic development such as we find in the string quartets, piano sonatas, symphonies, and even cello sonatas. But each work is a masterpiece in its own right, original, full of vitality, idiomatic for both the pianist and violinist who are equal-ranking participants in the ensemble, and executed with consummate compositional skill.

Reviews:

One is very much aware of two distinct personalities, each with plenty to say about this music. There's even a sense of friendly rivalry - and all to the good. Little's expressive style is generous and extrovert, Roscoe's at times more inward looking…this is an impressive achievement, and beautifully recorded.

– BBC Music Magazine

Little and Roscoe come across as being very attuned to one another. The particular brand of fantasy in the Kreutzer suits them particularly well, and from its Bachian solo-violin opening onwards there's a real fire to the first movement.

– Gramophone

Classical Music

Classical Music

When one thinks about Beethoven's choral compositions, one might think there is only one: the Ode to Joy from the 9th Symphony. But that is not the case! As the Deutscher Jugendkammerchor has impressively proved with this recording, preoccupying oneself with Beethoven's �uvre is more than worthwhile for any choir. Beethoven himself wrote a series of a cappella choral works, most of which are unknown today. Moreover, during his lifetime, composers had already arranged Beethoven's instrumental works for choir in order to express their veneration. The Deutscher Jugendkammerchor presents a selection of compositions from three centuries, including numerous first recordings. From Auld Lang Syne, penned by Beethoven, to a Kyrie by his contemporary Bierey after the first movement of the famous Moonlight Sonata, to modern song transcriptions by Clytus Gottwald - this album brings together secular and sacred choral movements that vary greatly both in expression and style. A discovery!

Already lauded for their ongoing Mahler symphony cycle scheduled for completion in 2016 on Dreyer Gaido, this first release of Beethoven's Third and Fifth Symphonies by Gabriel Feltz and the Stuttgart Philharmonic marks the launch of these same forces' Beethoven project. General Music Director of the Stuttgart Philharmonic from 2004-13, Mr. Feltz's extensive discography continues to show him as one of the outstanding conductors of his generation, and the orchestra as one of the most respected German ensembles both nationally and worldwide.

Beethoven: Early Wind Music

Beethoven Cycle, Vol. 9

The Munich-based Taschenphilharmonie (Pocket Philharmonic Orchestra) is dedicated to chamber symphonic performances based on Arnold Schoenberg’s "Verein fu¨r musikalische Privatauffu¨hrungen" (Society for Private Musical Performances), established in Vienna during the 1920’s. Therefore, this ensemble performs big scale orchestral works from Mozart/Mahler/Beethoven to contemporary compositions with just 12-20 high-profile musicians. The result is a refreshing crystal clear sound combined with multifaceted colors and the vitality from outstanding musicianship to produce the resonance of a much bigger orchestra. The Pocket Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor Peter Stangel have received several awards for their innovative concert formats and their educational work.

The Taschenphilharmonie, conducted by Peter Stangel, presents this outstanding recording of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. Ludwig van Beethoven composed this symphony between the 1811 and 1812. Dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries, the composer remarked at the work’s opening that it was one of his best compositions. The “smallest Symphony Orchestra in the world,” the Taschenphilharmonie is made up of first-class musicians who came together a decade ago to make music.

THE 10 SONATAS FOR VIOLIN AND

Beethoven: Egmont

In December of 2019, the NKB (Neat Kitamura’s Bank celebrated their 10th anniversary. To preemptively celebrate this achievement, a concert was held on October 20th, wherein Mr. Noriaki Kitamura conducted the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra and Choir as they performed Beethoven’s Leonore Overture, and his unforgettable Symphony No. 9. NKB is a nonprofit organization established with the aim of collecting and owning works of music, which they later produce and make available to the public. The purpose is to leave these works of art as true to their original versions as possible, and present them widely. Noriaki Kitamura comes from a family of musicians- his father is a conductor of an amateur chorus group, and he has two uncles who are also conductors. He studied first as a flute player at the Kyoto Municipal University of Art, and afterward studied conducting with Prof. Kazuwo Yamada. His performances, even from a young age, have always shown maturity and high quality of art.