BBC Classics - Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F Major "Pastoral" Op. 68; Egmont Overture Op. 84; Romance for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 in F Major Op. 50

On this CD:

1. Egmont, incidental music, Op. 84 Overture
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Hugh Bean, Sir Adrian Boult

2. Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus (The Creatures of Prometheus), ballet, Op. 43 Overture
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Hugh Bean, Sir Adrian Boult

3. Symphony No. 6 in F major ("Pastoral") Op. 68
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Hugh Bean, Sir Adrian Boult

4. Romance for violin & orchestra No. 2 in F major, Op. 50
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Hugh Bean, Sir Adrian Boult

Tracks:

Ov: Egmont, Op.84
Ov: Die Geschopfe des Prometheus, Op.43
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': I. Allegro ma non troppo
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': II. Andante molto mosso
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': III. Allegro
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': IV. Allegro
Sym No.6 in F, Op.68 'Pastoral': V. Allegretto
Romance for Vn & Orch No.2 in F, Op.50 - Hugh Bean

Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Arturo Toscanini

Average customer rating:

A worthy testimony to a legend, despite the antique sonics
Great conducting; Poor Processing

Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Arturo Toscanini
Antonin Dvorak , Giacomo Puccini , Johannes Brahms , Richard Wagner , Ludwig van Beethoven , Vincenzo Bellini , Arturo Toscanini , Peter Wilhovsky Chorus , NBC Symphony Orchestra , and BBC Symphony Orchestra
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Fritz Reiner
Great Conductors of the 20th Century: Herbert von Karajan

ASIN: B00022UTPC
Release Date: 2004-07-27

Tracks:

Adagio Sostenuto - Allegro Assai
I Allegro Non Troppo
II Andante Moderato
III Allegro Giocoso - Poco Meno Presto - Tempo I
IV Allegro Energico E Passionato - Piu Allegro
Symphonic Variations, Op.78
Intermezzo From Act III

Tracks:

Ouverture
I Erwachen Heiterer Empfindungen Bei Der Ankunft Auf Dem Lande
II Szene Am Bach
III Lustiges Zusammensein Der Landleute
IV Gewitter - Sturm
V Hirtengesang. Frohe Und Dankbare Gefuhle Nach Dem Sturm
Gotterdammerung: Brunnhildes Opfer Und Erlosung
Norma: Introduction Chorus And Cavatina - Nicola Moscona

Customer Reviews:

A worthy testimony to a legend, despite the antique sonics.......2006-05-22

It was unthinkable when I was young that anyone but Toscanini could be synonymous with "maestro," but evolving technology and changing tastes have dimmed his supreme reputation. The rise of Bernstein and Karajan brought new glamur to the podium, and the resurrection of Furtwangler from post-Nazi neglect gave us a musician whose inspiration exceeded Toscanini's. Now, even though the bulk of his recordings are still available, Toscanini stands in the front rank of great historical figures rather than among those whose musicmaking sitll feels fully alive (this is only a gneralization; there are some Toscanini performances that will thrill listeners forever).

This installment in the Great Conductors of the Century series does Toscanini full justice, I think. We hear the passion and razor-sharp precision that so astonished early audiences, but also the tendency to be too strict with the beat, too heated and rushed in phrasing. The highlight of this 2-CD colleciton is a live 1948 Brahms Fourth that collectors consider to be first choice among Toscanini's NBC peformances. I am not a collector, but this reading, despite the expected cramaped, boxy mono sound, is flexible, precise, and clean. Toscanini's Brahms was never musty, and since he actually played for the composer, one feels a strong continuity with the past.

The big work on CD 2 is a familiar Beethhoven Pastorale with the BBC Sym., less hard-driving than his NBC remake but in antique sound, especially annoying since the first oboe is front and center, drowning out half the orchestra. The 1941 Immolation scene with Helen Traubel has good radio sound for its day, with the soloist placed close to the mike. She is stalwart and secure, and Toscanini accompanies with his customary intensity and refusal to revere Wagner. The Francs-Juges Over. is given another alert, lithe performance that shows off Toscanini's approach to Berlioz, rather in the vein of Rossini. Despite the complaints of the reviewer below, these are good-enough transfers, but they fall short of RCA's almost miraculous remastering in their latest Toscanini the Immortal series.

Great conducting; Poor Processing.......2004-08-16

Despite the quality of most of the other sets in this laudable EMI series, this one is disappointing. The pieces are well chosen, but it sounds as though EMI were not able to find good sources for these rarities. The sound is certainly better somewhere else, so we have to listen through the poor recordings to hear Il Maestro. Still worth owning, but they could have done much better with this one.

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