Search - Beethoven, Schuricht :: Beethoven: Symphonies 1-9

Schuricht's Superb Beethoven!

Jeffrey Lipscomb | Sacramento, CA United States | 07/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This imported set from French EMI allows us to hear a complete studio set of Beethoven symphonies from Carl Schuricht and the Paris Conservatory Orchestra. #1, 2, 4 and 9 were recorded in 1958; the others are from 1957. Sound is excellent but, despite the rather late recording dates, all are in mono.



The Paris Conservatory plays superbly throughout. The billowy French horns may be an acquired taste - I personally find their playing highly expressive and not the stumbling block they would be in, say, Bruckner (where their sound would be unidiomatic).



These are dramatic, lean and powerful performances. They are more akin to Weingartner, Kleiber (both Erich and Carlos), and Busch than the more "romantic" conceptions of Furtwangler and Abendroth or the weighty Teutonic mass favored by Knappertsbusch and Konwitschny.



#1. This is also available on Schuricht's 2-disc volume in the "Great Conductors of the 20th Century" series on EMI. I still prefer the sweeter, mellower version with the VPO that was once on a ten-inch London LP (it still awaits a CD transfer).



#2. A lovely account, one to rank with the classic Weingartner and the 1938 Kleiber (Teldec). Again, I like his early 1950's VPO version even more (overdue for a CD transfer).



#3. This Paris version is one of at least six Schuricht "Eroicas" out there. It is similar to the 1941 BPO account on DG: rather sober and straightforward. I much prefer Schuricht's more joyous live 1964 account with the BPO (deleted Originals CD set, coupled with Schuricht's Stuttgart Mahler 2nd).



#4. A wonderful account, clearly superior to the 1942 BPO that is kicking around on various "bootleg" labels.



#5. A decent 5th, although the sound of the French horns is not as well-controlled as in the brilliant 1949 reading with the same orchestra (once on Decca LP and deserving of a first class CD transfer - it's currently available on History in a veiled transfer).



#6. This one is better played than the 1943 BPO (History).



#7. Excellent! I also like the 1937 Berlin radio broadcast performance (M&A), although the sound is a challenge and the horns are a bit messy at the end of the 1st mvt. There are also 3 live accounts (1952 Stuttgart, 1956 & 1957 VPO) that I have yet to hear.



#8. Schuricht's ONLY 8th - and it's a beauty! Reason enough, I think, to buy this whole set.



#9. This is Schuricht's only studio 9th (there is also a 1954 live reading from Montreux, unheard by me, that was available in Japan). The quartet is Lipp/Hoffgen/Dickie/Frick, with the Chorale Elisabeth Brasseur - VERY well sung, especially by Lipp.



Other than the lack of stereo, this set could be a music lover's single complete Beethoven set in modern sound.



Highly recommended."

One of the best beethoven complete-symphonies set

Kuszel | Olivet, France | 01/10/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the best beethoven complete-symphonies set that might be found nowadays. Symphonies 1 to 3 & 5-7 & 9 are really excellent; the 4th & the 8th are somehow disappointing; may be a perfect complete recording is unavailable except Karajan's 1962 performance (DG/Polydor). Nevertheless, this one is really fine and might be matched with George Szell (Sony) or/and Gunter Wand's performances (BMG). The Mono sound is great. Besides, this is the first & last complete recording ever been made by the Paris Orchestra. This is historic in all regards. Carl Schuricht was one of the greatest conductors in the world with Giulini and Szell to my opinion. At last, this CD set is very cheap. Thus, here's a recording highly recommended in all regards."