Herbert Kegel is still revered in Japan as one of the most important conductors of the 20th century. By contrast, maestro Kegel has always been regarded with a certain skepticism in his home country. For this reason, Kegel’s name today also stands as a warning as to what damage the so-called ‘music business’ and state-regulated cultural policies may do. His interpretations are characterized by immensely painstaking precision, transparency and listenability. The list of exploits can be continued, including, undoubtedly, the first Beethoven cycle in digital technology. It can also be heard in this release. Kegel’s slow tempi are initially surprising, but they have an effect: the poetry and clarity of Beethoven’s scores have rarely shown to more advantage. Made between 1982 and 1986, these recordings not only include Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies, but also works by Elgar, Stravinsky, Schmidt, Gluck, and more, showing a well-rounded and extraordinarily talented interpreter.

REVIEW:

German conductor Herbert Kegel (1920-1990) was highly respected for his promotion of music by contemporary composers including Orff, Penderecki, Schoenberg, Nono, Dallapiccola, Dessau, and Britten. From 1949 to 1978 he was associated with the Leipzig Radio Orchestra, and in 1977 was appointed principal conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic. It is sad that his life was plagued with depression, and in 1990 at the height of his career, he committed suicide, a tragic loss for the musical world. He made some major recordings including Carmina Burana and other works of Carl Orff, all of which, fortunately, are still available. This intriguing new budget-priced 8-CD set offers performances recorded during Kegel’s final decade. We have all of the Beethoven symphonies plus the “Triple” concerto and Choral Fantasy, the Brahms German Requiem, and a collection of 13 varied, brief miscellaneous works. Names of the many soloists probably will be new to most listeners, but all are first-class. This is an important historic issue, and its super-budget price makes it even more attractive.

-- ClassicalCDReview.com (Robert E. Benson)