Search - Franz Schubert, Karl Bohm, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Schubert: 8 Symphonies

"Completely" Fine - But Why Not Pick & Choose?

Jeffrey Lipscomb | Sacramento, CA United States | 05/23/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This complete Schubert set finds Bohm at his most congenial. The performances are neatly played, the phrasing is elegant, and the sound is excellent. However, I do find Bohm a trifle serious in the early symphonies - and the competition out there is fierce in 8 and 9.Bohm's is the finest set I have heard - certainly preferable to the grim, humorless Harnoncourt and the rather heavy-handed Karajan. But not one of Bohm's individual performances here would be my first choice. Here are my preferences on a "pick & choose" basis.#1. Beecham here is simply irresistable. He captures the youthful joy and exuberance of the 16 year old Schubert much more effectively than does Bohm. This is available on an import Sony CD, coupled with Beecham's non pareil 2nd and a great 8th.#2. See #1.#3. Beecham's EMI account is my favorite version. If you are interested in hearing a faster, more "classical" reading, the live Carlos Kleiber/Chicago account (Melodram) is much better than his rather driven DG version with the VPO. I should also mention here a nice Monitor LP reading by Georg Ludwig Jochum, who never got the credit he deserved (he was Eugen's younger brother).#4. The Markevitch/BPO on DG is very well-played, if a bit brisk. My favorite here is an old Supraphon LP with Kurt Redel and the Czech Philharmonic: warm, rather slow, with those wonderful, gurgling Czech winds. It should be on CD.#5. Beecham's EMI account is one of his greatest recordings. A more uptempo, "classical" reading by Fritz Busch is in great need of a CD transfer. #6. Here, I feel Beecham (EMI) is simply unrivalled: this is the finest "Little C Major" I have heard.#8. There is a long list of great recordings here. My very favorites are the live Furtwangler (DG), Mengelberg (Pearl), Abendroth (Berlin Classics) and the wonderful Fritz Lehmann with the Berlin Philharmonic on an old DG LP. That really needs to be on CD, coupled with Lehmann's definitive account of the complete incidental music from "Rosamunde." The Beecham on Sony is another great one: his 2nd mvt. rendition is best of all.#9. Furtwangler & the Berlin Philharmonic is the very finest I have heard - it's coupled on DG with a noble Haydn 88th. Other favorites include Knappertsbusch (Orfeo), Rosbaud (Wergo), Schuricht (Scribendum), Mengelberg (the studio version on Tahra), and Clemens Krauss (Teldec). If you like Toscanini, his 1941 Philadelphia account is his best (in poor sound on RCA). Unfortunately, Beecham never recorded #9 (and likewise #4).Bohm's is a great complete set in good sound. But if you are more interested in finding the greatest performances of each symphony, the ones I have listed above are worth exploring."

One of the Great Schubert Symphony Cycles

John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 12/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Over the course of nearly a decade, the distinguished Austrian conductor Karl Bohm recorded all of Schubert's symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic, yielding splendid recordings that have only been reissued recently by Deustche Grammophon. It's a pity that these haven't been remastered using the latest 24 bit digital technology, but nonetheless, the CD transfers still have a rich, warm sound due in part to the rich atmospheric sonority present in Berlin's Jesus Christ Kirche studio which Deutsche Grammophon used for virtually all of the Berlin Philharmonic's recordings in the 1960's and 1970's. Bohm leads the Berlin Philharmonic in richly textured, vibrantly warm performances; with the notable exception of the 1st Symphony, he adheres to brisk tempi. And yet, Bohm's interpretation of the 1st Symphony succeeds as an early orchestral precursor to Johann Strauss' Radetzky March, rich in regal bearing. Bohm's interpretation of the 4th "Tragic" Symphony is among the most emotionally gut-wretching versions I have heard. I was equally mesmerized by his fine versions of the 8th "Unfinished" and 9th symphonies. Although there are splendid, more recent, interpretations currently available from Abbado, Harnoncourt and Mackerras, to name but a few, Bohm's interpretations of Schubert's last two symphonies should still be regarded as among the most important ever recorded. Bohm draws upon his Austrian musical heritage to emphasize Schubert's ties to Mozart, and especially, Haydn, in the first 6 symphonies. In Bohm's riveting interpretation of the 9th symphony, the Berlin Philharmonic plays with as much passion as the Vienna Philharmonic, evoking rural Austrian folk tunes which must have inspired Schubert while he composed the symphony. Deutsche Grammophon deserves highest praise for reissuing this important Schubert symphony cycle at a price that is certainly a steal."

Wonderful!

Gregory M. Zinkl | Chicago, IL | 12/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beecham will always have the best when it comes to charm, see his EMI recordings of 3, 5 and 7.Krips' 9th will always be one of the great recordings.Sinopoli's 8th will always have a special place in my (musical) heart.But Bohm is a huge surprise to me. This set is wonderful! and the Berlin Philharmonic outdoes itself!The 8th is incredible, not only in how dreamy and romantic the performance is (although not relying on cheap interpretive tricks), but the superhuman demands that Bohm puts on the orchestra, which is clearly met in a breath-taking way. Time stands still in a very cool way, but keep track of the beat, and you'll be very surprised. What a master!The 9th is, well, incredible. Just listen to the detail in I and I hope you'll be convinced. Even the most secondary theme is finely detailed and appropriately expressive. I love the "European" oboe sound, too.The early symphonies are just as good. The 5th may be a little slow, but doesn't seem to suffer for all that, and fits Bohm's rich carpeted, luxurious interpretation. The BPO strings are all here in their glory.The DG engineering and remastering is also a very nice surprise.d Very warm (yes, DG, warm!) and good bass (for a change). Heartily recommended!!!Provides a nice foil to the Arte Nova set with the Putbus Festival Orchestra, which is full of wonderful performances with a small orchestra."